Music Streaming Mastery! Undisputed Champion - Bluesound Node Music Streamer Review
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- Опубліковано 4 сер 2024
- Bluesound Node shop-links.co/cgjJE5r0idT (Crutchfield)
Acrylic S50 Plus amzn.to/3zbMcZB
Andover Songbird shop-links.co/cgjLJLnGyRA
Ayima A07 amzn.to/32N6Mn0
Emotiva B1+ bit.ly/2MhWALq
CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K
Crutchfield Holiday Deals shop-links.co/cf9yFEPeMyS
Best Buy Holiday Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH
apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P
massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5
Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9
www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
High Res Music Streaming for FREE!!!!
#streamer #audiophile
0:00 Start
0:08 Intro
1:36 Streaming is Awesome Kind of
3:20 Gapless Playback
4:07 DAC Review
5:52 Ease of Use
7:26 Price, Connections, and Features
10:27 Bluesound App
12:33 System Build
14:14 Less Expensive Options
15:18 Wrap Up
Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial amzn.to/3fiiMPC
Test Track Playlist:
music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
Satanic Panic Playlist:
music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
Leg Warmers Playlist
music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
cheapaudioman
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If you use any of my links to purchase products I will receive a small commission on the sale of that item. Won’t cost you any more to purchase with the link.
Recommended Speaker List
Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 - $150)
Sony SSCS5 - Lively amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Pioneer AJ First Gen - Laid Back
Neumi BS5 -Neutral amzn.to/3q0SR3B
Around $200
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ - Crystal Clear and Punchy emotiva.com?aff=9
Elac Debut b5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/2WPNQxw
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 (In and Out of Stock) - Laid Back/Bassy/Detailed amzn.to/37W8hPA
JBL Stage A130 - Neutral/Great All Arounder at $179 the best value amzn.to/3t7gOHe
Around $400
Klipsch RP600M - Neutral amzn.to/3pBoXCf (This speaker’s price can fluctuate between $440-630 which is really dumb)
Jamo C93ii Bit - Boosted on Top amzn.to/3beIG6F (Can also be found cheaper at Crutchfield)
Q Acoustics 3030i - Neutral with Punch - amzn.to/2OQkpLo
Around $500
SVS Prime bit.ly/2LozJgF
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 bit.ly/2ZckoD9
Around $600
Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Debut Reference - Buttery but Detailed amzn.to/39bt6WC
Polk Reserve R100 - Neutral
Aperion Novus - Neutral and probably the best desktop speaker one can get $599 bit.ly/2Q1H9rW
Aperion Novus Open Box $449 bit.ly/3us8zGx
Wharfedale Diamonds Lush and Detailed amzn.to/3aBAso0 Come as singles
Recommended Amp List
Under $100
Aiyima A07 - Neutral and Full amzn.to/3g9YLNf
Around $130
SMSL AD18 - DAC/Amp Lively on top but solid tone controls amzn.to/3rVZxkN
SMSL SA300 $140 amzn.to/3u83oLs
Around $250
SMSL DA-9 Balanced Amp amzn.to/34SdbLs
Around $400
Emotiva TA-100 - DAC, Phono Stage, Pre Outs - Balanced and Tasty emotiva.com?aff=9
Vista Audio Spark www.vista-audio.com/products.htm
Recommended DACs
Ifi Zen DAC amzn.to/2T3wuyY
FX D01 amzn.to/3d9GY6U
SMSL SU8s amzn.to/2SWTGiw
Denafrips Ares 2 www.denafrips.com/ares
Subs
Emotiva SE8 emotiva.com?aff=9
Emotiva SE12 emotiva.com?aff=9
SVS SB1000 Pro bit.ly/3scmwsc
Bluesound Node shop-links.co/cgjJE5r0idT (Crutchfield)
--Acrylic S50 Plus amzn.to/3zbMcZB
----Andover Songbird shop-links.co/cgjLJLnGyRA
-----Ayima A07 amzn.to/32N6Mn0
------Emotiva B1+ bit.ly/2MhWALq
-------CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K
--------Crutchfield Holiday Deals shop-links.co/cf9yFEPeMyS
---------Best Buy Holiday Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH
-----------apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P
------------massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5
-------------Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9
----------------www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
What streamer is good under $100?
I think at $599, the remote should be included in the package
Arylic
@@arena_rock_man9030 I agree A.R.M.
@@macgeek2112 Me too!
My favorite part of the fake sponsor add is that it is easy to get to serious about our audio, and audio is first and foremost about having fun. It reminds me to relax and laugh. I vote to keep the adds. Really enjoy your work!
They were fake? OMG, I've been had!
@@keithwalker8090 you've been had? I started a little savings fund months ago for a huge Syth Audio system wide upgrade!!! I've got $273.14 now and no idea where to go with my system! £u©k this man, I'm out! Unsubscribe!! 💥💥
@@JosephTongret I've been saving for the Sith Audio Toddler Shoe! Until then, my Teenager Boot Left in the Middle of the Hallway will have to do.
I usually actually laugh out loud when you give the price, especially if it's crazy, like $17k for a toddler shoe. Good stuff randy!
@@JosephTongret thank you for this funniest of comments, I laughed out loud like an idiot 😃
Please don’t stop the Sith Audio sponsorship. That is just one of the things that make your channel unique. Your presentation is uniquely yours and in my humble opinion Sith Audio is part of it. That’s what makes you the Cheapaudioman. Your sponsorship takes makes me chuckle, hell I enjoy the channel enough I bought a Sith Audio mug. And I thought Rocktopus (spelling butchered) was funny. Don’t change your brand totally. Of course you might have to tweak things along the way, what reviewers don’t.
Now the Sith Audio coffee mug did kill all my other mugs, even my Spider-Man mug, so we know who would win that battle. But I guess that’s what one should expect with a Sith in the house. Happy New Year and looking forward to more reviews in 2022.
The sponsors are vital to your reviews! Please bring them back. The Bluesound Node is on my list. Great Review! 👍👍👍
Keep the sponsors! They’re one of my favorite parts of CAM. Haters gonna hate but they can suck it. Be yourself Randy :-)
Your channel is the best!…… great content that hits home with all of us….. plus, putting a humorous spin on things makes it fun….. keep doing what you are doing!
Love my Node running through an Ares II. And CAM I like the ads…. I like your content in general, makes my day. Happy New Year.
Happy New Year, Randy! I got the PowerNode 330 about five months ago, and I love it. I paired with a set of Q-Acoustics 320i, because I have a fairly small space, but that combo really rocks. Set up was a breeze and the Wi-Fi works flawlessly every single time.
In one of your earlier streamer reviews, you hit the key point for streamers: the software. If you don’t have a solid software foundation, the hardware becomes irrelevant. That’s why I ended up returning a couple of Andover Songbirds, I was never able to get it to work.
Solid review.
Sith audio products are world class. Please keep promoting them. Happy New Year.
Fantastic review of an amazing product! This is a real winner!
Thank you for a great year of awesome content. Sponser yes!
Happy New Years.
Love the sponsors.
I love Sith Audio ads, keep them! My favorite one so far is the port lube.
I like how you have a strong opinion, share it, and stand by it here. Well done!
Sponsors are hilarious...makes us wonder just how many products Sith Audio could possibly manufacture
They are the ACME of the 21st Century!
Audiophile food products. Sith audio condiments will help your ears pick up the tiny details other non audiophile products miss. Introducing Sith Audio Mustard, mayo, and ketchup.
Greetings from down Under! Love your reviews and agree about adding a screen to the Bluesound node.
Mr JD @ Darko Audio's channel review agrees about the current Bluesound Power Node. Using this with the new powered KEF sub and their LS50 Meta speakers he said "I think I've hit paydirt". Before the holidays I popped into my local dealer to try this out (as I'm considering downsizing) and, with the staff in tow to listen as well, and we were all very seriously impressed and that it would be an almost perfect, superb modern and compact system. Very high value but not exactly low cost though, sadly. An excellent channel and great style, reviews. Please keep them coming.
Dude. This is one of your best review videos. For reals yo
Great review Randy. I think having the sponsor chaptered at the front would be an option for those that don't like them. The Bluesound Node is an end point for me, I have to work on convincing my wife that my link is a step toward that.
Great Review. I have a node and it’s changed my listening life. I just love it
Good video, good content. Good production. Keep them streaming. Thanks Randy.
Happy new year!
I love my Bluesound Node!
Just added (!) an Bluesound Vault (for ripping).
I LOVE it ;)
I come here for the sponsors, and stay for the reviews. Love it.
Listening to this from my FiiO BTA30 Pro. They upgraded the DAC chip and made all around improvements vs the original. Plus it's aluminum now. Pretty unbeatable.
im a patron and i demand more sponsors! i also just picked one of these up using your link. i rocktopuss
Very unique and great on this is usb-out (which is asynchronous) into your lovely dac.. Many thanks for your great reviews and happy new year👍
Are you using the USB output? Does it work without problems? Which DAC do you use?
CAM + sponsor + a cup a coffee =. Great Content !
I got a Powernode this Tuesday and I am totally in love! I have it paired with Q Acoustics 3050i's with QED XT-40i cable. What a combo, absolutely stunning sound, this amp is next level!
Happy New Year big guy! I so enjoyed your video creations last year...I don't expect this to change this year...Thanx in advance! 😎 100,000 subs? (absolutely)
Great vid as always! My thoughts on the sponsor bits. I've been skipping them recently if they're from Sith Audio. It's a bit that is recycled a too much to be funny. I do really like the other "sponsor" bits that don't have to do with audiophile stuff. I find them a lot more funny. Also don't feel like you need to do one each video! Also, if you enjoy doing the Sith Audio Bit, then keep doing you!
Got the node paired up with A pear beolab 8000 fantastic stereo music listening, and even movies, when sitting at the sweat spot the sound wraps 240 degrees around me just ridiculous how good I wasn’t sure at first to sell my Bose lifestyle because I went from 5 to 2 speakers. No regrets at all this 2 channel gives me more immersion then my old system 🙈
Just discovered your channel and watched this video as I was reading about differences between the Node2, the Node2i and the latest, the Node. Great video and complete review. I own the older Node2 for now and may upgrade but most of what I read mentions great upgrades with WiFi and Bluetooth and the fact that the latest 2 devices have Apple capabilities; but not so much being said on the DAC and sound improvement. Some say the sound is improved with better instrument separation and being clearer but I wonder if this is because the AB comparisons were made from a WiFi connection? I have mine ethernet wired and I think it sounds awesome, I dont need Apple Music so I wonder if there is truly a sonic difference with upgrading to the Node2i or the latest. Lastly, I wouldn't care about a screen on their product as you get it on your control device (phone, tablet, etc.).
Again thanks a lot for your review, I will check out your other vids. Cheers
Love the sponsors. Keep it up. For those that don't like it... It's called a fast forward button. Look into having one installed on your computer.
Well said Dustin! FF or >>
You already know i’m mall about the sponsors. Picked up some Sith Audio gift bags. Dam those things surprised me. They were able to to carry frequencies as heavy as 13hz 😆. Then after just half a serving of Sith Audio stuffing, my hearing extended to 37kHz! Talk about going back and re listening to all my favorites. Granted, I don’t get a wink of sleep when i go camping, due to the sound of all the mosquito farts. All in all… worth it!!
I use the blue sound app for Qobuz. Was very surprised it worked so well.
Had my node for about a month. Anyone had any issues with the 12volt trigger out? I can’t get amp to turn on. Yet to reach out to blue sound. Their faq’s said something about a delay turn on but I’ve had no luck.
I have a Bluesound 2i. Started with the original square Nod a few years ago. They are fantastic units. The newer one works more smoothly. The bluesound is excellent.
Recently installed an SMSL SU-9 dac In one of my systems and the improvement over the Bluesound unit was pretty impressive. I’m not sure most people would notice it but if you have a trained ear and know what you’re listening for, a better dac can make an improvement. I stream directly from 2i in one of my systems in it is incredibly good.
Enjoy your reviews.
I hate/love the node 2i. The only reason to hate was that 3 months after purchase of a Node 2i, the 2021 node came out for exactly the same price. 2i DACs aren't bad and firmware upgrades were awesome, but didn't quite complete with the 2021 node that I replaced it with.
Hey buddy. I like the sponsers. Tons of reviewers, many opinions, very few personalities all in all. Keep on going.
Randy, I have found such incredible deals from your sponsors starting with the Charleton Heston Compressed Air at $129/bottle. All of the Audiophile products are incredible especially the zip lock bags. I place my CD 💿 s in them and the audio quality goes through the roof. The Audiophile packing tape is unbelievable. Please keep 'em comin'!
😂
I couldn't agree more, I always look forward to Sith Audio 🤣
@@taidee Agreed. Sith Audio has a wide range of audiophile products. They should go public! I would get shares immediately! 😆
I think a few shares of Sith Audio stock would be a wise investment for the new year! 🤔
@@CliffdropChad Agreed Chad. I'm going to jump on 100 shares as soon as they become available!
I have the Node 2i and use an external DAC for better sound. I also use the Node 2i as a preamp with my powered speakers with a remote control. The sub output is just the best way to control the sound.
Good morning and Happy New Year from Singapore 2022
Well done and no exaggeration. I use the Node on some very high end equipment and absolutely love it. And yes I do use a different external DAC but it seamlessly integrates into the Node. Also the app on the Node that integrates all the different steaming services is a game changer to me. Thanks for doing.
Sith Audio has become an industry powerhouse and a signature part of this channel. Please keep them as a sponsor! How else will you make the payments on that Lambo in your garage?!
I came for the review, stayed for the sponsors. Great review! 👍
Totally concur with everything said. Still using the first version and as a streamer alone is a no-brainer. App is great, always works, dead easy to use. Plus it’s cheap enough to not feel bad upgrading in ten years when if all the technology changes.
Hello Randy, Awesome review ! i was looking for streamer for my Edifier S3000 Pro, i think the Node is the best streamer to go with, you should review the Edifier S3000 Pro, fantastic pair of powered speakers.
please keep the sponsors.
About a screen: One thing many people don’t realize about Bluesound is that they have a fully open network interface. While I agree their software is excellent, you can use the network protocol to customize your setup. So, Randy, if you want a screen, you can do it. A cheap Amazon tablet, or a Raspberry Pi & a small screen, or even your smart TV, can show album art, track info, etc. I’ve done it. It takes a bit of fiddling, but it’s very cool. Mount a screen in a picture frame & hang it on a wall, & have dynamic album art.
Details please? This group has some folks who would do this in a hurry!
I only can open Home screen via browser.
@@brochg There are probably a lot of ways of doing it, depending on your coding skills. I'm a beginner, so I did it the easy way. I have Node Red running on a Raspberry Pi on my local network. I set up Node Red to get album art & track info from my Bluesound PowerNode, using the Bluesound API. This sets up a local webpage that any web browser on my local network can access (tablet, computer, smart TV, Raspberry Pi with a screen, etc).
Omg.... make a video!
@@user-zc8ro6hh8c Make a video brother... I have been looking for a Raspberry Pi with a quality streamer, and there is nothing out there in a completed form. I don't have time to code, and I am sure I could figure it out, BUT, being Mac centric, investing in a PC is not something I am interested in doing. I would pay $500 for a premium Rasberry Pi with a top hat, like the one Darko has on his channel, I think it is the Allo?
With the update they just released you can also output USB audio into an external dac, I enjoy this feature going from the node into my Schiit modius!
Interesting information. There are a few complaints about the USB output on the Bluesound forum. Apparently these are just isolated cases. Good to hear it's working fine for you. I also plan to buy the Node.
Great
I questioned Lenbrook's decision to launch a lower cost "lifestyle" brand version of NAD when they started up Bluesound. Oh how wrong I was but it is really pleasing to see how successful Bluesound has become. They have a good team here in Canada and they do listen to the end users. So a screen?......... Maybe!
Love the Sith Audio ads. Time stamp them if that will allow non-fans to skip them. Happy New Year!
Love the Sith Audio sponsorship, please don't do away with it. It's what makes you so unique!! :):)
I find your fake sponsors very entertaining and it gives us a glimpse into your sense of humor, so it's a definite yes from me. They also hopefully highlight to any sponsors that may catch one of your videos that it might be a good idea to bring you onboard. Hope you and your's had an awesome New Years and are as happy as I am to put '21 behind us. Thanks for always giving your honest opinion and also for reviewing gear I don't need a second mortgage to buy. Hope you have a great '22 and your channel grows as much as it deserves to...
We watch this mostly for the Sith Audio Ads. Its your signature. Please continue to entertain. Oh, yes we appreciate your reviews as well.
Amazing and honest reviews, thanks for the recommendations. Now I have the aiyima A07 with my bluesound node 2i and revel concerta 2 m16 speakers. Sounds incredible, better than others bigger amps. Do you think it can I have improvements with the aiyima A08? Regards
The really nice thing about the A07 is that you can upgrade the power supply. Aiyima themselves say you can push up to 48V 10A through it which will easily give you over 200W RMS per channel... Unbeatable!! You can't do that on the A08 as it has a built in power supply. Only other real advantage would be the DAC and Bluetooth in the A08 but you have that in your Node 2i already so I'd stick with the A07.
I’m a new subie and I like the the phoney sponsors. And also just want to say I enjoy your sense of humour and reviews. Some Hifi reviewers are way too boring and dull and I get bored way too easily😑
SITH audio pruducts are Sooo cool. Luv'm all ! They bring a little ray of tongue-in-cheek sunshine every time 😁. Can't understand why anyone wouldn't buy in to the idea.
I bought a BlueSound node in November and frgggin love it! They just released their latest firmware which now makes the usb output work
Can you connect to a computer and play from windows? Thanks
Are you using the USB output? Does it work without problems? What DAC do you use?
@@wotanwalhall6642 Yes it works!
Love the sponsors, can't wait to hear abput bright orange shirts or what's the next big thing from sith audio is.
Wake up - check
coffee - check
cheapaudioman video - check
fake sponcer add - check and keep it going, adds to the charm of your videos. Happy New year man.
Got mine ethernet wired, working as a preamp into my Arcam SA20....outputting to my Wharfedale Evo 4.2's and high passed Wharfedale SW150 sub
Simplicity with excellence.
BluOS is a great interface; I’ve never had it lock up or die as has happened with Pro-Ject Volumio app. I wonder if the streamer portion in the Node is better than the previous models, so you pick up a previous model if you have a great DAC and you’re good to go.
New to this channel and am enjoying you videos. I just picked up the mode and am using my old Onkyo AV receiver to drive a pair of Polk RTi4 bookshelf speakers. I’m enjoying the sound but the receiver is really large and I don’t need all the extra functionality. Based on your experience would you get a Cambridge AXA25 or something from SMSL to drive the speakers, I’m looking for something small but pretty good that would be cheaper than upgrading to the power mode. Thanks for your advice. Ps this goes out all you audience for comment.
Hey Mr Man, awesome reviews mate keep up the good work!
If you can get a hold of an Argon Solo, could you make a comparison with the node?
Perhaps people who don’t like the sponsors have forgotten that UA-cam has a skip-forward function. Please keep the sponsors, Randy. And Happy New Year!
Hi Randy.
Thank you for the great review.
I intend to connect the Node Music Streamer to a Buchardt I150 amp.
I do have one question if you don't mind:
Can I use the Node purely as the streamer but continue using the i150’s inbuilt DAC? Do I have a way to bypass the Bluesound Node's Dac and use only the i150's?
Would you think this would be a good match to drive the Buchardt S400 MKII speakers?
Thanks a lot!
Great device, very versatile. Only things missing are Chromecast Audio and Plexamp support. That would make it perfect.
Does it do spotify connect?
Randy u r awesome🖖 don’t u dare to cut the jokes from the beginning of videos☕️this aspect of personal authenticity and knowledge makes your videos special👑 amazing review, u sold me this one, just don’t know if i will need a remote for the AIYIMA Audio A07 or it will be possible to regulate volume with node/phone/tv only. Thank you🙏🏻
I love sith audio products! Along with rocktopus. Love the sponsors lol.
By the way Randy. I think your reviews and all you do,and the way you present is awesome!
I have the Bluesound powernode 2i, had it for almost a year and i couldn't agree with you more regarding the software/streaming. Excellent. I am going to be getting a new Node 3rd gen because of everything it has option and connection wise. I have been looking and researching other streamers and was close to getting the ifi zen stream,but it has issues no matter what forum you look on. It may have superior sound? But its also just a streamer. The Bluesound keeps coming to or staying at the top of the pile!
So true. A node with a screen would be so great. It would fly off the shelfs. The NAD C700 with the amp is just a to big gap away from the Node. Optional screens in different sizes connected over WiFi. 🤔
You read my mind. I want a screen too. That's what has kept me from pulling the trigger with the gen 3. Right now I'm streaming Spotify through my laptop through a Schiit Gungnir DAC and it's OK. It doesn't compete with my turntable or through my CD transport with the same DAC. The laptop is definitely the weak link. Thanks for the review. Good stuff.
I bought a dedicated fire tablet for my node 2i. That serves as my “screen”, is portable, functions as a remote, and can be upgraded in the future. :).
i found a used node 2 for a couple hundred and love it. run it thru an external dac, says it wont handle 5 g but works fine with it. i switch to 2.4 if i remember but no issues.
Bang on Randy ! Add the screen take my money !
Alternatives to Bluesound Node:
Option 1:
Raspberry 4 w/7" touch display running Ropieee - about $200 at current prices
Schiit Audio Bifrost 2 DAC - $599
Schiit Audio Magni 3+ amp - $99
Sennheiser HD 560S phones - $199
Total just under $1100
Option 2:
Raspberry 4 w/7" touch display running Ropieee - about $200 at current prices
Topping EX5 DAC/AMP - $350
Hifiman Sundara phones - $350
Total about $900.
Option 3: Note - this setup only requires one power outlet
Raspberry 4 w/7" touch display running Ropieee - about $200 at current prices
iFi Zen DAC 2 DAC/amp - $189
Grado SR325x phones - $295
Total about $684
Hey Randy, I have a Node2I and you had something to do with that purchase and I also have it connected to an Ares2 and you also had somthing to do with that purchase to. Im loving the sound overall , its really nice . when you did your ares review what streamer did you have connected ? question whats your thoughts on DSD , do you use DSD or ever have. is it a waste of time and aggravation to setup a Jriver account just to playback DSD files what does the cheap audio man think?
I love the Sith sponsor! Keep it going
My favorite sponsor was the free range Pomeranians. I know she didn't like being in front of the camera but the look on her face was priceless.
Ditto!
Thank you for the videos , I would have one question about my setup: I just bought the 2021 Node, as all sources (TV) are connected to the Node would it be better to connect it directly to the Rotel power amp RB-1070, skipping the pre amp Rotel RC-1070? Thank you , Cristian
Any hardware or service that utilizes a software UI is hit or miss. The Hulu UI is one of the worst, if not the worst user interfaces I have ever used. Bad UI makes great hardware or services unusable. Happy to hear Bluesound does it right. Sith Audio has been with you since the beginning. That loyalty should be rewarded. 😉
I've got an arcam avr 550 and have been thinking of getting the node for my flac library. You think the best way of hooking this up would be via the audio out on the node or via the optical output?
Well I just bought Node 2i , been using the Vault 2 for use. I is to my ears just marvellous. Just scream from my AppleiPad sitting in my easy boy
Please, please have the sponsorship at the beginning! It's what got me hooked to your channel. 🤓😎
Please, Please, Please, keep featuring Sith Audio products, cannot live without them.
Thank you for the review. I just ordered a Bluesound Node from the Crutchfield link provided, so hopefully you get your commission...:)
Yes sponsors. I have bought so many things from Sith Audio. My most recent purchase of their toilet plunger sounds amazing! I plug up my toilet just so I can hear it!
Keep the sponsors!!!! They are the best part!!!!
Hey Randy, you sold me on the BlusesoundNode I have a Schiit Modi 3 DAC would you recommend staying with this if I get the node? Or bypass it completely?
Would love to see some portable dac options, I’m a trucker looking for the best hifi experience in my truck, I do have a 3000 watt inverter
So here is my question. I’m running the Denafrips and the older version of node do you hear a difference between just the streaming of the node 2 and the node running through the Aries 2?
It would be cool if it also had analog RCA input and LDAC Bluetooth, but that requires a different chip. One reason to use an external dac is to add balanced XLR outputs, which the Node acks.
Hi Randy. Like your channel. If I could weigh in on your pick for best streamer, you seem to be referring to the ifi Zen Stream when you speak of other streamers that might sound better but are hard to connect and operate. I have a Zen Stream - picked one up last week after seeing Audio Canada's review of the Zen Stream vs Bluesound Node 2i. And coming from the Node 2i, I totally concur with their review: Zen Stream sounds much better than the Node 2i, and my impressions are done using the stock wall plug power supply that comes with the unit. Set up was relatively painless, after upgrading the software over an ethernet connection, I was able to connect via Tidal Connect without any issue, and it's been rock solid ever since. It also does gapless playback.
I understand you had a bad experience with the Zen Stream when you reviewed it last year, but I'd give it another try. At $400 USD, it's cheaper than the Bluesound Node, and I would imagine that with an upgraded external power supply (something you can't do with the Bluesound Node that has a built in power supply), it should sound even better.
For those audiophiles who want a great sounding streamer with USB output at a reasonable price, I think the Zen Stream is the one to beat!
Ha! The first time I saw your "fake sponsor" for Sith Audio, I thought it was real
and was wondering why Google didn't seem to know anything about it!
I agree with your thought about the Bluesound Node .
It truly is a wonderful product and an audiophile bargain.
I have an external ssd drive with many hi-res music files on it, and I just play them via the usb port.
It works great!
I just got a bluesound node based on your videos.
I found 3 big cons:
1. When using hdmi arc the sound are 20db quieter 😵
2. No eq, tone control sucks
3. No On Off button but it gets warm when in standby
Got one… it’s awesome!
I wanted to buy the bluesound node and combine with an amplifier. But I discovered the Marantz PM 7000N streamer receiver and I use Apple AirPlay 2 from my IPad. Via my IPad I installed the Marantz in 3 minutes and it’s gapples. I hooked a pair of Amphion Argon One speakers and for 2 500 euros I had a very good sounding set. I stream Spotify in his highest quality and sins one month Apple Music lossless both for 9,99 euros a month. I like your reviews just but the most products you review are not easy to find in Europe. I am also a fan of John Darko and A British Audiophile.
Greetings
Ludo
Belgium
The Node does have AirPlay2
@@orl2222
That was the not reason why I did not bought the node. The Marantz sounded very good and I needed to buy only one product.
@@1959ludo Airplay is gapless and outputs at CD-quality, perfectly fine. Bluesound Node is overpriced for what it is, you made the right choice. Nice setup 👍🏾
Lol.. I see you trying out those rocked out b-roll intros other Youtubians do... I'm here for it
Hello. I bought the bluesound node because of your video. Thank you so much for your advice. Currently my node is connected to my marantz avr and I use tidal.
One question please sir. If I connect an external dac between my node and receiver, will I get full unfolded MQA at 24bit/192kHz?
If the DAC is MQA capable, you should be able to pass that signal trough your Marantz.
Thanks, you answered my Big Question: Can you use the native Tidal app, and yes you can!
Great video, really something I’m considering, as far as the “ sponsor’s” go? A little goes along way
Keep the sponsors please. Happy New Year!
I will buy the bluesound node, i also had the zen stream on my mind, but the bluesound seems like the better option for me, i like that its seems easier to use, i won’t be using the dac through, i think i just use the one in my hegel h190