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Bluesound Node Review (Streamer)

Henry Pootel said:
I've ignored the threads regarding sample rate and human perceptual capabilities, but I suppose we could start that here again. LOL! BTW, I agree with you.

However, not all content on Amazon is at 16/44, and so am asking if those numerically overweight audio streams would be delivered to my DAC.
Click to expand...
Sure, they will.
 
VintageFlanker said:
My bad.
djigibao said:
Yes it has...(N130)

support1.bluesound.com

How to enable USB Audio Out on latest NODE models?

NODE Players* can transfer digital audio (USB Audio 2.0) to an external DAC via the USB Type-A slot. *The following NODE Players are compatible with USB Audio OUT: NODE ICON NODE (N132) NODE NANO ...
support1.bluesound.com support1.bluesound.com
Click to expand...
Note: When the USB port is enabled, other audio outputs (Analog/COAX/Optical) are disabled
Click to expand...


Now I know why optical isn’t working…. :cool:
 
VintageFlanker said:
You will a little longer.

NODE X arrived a couple of days ago. Don't expect the measurements to come within good week (minimum). This one will be done as a two parts review, along with the Bluesound HUB.
Click to expand...
Hi, is this review still somehow planned ? I understand that some extensive measurements of the node X were published elsewhere. But the hub is still an unknown to many. So , if you had some findings to share , it would be great
Thanks
 
voodooless said:
That would be valuable if the apps were actually part of the review. That is however not the focus here, and the fact that we read about it just anecdotal in case of issues.
Click to expand...
And yet, the user experience factored into the overall impression left with reader. The streamer function in the Node (Gen 3) is quite good, the measurements would indicate it is audibly transparent. The internal DAC is another story. I find that the app and using the device as a file server both to be great experiences.
 
Golfx said:
BTW because you are a new member are you aware human hearing stops at 22KHZ for the very best of us. While it is intellectually satisfying to read 24/192 it is a marketing strategy that has started a race that no one can hear. 16/44 is more than adequate and you will note it is double human hearing capabilities.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, I can distinguish easily on AB tests 16/44.1 against 24/48. My girlfriend and I both passed the test one to each other.

No one could differentiate 48 against 96 kHz, in another test.

Obviously this has nothing to do with Nyquist limit to high frequencies (22.05 and 24 kHz respectively) as we have more than 40 years old and surely can’t hear over 15-17.000 Hz

Anti-imaging filters have probably more to do with we both perceive in instrumental differentiation and texture realism (we play acoustic instruments, classical music) as passband is really narrow on CD quality files. Also dynamic range improve on films and symphonies with high contrast on intensity indications.

What I think may explain also some difference is the Fourier transform to filter and reverse transformation to signal reconstruction: no matter the case you always loose information in finite case. Completely sure that digital Fourier transforms will give a more precise reconstruction on higher resolutions, as is the case in 2D Fourier analysis on images.

What I’m not sure is how much is the total amount of information loosed in CD compared with 24/48 and if is audible or not. But pretty sure that they will exist changes in audible range of frequencies as one cannot make a finite Fourier transform and its reverse and obtain the original function, even in low frequencies.

At least for us is worth to have some bandwidth at least to 24/48 to provide enough extra data to EQ and filter with less impact on the original recording.
 
Henry Pootel said:
Here is an AES publication that discusses this topic: "High-Resolution Audio: A History and Perspective"


Its free to download... unlike this paper that will set you back $33! :)

E-library page - AES

AES E-Library ← Back to search
www.aes.org www.aes.org
Click to expand...
I’m agree with many psychological effects, my DAC is just the humble DAC section of a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (which costs less than 200€ and has 2 mics inputs and a AD converter, plus the software etc… surely the total price of its DAC doesn’t goes over 50€ :) )

I just proposed a mathematical pathway for bypass the “we don’t hear over the Nyquist frequency of a CD so oversampling is just a marketing strategy”.

In fact over sampling is a common practice in recording editing and mastering to prevent aliasing and imaging on final product. Also allows multiple frequency manipulation without subtracting so much information and adding artifacts.

Something like you can take a picture over 40 Mp resolution, work with Photoshop and then publish a final image of 4 Mp enough to the size you want accomplishing the 300 ppp criterion. But if you try with 4 Mp initial file you will obtain a lot of “moiré” patterns or other effects, smoothing, blurring…

Not to justify expensive DACs, I’m pretty exigent with sound and my gear consists on the Focusrite, a pair of Genelecs and a computer. I even think that expensive speakers are overpriced at the expense of psychological effects of marketing on the audiophile world.

But CD can be audibly improved and today is very common to use at least 24 bits/48 kHz format: the total bandwidth will be just a little bit higher than CD (2304 vs 1411 kbps) and we have room to do some digital tricks and dynamic range.
 
Stephen said:
Sound Level were matched. No need ABX test, the difference was huge, no chance of mistake.
Click to expand...
Stephens comments are referring to external dac vs node internal dac

A friend has the node and visited me with the unit recently. He's using his iphone to select music. It was pretty bad in every way.

we listened for hours with my Topping dac and samsung Ldac bluetooth streaming. The sound is amazing, of course, and night and day difference.

So, I found Amir's review/measurements days later. Everything makes sense

My friend wants a new setup after hearing Ldac with topping.

I can recommend an external dac for the node but actually. I'm not even certain now if his iphone was in wired or wireless streaming when we were listening. I assume wireless.

Looking for Info and thoughts on getting the highest fidelity between 2 choices;

1)Should he simply recommend an external dac for Node?
2)New topping Dac with Ldac - He would have to find a used Ldac compatible phone for sole streaming purposes unless iphone codec will be as good?

He will do whatever I suggest. I do like the displays in the Topping dacs so one negative for the node.
 
I can't comment on other DACs, but after reading that the internal DAC of Node is quite bad, I ordered Schiit Modi DAC and did not hear even the minor improvement.
After a month or two, I sold it and never looked back.
I am finding surprising that bluetooth can improve the sound in any form or connection.
 
Fwiw, I am using a Bluesound Node N130 mostly as a server with all my music stored on a SSD drive and connected to the Bluesound via USB. I tried the internal DAC in the Node several times, and wasn’t impressed. My Node is powered by a Teddy Pardo dual 5V, 2A power supply which requires the replacement of the internal Bluesound switching board with a simple socket that connects DC power to the main board. The Pardo also supplies my Chord Qutest DAC, and the Node is connected to the Qutest via coax cable. This is by far and away the best sounding digital reproduction I have had in my system to date, and it’s not even close.

The Node app is good, if no longer ‘class leading’, and I find streaming mp3 or mp4 files from my iPhone quite enjoyable, if not quite up to sound quality of redbook or HR files served from hard disk. I am pretty sure connecting any well measuring external DAC to a Node with a Quad-core 1.8GHz ARM Cortex A53 processor and using the Node only as a server or streamer will provide excellent sound quality and a pleasant user experience, but YMMV.

kn
 
I just read the original review of the Bluesound Node N130 by Amir. I did not experience any of his troubles using to app. Quite the opposite, I find it quite good and was up and running with it immediately. Dunno.

kn
 
knownothing said:
I just read the original review of the Bluesound Node N130 by Amir. I did not experience any of his troubles using to app. Quite the opposite, I find it quite good and was up and running with it immediately. Dunno.

kn
Click to expand...
Amir is an I/O kind of guy and has acknowledged that features and UI reviews can be found on other sites. The integration of features and connectivity of the Blusesound single dashboard system is very good for a free lifetime, curated and updated system. I have it in three rooms and find it much quicker as a remote control than Roon that I also have lifetime. But Roon offers DSP and a magazine style music discovery system that is mile wide and deep. As an early adopter of both there was no competition at the time but a lot users are very happy with WiiM devices and UI which are much less expensive and more responsive to user feedback. The BluOS with its many attributes has grown stagnate.
 
Timcognito said:
Amir is an I/O kind of guy and has acknowledged that features and UI reviews can be found on other sites. The integration of features and connectivity of the Blusesound single dashboard system is very good for a free lifetime, curated and updated system. I have it in three rooms and find it much quicker as a remote control than Roon that I also have lifetime. But Roon offers DSP and a magazine style music discovery system that is mile wide and deep. As an early adopter of both there was no competition at the time but a lot users are very happy with WiiM devices and UI which are much less expensive and more responsive to user feedback. The BluOS with its many attributes has grown stagnate.
Click to expand...
Some of the more recent Bluesound devices will be getting Dirac Live soon though, which might help to make them more appealing.
 
Duffy Moon said:
Some of the more recent Bluesound devices will be getting Dirac Live soon though, which might help to make them more appealing.
Click to expand...
Yes Bluesound has to do something to justify its higher prices and because Dirac is a fully developed platform seems like an easy add for user benefit. Wish it was more backward comparable though
 
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