Bluesound Node 2

[oneway23]

Good luck with the Vault. I hope you'll share your experience with us after you give it a spin.

 

Same here. I've been debating this purchase for the last little while here as well, and I'd love to hear some more personal experiences with it...thanks!

[oneway23]

I am actually listening to it now...

 

I use my Vault as a NAS (MacBook Pro -> CA DacMagic +/Acam rHead -> AT woodies) or as front end (Vault/Primare DAC30 -> Stax 006tS/SR 507).

 

The Vault is pretty good as it is, but it benefits from a good outboard DAC (and good interlinks).

 

I have ripped my cd collection to the Vault. It works fine. The user interface is good, but not great (I listen to classical, jazz and whatever I like, now listening to Townes van Zandt). It is certainly no Audirvana. It's weakness is classical music, and, a little less weaker, jazz (you can not select one concerto in one go, you have to select the different pieces of the concerto separately).

 

The headphone amp is decent (again: it is good, but no match for a quality outboard amp).

 

But I can live with it. In the end, it is a versatile, user friendly piece of kit, with a good sq of its own (and easily upgradable). I think the price/quality ratio is hard to beat. I like it quite a lot.

 

Another bonus: the BS Helpdesk is very good (after all, it is software and a kind of computer...).

 

Greets, WAM

 

Thank you, kindly, for the detailed info. I think, at this point, I might just think about hanging onto what I've got. I unfortunately can't say that I've got the luxury of spending $1200 on a mere "transport" that is going to benefit greatly from another DAC. I was personally viewing this as an "all-in-one" proposition towards eliminating a great many wires and extraneous boxes in my increasingly cramped apartment. I'm using a Schitt multi-bit Modi, at present. If the DAC of the BS Vault is a lateral move, or, worse yet, a step backwards, I'm not sure I'd make the switch, as I'm not really interested in going optical out.

 

All that said, I really appreciate your insight.

[oneway23]

When Tidal released its initial batch of MQA masters, listening via Bluenode through Schiit multi bit Modi DAC coax was a true revelation to my ears. I have listened to nothing else since. Going back to normal Tidal streaming of cd quality files, even modern current releases, is a serious step backwards in Sq, to me at least.

Now, I read that the Node 2s internal DAC can do an even better job if connected by RCA. So I'm eager to give that a shot.

The real problem is the MQA stuff is spoiling me for anything else, and the first batch on Tidal is a really weird mishmash of oddball selections, short on classical and jazz. Plus there seems to be no dedicated search on Tidal of its MQA stuff.

Does anyone know what the plans are for more MQA content and when?

Meanwhile, anyone contemplating a Node 2 for Tidal streaming should do so. I've found it all rock solid and only getting better and better.

 

Sent from my SM-T810 using Computer Audiophile mobile app

 

Bongo, as stated above, I'm also using a multi-bit modi. Have you done any comparisons with the internal dac of the node, by any chance? Thanks!

 

BTW - Word from MQA is that Universal and Sony should be signed on by Spring.

[oneway23]

Hello,

 

I did not say the DAC built in the Vault sounds bad, I just wanted to explain that the Vault sounds much better with the DAC30 (considering he price of a DAC30, is is not a fair comparison with the dac of the Vault).

 

I have never heard the Schiit-stuff (seems to be pretty good...). Perhaps you should try a demo of a Vault, and let your ears decide. I think you will be pleasantly suprised.

 

Greets, WAM

 

That's more than fair, WAM. I was not personally familiar with the DAC30 prior to your post, however, I have now since looked into it, and you are absolutely correct. Comparing an all-in-one device such as the Vault with a stand-alone component in that price range would not be apples to apples. Again, I certainly appreciate your insight, nonetheless.

 

I look forward to Bongo's impressions, as we are currently using the same DAC.

[oneway23]

Thanks a lot for the report, Bongo! Think I'm gonna take a chance and do a bit of comparison.

[oneway23]

2 hours ago, BilboAlaska said:

Yea, the Bluesound Vault2 arrived today. I will give a report when I get it running. I have an Airport Extreme which I expect to work with the Vault.

 

Look forward to your impressions!  Enjoy your new toy!

[oneway23]

I hear GUTB is going to buy everyone who posts in this thread a proper DAC...

[oneway23]

1 hour ago, DarwinOSX said:

 

GUTB is a troll.

 

I see.  Please let me know where his bridge is located so that I might cash in on the proper DAC he is going to provide everyone in this thread.  Thanks

[oneway23]

Any rumblings or whispers of Bluesound Gen. 3 products?  I fully expected something at Munich High-End, seeing as the Gen. 2 stuff was released in October 2015, but, maybe I'm just spoiled by annual tech upgrade cycles?