Bluesound Node 2i with external DAC query

[wcseow]

@sammy

When you said not satisfying are you comparing Node 2i to the Denon 8500 HEOS playing Tidal?

If you have some downloaded FLAC files that you have either ripped from CD or converted to 24/96 using the Bluesound utility from higher formats like DSD, you can put them on a USB Stick and play them directly on the Bluesound. You should be able to put the USB stick into the 8500 and A/B between the two DACs

If you are after the ultimate sound quality, do a trial of Audirvana. Audirvana should be able to play Tidal MQA to your Denon 8500 if you configure the latter as a upnp server. I find the sound quality of Audirvana the sweetest of the lot even though both Roon and it are supposed to be “bit perfect”. Unless you are looking for the multi room features of Roon, Audirvana is much cheaper. Unfortunately, while the Bluesound can be a Roon endpoint, it doesn’t do upnp

1. Yes, am comparing the Node 2i to Denon HEOS. Source is from a USB SSD drive connected to Denon and Node 2i. Music files is ripped from CD but not upsample. FLAC 44.1K. Using Foopower to rip.

2. Yesterday, we also connected the 8500 pre-out to S1200 and PowerBloc and play the Node 2i through the Denon. Music files play are all through Tidal /Roon. To me, I prefer the Denon to be bypass. Not sure why there is a difference. Nothing scientific, just my ears LOL.

3. That being side, it is a preference of one connection over the other and not implying Denon connection sounds bad. We are doing the different scenerios purely from the standpoint of whether to go separates for stereo totally or via Denon AVR. At the end of day, decided to try with the Yamaha and see how since I remember liking Yamaha AVR sound way way back

Audirvana, I believe, needs Windows/MacOs, both I wanted to avoid. I am PC/Mac less. Looking at Roon probably both to the interface, multi end point and also it can run ROCK on Intel NUC.

I think at the end of day, for dedicated listening, I will still go with CD player. For casual, then will go with Tidal or FLAC files. To me, so far, Is till very much the CD route. LOL