Mike13 Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 (edited) Does anyone have experience with Bluesound Node 2 vs other ways to use Tidal? Which is better? I don’t want to spend more than $3k on my next upgrade (otherwise I could buy an OLED tv). I find myself using Tidal 95% of the time. I use a Bluesound Node 2 to a Chord 2Qute. Have a lot of music on DS413 Synology that listen to the other 5% of the time. Ideally: - can use Tidal’s native iPhone app (though the Bluesound app’s tidal integration is pretty good) - I search Masters MQA albums first so how does it work with this? - haven’t used Roon, don’t want to try Jriver - would like it to upsample everything if this gives an obvious improvement Option 1: use a laptop to upsample (no idea how) always on, in another room Option 2: use a streamer or mini pc in a box. I see: - micro/ultra rendu http://www.sonore.us/ultraRendu.html - sMS-200ultra network player https://cruxaudio.com.au/products/sms-200ultra - Aurilac Aries/Vega/Mini http://www.auralic.com/en/ - Electrocompaniet Rena S-1 https://ecliving.electrocompaniet.no/rena-s-1-2/?lang=en Out of price range but look great: Lumin, Aurender, PS Audio, Linn, McIntosh, Meridian Option 3: stick with Bluesound and upgrade pre amp (from very old Integra pre/pro DHC9.9) instead. Thanks! Edited April 1, 2018 by Mike13 Update Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundfan Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 I purchased Audirvana Plus, bought a s/h MacBook to run it, and stream Tidal through it. Use a Denafrips Ares DAC. All up around $1300. The Ares won’t decode MQA to it’s supposed better quality, but I don’t care, I have great SQ for the outlay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koputai Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Meridian MS200 endpoint, Sooloos Core running on a QNAP 251 NAS, and use your existing phone or tablet as a controller with the free Meridian software. For about a grand you’re cranking. If you want to spend more, for about $1500 grab a Meridian 218. Add the same QNAP NAS. The software is all free. $2k and you’ve an awesome player and source for Tidal, all your ripped CD’s, and interweb radio too. Cheers, Jason. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike13 Posted March 31, 2018 Author Share Posted March 31, 2018 1 hour ago, soundfan said: I purchased Audirvana Plus, bought a s/h MacBook to run it, and stream Tidal through it. Use a Denafrips Ares DAC. All up around $1300. The Ares won’t decode MQA to it’s supposed better quality, but I don’t care, I have great SQ for the outlay. That is good value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike13 Posted March 31, 2018 Author Share Posted March 31, 2018 Thanks @koputai . Do you know how the Meridian differs from the Bluesound Node 2? Both stream, have MQA (presumably Meridian has a DAC) and both will do Tidal without a PC? I’ve got a Synology but mostly listen to Tidal now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjs Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 I have a Mac Mini and Audirvana+, integrates Tidal into Audirvana, works well. Mac Mini is cheap, although I feed a Luxman DAC, but you don’t have to go that far. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koputai Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 On 31/03/2018 at 11:18 PM, Mike13 said: Thanks @koputai . Do you know how the Meridian differs from the Bluesound Node 2? Both stream, have MQA (presumably Meridian has a DAC) and both will do Tidal without a PC? I’ve got a Synology but mostly listen to Tidal now. Sorry Mike, I don’t know anything about the Bluesound. The MS200 doesn’t have MQA ability unless you have SE version Meridian DSP speakers. The 218 does, and yes, it has a DAC built in giving analogue out. You would need to change your Synology NAS for a QNAP as Sooloos core won’t run on Synology. The 218 can also be used as a Roon endpoint if you were to go that way. Cheers, Jason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron. Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 I am currently directly comparing Bluesound node 2i optical (audioquest cinimon) and Coax to NAD M51 DAC vs Audiervana over network to a Panasonic UB420 Bluray with HDMI out to DAC. Without a doubt 'oddly' the network to Bluray is sounding better than Bluesound. 'Likely it's due to HDMI being a better transport option but for purposes of this post, it highlights the high quality of Audiervana over network' 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekyboy Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Hello, Michael, @Mike13, I use and can highly recommend the Bel Canto Design e.One Stream. Cheers, Keith 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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