Guest Sime Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) Hi guys, I've decided to do a quick list of the improvements and modifications the new Node has over the original one that I have come across so far. So hopefully it may be enough for people to update over their original one. I've owned both and use them with a DAC and there's no improvement of the sound this way from the old to the new, but has it improved its onboard DAC, I don't know. If you own the older one, and have been niggled by some of the things that have been improved on the new one, it's worth the trade up. Apart from anything, it's new form factor is a benefit from the start. I was hoping the new one would index tracks faster, but it doesn't. Node 1 Node 2 Node 1 Rear Panel Node 2 Rear Panel Improvements and additions are as follows: The ability to power HDD from the unit without having to use a powered USB HUB. the original didn't have enough power to run some portable HDD. Built in Headphone amp and 3.5 mm socket in the front (has as much output as an iPhone) COAX input 3.5mm analog/optical input (comes with an adapter for 3.5mm optical) Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity aptX Arm Cortex A9 CPU 1ghz New Wifi chip for better reliability (the original was iffy) Infrared sensor that's learnable ( if you have a remote with play/pause/next track etc it can learn them) this alone is great, no need to open the app to pause a track) Play pause and previous and next track buttons on the machine itself. Infrared (IR) 3.5mm input at the back Subwoofer output Trigger out (still not sure what you'd use this for on this, Anyone?) Much easier accessibility on the rear panel. Edited December 30, 2015 by Sime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thathifiguy Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 How is the Bluesound interface/controller? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Exactly the same @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thathifiguy Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) Exactly the same @ I just mean in general, how is it to use? I've never tried Bluesound products before. Edited December 30, 2015 by Tarxman82 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Ahh sorry, yes, I think it's perfect. Once you get used to way it works, and it's easy, it becomes second nature. And it's incredibly stable. @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplifiedLife Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 I'm waiting to pick up a bluesound powernode 2 and pulse 2 when I return from holidays :-) I find the interface easy to use and love the sound quality. Just figuring out what to use the Node 1 for. Perhaps an outdoor system.. The remote control feature is a great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 (edited) After having it for a few days, I'd never go back to the square box format again. The new design is a hell of a lot better, the access to the rear panel alone is a joy. Edited January 2, 2016 by Sime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerav Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Good topic. I see the prices are dropping on the Node Gen2 now, it's under $900 now. C'mon tax time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzroyalty Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Still no USB out - that's a deal breaker for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I'm surprised they didn't include DSD and USB out in this version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplifiedLife Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) I complained about DSD to them and then remembered I only wanted it to test my system with free DSD downloads. Most people don't have much in the way of DSD music. I think adding coax was a smart move as it should keep most people happy. If they get round to releasing a battery for the pulse flex I will buy one, no... I will buy two and use them for stereo sound by the BBQ! The main challenge I see is the product line is probably more expensive than it should be to steal sonos marketshare and the 100,000 track limit puts off some potential big advocates. I'd love to see airplay, google cast, DLNA but not precious about them Edited January 5, 2016 by Randle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I'm 90,000 tracks away from their limit, so I'm not worried for the immediate future Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I thought they mentioned DOP was on the horizon. I would have thought the USB port could double up for that. I did love how the OS was smart enough to work in a cluster and organise the music on different HDDs hooked up to different Nodes/Vaults and present it as a unified library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 @@DoggieHowser how did you get that to work? I've managed to hook up both on our network as a group but they will only show one or the others library, depending on who's the slave or the master. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 @@Randle in regards to the new coax output, I've been listening to a node with optical for over a year, and have now changed to the COAX, and I won't be going back to optical. It's cleaner and more detailed, so I think....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplifiedLife Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 And they've just announced they are on the MQA band wagon for all Bluesound products including generation 1 http://www.bluesound.com/news/2016/bluesound-announces-mqa-partnership-at-ces-2016/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Someone mentioned before something about current DACs not being compatible with MQA, or is it untrue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplifiedLife Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 If you send a MQA file directly to the DAC it wouldn't work. However most streamers or specialist players on computer (like jriver) will be able to decode/unpack/unfold it and pass it on as PCM in the higher resolution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 New Bluesound Firmware and IOS app was released today, and it's a big change from the way it's always been. Let's see how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I thought Bluesound players could not get any better. Lots of improvements. I'll post some of the main ones once I've found them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronin6 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I'm downloading the update now, very keen to see how it goes. I've only had the node 2 for a fortnight, but enjoying it immensely, hopefully the app is still as user friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 They have made one very big mistake, they introduced "Smartplay" and it's a piece of crap and you can't bypass it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 The old software was rubbish personally, having had a Node and Vault in my system for a time. New software looks far better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 If they get rid of Smartplay, then I'll agree with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cafe67 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 What's smartplay ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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