HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

I’ve got three Bluesound Node 2i’s, all with the latest greatest power board and power supply upgrades.

They sound good, but my CD Players wipes the floor with them. Just better sounding all round.

Oddly, in each Hifi system, they all feed into the same DAC (Topping D90, D90SE, and D70 Velvet). So in theory should sound the same, but just don’t.

Thinking I might need a better streamer. Maybe it’s time to save up from an Innuous Zen…

Using Tidal Hifi, and Apple Music.

We haven't bought a cd in ages, all our cd's have been ripped and new stuff comes via Qobuz.

I am (surpise, suprise!) still buying loads of CD's. Prices are low at the moment, also new releases are cheaper than a couple of years ago. My vinyl addiction seems to have been Covid/lockdown-related as I haven't bought an LP in ages.

The 'Collector' in me still needs physical media, a feeling of ownership, even though I immediately rip all CD's for network playback. There is also the sense of gratitude to the artist - they earn peanuts from streaming services and need the revenue from CD's and LP's to be able to go on doing what they do.

If you like an artist or band - BUY THEIR ALBUMS!

You know it make sense.

Frankly, I've always been of the opinion that it's not the medium that's the limiting feature of the sound but the reproduction chain. 16/24 is about as good as it gets. You can't hear anything better. And before anyone leaps down my throat, most of the higher resolution formats have been remixed so not comparing like to like.

For example, I was listening to an old Simon and Garfunkel album and the best it could be called is muddy. The newer they got, the better the resolution.

I still buy CD's but don't have a dedicated CD player. They all get ripped and stored. They get played through a variety of streamers/DAC's around the house.

I do buy higher res stuff from Qobuz from time to time but it has to either be an album that I absolutely love, but don't already have a remaster of, or a new LP by an artist I can trust to not put out a lemon.

I don't stream at all, our internet is antediluvian, and the prospects of being upgraded are up there with finding an honest politician.

TheMarlin wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:17 pm I’ve got three Bluesound Node 2i’s, all with the latest greatest power board and power supply upgrades.

They sound good, but my CD Players wipes the floor with them. Just better sounding all round.

Oddly, in each Hifi system, they all feed into the same DAC (Topping D90, D90SE, and D70 Velvet). So in theory should sound the same, but just don’t.

Thinking I might need a better streamer. Maybe it’s time to save up from an Innuous Zen…

Using Tidal Hifi, and Apple Music.

Honestly, please try other options. The field has moved on hugely since Zen was released; there are better performing options available for less cost.

George Hincapie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 11:21 am

TheMarlin wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:17 pm I’ve got three Bluesound Node 2i’s, all with the latest greatest power board and power supply upgrades.

They sound good, but my CD Players wipes the floor with them. Just better sounding all round.

Oddly, in each Hifi system, they all feed into the same DAC (Topping D90, D90SE, and D70 Velvet). So in theory should sound the same, but just don’t.

Thinking I might need a better streamer. Maybe it’s time to save up from an Innuous Zen…

Using Tidal Hifi, and Apple Music.

Honestly, please try other options. The field has moved on hugely since Zen was released; there are better performing options available for less cost.

What do you recommend?
Eager to lean more.
Cheers
Marlin

I have got a valve buffer system. I might put the Bluesound and DAC through it to see if it livens up the signal.

I think the output from the streamer must be at a lower level somehow to the CD Transport, as CD’s
Sound so much more energetic.

To be fair, a good vinyl pressing sounds amazing, but one album in 10 is worth listening to on vinyl. Most of the new pressing I’ve bought have been underwhelming.

I went through a phase of buying loads of 2nd hand CD's.
Most of it was 1995 onwards releases. And therefore compressed to high heaven.

After a while I got fatigued by so much dynamic compression.

CD's of 1950's to 1980's albums. I've found that I need to be so careful in buying the right release. I hate remasters, which invariably means "We've compressed this classic album to high heaven. Aren't we clever!"

Lindsayt wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 8:27 pm I went through a phase of buying loads of 2nd hand CD's.
Most of it was 1995 onwards releases. And therefore compressed to high heaven.

After a while I got fatigued by so much dynamic compression.

CD's of 1950's to 1980's albums. I've found that I need to be so careful in buying the right release. I hate remasters, which invariably means "We've compressed this classic album to high heaven. Aren't we clever!"

I routinely use the Dynamic Range Library that you posted about.

The other day, I was looking up some Fairport albums. It turned out that a cheap box set of 5 of their albums (which I bought new for £12) had better DR than any of the remasters that are now on sale for £12 each.

The DRL is definitely a useful resource when trying to work out which release to buy.