Bluesound Owners & Discussion Thread

[Guest]

My suggestion then is to keep things as simple as possible i.e. use  BlueOS  (which I like).  Airplay is CD quality (16/44.1) but by using it, you are adding one more layer of complexity.

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

1 hour ago, Danhifi said:

Thanks - have tried both. 

 

 It’s a new system and the Blue Node is the only input source I have so not easy to tell what the ‘right’ sound it. 

 

The two methods sound different to my ears but I was hoping someone would know whether with AirPlay the phone is the source and whether that adds a layer of compression/compromise. Thanks. 

Yes the phone is the source, the only reason I'd choose airplay over using the node as the source would be if the content you want to listen to is only on your phone and not accessible from the node direct, for everything use the node for what it's made for. 

[Guest]

USB drive into the node, that will always sound better, forget airplay, and enjoy. 

[Juzbear]

I do not have the blue sound player, but another thing that can be an issue is that tidal via your phone will usually have a gap between songs, where it pauses for half a second or so. Some inbuilt tidal players don't have the gap. If you are listening to most modern song bases music, it probably doesn't matter to you, though if your music continues from one track to the next without a break, it can be annoying. 

 

I would vote for the blue sound method, on the grounds that you can get the MQA tracks from tidal to the node to be decoded, whereas I do not think airplay limits this. As to whether you can hear the difference, I will leave that up to your ears.

[theoldnic]

18 hours ago, Danhifi said:

Hi folks,

 

Could anyone tell me pls. Is there a difference between:

 

1) playing a song on my Node 2i using the BluOS app on my IPhone using the Tidal service, and

 

2) opening the Tidal app on the same IPhone and playing the song using AirPlay to select my Node 2i as the player. 

 

Does anyone definitevely know the answer? I’m wondering whether

 

- in scenario 1. - the Node plays the song from the Network internet connection, and perhaps

- in scenario 2, the phone uses its internet connection to receive the song and then streams it to the node. 

 

In any event, say it’s a Master or HIFI quality song on Tidal, is there any difference in quality between 1 and 2?

 

Many thanks for your help.

Just a quick point here, some companies just can fall foul of "pirating" if it's done well enough.

Of quality, that too may be more version mix if there is any difference and the copy is legal or pirated.

 

Too again, if the apps are actually different software sets as players, bit rates may be different for either the softwares or the output hardware decoder device as assigned by either software players.

Edited April 1, 2019 by theoldnic

[perthpete]

@JakeyB - Just a note of thanks for introducing me to the wolfman washington. WOW!!!!!!

Wow, can I just say: ME TOO!!. Listened to the first song of that album thinking, yeah allright.... then heard “Even Now”... bloody fantastic!

[Guest jakeyb77]

2 minutes ago, perthpete said:

Wow, can I just say: ME TOO!!. Listened to the first song of that album thinking, yeah allright.... then heard “Even Now”... bloody fantastic!

The album Sada is beautiful. There are hits and misses in his career but more hits I like to think. Thanks for letting me know 

[Guest thathifiguy]

I think it is worth highlighting that although it is very easy to point the finger towards the streaming hardware when issues arise, IME 98% of issues related to music streamers (not exclusively Bluesound) are network or IP related.

 

 

[Guest jakeyb77]

9 minutes ago, thathifiguy said:

I think it is worth highlighting that although it is very easy to point the finger towards the streaming hardware when issues arise, IME 98% of issues related to music streamers (not exclusively Bluesound) are network or IP related.

 

 

How so if every other device in your home is streaming 4K or other information perfectly and that one piece of hardware is the only one having issues? The IP is targeting certain brands? 

Is there something I’m missing there? 

Genuine question as I’m not against the Bluesound. I love it actually. When it’s working fine 

[Guest jakeyb77]

Ps my problem seems to have been fixed also. Assuming Tidal/Bluesound have sorted it.

 

MQA playing fine now 

Edited April 3, 2019 by jakeyb77

[Guest thathifiguy]

2 hours ago, jakeyb77 said:

How so if every other device in your home is streaming 4K or other information perfectly and that one piece of hardware is the only one having issues? The IP is targeting certain brands? 

Is there something I’m missing there? 

Genuine question as I’m not against the Bluesound. I love it actually. When it’s working fine 

Your 4K video streaming which I assume is done in app via either Plex, VLC, Netflix etc on a hardware device such as an Apple TV or Smart TV.

 

In this case the relationship between the software and the hardware is symbiotic, it exists within the device.

 

Bluesound (and other music streamers) is/are controlled externally via an App. I.e. You are sending commands to the hardware via a device that has an entirely different IP address to the hardware.

 

To clarify, I wasn't calling out your issue specifically. I just saw a lot of complaints that things weren't working properly and highlighting the fact in the majority of cases, the issue is network related.

 

 

Edited April 3, 2019 by thathifiguy
Trying to make better sense

[Guest jakeyb77]

9 hours ago, thathifiguy said:

Your 4K video streaming which I assume is done in app via either Plex, VLC, Netflix etc on a hardware device such as an Apple TV or Smart TV.

 

In this case the relationship between the software and the hardware is symbiotic, it exists within the device.

 

Bluesound (and other music streamers) is/are controlled externally via an App. I.e. You are sending commands to the hardware via a device that has an entirely different IP address to the hardware.

 

To clarify, I wasn't calling out your issue specifically. I just saw a lot of complaints that things weren't working properly and highlighting the fact in the majority of cases, the issue is network related.

 

 

No, thanks for the response. I was genuinely asking as I’m not all over this network stuff. 

[Guest thathifiguy]

10 hours ago, jakeyb77 said:

No, thanks for the response. I was genuinely asking as I’m not all over this network stuff. 

There is actually a post in the thread regarding Apple TV app not communicating with an Apple TV (same principle) whereby one member can't get his app to control the Apple TV via ethernet connection, only wi-fi. Similarly, this issue is network related.

[rantan]

OK, I admit this is an old thread revival but I need some advice.

 

It has come to my attention that I have mountains of CDs that are just laying about everywhere and my CD players are ageing. I don't intend to sell either the discs or the players, but I am looking for something along the line of the Bluesound vault, which I understand has internal storage capability.

 

Vinyl will still be my main medium.

 

I don't need multi room capability.

 

What I want is a very high quality ripper/server/"storer" that does not need any computer involvement and one which will just connect to my existing audio system  and play directly through that system, using my Galaxy tab as a controller.

 

I admit to being a complete novice in this area and although I obviously understand the way these things work, I am not acutely aware of the nuances involved here.  I just want something that combines great sound quality with elegant simplicity and my Google searches have not come up with many options except the Vault and the "cocktail" brand which I know is not very good at all.

 

Opinions would be appreciated .

 

Edit: @Darren69, would your previously listed Naim Uniti Core serve my purpose?

 

Edited April 30, 2019 by rantan

[Guest thathifiguy]

16 minutes ago, rantan said:

OK, I admit this is an old thread revival but I need some advice.

 

It has come to my attention that I have mountains of CDs that are just laying about everywhere and my CD players are ageing. I don't intend to sell either the discs or the players, but I am looking for something along the line of the Bluesound vault, which I understand has internal storage capability.

 

Vinyl will still be my main medium.

 

I don't need multi room capability.

 

What I want is a very high quality ripper/server/"storer" that does not need any computer involvement and one which will just connect to my existing audio system  and play directly through that system, using my Galaxy tab as a controller.

 

I admit to being a complete novice in this area and although I obviously understand the way these things work, I am not acutely aware of the nuances involved here.  I just want something that combines great sound quality with elegant simplicity and my Google searches have not come up with many options except the Vault and the "cocktail" brand which I know is not very good at all.

 

Opinions would be appreciated .

 

I think this would pretty much fit the bill Rantan. You could look at others like Cocktail Audio, but IME I have found them to be entirely clunky.

 

The thing is with the Bluesound gear is that it just works and it works well.

 

[Darren69]

Hey @rantan

 

the Naim Uniti Core is excellent, am keeping it now.  

 

The only thing I find is that for some reason or another, it stops seeing the NAS backup every now and then but I just marry them back up again through the I-Pad app and all is good. I believe the Bluesound is also very intuitive but the Naim unit is built far more robustly, if you need that, haha.

 

So three things you need to consider with digital files.

 

Backup, backup and backup.

[betty boop]

30 minutes ago, rantan said:

It has come to my attention that I have mountains of CDs that are just laying about everywhere and my CD players are ageing. I don't intend to sell either the discs or the players, but I am looking for something along the line of the Bluesound vault, which I understand has internal storage capability.

yep am not selling my disc or players... infact got a player last weekend that might take me out

 

the blue sound do indeed work. if want an all in one thing the vault is worth getting as wont involve a computer...

yes certainly look at Darrens uniti suggestion

 

one thing to do if can is get a feel for the apps on these things .... you might prefer one from other ....

 

ah yes you do have some network things with the blue sound as well.... where you have to send it off to find itself

 

not happened for a while though... and yes there are firmware updates.....

 

[rantan]

1 minute ago, Darren69 said:

Hey @rantan

 

 

So three things you need to consider with digital files.

 

Backup, backup and backup.

Hi Daz. Thanks mate and you are, of course, correct.

 

This is exactly why I have avoided this type of device so far. I really don't want three or four hard drives laying around in case one fails and undoes all my time in ripping the CDs in the first place.

My physical media,, both black and silver never need such things.

[rantan]

4 minutes ago, betty boop said:

yep am not selling my disc or players... infact got a player last weekend that might take me out

 

the blue sound do indeed work. if want an all in one thing the vault is worth getting as wont involve a computer...

yes certainly look at Darrens uniti suggestion

 

one thing to do if can is get a feel for the apps on these things .... you might prefer one from other ....

 

ah yes you do have some network things with the blue sound as well.... where you have to send it off to find itself

 

not happened for a while though... and yes there are firmware updates.....

 

Thanks Al.

 

I think I am already becoming aware why I haven't done this before. I would also love to know what your new CD spinner is and I would also like something to take me out (just love that )

[betty boop]

2 minutes ago, rantan said:

Thanks Al.

 

I think I am already becoming aware why I haven't done this before. I would also love to know what your new CD spinner is and I would also like something to take me out (just love that )

 

 

 

[anandpkumar]

One thing to keep in mind with the Bluesound or the Naim unit is the file tagging of the ripped CDs. If you already have digital files in your collection, and you copy these to the new unit (either Vault or Naim), then the unit may not be able to re-tag these files in the same manner as the ripped CDs. I know that the Naim unit has this issue - not sure about the vault. Just something to keep in mind while considering these units

[rantan]

1 minute ago, anandpkumar said:

One thing to keep in mind with the Bluesound or the Naim unit is the file tagging of the ripped CDs. If you already have digital files in your collection, and you copy these to the new unit (either Vault or Naim), then the unit may not be able to re-tag these files in the same manner as the ripped CDs. I know that the Naim unit has this issue - not sure about the vault. Just something to keep in mind while considering these units

Thanks for that.

I don't have any  digital files at all, in my collection, only CDs.

[Guest thathifiguy]

16 minutes ago, anandpkumar said:

One thing to keep in mind with the Bluesound or the Naim unit is the file tagging of the ripped CDs. If you already have digital files in your collection, and you copy these to the new unit (either Vault or Naim), then the unit may not be able to re-tag these files in the same manner as the ripped CDs. I know that the Naim unit has this issue - not sure about the vault. Just something to keep in mind while considering these units

I believe you can still adjust metadata (if required) via Media Monkey

[H.E. Pennypacker]

One thing to keep in mind... Depending In your genre, Tidal may well have everything you own streaming at CD (or better) quality.

Edited April 30, 2019 by furtherpale

[Pops110]

Copy and pasted my answer from another thread.

 

 

I have had the vault 2i in my system since Christmas and I must say I'm very happy with it. I have never really been that keen on the streaming side of things before but being able to explore new music say on Tidal and having all my music at my fingertips won me over in the end.

I got a great deal locally in the boxing Day sales, great local service, advice and ongoing support from West Coast Hifi was an added bonus.

The unit definitely isn't cheap but for an absolute computer numpty like myself it is well worth the extra coin. Unpack, plug it in and chuck a cd in and all the work is done for you. The streaming side of things with Tidal was an absolute breeze as well, I have been looking for and listening to some great new music so I'm stoked.

Yes you could spend a hell of a lot less to get the same outcome, but the convenience and having a onebox plug and play solution is well worth it for myself.

I have been very impressed with the sound quality as well. I'm not running an external dac so only using the inbuilt dac and I think it's a winner. I have a Meridian cd player that I still think sounds better but it is very close. I don't feel that I'm missing much not using the Meridian. An external dac will be on the cards at some stage but it's not a priority.

One last thing is the missus is happy with how it looks and sounds and also has no problem using it. Bonus 

Hope this helps a little.

Cheers Dave.