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Going from computer audio to dedicated streamer

A few days ago I purchased a Bluesound Node 2. Immediately after hooking it up I noticed a more relaxed less digital sound than I was getting from my Mac mini into my Wyred 4 Sound Dac-2. My hookup for the Mac was via a good usb cable into a Musical Fidelity Vlink192 coax into the Wyred 4 Sound. It is every bit as detailed as streaming Tidal through the Mac but is more "musical" and relaxed. An example would be on high dynamic contrasts the Mac could sound harsh and a little piercing in the highs. This was with every speaker I have owned. Not that it sounded bad overall, actually sounded quite good but I am loving this upgrade so far. No more messing with Amarra or Audirvana for me and dealing with the associated crashes etc.   
I am curious of others experiences good or bad moving away from computer audio to something else.
Also is anyone running an external hard drive with their music collection and running though the Bluesound or similar device and how is that working out?   
mofojo
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,280 posts
 

Hello mofojo - 
Curious if you have tried running digital out from the BlueSound Node into the V-Link and then to the W4S vs BlueSound going right to your W4S DAC. 

I went from a MacBook Air >> V-Link >> Gungnir, then switched to an Aries Mini.  Wasn't too impressed with the Aries direct to the Gungnir but when I put the V-Link back in the path, the sound improved greatly.  

My CDP hardly gets any use these days.  Listening mostly to ripped ALAC, Tidal or Spotify via the Aries>>V-Link>>Gungnir.  
mofojo OP
2,171 posts
 
ghosthouse
The Vlink 192 only has a USB input. I definitely would try this if possible but the Node 2 does not have a USB output. I am considering a wyred4sound remedy for this. The digital out from the Bluesound seems pretty clean but I'm sure could be improved with convertor. Since you are hearing an improvement makes me more curious to try one.
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ncarv
983 posts
 
Why do you need the Vlink? Can't you run the Node directly into the W4S with coax or toslink? I'm also curious of the result, too.
mofojo OP
2,171 posts
 
Yes I am currently running the node directly into the w4s via coax. The Vlink or similar reclocking device is to improve the jitter before entering the DAC. Sounds very good as is but I am curious if any improvement could be made with a device like this.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,280 posts
 
@mofojo
Gosh, don’t be spending any more money on my say so ! :-)

I was just curious if you might have tried the V-Link in the path and to find out if I was alone in thinking it made a difference.

It has been a good while since I first hooked up the Aries. Things are getting a little fuzzy. I’m pretty sure I first tried it with coax out direct to the Gungnir. While the Aries Mini DOES have a USB out, my Gungnir does not have USB in. (Hence the V-Link) Thinking a simpler more direct path would be better, I went with coax out from the Aries when I first got it.

What is NOT getting fuzzy is that I was initially disappointed with the Aries>>Gungnir sound compared to the MacBook>>V-Link>>Gungnir. The sound was kind of thin (best I know how to describe it). For whatever reason it occurred to me to try the V-Link in the path using the USB out from the Aries. What a relief ! The sound really came alive...much more fleshed out and (dynamic?). Maybe it’s due to jitter (lack thereof) but I was thinking something else at play. It wasn’t a subtle improvement.

Anyway , if you can get that W4S Remedy with an in-home trial period, would be an interesting experiment. I’d be very curious what you think.

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