The Bluesound Node 2 in my system links the FLAC ripped and verified music library stored on my NAS to an all tube sound system. The Node 2's interface software is run on an Android tablet which is adds convenience.
An audiophile friend Bluetooth's his smart phone to the Node 2 to share new music with me (which has led to more than one purchase).
One useful feature is shuffle which plays music I rarely listen to anymore. It's like accidental reunions when running into old friends! Good times. There's a lot of very cool, gee-whiz stuff in this tiny box!
The Bluesound's DAC is decent, though it lent a certain brittleness to my main system's sound. The brittleness wasn't noticeable on my less resolving retro-gear office system. The Node 2's hardware is fairly well thought out and the unit has a variety of output connectors. Connecting the Node 2 via coaxial digital audio cable to the digital input of my Opus 21's CD player's DAC cleaned up the brittleness nicely. For serious listening I still use the Opus. It just sounds more analog.
Unfortunately, though the hardware is sound (pardon the pun), it comes with an inexcusable downside. In the three years the Node2 has been in my system there have been three of what I consider P2 issues with their software/firmware. The factory tech support group is 0-for-3 in resolving them. Given the nature of the problems I will cut them some slack, but their inadequate responses exposes a lack of sophistication in their tech support group. Even that can be forgiven to a certain degree.
What can't be forgiven is that when they ran out of simple suggestions (and nothing I hadn't already tried), Bluesound resorted to blaming the end user for the problem. Their condescending attitude and comments did little other than to add fuel to the fire. That I eventually found workarounds for each of the problems on my own emphasizes Bluesound's tech support's ineptitude. To be clear, I'm not doing anything outside what Bluesound CLAIMS to support in their product specifications. Someone with a simpler setup or problems might be happy with their service. I'm not.
By profession and avocation I am a techie with deep and wide experience. I recognize and appreciate good support. As a downside, those leave me sorely disappointed with any vendor with poor technical service. Even moreso with tech who haven't been trained in how to work with customers. Luckily, I rarely encounter this kind of problem.
For now the Node 2 remains in my system. It's even playing right now. For me it's been a mixed bag of good and bad. YMMV.
The Bluesound's DAC is decent, though it lent a certain brittleness to my main system's sound. The brittleness wasn't noticeable on my less resolving retro-gear office system. The Node 2's hardware is fairly well thought out and the unit has a variety of output connectors. Connecting the Node 2 via coaxial digital audio cable to the digital input of my Opus 21's CD player's DAC cleaned up the brittleness nicely. For serious listening I still use the Opus. It just sounds more analog.
Unfortunately, though the hardware is sound (pardon the pun), it comes with an inexcusable downside. In the three years the Node2 has been in my system there have been three of what I consider P2 issues with their software/firmware. The factory tech support group is 0-for-3 in resolving them. Given the nature of the problems I will cut them some slack, but their inadequate responses exposes a lack of sophistication in their tech support group. Even that can be forgiven to a certain degree.
What can't be forgiven is that when they ran out of simple suggestions (and nothing I hadn't already tried), Bluesound resorted to blaming the end user for the problem. Their condescending attitude and comments did little other than to add fuel to the fire. That I eventually found workarounds for each of the problems on my own emphasizes Bluesound's tech support's ineptitude. To be clear, I'm not doing anything outside what Bluesound CLAIMS to support in their product specifications. Someone with a simpler setup or problems might be happy with their service. I'm not.
By profession and avocation I am a techie with deep and wide experience. I recognize and appreciate good support. As a downside, those leave me sorely disappointed with any vendor with poor technical service. Even moreso with tech who haven't been trained in how to work with customers. Luckily, I rarely encounter this kind of problem.
For now the Node 2 remains in my system. It's even playing right now. For me it's been a mixed bag of good and bad. YMMV.