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[help] I'm too Boomer to stream. :-(

So I purchased a Bluesound node 2i after a previous discussion here. Now I can't get the node or BluOs program to recognize my music on other laptops that are on my same wifi.  When my laptop and hard drive was connected to my Parasound Zdac, I could usb the computer into the dac, and use an optical cable from my tv out to the dac.  The node doesn't seem to have a way to allow my tv into the node's dac (my tv only has optical & hdmi out for sound) & node has no inputs for hdmi or toslink) so I'm stuck with the dac of the node for streaming music and the zdac for tv audio with the two different analog outputs from 2 different dacs going into my integrated amp. I'm frustrated and feel like I spent this money for a ghetto rig, plus I can't even make libraries , etc. Totally confused and have tried making everthing "dicoverable " on network setting to no avail. So lost, angry, sad, confused and frustrated. And I swear to god if millerwhoever says I should have bought a tricked out fuse or dumb little cone, I'm gonna lose my s***.
128x128labguy
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,547 posts
 
I feel for you, labguy. I’m a computer phobic luddite who’s content to play my CDs for the foreseeable future. Being my own DJ and having access to tons of music I never listen to with all the liner notes and recommendations to other music I have no interest in never appealed to me.

It all kinda reminds me of the days when FM was varied, diverse, and expansive, and there was lots of competition for radio space with extensive playlists. And, it was all free. Now the model is how to extract more money from your pockets, and how to hype it.

But then, I have gotten more cynical with age. I’m sure someone will chime in and rescue you from your predicament soon enough. By the way, none of this was meant to rub it in: it’s just how I feel about it.

All the best,
Nonoise
gadios
94 posts
 
One year ago I jumped into streaming as a totally Techno-challenged person and had to quit in frustration. Tried Tidal then Qobuz. The non-support was pervasive.
Sold the Roon and said to myself when a major player gets involved
I will look into it again. Now 9 months later its Amazon. I can stream for free using my laptop. F-Roon and all their BS. Tidal and Qobuz can go straight to Hades as well. Now that felt goood!!

labguy's avatar
labguy OP
82 posts
 
Well at least I'm not alone, but I really had hopes of cleaning up my system, and not having to use 2 damn dacs. I have terabytes of Flac files and rare live concerts on external hard drives of my laptop.When I try to add a local share from a network (laptop wireless from router/modem on same wifi) I get asked to authenticate with my password, and then It won't accept the drive as the folder path, and I cant highlight 100+ folders at a time, and there is way too many to do it individually entering a password for each album folder. This is years of collection. On an upside, the internet radio stuff is cool, but I'd like to have access to my vast collection, not buy a streamer just for radio stations.
zyphryx's avatar
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zyphryx
128 posts
 
I'm relieved to hear I'm not the only one in this boat. I just added my first streamer/DAC and while it was a frustrating experience at first (still kinda is) I encourage you to hold out if you can. I've been using an iPad to interface with the streamer, Tidal, and Qobuz and while it is far from perfect I feel like I'm narrowing in on some form of cohesion. I figure that I've invested so much in my gear that I owe it to myself to take advantage of the high res files. Do you have access to a low voltage contractor or a theater installer? I called up one out of desperation and for less than $100 he sorted the whole thing out.
Personally I think our generation is conditioned to solving everything from scratch but software these days seems to be dumbed down to the point where it's almost unusable. Best of luck whichever way you go.
mahler123
3,031 posts
 
I am pretty Computer Phobic, and have made some expensive mistakes trying to learn, but at least I have Bluesound running in my house, and added a Bryston BDP3 streamer in my main system, and have a NAS set up.  All of which is a prelude for saying that in our little group posting on this thread so far, that in the Land of The Blind, the One Eyed Man is King.  So,, until someone who knows what the Heck they are doing chimes in, let me try to help and hopefully not send you further down the Rabbit Hole.
   I am pretty confused by the OP.  It seems like you are trying to use
the DAC of the Node 2i but also use the ZDac.  Why?
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