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Any advantage to Bluesound Node 2i Versus Streaming from PC

I'm trying a loaner Bluesound Node 2i streamer which salesperson said will sound better than streaming from my PC.  I doubted this since both are just feeding a digital signal to my Amp.  It's just zeros and ones right?   I have the Bluesound connected with a decent (not high end) digital coaxial cable to my Lyngdorf 3400.  The PC is connected with a cheap USB cable to the same Lyngdorf.  The sensitivity of both inputs is set to 0dB.  The bluesound is set to fixed volume and the PC volume is set to max.  I am playing Tidal through both input devices.  I am trying to discern if there is any difference in sound quality.  When played through the amp the bluesound volume is a whole lot louder than the PC.  I have not found a way to level match the two inputs for comparison.  The bluesound sounds good and is a lot louder per any particular volume setting on the amp.  Does this mean the Bluesound is sending a better signal to the amp?  Is the  coaxial cable a better medium to transmit the  audio signal?  Is this the reason it's louder?  Could the Tidal feed through Bluesound be better than the Tidal Desktop app on my PC?  I need some help as I have to decide by Saturday whether to keep the Bluesound or return it. Other than sound quality there are only minor advantages to owning the Bluesound which don't warrant the purchase.  My amp has a built in streamer but no built in Tidal (which is the reason I'm using the PC.)
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ppack's avatar
ppack OP
26 posts
 
My Lyngdorf amp has built in streamer but does not handle Tidal or any streaming service with MQA quality. The amp is listed as “Roon ready” and Roon shows up as one of the inputs.  If I had Roon does this mean I can stream directly to the amp without going through my PC as I’m doing now?  If so what are the advantages?  I’m not terribly concerned about managing an off line library though I have some cd quality music I’ve purchased over the years. I mainly listen to Tidal. Can anyone explain how this works or provide any tips?  I hope this question is not too elementary for this forum. 
mahler123
3,024 posts
 
Lyngdorf is listed as a Roon partner.  The streamer should be able to be a Roon core and bypass the PC.  I don’t know enough about Roon to know if bypassing the PC is good or bad, perhaps you can experiment yourself.  If you DAC doesn’t do MQA then I think you only partially get the “benefits” there.  You would need the Node2 DAC, which I am guessing will otherwise be inferior to the DAC in the Lyngdorf
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,366 posts
 
The Lyngdorf would be a Roon endpoint not the core.  The core software has to run on a computer or ideally a dedicated computer like the Roon Nuclues or others that serve sole purpose of running the Roon software. Personally I think Roon is essential and I would skip on all other upgrades until getting setup and settled with Roon but that is a whole other discussion.  I have 2 node 2is and they work great and also serve the purpose of being a Roon endpoint in a couple systems where I don't have a DAC that is a Roon endpoint.  I also like that they have a volume control right on them so you can just walk up to it and raise or lower the volume as well as skip or rewind a track. 
ppack's avatar
ppack OP
26 posts
 
With Roon and my Roon ready amp with built in Streamer and playing Tidal How do the audio files get to the amp. If I’m still passing the audio files through the PC via USB what’s the advantage of “Roon ready” amp and Roon itself?  I don’t really need library management.  The DAC is within the amp.  The goal with considering Roon would be to stop passing the music files through the PC. Maybe I’m missing something. 
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,366 posts
 
The main draw with Roon is the awesome user interface as well as the sound quality is better than say iTunes.  You would have to run the roon core software on a computer then from there you can send to your DAC as a RAAT (Roon Advanced Audio Transport) which is the highest quality way to stream from Roon.  I hear it as far superior to airplay or spotify connect or Tidal even in my system.  Roon is a joy to use and explore your music far better than Tidal and it integrates Tidal so think of it as a way better Tidal user experience as well as better sound.  You can use your phone as a remote control to run roon or an iPad or a desktop app as well.  It's a little confusing to make sense of how it works. I was terribly confused when I first looked into it but I can tell you it's one thing I would never want to be without.  A roon lifetime membership is about the same price as a new node 2i
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