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Improving my Bluesound Node 2i

I’ve had the Node 2i for about 6 years now.  About four years ago, I upgraded my DAC from a Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M to an Audiogd NFS-1C.  It’s a simple well built unit with just high or low gain settings.  I have some kind of Kimber  Cable co-ax running between them.  I use it to stream Spotify Premium.  I know, it’s not Roon or Qobuz, but it’s always sounded good to my ears and I’ve made many playlists on it, and I’m not changing.  
 

Lately, I’ve noticed much less gain and clarity from this combination and wondered if there’s maybe a setting that’s off? I’ve also noticed that my Bluos app wasn’t the latest, so I’m upgrading the app as I write this.  Oh, and I also live in Israel so wondering if the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, David’s Arrow and other advanced missile interception technologies could somehow mess up the signal?  Pretty sure I live near where the batteries where they set off Iron Dome and David’s Sling..

Any thoughts or suggestions on this?   
 

The rest of the system is:

Onix OA-30 integrated, Audiolab 6000CDT, Nakamichi DR2, Lenco B55, Schiit Mani, Kef K140, Nordost Silver IC, Straightwire Silver ICs, Monster IL Reference 

 

Thank you for your constructive thoughts and suggestions.  Please no political, religious, or war commentary.  I didn’t ask, nor do I really care about your thoughts on those subjects.
 

(Hate having to include the last 2 sentences, but civil conversation and discourse seems to have left the room several years ago).  So, let’s stick to what we all love and cherish - the music and our audio systems. 🙂

lou_setriodes
4afsanakhan
147 posts
 

Just putting it out there, the possibility that you are experiencing radio frequency / electromagnetic interference. I suspect this because there are probably strong and constant signals being sent to and fro from Command and Control to the David’s Sling and Iron Dome systems. Surely that has to affect your network in a major way? Plus there is always the possibility that you are not getting the full uncompressed higher-res downloads from your streaming service? that might explain the quite sudden drop off in sound quality. It could be a good excuse to pull out the CD player just for the now? Also is a good excuse to go rummaging in ‘thrift’ stores for old (good shape) CDs? 
 

Be well and stay safe. 
 

knownothing
1,821 posts
 

@lou_setriodes 

The suggestion from @mulveling to enable digital pass through automatically disables the volume control in the 2i, which is the only setting I can think of that would have caused the issue you describe.

Something that has been already been suggested: bypassing the internal power supply by adding a Teddy Pardo or other external supply can yield meaningful improvements in performance of a node used as a streamer, but will be unlikely to affect the volume issue.  I am using a Node N130 with a Pardo supply and like it very much.

I have also found that sound quality from the Node generally scales up with improved coax cable quality, and I did not find a ceiling to the improvement offered in my experiments even with cables costing double what my Node cost.  YMMV.

If your difficulty is being caused by EMI from neighboring military installations, I am not sure what your options are short of trying a different streamer with better isolation or moving to a different location.

Good luck,

kn

lou_setriodes's avatar
lou_setriodes OP
727 posts
 

Posting 2nd attempt

Hi everyone, thank you all so much for all of your comments.  I tried replying last week, but somehow my comment never made it.  I no longer have a VPN and not having one makes this site not work as well.

 

I did the BluOS app update and took @mulveling suggestions and everything seems much better and back to normal now.   

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