Bluesound introduced a new series of network
players and looking at them I thought they
were pulling my leg for they look identical
to the previous models.
And then the web buzzed about drastic sound
improvements.
Time for a review.
The Node 2i is functionally equal to the old
Node 2 but with a number of features added.
So let’s start with a short description
of the Node 2 - and thus the Node 2i.
It is a network music player that gets its
music from a hard disk over USB or from a
shared map on a computer or NAS in network.
The Node 2 indexes the music in a local database
using its own software and is controlled using
a smartphone, tablet or computer.
Any normal audio format is supported up to
32 bit 192 kHz PCM plus full MQA decoding
and rendering.
Party mode is supported, just like gapless
playback of albums that have no whites between
the tracks.
The software is versatile and fast and lets
you choose your own music and music on many
streaming and internet radio services: TuneIn,
Deezer, Murfie, Qobus, Radio Paradise, Tidal,
Calm Radio, JUKE, Napster and more.
Or use the Node 2i as a Roon endpoint.
It also offers many features for system integration,
like an infrared sensor input, a 12 volt trigger
to switch on an amplifier, an analogue audio
input and an optical input - combined in one
3.5mm jack, digital out on RCA and Toslink
and a subwoofer output, next to the analogue
outputs.
Support for super duper remote controls like
those from Crestron and the like are also
supported.
Then you can learn the Node 2 to listen to
the remote control of your AV receiver.
Although the software and apps are vastly
improved over the years, watching the review
I made three years ago and the review of the
update of two years ago you get a proper idea
of the versatility of the Node 2.
Links below this video in Youtube and at the
end of this video.
As said, the Node 2i is in fact a Node 2 plus
a number of extras.
To start with, it now supports dual band A/C
Wifi.
This means that it can work on the 2.4 GHz
band but also in the 5GHz band.
The latter has a less wide range and the radio
waves travel through wall far less successfully.
That might seem a disadvantage but it isn’t.
In a time where the average household has
at least one wifi access point - in my neighbourhood
often two - it is hard to find a wifi channel
that is usable.
The newer 5 GHz band is less used since it
only is found in newer equipment.
But furthermore the 5GHz base station of your
neighbours won’t reach in your house at
the same strength 2.4 GHz would.
So interference is much lower.
Bluetooth has also been upgraded.
It now works bidirectional so you can send
music over Bluetooth to the Node 2i while
it can send music to a Bluetooth speaker or
headset.
And it now also does Qualcomm’s aptX HD,
offering 24 bit 48 kHz audio, although using
lossy compression.
And very soon Apple’s Airplay 2 will be
added through a firmware update.
The needed hardware is already present, the
firmware only waits for Apple’s approval.
Perhaps you don’t find these features interesting,
but youngsters will.
You might want to play lossless music from
your hard disk, Tidal or Qobus, but your son
- or grandson - might prefer Spotify since
he shares playlists with friends.
The lower quality is less important to him.
The Node 2i will please everyone and thus
makes it more sellable to the finance committee.
Time to have a look inside to see what’s
upgraded in the Node 2i.
Here the Node 2i and the old Node 2 side by
side and the difference is rather limited.
The power supply of the 2i looks identical
to that of the old 2.
The same goes for the left part of the main
circuit board.
Even the d/a-converters are the same, one
BurrBrown PCM 5122 per channel.
The only difference I could find is on the
right hand of the main board, where the radios
are mounted.
And that’s not strange given the new Wifi
and Bluetooth features.
Comparing the two Nodes was easy: play music
with both players grouped and both analogue
outputs connected to two line inputs on the
amp.
On my setup 3 - a sub 1000 euro stereo - the
difference in sound quality was as good as
absent and very difficult to describe.
There was a difference but it’s really minute
and I wouldn’t spend a penny on the sound
improvement.
In my 4000 euro setup 2 the difference was
somewhat clearer, especially voices sound
somewhat more open.
On my +20,000 euro setup the difference was
somewhat clearer and indeed it is the midrange
that offers somewhat more resolution, more
texture.
But to be honest, the both nodes are not made
for plus 20k stereos.
You might wonder why there is a difference
at all.
That’s hard to say.
I see only one possible reason: the radios
for wifi and bluetooth are different ones
and mounted on different spots on the circuit
board.
That might have resulted in less high frequency
noise coming from the radios.
It might also be that the extra lining of
the over is made of HF damping materials.
But now I’m really guessing.
Lat’s also mention that if you do have a
plus 10k stereo and want Bluesound functionality
then sister brand NAD offers products that
are more suited for this stereo.
In my setup 1 and 2 both Nodes are fine players
that sound musically and are free from nasties
we sometimes find in digital equipment.
The Node 2i has become an even more attractive
player because of the added features.
There are both white and black versions and
they come at 549 euros including VAT in my
country.
There also is a version that has a power amplifier
integrated and a version that holds a hard
disk and cd-drive that can rip cd’s, store
them on the hard disk and share the music
from that hard disk to the network while playing
it by itself too.
Furthermore there are wireless speakers and
a sound bar, like Sonos, Denon and many others
have for the broad market.
Like Sonos the software is of a higher level
than the competition.
Sound wise the Node 2i is at a clearly higher
level than Sonos.
I keep looking for gems like the Node 2i so
if you are interested in more of these reviews,
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I am Hans Beekhuyzen, thank you for watching
and see you in the next show or on theHBproject.com.
And whatever you do, enjoy the music.
