Optical output from original node N100

Answered
Lawrence Wareham

https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/articles/115006191908 
https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360051355354-Node-2i-optical-out-seems-to-be-192k-24bit-from-Amazon-Music-HD 

Which ones of these posts are valid? One states, for the toslink is “the maximum output is 24 bit / 96 kHz”; the other states “Bluesound has always supported 24/192 playback via optical out dating back to the original release of the first Bluesound NODE (N100) back in late 2012”.  I have the original node N100 and any of my flac files which are over 96 kHz are badly distorted when I use an external dac which can handle these - a recently purchased ifi ZEN One Signature.  All other files and streamed MQA content is perfect.  I’ve ordered a new cable but I doubt that is the issue as it’s a QED optical cable I’ve used on other systems in the past.

0

Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • Official comment
    Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res

    24/192 is correct.

    Optical leads are very fragile and easily damaged resulting in either silence, no audio beyond 24/96 or distortions.

  • Lawrence Wareham

    Are you able to confirm you are using the N100 as I’ve just tested it with a new optical cable that works at 192 kHz on another device and I’ve tested the dac with its USB input from my DAP and it works fine. The new cable provides the same distorted audio on anything above 96 kHz.

    0
  • Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res

    You need to test the DAC with another source if possible using the optical input not USB, the N100 does playback 24/192. On the Bluesound website the specs page confirms this for you. I no longer have one but it was capable and this is detailed in many online review. Of course it’s a possibility there is a fault on your device, a factory reset can at times help with computer based audio products but you would loose ALL settings.

    What’s interesting is the the ifi product page only mentions the bitrate it supports on the coaxial input and not the optical. Could you contact them and get confirmation yours supports the higher bitrates on optical as not all DACs do.

    Your DAC supports MQA this needs to be turned on in the BluOS app. As you have an amp further down the chain assuming it has a volume control then the audio output on the Node should also be set to fixed.

     

    0
  • Lawrence Wareham

    Thanks Seppi.  I have raised a ticket (#312059) as, per your suggestion, I have confirmed with iFi audio support  that the DAC in question supports up to 32-bit/192kHz via both it's optical and coaxial input and I tested the optical input with another device at 24-bit 192kHz (sounds great) which points to the N100 as being the issue...

    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

New post