Node Gen 3 future USB output
Answered
I see the new gen will have USB output via a future software update. Will that allow full unfolding of MQA with an external MQA capable DAC?
-
Bump for update. I upgraded from the node 2i to the node exclusively for usb support so that I could connect my chord Qutest to node via usb. It has now been over 3 months
4 -
Do u guys have a rough estimated time line? I have a chance to get a nice dac right now that only does mqa via usb. If the update will be in the next few months I'll jump on it. If not, I'll prob move on to something different.
3 -
Hi Thomas - no details yet, but in speaking with our Product Development Team, our intention would suggest we hope to meet your deadline of 'next few months'. I encourage you to jump away...
2 -
This feature is important for many reasons! Many people have usb only dacs. Usb input can work asynchronous allowing high end dac with femto clocks to 'time/clock' a better data stream out of the buffer. Its written on the specs of the product and that alone should engage bluesound more to that feature. Some people have high end usb cables they invested on. Some dac just sound better with usb input: many dac have high quality galvanic usb isolators plus that clocking mentionnend above. I am another customer who bought it based on the usb output specified I just wish it was taken seriously months go by and still nothing. Id like a beta version at least so I can connect it the way I intended.
2 -
Hi Chas
Our product development team continues to work on this eagerly awaited feature. We will of course announce on this thread when we have news to share.
2 -
Hi, any chance you could confirm whether USB output will be available on the node 2i with the future update?
1 -
Our planned output to USB DACs is for the new NODE N130 only - it will not be available on the NODE 2 or NODE 2i models.
1 -
Edmund Teng Bluesound do not support DSD, DSD is supported in some of the equipment by the sister company NAD.
1 -
What is the timeline for this implementation?
1 -
Yes, its been a few months now and no news on the firmware update for USB and more importantly some other serious bug fixes.
1 -
Hi Larry, the new CPU is 8 time faster hence they can send 24/192 data out of the USB bus as well as syncing that stream across multiple players (as long as your network is up to scratch) and maintain compatibility with 1st generation devices. I can’t recall but it’s over 30 BluOS devices they have to write software for.
1 -
I'm happy for you Magnus... I sold my 2i four days ago. I'm now using the ifi Zen Stream with USB output... I have no regrets
1 -
Yes, I just bought one of these today based on this feature and now I'm learning that the feature has been touted but not released for half a year now. All the you tube reviews say it can do it or will soon and they're all months old and yet "soon" ain't arrived yet. What gives? Afraid the bits will byte, hiding out in dragon lairs?
1 -
We are doing our best on point 1 Mark and will of course fulfill point 2.
1 -
If this is the prevailing thought of BSound, then I have little hope.
When implemented - it will still be 1s and 0s so there are no audible difference in quality regardless of the ouput port - T.~
This comment tells me BSound sees little value in USB output in terms of having any benefit for audio. This looks past several facts.
1) Audiophiles have the deepest pockets of any audio listening group and are more than willing to purchase products at the slightest perceived improvement in sound.
2) Not just 1s and 0s, it has been shown over and over for years their is indeed an audible difference between USB and SPDIF output
3) USB output provides an additional means of flexibility
4) USB output can improve on the digital signal to a Dac when using a high-quality converter [this method is what 99% of listeners are looking/listening for]
5) USB output will put the node in a different class of product, this single output method will give the product legitimacy as at least a potential Audiophile-grade streamer
Its just 1s and 0s, think about that when you have a drink of your bottled water....its just Hs and 0s, there will be no difference in hydration regardless of bottle or tap...besides its probably just tap water in a bottle anyway.
1 -
Technically not having USB output is indeed a hardware limitation.
According to the specs, the BSound-Node as this DAC, however it can never actually output that without USB. SPDIF has a limitation of 24/192. Furthermore, upgrading the internal Dac beyond that hardware limitation would seem to go against the 'just 1s and 0s' philosophy
DAC
32-Bit, 384kHz
Differential Output design1 -
There are 14 days left in 2021. You also have 14 days left to become a company that makes reliable products. I hope to be able to connect a new DAC to my node 3 within this year...
1 -
I will be very disappointed if there's no usb output this year. It is too late for me to return my node for a refund. @Christian Allen , what will you replace your node with?
1 -
I purchased this new Node along with a SMSL SU9 DAC for what was for me alot of money, three months ago in anticipation of the "promised future usb output". I have been following this thread very closely hoping that there will be some good news. No direct words from Bluesound, always step siding the subject. All I can say now is that I do not trust the promises of Bluesound anymore. This will be the last bluesound product I will ever buy and if I have the opportunity I will sell mine.
1 -
I think you're right Thomas, not to mention, according to BS they've been hard to keep in stock. So I guess with them 'flying off the shelves' and BS making money hand over fist, investing in USB output while keeping the price the same is not a good 'short-term' ROI move.
Nothing lasts forever though, and its not like consumers don't have choices. The tide could turn very quickly...today's boom could easily be tomorrows bust in a fickle consumer market.
1 -
My NODE feeds a Topping E50 DAC via Coax and it works perfectly fine. I get MQA rendering in the Topping E50 without a single issue. I use Roon as streaming software with Tidal and Qobuz subscriptions.
1 -
I think the ifi zen is just a side step. Been hearing it's pretty buggy as well. Going to Volumino from Blueos sounds like a nightmare to me(the reason I bought two nodes was that I was using a raspberry pi with Volumino and had enough). I'd suggest if u can live with the node for a little bit...save your money and get a lumin mini and just be done with it.
1 -
I am also very keen to get this update, although I will not be swapping to some other hardware just because it is delayed. Working for a network vendor I appreciate that new features can often suffer delays and teething troubles before they are robust enough for general release. A realistic estimate from Bluesound would be good to have though!
1 -
Couldn’t it be a legal or digital rights problem?
1 -
My last comment post... I received my ifi Zen Stream today. Took 20 minutes to setup and download updates. USB Out working well. I'm wifi streaming Amazon Music HD and using JRiver Media Center 28. Both are CD quality or better with flac files. Also Tunein Radio plays well but at a lesser audio quality. I wish you all the best of luck with your Node and I wish BlueSound the best also.
1 -
Hi everyone,
I do have some good news to share. We have the USB DAC output feature for the NODE (N130) now in its final stages of QC. Our target release date for this BluOS update is December 28th, 2021, pending positive results of our final testing phase. All signs point to you being able to use USB output from the NODE to your outboard DAC as of this date. Remember, depending on where you are in the world, this could end up being closer to Dec 29th for you.
This was a feature that we fully anticipated would be ready for the NODE’s launch in June 2021. Quite obviously, and to our collective disappointment, that didn’t happen. There are many reasons for it, but nonetheless I apologize for the lengthy delay to deliver it to you.
Tony and our Support Crew have done a great job with what little information there has been on timeline, to answer your questions to the best of their ability. They have been present here in the Community threads, as well as in individual support requests. As with any feature that we introduce, until we’re at the point where we have confidence in a release date, we don’t comment on release timing; it’s not fair to you to do so, and it’s not fair to our internal team who are working on it either.
There is one issue that some of you will need to be aware of if you’re planning to use this feature: if you are using Roon, and playing MQA files via the NODE’s USB output, there will be audio dropouts. There is currently no timeline for a fix on this. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to the Support Crew directly.
Thank you for being a Bluesound customer; thank you for your passion for great sound; and thanks for your patience as we worked out the technical development. We hope you enjoy every minute of your listening with this feature.
Best regards,
Matt1 -
Tony and our Support Crew have done a great job with what little information there has been on timeline, to answer your questions to the best of their ability. They have been present here in the Community threads, as well as in individual support requests.
Absolutely, Tony has the patience of a Saint, for sure he and the support crew has done a very commendable job.
Thank you Matt for the news.
1 -
We are still investigating but we strongly suspect it may be best to do the unfolds on your third-party devices via ROON and have the NODE be the second player in this case.
1 -
USB audio output will be supported on the NODE (N130) via a future software update. With the availability of USB audio output, we anticipate supporting MQA through a free software upgrade later. Unfortunately, we do not have an exact timeline on the final release of this feature just yet. For the latest information about firmware updates, new products, or other great news, please Follow us on Facebook, or Like us on Twitter.
0
Post is closed for comments.
Comments
83 comments