Is the Node USB output bit perfect?

Mike Imperiale
  • Edited

Just purchased a Node. I am returning my Fiio R7 (Node will replace) because when I run USB out to my Schiit Asgard Amp with Multibit DAC the signal is downconverted. 192 goes to 96 and 48 goes to “CD Quality” whatever that means. Will the BluOS be able to push bit perfect streams through the USB out so I can use my Asgard?

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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • Official comment
    Invenio

    The node has bitperfect output up to 24b/192khz.  Remember, BluOS is the software so output is going to be ultimately a hardware limitation/capability.  By the way, CD quality is 16 bit / 44 khz.

  • Mike Imperiale

    Thanks for the feedback, but this would be a software discussion and not hardware specific. The R7 operates on an Android OS platform. If I run my Apple Music app on the Android platform, we all know that the native bit stream is compressed by Android OS to 48Khz. FiiO has figured out a way to side step this OS software compression. However, the “sidestep” must occur when the data array is presented through their DAC because their software would capture that native data stream. When I use the USB output, I’m back to the Android OS controlling the USB software protocol and I get compression.

    I’m looking to understand if BlueOS has determined a way to keep the data array bit perfect when engaged with the USB protocol for output.

    And yes, CD quality is 16/44. I was commenting on the fact that the actual bit stream details were being suppressed by the software and the actual description was shown (indicating more compression).

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  • Bjørn Ulvik
    Hi-Res

    DIgital output on Bluesound players does not up-/or downsample.

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  • Invenio
    • Edited

    I actually do believe that the Node will take input higher than 24b/192khz and digital output is limited to 24b/192khz.  So in certain cases I think it can downsample.

    Regardless, the Node will output bitperfect up to 24b/192k.  This is confirmed.  I would try a different DAC.  I can't 100% recall, but I thought I have heard people having difficulty with bitperfect output specifically with some FiiO DACs.  I could be wrong.

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  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    So in certain cases I think it can downsample.

    It does not. 

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  • Invenio

    Thank you for the correction.  Out of curosity, what happens with say a 24b/320khz files is attempted to be played and you have the output via optical toslink?

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  • Nico

    I would assume it's downsampled to 192Khz.

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  • Bjørn Ulvik
    Hi-Res

    I would assume it's downsampled to 192Khz.

     

    It would not be downsampled, it would simply not play.

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