Long term customer loyalty
Answered
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Official comment
Hi everyone,
Just to specifically respond to Andrew’s initial post. I think you will find if you look into how we have typically updated our products over the last (almost) 12 years, we try very hard to ensure new software-based features become available to all generations. We still support our very first Node product, the N100, and it receives BluOS updates regularly.
Of course, there are features that are directly related to hardware improvements that we make with each generation. Many times, those hardware-related features cannot be applied to previous generations of the product, due to hardware limitations. This is normal in the modern world of technology. However, we try and build our products with a very future-focused specification, to keep them playing music and getting better and better for a long time after your initial purchase.
Your product specific question was about the Node N130 getting Dirac Ready and DSD support. First, Dirac. Our plan is to make Dirac Ready available on the hardware that can support it. We are still working through those details; currently the Node (N130), Node X (N131), Powernode (N330), and Powernode Edge (N230) are additional candidates for Dirac, pending certification.
Re: DSD. We anticipate being able to roll out this feature to all products that have a quad-core processor, as it is quite a processor-intensive feature. This includes all Bluesound products released since 2020, starting with the Pulse Soundbar+. Still in development testing for the previous gen models, but that’s our plan.
At this time I don’t have a specific timeline for the older models to get these features, but we will keep you updated as we know more.
Thanks for your continued support and for your great questions and comments here.
-Matt
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I don't have a boat (luckily) but I do have a Powernode 2i which I just washed thoroughly of its sticky plastic casing problem. So I am ready to rock. Bring on the updates and announcements :).
Joking aside, I think we all understand that nothing is forever. The products we buy eventually drop off the support train, and that's ok as long as there is transparency and reasonable policies in place. And I do understand that 'reasonable' may differ from one person to another, which is why transparency and openness is so important. To Andrew's point, respect is key in a long term relationship. As long as there's that (and quality of course, which goes without saying!) I am happy to do my part and contribute $ towards hardware and services to keep the train moving forward.
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I started with a second hand BlueNone traded it to a new one traded that one to a second hand powerNode
sold it and bougth a brand new powernode sold that to get an amp and the Node X.
I will consider to uppgrade to the Icon version depending on price and features. Right now I'm curious about the dual mono DAC's if this is a DAC for each channel and if that really is working perfect considering timing and so on. Everytime I upgrade I sell my older units and creates a new user for BlueSound that must be worth something.
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The Node 2i, introduced in 2018, has two DACs. Some competitor has used dual DAC design as well. Nothing new here, no reason to worry about "timing".
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Hi Gerben, I didn't know that I was thinking that the Icon was comming with two DAC's but the "new" node hasn't that feature when looking at the specs. What you are saying makes belive that my Node X should have two dac's, well I didn't know that if it's true.
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Thanks for the post Matt! Makes sense.
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Hi matt - thanks for responding promptly. Your response is exactly what was needed - excellent clarity on process going forward. It’s what i really appreciate seeing from a company that cares about its customers. And to be clear even if my node 130 does not end uo being able to use dirac live or dsd i now know i can wait to be informed of this and then decide if i wish to upgrade. It’s really helpful to understand that it’s still being considered.
Thanks again - and good luck with the new range of products - the team has obviously worked hard. The icon will be my next logical upgrade but may be a while before my budget stretches to that purchase. Its a pretty hottly contested space in this segnent but i really feel your bluos app puts you ahead of the pack👍👍
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Fishing for input here.
When using Dirac, do you suspect the built-in DAC in the blue sound icon/node will handle the signal better than an external DAC?
Also after processing will the Hi-Res/DSD signal sent to external DAC be down sampled. Thx
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Theoretically, you are re-processing the audio AFTER the DIRAC filter is applied so technically you are altering the sound afterwards.
Practically - well -that's for your ears to decide... (...but I personally wouldn't do it...)
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Are there any updates for the Dirac release date and implementation process?
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Overdue. I thought id be out on n132 release.
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I have the following but very shallow information:
...products will be "Dirac Live ready" continuously between September 2024 and February 2025.
This is a long period in general and September is already over. I guess things are not going as planned. It would be great if we'd just get some updates on how things are going regarding Dirac. Silence is never a good sign. I remember the same silence when USB-output was promised but it took a long time to release the update to provide it to endusers (Node n130 available from June 2021, firmware update for USB-out December 28 2021)
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Is there anything known about the implementation of Dirac? When will it be available for the Node Icon? I would like to know this before (pre) ordering this unit. For me this is the most important feature of the Node Icon.
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Hello all,
Any news re actual Dirac integration to Bluesound product line?
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No chance. They’ll just jerk us around for the marketing of new nodes. Then release whenever their lil hearts desire. Par for course.
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Let's be positive: Bluesound is supposed to release the Dirac functionality at some point (think I red February 2025 for at least some of the new nodes). Implementation in other Bluesound's products will come later, can be 9-18 months later maybe
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Hi all --- we're in the final stages of development of Dirac Live Ready functionality for the new NODE ICON and NODE (N132). It is not just a copy and paste of the Dirac integration done for some of our sister-brand NAD products. Once we are through testing, we will release Dirac Live Ready for these 2 products. We truly hope it will be a pre-Christmas 2024 release; that is currently our aim throughout the team.
The same functionality for Node (N130), Node X (N131), Powernode (N330) and Powernode Edge (N230) is planned for Q1 2025. They need to go through testing and certification in sequence.
Hope that helps give a bit of insight.
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A huge thank you Matt!
Demand in your user base is obviously high for that. Great to see how Bluesound is progressing. Many thanks again for all the efforts behind that and all the best for the Dirac integration!
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