Node Icon - ESS Sabre DAC Filters

Answered

Rasmus

• June 17, 2025 06:24

Hi,

Any chance that the ESS Sabre DAC built-in filters will be made available in future updates?

The slow filter the Node Icon is using as default makes music sound kinda dull and muddy.

If I recall the DAC has 6 built-in filters, so should be very easy to implement.

Br

Rasmus

0

• Official comment

  

  Tony W.

  Product Support Manager

  • June 17, 2025 12:18

  Hi Rasmus

  The ESS Sabre DAC in the Blueosund NODE, NODE NANO and NODE ICON has been implemented with a differential output design in an endeavour to cancel out as much unwanted noise as possible. Bluesound Engnieers do not implement the DAC filters in fear of altering the sound as intended.

  Instead, Bluesound Players are engineered to create a neutral tone intended to be the most faithful reproduction of the recording as intended rather than be set to an individual room or taste. We know that's not for everyone's taste so offer plenty of digital bypass options if you wish.
  
  Our recommended option is to take advantage of the NODE and NODE ICON's DIRAC capabilities and perform any corrections using the amazing technology implemented by DIRAC.
• 

  Rasmus

  • June 17, 2025 12:44
  • Edited

  Hi Tony,

  Thank you for your quick reply.

  I was hoping for another answer :)

  I’m sure a lot of people would prefer a more “swiss-army knife” approach, no rooms are the same so adjustment options are a very nice thing to have.

  Regarding Dirac, I have been using it for years, it is alright for boomy bass, but messing with high-frequencies in Dirac creates some very wierd outcome most of the time. So Dirac is not suited to fix a slow roll off filter.

  Anyway, thank you for your time.

  Br
  Rasmus

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.