Sub Output Weak after update

Answered
Rashad Castilla

I just updated BluOS app to latest version. I am using Node 2 via analog to Denon receiver. Before the update, bass output was strong. Now it sounds as if the sub is barely on. The sub is connected by RCA cable to the receiver. To make sure the issue was not the sub itself, I tested it with the HEOS app and the bass is still strong. But obviously no MQA through Heos. Any suggestions on a fix or will there be another update to fix this? I’m sure I’m not the only one having this problem. This update just came out today I believe

1

Comments

71 comments

Date Votes
  • Official comment
    Sam R.
    • Edited

    Hello Rashad, 

    The update released yesterday was not for the app, rather it was for the BluOS firmware itself. This update did not include any changes to the audio decoding.

    In any case, I have run some tests regarding this my Node here and do not find any discrepancy between the SUBW OUT output between the two versions. 

    I would recommend disconnecting the sub cable from both ends (Node and other end), rebooting the Node and sub, and then reconnecting the cable to see if that resolves the issue.

    Regards,
    Sam R.

    Edit: for all generation Powernodes, the Subwoofer output was dropped to meet DOLBY mix requirements in 3.10.

    To adjust for this change, please increase the gain of your subwoofer by 15db.

    For all other model Bluesound players, please see my above comments. 

    Edit 4: Paraphrasing Tony W.:

    Within the next 24 hours, your BluOS Player should prompt for an upgrade to install (BluOS v3.10.3) via the BluOS Controller app. We are pleased to announce we have restored the SUBWOOFER output on the POWERNODE to the original output setting.

    If you do not automatically receive a notification to upgrade, please manually check for this via Help > Upgrade (Player).

    Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

    As a heads-up, please turn down your gain on your SUB before installing this update.
  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Thank you all for your continued patience - we have heard your feedback and are reviewing audio output levels now. Our Engineering Team expects to provide a resolution for testing in the coming day. We are on track for a release as quickly as possible. I will continue to keep you posted.

    3
  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Hi Leighton

    I honestly was just about to update everyone on this...

    We are in the process of testing a maintenance release with this issue (along with two other unrelated glitches we saw with 2 NODE models). We would like to run these over the weekend here for additional testing but expect a release in the first half of next week which we hope you will be pleased with.

    Thanks, everyone for your continued patience and for #LivingHiFi.

     

    3
  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Good morning everyone

    Within the next 24 hours your BluOS Player should prompt for an upgrade to install BluOS 3.10.3. We are pleased to announce we have restored the SUBWOOFER output on the POWERNODE to the original output setting.

    Thanks for your patience and understanding.

    ...and as Dan Kinney suggested above, please turn down your gain on your SUB before installing.

    3
  • leighton.klassen

    rgarner83 - this is absolutely ridiculous. My local audio shop has a call into their Bluesound rep to investigate. After your comment - I'm a bit nervous. I mean all Bluesound has to do is actually test a Powernode 2i with a sub and they will immediately understand. This is ludicrous - my focal 706s produce more base than my expensive JL sub does right now.   

    2
  • rgarner83
    • Edited

    Tony W. - I don't want you to think this is a self imposed deadline that I came up with out of thin air. This is the deadline for return of the Powernode 2i to my seller. After that I am stuck with the product and at the mercy of BlueSound for updates. It is just scary because I just got the Powernode 2i and have already hit a major wall. You have to put yourself in the customers shoes. Please consider a beta program for users that want to try new software but leave your core users on stable working software. 

    Also, I own a few Dolby certified sound systems and I do not ever remember bass from my subwoofer being a problem or the signal being so weak it will not auto power a subwoofer. There is a solution work with the industry to understand it and give us constant updates as a sign that we are being prioritized. Believe me I want the Powernode 2i to work for me, otherwise I would have moved on already. 

    2
  • Bruce
    • Edited

    Tony,

    While your development team considers the needs of Powernode users using it as a hi res stereo amp, please keep in mind that the Powernode will never be able to output 5 channels of direct hi res sound. Those of us humble audiophiles have AVR receivers with dedicated channels (5.1 +) for that purpose. Even the Node can only pass 2 channels to the AVR. No self-respecting critical listener that I know ever bothers with manipulation of the sound that DSP generated surround from a 2 channel source create. I have Dolby mastered 5.1 channel hi res files that my AVR can properly decode for that purpose; but the 2 channel Powernode or Node will never be able to fulfill that role without incorporating "surround" profiles that generally sound awful.

    2
  • Kristoffer
    • Edited

    How is this problem coming along?

    I have a new B&W 2.1 hi-end system consisting of a pair of 805D3 stand mounts and a new B&W DB4S sub.

    In the B&W app the gain is set to it's maximum setting +10dB. And there is almost no movement whatsoever from the sub driver. Even tried with a custom Eq curve in the B&W app with all the sliders set to max and also the gain to max +10dB.

    Almost no bass anyway....

    Tried yesterday with a Audioquest y- splitter to both the R-L inputs, very little change, perhaps some more bass but still almost not noticeable.

    This needs to be changed right now. The 1900$ DB4S can be used as a chair now!!!

    Remember that all subs do not have knobs on the back!

    Br:Kris from Sweden

    2
  • Ken

    It should be clear by now that the 3.10.0 firmware update essentially crippled an otherwise great piece of audio gear.  It changed the characteristics of the Powernode to the extent that many buyers would have stayed away, had that been the state at purchase.

    This situation is very unfortunate and must be addressed ASAP.

    2
  • leighton.klassen

    Thanks Tony W for the update. Great to hear the Engineering Team is working on a resolution. Please keep us posted.

    2
  • Kristoffer

    Thank's Tony! 

    2
  • leighton.klassen
    • Edited

    Hi Tony,

    Excellent news. Thanks for the quick response and update. Hoping everything goes smooth with the testing. Really appreciate the team addressing this and working toward a timely fix. Thx again.
    —Leighton

    2
  • Su

    Even before this update, the sub will not wake up from standby mode, which mean the powernode 2i has very low level signal problem here, my other amp/receiver don't have this problem, I have found this specific issue only in powernode 2i. Reset to factory and reboot does not fix this issue at all, even using the equalizer does not fix this problem.

    1
  • Su

    My subwoofer gain is MAXED and I can barely feel any bass at all, this is a joke

    1
  • Frédéric Doucet

    Hello Bluesound support crew,

    the subwoofer output level is a real problem, my Bluesound DUO 2.1 sub is now almost useless...

    A very similar s/w version error also happened 3 years ago. Introduced in version 2.14.0 (-9 dB drop) and resolved in version 2.14.5 (December 2017).

    Tony W. was my main Bluesound support contact at the time on my support crew request #53851. Or refer to this community post https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115008292207-Sub-level-went-missing-after-last-update.

    Please correct the Bluesound firmware!

    Thanks

    1
  • rgarner83
    • Edited

    As far as I know (Definitely not an expert) most subwoofers do not have a 15db gain. Most do 10-12 that I have owned, some only 6. Not to mention most of us need that gain reserved for more headroom, some older music has weak bass. We should not have to max out our settings for subpar bass, this is not acceptable. 

    1
  • Ken

    Hi Tony W.

    The problem is that the weak sub-out signal does not even trigger the sub to power up.  Increasing gain on an off sub does not help.  Even after forcing the sub to power up by playing a strong bass track, the sub would go back to sleep after a while.

    Perhaps you can add an option just for set-ups that require following the Dolby standard.

    Thanks.

     

    1
  • leighton.klassen

    Hi Tony W,

    Just wanted to check in - can you provide an update on progress / estimated firmware date? Thanks,
    -Leighton

    1
  • Dan Kinney

    I hope that when the fix is made for the Powenode sub output level Bluesound adds a warning for all the poor people that adjusted their sub levels to compensate for a ridiculous software"fix" to meet Dolby standards that essentially rendered the subwoofer output on my Powernode 2i useless. My M&K V-1250 THX sub is dialed up to full tilt and barely producing the bass it was when it was set at a mere +1dB

    1
  • Ken

    Against my better judgement, I also updated soon after seeing Tony' post.  After a few anxious minutes, the blue light showed up and the subwoofer's blue indicator light also turned on.  Thanks!

    Hope that BlueSound will put in more rigorous procedures to guard against this kind of mishaps that can easily destroy BlueSound's the hard-earned and well-deserved audiophile credential.  This kind of error can be catastrophic to NAD's high-end business if happened to something like M10 or M33.

    1
  • Stefan Mehre

    Btw. this seems the same for the soundbar 2i, even it is used es 2.1 setup. Not shure it's only with the sub+ when paired or also for LFE output.

    Maybe some users with soundbar are wondering about that...

    1
  • Rashad Castilla

    I forgot to mention that I tested both Tidal and Qobuz within the BluOS app and bass output is weak with both so it’s definitely an issue with the BluOS app itself

     

    0
  • rgarner83

    I am also getting really weak bass but I just bought my Powernode 2i. It is paired with Q Acoustics B12 and 3050i speakers. 

    0
  • Su

    hi, I'm also having this issue after the update

    0
  • leighton.klassen
    • Edited

    I am as well. I noticed something wrong directly after the update. My JL D110 turns on automatically when it senses a signal and when I played the same playlist I always play it didn't turn on on the first song. It finally turned on after playing a song with heavy bass and the normally heavy bass was extremely low and the woofer cone was barely moving.

    Bluesound - yes - there is something wrong with this recent update that is affecting sub signal output. Please investigate this. 

    0
  • Rashad Castilla

    I had to click the reboot button within the app and it resolved the issue. Hopefully it works for you. The bass was definitely  an issue though initially

    0
  • leighton.klassen

    Hi Rashad - how do you reboot from the app.....can't find it anyway. Thanks!

    0
  • Rashad Castilla

    I'm not looking at it right this moment but I remember it was under settings. You can find settings on left side once you click the 3 bars at the top left

    0
  • rgarner83

    It is under: Help - Diagnostics - Reboot

    0
  • leighton.klassen

    Hi Rashad - found it under Help / Diagnostics / Reboot. 

    Rebooted.....issue still there. Sigh.

    0

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