Another Node 2i crackling/popping sound
Answered
Hi
I bought a Node 2i few weeks ago. Set it up at a remote cottage with Bluetooth. No internet connection available yet. I know, I know, the sound will not be optimal with bluetooth.
Few hours of listening later, crackling and popping sound appears. (Sounds familiar folks?)
Does it with 2 separate phones and a Ipad.
Returned the unit at the stores. Unit do the same weird-kind-of-tweeters-blowing sound.
Came back home with a brand new unit.
Guess what?
Same discrepancy. Many different setups with different amplifiers and speakers. Allways in bluetooth mode.
Has not done it in wifi mode so far.
This is not a sound quality issue. It is not a dropping issue either. When it starts popping/crackling, it is unusable and perhaps damageable to any amplifier connected.
What do I do next? A third unit?
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Official comment
Hello Martin,
As I understand it -- you're using the NODE as a Bluetooth to RCA connector, essentially? It's hard to say what could be causing this issue as the NODE is designed to be connected online at all times. After extended periods of non-connectivity could result in unexpected behavior.
Regards,
Sam R. -
Hi Sam,
Internet connection is not available for the moment.
The Node seemed the perfect fit because it is advertised as such: "support for 2-way Bluetooth aptX HD ensures music playback without interruption."
When internet service is available, which is supposed to be in the next few months, the Node will be connected.
What I fear is to find out the unit is doing the same snag in Wi-Fi.
It is evident, when reviewing all the comments in the Sound Quality section,that the product has reccurent complains about weird noises. (popping,crackling)
I am intensively using the Node in a Wi-Fi setup at my primary house. I did experience hearing the noises connected with Bluetooth, going Wi-Fi mode with no problem and going back to Bluetooth with no problem for 20-30 minutes.
Could you clarify something?
Why would a 2 way Bluetooth connection be beneficial if the unit needs connectivity all the time? Appart for Bluetooth headphone. The incoming signal has less quality with Bluetooth than Wi-Fi.
Regards
Martin C.
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I have exactly the same problem! After 1-2 hours playing music via bluetooth the sound starts popping/crackling. I have only been able to overcome the issue by unplugging the node 2i. Happens with all bluetooth devicese once it have started. Node is connected to internet all the time with ethernet cable.
It seems like node 2i is full of different bugs or issues and technical service answer is usually " we cannot reproduce your issue so it must be user mistake", not very helpful. My first and last time I buy bluesound.
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I am having the exact same problem. Incredibly frustrating. I have taken it back to the retailer twice with the response being it plays perfectly when they test it. I certainly don't recommend.
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I have experienced the same problem, when I followed the advice of Bluesound to always leave the Node 2i on. Or when I use Vacation Mode to leave the Node plugged into the power outlet. When I follow my previous routine of putting it into Vacation Mode and then turning the electrical power off on the wall switch, the problem has disappeared again.. Perhaps some noise inducing static electricity builds up up, when the device is permanently connected to a current?
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I have experienced the same problem, when I followed the advice of Bluesound to always leave the Node 2i on. Or when I use Vacation Mode to leave the Node plugged into the power outlet. When I follow my previous routine of putting it into Vacation Mode and then turning the electrical power off on the wall switch, the problem has disappeared again.. Perhaps some noise inducing static electricity builds up up, at least for some Nodes, when the device is permanently connected to an electrical current?
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I'm experiencing popping as well on my node2i, which I've had for over a year.
I can feed my system with a Sonos stream, and the popping is gone.
The humidity in my house is about 16%. Does popping happen mostly during wintertime, ostensibly due to static electricity building somehow in the device? I'm considering pointing a humidifier at the node2i.
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Hi Chris
A more likely solution is to remove all your connectors and clean them with some Isopropyl (Greate than 90% pure alcohol) and reconnect them.0 -
Hi Tony
Your solution appears to have worked (the power was also cycled). I've had no pops - it sounded like an LP was being played - for several hours now. Indeed, the sound seems to have improved, and it pretty darned good before.
Perhaps it's worth noting that this phenomenon was on the node2i's coax digital out.
As engineers already know: Check the cables!
Thanks!
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@TONY W. Oh if it was only that simple!
As above after 1-2 hours my Node 2i starts to pop when sinking Bluetooth audio from my phone. From the phone it happens with both SBC and AAC codecs.
To trace this further I sent a 997Hz sine wave over APTX HD Bluetooth from my PC using the Avantree DG60 dongle. Initially the Node 2i output looked like this on my oscilloscope:
Two sinewaves as you would expect.
After somewhere between 1 and 2 hours, the waveforms started to show problems. First trace shows a small discontinuity, the second show several ms of missing data:
z
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Hi Paul
It is that simple...If you are using Bluetooth for >2 hours, wouldn't it be a better experience to either use that service using the BluOS App such as TIDAL or Amazon HD and get a FLAC rather than AAC stream?
If you are using local content, consider getting a NAS or at least a USB Drive plugged into your router and create a Local Share.
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Hi Tony,
The reason I'm doing this is that I'm in the UK and running the BBC's 'Sounds' app which allows access to thousands of radio shows. Whilst the Node can access the live streams it can't access the archives.
I have other Bluetooth receivers around the house, but only the Node suffers from popping and it's the gateway to the main Hi-Fi :-(
I would still ask you to pass these results onto your development team as I have been very pleased with the Node in all other respects.
Regards,
Paul
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Hi there,
Same problems here on both of our powernodes , although not only using bluetooth it also happens when streaming over airplay.
So from what i'm reading here it looks like it's something to live with ?
Regards,
Patrick
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I have the same problem with popping sound with the optical input connected to another bluetooth receiver. I have checked the cable and tried disconnecting various elements. The problem still persists and it seems more like a design flaw with the optical input not having a clean signal isolated from the rest of the components.
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I had the same experience with the new BlueSound NODE N130. Especially when starting and stopping playing source material via Bluetooth. But also when selecting albums on my NAS or USB drive. Only instance where I did not experience this was when streaming material from Tidal or Spotify. Exchanged what I thought was a defective product for a another new device, but experienced exactly the same problem. Unfortunately, seems BlueSound has a reoccurring problem, especially with regards to Bluetooth playback. Returned the second Node, and went for another solution involving a used NAD M51 DAC and an Ifi Zen Blue V2 dedicated Bluetooth player. I have newer with any device, no matter how cheap, experienced the kind of problems wit Bluetooth playback, as I have experienced with BlueSound. That is very disappointing, since in almost all other regards they are fantastic products and the Nodes give a high value for the money in all other aspects..
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