Optical / pre out on Powernode

Answered
Dark

I have a Node 2i and was planning to replace it by the Powernode (2021) as I'm getting a pair of speakers that do not have a built-in amplifier. The plan was to then move the older Node 2i to another room and be able to create zones or play the same music throughout the house between them.

However I also enjoy listening to headphones a lot. I do not use the 3.5mm output on the Node 2i for that. I use the optical out connect to a beefy headphone amplifier.

Unfortunately the Powernode does not have any rear output whatsoever other than the speaker terminals. There is no way to channel streaming audio from the Powernode into another device. This means that if I want to keep listening to my headphones, and I do want that, I have to keep the Node 2i in place, which is ridiculous because the Node 2i and the Powernode are both streamers. The alternative is to buy an external amplifier but that then also means I cannot create a new zone in the house because I need to keep the Node 2i in place. Unless I buy another Node (N130). But that means I now need to buy multiple devices just because the Powernode lacks an output.

So it seems like I am now forced to keep the Node 2i in place and get a non-Bluesound amplifier to connect to my new speakers and forego the second zone in the house. Since I'm not going to spend money on a Powernode streamer just for the amplification, I already have a Node 2i streamer!

In the end this means I will not spend any money on a new Bluesound device simply because the Powernode lacks a pre-out or optical out.

So here's my request, for others in the same situation: add an optical out or a pre-out so that the Powernode can be used as a streamer to output to other devices as well, and have the ability to select in software which output you want to use (speakers, line/pre out or both).

I think you shot yourself in the foot with that. I can't be the only one who encountered this issue.

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Comments

3 comments

Date Votes
  • Official comment
    Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Thanks for your feedback Dark.

    May I suggest the NAD M10 from our good friends down the hall?

  • Dark

    I had a look at that option already and yes, that does sound reasonable.

    A Bluesound Powernode costs €899 over here. A NAD M10 is €2999. So spending an extra €2100 for a pre-out sounds like a great deal. I'll get right on that.

    Sorry for the snarky remark but come on. Suggesting someone to spend extra more than twice the amount of the cost of the device for a common feature is a little ... Sure, the M10 has a lot of other extras and I'm sure it sounds better too. But if I was in the market for that I wouldn't have been checking the Powernode in the first place.

    I'm afraid the Bluesound/BluOS story ends here. Thanks for the reply.

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  • Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res
    • Edited

    Dark The simplest solution would be to pair your existing Node with an amplifier that can drive two pairs of speakers. For example for £500 the Rotel A11 has switchable speakers so you can turn off a “room” when not required. Would mean running speaker cables but you could sell your existing amplifier to free up some cash.

    Edit… reading your post again… if you have active speakers the Rotel has a pre-out that would connect to them.

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