USB output is here

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121 comments

  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    In the past, Bluesound announced that the Node 2i would have not received the update for USB audio output.

    Is this still the case?

    Hi Valerio - not sure where you heard that. Our official position has always been since the announcement in the spring of 2021 it was coming is that USB output would only be available on the NODE N130. We do apologise if you got the wrong impression of that.

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  • Chris Brook

    I can also change volume on the NODE N130 when outputting USB to my external Topping E30 DAC running in Pure DAC mode.

    Apart from that, I'm smitten with this NODE - so much so, I just went out and bought a Naim Supernait 3.

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  • Valerio

    @Tony W

    Indeed, I stated that the Node 2i would have NOT received the update. My question was whether the plan has changed or not, but somehow you answered my question.

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  • Greg Pugh

    @Chris Brook

    Thanks for verifying the problem with yet another DAC. I hope that you'll submit a bug report in the app so that the engineers can take care of it, since the party line on this forum seems to be ALL IS WELL

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  • KB

    Well my issues with regards to connecting my Zen Dac V2 seems to have resolved its self - Currently I can get stable MQA from Tidal to my external Dac with excellent results - My ears convince me that the Zen Dac v2 is superior to the Node dac - so much so I’ve swapped the Zen Dac out for the signature zen Dac V2 for the hell of it…

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  • Oli T.

    Hi BlueSound Team!

    I have the same problem with my audiolab M-DAC. Playing audio from a local share or even internet radio results in dropouts in the audio signal every several seconds. When I look at the USB buffer on the display of the M-DAC it is between 0 and 25 or sometimes 30% (usual is around 75% with an iOS device for example). When I pause the source the USB buffer jumps between 0 and 20% every 1-2 seconds. This looks like a software problem on the BlueOS for the NODE. Attaching an iPhone to the M-DAC via USB cable with Lightning adapter for example works perfectly even with streamed lossless Apple Music. Also with an iOS device connected to the M-DAC I can use the remote control from the M-DAC not only for adjusting the volume (this works with the NODE as well) but also for pausing and resuming the audio and track forward or back (a functionality which you definitely should include if someone wants to use the remote control of a connected DAC. Audio clock trimming is deactivated by the way because if it is on even on Toslink and coaxial output there are frequent dropouts every 5 seconds or so.

    So please look again into your code for the USB connectivity.

    Cheers, Oliver

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  • Paul Francis

    @Oli T

    I have the same dac and see the same behaviour, when the buffer jumps constantly it is unusable, my work around is to leave the USB buffer to fill up to about 50% and then select a service and play a 16/44 track, the USB buffer then fills up to 75% and then falls back to 25% it stays this way and is fine apart from the odd faint pop/click.

    Switching to a 24/96 track the USB buffer sits at 50% +/- 10% but pop/click sound is more often. This tends to happen with devices that don't support asynchronous USB transfer.

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  • Richard Gingell

    I have a similar DAC, Audiolab 82000DQ, audio plays but I get  frequent pops and glitches as to make it unusable for me at the moment so gone back to the coax output.

    My dac works perfectly when feeding from raspberry pi or PC etc. via usb. 

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  • Greg Pugh

    Hey all, heard back from tech support. Apparently since my DAC has an ESS Saber DAC, volume control from all digital inputs is through the DAC chip, which effectively tells the Node not to fix the volume. They didn't explain why they are able to have a "fixed volume" selection for Coax but not USB, but according to support my problem is "Solved." So there.

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  • John Atkin

    I had the reply that because my DAC is upsampling, it's not a DAC. Even when the signal it gets is 192khz and it's not upsampling.

    Mind you, with the absolute farce it takes to sign into this forum on IOS and the multiple cookies warnings that have to be dismissed before you can even log in, I've almost lost faith in the developers. And I say that as someone whose day job is with a globally successful app developer.

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  • Mick Day

    I have now decided to return my Node N130 as the main features that I want to use via the USB output is Roon.  I have now built a Raspberry Pi based roon-bridge which gives me perfect playback from Qobuz and Tidal directly through my USB DAC.

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  • Greg Pugh

    Agree John, I'm looking at other options now. I want something that works reliably, that doesn't have weekly updates allegedly adding new features but breaking old ones, and that has tech support that doesn't tell me that everything is the fault of my equipment, which works fine with everything else.

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  • edward

    Hey all, heard back from tech support. Apparently since my DAC has an ESS Saber DAC, volume control from all digital inputs is through the DAC chip, which effectively tells the Node not to fix the volume. They didn't explain why they are able to have a "fixed volume" selection for Coax but not USB, but according to support my problem is "Solved." So there.

    According to its logs, its operating system is Arch-Linux and it uses ALSA sound architecture just like Ropiee and others.  

    It has fixed volume on all of my Dacs so its not a dac chip issue, I have Sabre too and others. 

     

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  • John Atkin

    It's disappointing Greg, as at a basic level it's a super piece of kit. The 'customer support' suggestion that I should do a factory reset just to solve Quboz loading slow was the final straw really.

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  • edward

    On the bright-side.

    The BlueSound Node has a lot of outputs now, all easily switched from the user interface. Plus, it has several useful inputs [TV, Optical and Analog].....and it still sounds pretty damn good. For me its a keeper!

    3 Digital Outputs - USB, Coax, Toslink

    2 Analog Outputs - RCA stereo + 1 sub

    1 Headphone Output

    1 Bluetooth Input/Output

    1 Airplay 2 Input/lOutput

    1 Analog Input

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  • Victor Levis

    Replying to Edward from 9:33am

    Yes, it's great to have the multiple outputs but they need to work properly and it is probably normal that when something is first enabled, there are still glitches.  I'm hoping the fixes happen soon, but I'm happy to connect to my Processor/receiver through the coaxial output for now.  Now, if MQA content is going to snap-crackle-pop permanently, that will be very bad.

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  • Felix

    I also hope Bluesound adds Roon Bridge software component to the device, so it can be configured and provisioned as such. I currently have the NODE connected to Chord Qutest DAC over USB, and it works, but Roon thinks the NODE is the endpoint rather than the Qutest, and thus presents the device setup parameters for the NODE instead of the Qutest DAC.

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  • faizal

    Hi,

    I have connected my NODE N130 on my Nuprime DAC-9 in USB.

    it's Work  BUT I can controle volume level.  why the volume level is not fixed ?

    my DAC have Asahi Kasei AK4490.

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  • Greg Pugh

    @faizal

    I have the same problem, and according to posts here and my response from support, apparently Bluesound considers our DACs to be DDCs instead for some reason, and this is the fault of our equipment.

    No word on why they can't add a toggle for fixed volume like they do on SPDIF, but there you have it.

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  • Mark

    I've tried the USB output with two amps and 3 different DACs and still get popping and other artifacts every time.  Even without the volume issue, which I was willing to work around, the USB out is unusable.    Perhaps it is an issue with the ROON integration.

    However, the head in the sand approach by Bluesound customer service is eroding my previous enthusiasm for this company.  

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  • Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res

    USB DAC - ROON

    If you are using ROON and MQA with an external DAC, sending digital audio through the USB port of NODE (N130) may cause audio dropouts.

    USB DAC audio output for NODE (N130) with ROON is still classified as a beta release and is under development. Therefore, if you encounter audio dropouts, use USB DAC implementation natively without ROON until the feature is rolled out completely.

    Source

    https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/articles/4417440985879-How-to-enable-USB-Audio-Out-on-NODE-N130-

     

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  • Mark

    @ Seppi Evans.  I don't use MQA but thanks for the info!  Will do!

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  • Enricoclaudio

    You can use external DAC with Roon but you have to use Coax output. I have zero dropouts using Coax from NODE into my Topping E50 DAC. You have setup the NODE as "Renderer Only" in Roon for it to work. 

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  • Melvin

    I wish I saw this thread before purchasing the latest Node. No where else did I read USB-out disables subwoofer out. This is a huge disappointment for me and perhaps a deal breaker (I may send it back). This quote was the only reference I saw prior to purchase BTW:

    "Note: When the USB port is enabled, other audio outputs (Analog/COAX/Optical) are disabled."

    Why isn't Subwoofer out mentioned? Bluesound could have worded it by saying ALL other audio outputs are disabled. 

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  • Felix

    Indeed, Seppi Evans, using Roon and MQA (Tidal) with my Chord Qutest over USB results in frequent crackles and pops. Using MQA content via Bluesound app and Tidal - flawless. 

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  • Richard Gingell

    Just to clarify my previous post below, i do not use Roon so the problem is not just Roon related.

     

    "I have a similar DAC, Audiolab 82000DQ, audio plays but I get  frequent pops and glitches as to make it unusable for me at the moment so gone back to the coax output.

    My dac works perfectly when feeding from raspberry pi or PC etc. via usb."

     

     

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  • Remc0

    Just tried USB out from new Node to Chord Qutest DAC using Roon with Qobuz and Tidal (non MQA tier). Also experienced pops and cracks in audio.
    Switched back to coax and gone are the pops and cracks.

    Edit: used a new Supra USB 2.0 Cable, Type A-B, Hi-Speed, 0,7m

    And Coax cable is AudioQuest Carbon.

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  • Melvin

    A few comments now that I’ve had some time with the new Node. Right now I’m using the Node with a Decware SE84UFO sans preamp so losing volume control and sub-out functions via USB-out was somewhat disappointing. That said, USB-out has worked flawlessly so far and the sound quality is outstanding. I resurrected my old analog crossover (Outlaw Audio ICBM-1) to address the sub-out thing. Works like a charm and sounds better to my ears than the on-board implementation. I could also resurrect my PS Audio linestage to address remote volume control but I prefer the sound direct into the SE84UFO. So, it’s sound quality vs. convenience and I’ll take sound quality every time, I just have to get off my a$$ to change the volume. BTW, when the hot summer months arrive I’ll change out the amp to a much cooler running Marantz integrated (class d) making all of this moot.

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  • Victor Levis

    Thanks Melvin.

    Has anyone used the USB connection with an Arcam AVR?

    Also how do we get the update? I got my Node 10 days ago but it was in the store a while.

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  • Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res

    Hi Victor,

    The current firmware is USB enabled for the 2021 NODE, so just check to make sure there are no updates available using the Bluesound App.

    As for the Arcam AVR… are you sure the USB on it is an audio input?

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