Node 2i -- Tone Controls and Sub X-0ver settings don't work when using external DAC

Answered

spellyny

• February 23, 2022 15:54
• Edited

I run my Node 2i into an external DAC using its COAX output.  It's quite clear that when BluOS app is used to set levels for subwoofer X-OVER and TONE,  that those settings are not being delivered to the coax output.  Neither high-pass nor low-pass settings are being delivered, ie:  frequency output remains unchanged at both my subwoofer and main speakers.  Is this by design, or is my unit defective?

Apart from the inability to adjust TONE (when using coax output), the other strange thing is that the volume increases significantly when I toggle TONE control to ON in the app.

When using the 2i's SE/RCA analog outputs, all works exactly as it should, and no volume increase when toggling TONE to ON.

Please advise.  Thanks in advance.

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• Official comment

  

  Tony W.

  Product Support Manager

  • February 23, 2022 15:59

  Tone Controls require digital signal processing in the NODE's DAC so are bypassed when using an external DAC.

  As mentioned in your previous post, a moderate decrease in volume is expected but if you are having issues with volume increasing when enabling Tone Controls, please select Help, Send Support Request in the App so our Support Crew may investigate further after reviewing the log file sent with your request.
• 

  spellyny

  • February 23, 2022 17:46
  • Edited

  Thanks Tony.  Understood about the tone control. I guess same explanation for high-pass level not passed on to main speakers?   Just realized low-pass level is being properly passed on to the subwoofer.  Makes sense since it is attached via Node's SW output.

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  spellyny

  • February 26, 2022 16:17

  Penny finally dropped.  DUH!  Tone Control and Crossover processing is not delivered to the digital outputs, only the analog outputs.  When I use analog outs, all works as it should.  Thanks!

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• 

  Polleke

  • May 06, 2022 14:05
  • Edited

  Just new to this community and found this topic because I was hoping the crossover would also work on coax out. It doesn’t unfortunately…

  However despite what other members and/or Bluesound tech have said on other topics I found, tone control DOES work on coax out. To my surprise, because the reason it would/should not work is to keep the digital domain as clean as possible. Which would make perfect sense but what am I missing here? If tone control does work on coax out, why not the crossover function?

  For reference: Bluesound Node2, latest software, coax out to Metrum Acoustics Octave mk2 (to Exposure integrated, Kef LS50 and diy sub)

  Hoping someone can explain the reasoning behind this to me.

  Thanks in advance!

  In case of questions why I would want to use the crossover: thinking about buying a LS3/5a type speaker and then I might want to ‘protect’ those from the lowest lows if I would ever feel like playing ‘party level’

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  spellyny

  • January 05, 2024 19:55

  @Polleke......your post contains a contradiction.   You say that when using external DAC, tone adjustments ARE delivered to coax outputs.   You also say the opposite:   that tone adjustments are NOT delivered to coax outputs.

  To clarify:   tone adjustments are NOT delivered to Node coax outputs, they are delivered to analog outputs only.  Same is true of subwoofer x-over adjustment:  high pass to main speakers is only in play at the Node analog outputs.  Node subwoofer output has a default low-pass -- I believe it's 80HZ, I discussed it in another post.  It is always in play, unless the Node subwoofer x-over is engaged.  Then the low-pass setting chosen by user is applied at Node sub out.

   

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