I have recently connected Bluesound Node 2 to my Phantom Golds via optical. The quality I receive is exceptional for Tidal MQA. Phantoms at this stage definitely exceeded my expectations in terms of performance given 24/192.
Although there are many audiophile comments against Hi-Res, the difference is clearly there especially in the low range and crispyness of the overall sound stage.
I have Sonos Connect connected via Toslink to dialog while Node 2 is connected to Phantom directly again via Toslink. For some reason, the performance of Toslink connection over Phantom compared to Dialog is also much better. Will be sharing more observations as I keep on listening.
There was another thread re connection of Phantoms. I have also observed that ethernet connection directly to Phantoms is superior to PLC or wireless connection and much more stable.
(01-Mar-2017, 23:36)aysanozel Wrote: [ -> ]I have recently connected Bluesound Node 2 to my Phantom Golds via optical. The quality I receive is exceptional for Tidal MQA. Phantoms at this stage definitely exceeded my expectations in terms of performance given 24/192.
Although there are many audiophile comments against Hi-Res, the difference is clearly there especially in the low range and crispyness of the overall sound stage.
I have Sonos Connect connected via Toslink to dialog while Node 2 is connected to Phantom directly again via Toslink. For some reason, the performance of Toslink connection over Phantom compared to Dialog is also much better. Will be sharing more observations as I keep on listening.
There was another thread re connection of Phantoms. I have also observed that ethernet connection directly to Phantoms is superior to PLC or wireless connection and much more stable.
Curious on this. How are you asserting that you are actually getting 24/192 ? On the Bluesound app with Tidal MQA it doesn't seem to display the technical info such as bits and sampling frequency. Furthermore it isn't clear to me how much unfolding the Node 2 does with MQA files when outputting to the digital output. As you know full MQA is only performed if the end DAC is known, so I assume what is output from the optical port will be MQA core. If it is core, it still isn't clear to me if it unfolds fully to 192kHz or only 96kHz. MQA is one of the most confusing things to come out in the audiophile world in a long time.
(06-Mar-2017, 12:22)jonstatt Wrote: [ -> ]Curious on this. How are you asserting that you are actually getting 24/192 ? On the Bluesound app with Tidal MQA it doesn't seem to display the technical info such as bits and sampling frequency. Furthermore it isn't clear to me how much unfolding the Node 2 does with MQA files when outputting to the digital output. As you know full MQA is only performed if the end DAC is known, so I assume what is output from the optical port will be MQA core. If it is core, it still isn't clear to me if it unfolds fully to 192kHz or only 96kHz. MQA is one of the most confusing things to come out in the audiophile world in a long time.
Agree on this to 100%. I also have not completely understood this standard. Currently I use Tidal MASTER/MQA via the Tidal Desktop APP and Airplay which works SUPER so far. Absolutely ZERO gaps or distortions compared with HIFI which is completely strange to me... However, I am also considering to buy a Bluesound Node 2 because it is a very interesting concept when connected to Phantom via TOS.
(06-Mar-2017, 12:37)Taucher669 Wrote: [ -> ]Agree on this to 100%. I also have not completely understood this standard. Currently I use Tidal MASTER/MQA via the Tidal Desktop APP and Airplay which works SUPER so far. Absolutely ZERO gaps or distortions compared with HIFI which is completely strange to me... However, I am also considering to buy a Bluesound Node 2 because it is a very interesting concept when connected to Phantom via TOS.
Indeed there are benefits to using the Bluesound app particularly with it's ability to handle network shares and a better and more expansive music service connectivity offerings. The latest version of the app even has it's own Tidal Masters section so you can easily go straight to them. The only thing is you would need the Devialet Phantom remote so you can easily set the volume while using the Bluesound app. I wouldn't recommend using the digital volume control of the Node 2 particularly as that would add yet another confusing variable to MQA! MQA includes 3 basic functions, de-blurring, unfolding of higher resolution data, digital pre-filtering for specific DAC. Obviously the last one is out the window when outputting via optical. The de-blurring will definitely be there. So it's just a question of getting clarity on whether it can unfold to 24/192 or not. Certainly the Node 2 is capable of outputting 24/192 over optical.
(06-Mar-2017, 14:31)jonstatt Wrote: [ -> ]The only thing is you would need the Devialet Phantom remote so you can easily set the volume while using the Bluesound app.
... fortunately I own this small cream pott so I will give it a try. I already have made an appointment with my local HiFi dealer. They got the Gold's and the node 2 and are ready to plug them together for me.... I will share my experience with you then.
A quick test using a Mojo (as it reports the sampling rate using an LED indication) showed that the maximum MQA output via digital output is 24/96kHz. The LED changed colour for various tracks indicating 48, 88.2 and 96, but a Madonna track known to be 192 still output as 96. Still, that is still a good improvement over the "normal" redbook track.
Is anyone listening at Devialet, make phantom day MQA ready!!!
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(07-Mar-2017, 13:12)jonstatt Wrote: [ -> ]A quick test using a Mojo (as it reports the sampling rate using an LED indication) showed that the maximum MQA output via digital output is 24/96kHz. The LED changed colour for various tracks indicating 48, 88.2 and 96, but a Madonna track known to be 192 still output as 96. Still, that is still a good improvement over the "normal" redbook track.
Hi did you alter the sampling rates in Roon ? I use Roon/Tidal and was able to get 192
Best thing no stuttering or drop outs which I would always get using flac files via optical into dialog
(08-Mar-2017, 00:26)davidadamson Wrote: [ -> ] (07-Mar-2017, 13:12)jonstatt Wrote: [ -> ]A quick test using a Mojo (as it reports the sampling rate using an LED indication) showed that the maximum MQA output via digital output is 24/96kHz. The LED changed colour for various tracks indicating 48, 88.2 and 96, but a Madonna track known to be 192 still output as 96. Still, that is still a good improvement over the "normal" redbook track.
Hi did you alter the sampling rates in Roon ? I use Roon/Tidal and was able to get 192
Best thing no stuttering or drop outs which I would always get using flac files via optical into dialog
I am not using Roon at the moment. In the screenshot you showed, Tidal is outputting a 48kHz track. And then you have Room upscaling it. I was referring to an MQA track which "should" unfold to 24/192 directly, but won't on a Bluesound Node 2 using the digital output because it will only unfold to 24/96 from what I can see. The OP on this thread, suggested otherwise. I am not that bothered as the difference between 24/96 and 24/192 is not going to be easy to perceive.