Bluesound Node and Devialet

[Charlemagne]

I have a bluesound node conncted to my 200. I only use it for Tidal (Wimp here in Norway) and it works great. I also have a Sonos system, and while the Sonos have better and more stable software the Bluesound sounds a lot better. Cd rips via Air still sounds better to me though.

In juni and october 2013 I have been organising a shootout between a Bluesound Node, a standard Sonos Connect (ZP90) and a modified Sonos Connect (Magna Ultimo mod). The shootout was held at my home on my set (see my signature). By that time my D250 was still a D-Premier. There was also a German mod of the Sonos included (Dr. Gert Volk mod alias 'G-Sonos').

Our conclusions ware that the Bluesound Node sounded a bit better than the standard Sonos Connect. The modified Sonos was far superior to the Bluesound Node. The latter sounded at its best with an expensive optical cable, which would cost as much as the Sonos modification, which was the winner of the threesome. All of them ware beaten by the AIR streamer.

The forumthread is in Dutch only: on the HTforum.nl. My report on the shootout you will find on page 16, reply#398 and a follow up in another highend setting/location with cost-no-object tube amps and Usher LSs on page 18 reply #440. Detailed test of the Node on page 4 reply #80.

For information about the Sonos mod: you will find it on Google.

Here is a picture of the BLuesound Node on my Hifi altar: