The Dark Side; Digital audio equipment recommendations and setup.

jamieanderson1968 said:
I have to admit, I have been looking at getting a new DAP. I have been looking at the FiiO JM1. I like the idea that it has the Google Play store on it so you can install apps like Apple Music or PlexAmp. I would actually use it more at home in my office/music room than I would outside the house.

But then again, I would rather pay off my mortgage sooner.
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I think about a DAP occasionally for travel purposes or even a bedroom headphone setup, but Qobuz and the B&Ws serve quite well on that front. Despite the lack of a control feature, I’ve found the combination of Qobuz and bluOS to completely change my listening habits and see no reason to buy a DAP for regular home use.

I mean in the bedroom application, I rarely use the B&W app (or I could just use the amp honestly) the top level of audiophile in the setup… I’m fine with slightly better than cd playback..
 
Nee Lewman said:
I think about a DAP occasionally for travel purposes or even a bedroom headphone setup, but Qobuz and the B&Ws serve quite well on that front. Despite the lack of a control feature, I’ve found the combination of Qobuz and bluOS to completely change my listening habits and see no reason to buy a DAP for regular home use.

I mean in the bedroom application, I rarely use the B&W app (or I could just use the amp honestly) the top level of audiophile in the setup… I’m fine with slightly better than cd playback..
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I’ve considered DAPs over the years but have settled in on dongle DACs. My current dongle DACs are the Earmen Eagle and the Cayin RU7. The RU7 is excellent. It’s the same DAC Cayin uses in their DAP.
 
My AVR is starting to act up.

If one wanted to use something easy like a Sonos system, how would you increase the inputs or would everything just go to the TV and then the audio goes to Sonos?

I need to attach an Apple TV, PS5, Switch, and BlueRay player.
 
Kris said:
My AVR is starting to act up.

If one wanted to use something easy like a Sonos system, how would you increase the inputs or would everything just go to the TV and then the audio goes to Sonos?

I need to attach an Apple TV, PS5, Switch, and BlueRay player.
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I have the Sonos Arc (first gen), and it only has 1 HDMI input, so I have everything connected to my TV and use the TV’s eARC HDMI from the tv to the Sonos. But with your 4 sources, you may not have enough inputs on the tv. You can look for an HDMI splitter, if you don’t mind the extra step.

This one has a remote
 
SnowmaNick said:
I have the Sonos Arc (first gen), and it only has 1 HDMI input, so I have everything connected to my TV and use the TV’s eARC HDMI from the tv to the Sonos. But with your 4 sources, you may not have enough inputs on the tv. You can look for an HDMI splitter, if you don’t mind the extra step.

This one has a remote
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Thanks, I do have 4 inputs. So I'd be ok. I want it to be a one remote solution so my wife doesn't have get me to fix it all the time haha.
 
Slimwhit33 said:
I made the mistake of purchasing/downloading a couple DSD albums…. They sound pretty amazing compared to their FLAC counterparts on Tidal.

Curious if anyone invests in DSD music and if so where you get it? I used NativeDSD to purchase these. Prices seemed reasonable, same/less than vinyl at least.

Not sure I want to go down this rabbit hole, but figured asking a few questions won’t hurt.
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I have quite a bunch of DSD music. HDTT is solid. There are some uh other places as well…
 
Kris said:
Thanks, I do have 4 inputs. So I'd be ok. I want it to be a one remote solution so my wife doesn't have get me to fix it all the time haha.
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My Apple TV remote controls the volume on the Sonos. I have a PS5 and switch but haven’t used them in forever so can’t remember how I switch inputs haha
 
Kris said:
Thanks, I do have 4 inputs. So I'd be ok. I want it to be a one remote solution so my wife doesn't have get me to fix it all the time haha.
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You can set up you tv remote or one of the boxes remotes to do the volume. And fhe Sonos app on the phone will control everything as well.
 
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Jbraswell said:
This is interesting

www.theabsolutesound.com

Dirac Live Ready Now Available on Select Bluesound Players - The Absolute Sound

Dirac Live Ready Now Available on Select Bluesound Players - Bluesound, creators of award-winning hi-res multi-room streaming players, is thrilled to announce the arrival of Dirac Live readiness, the leading room correction technology, to select Bluesound players. Starting January 14, 2025...
www.theabsolutesound.com www.theabsolutesound.com
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very interesting. I forget—do any of the nodes let you use an external DAC? I tried a quick google and see mixed results. Saw lots of people complaining that bluesound promised it then never followed up on it.

I’m contemplating getting a node for my main rig if I can use Dirac on it for digital…then moving my Aries to my screened in porch…unless there’s some cheaper way to get Dirac. Looks like Dirac license is $250 at least
 
MikeH said:
very interesting. I forget—do any of the nodes let you use an external DAC? I tried a quick google and see mixed results. Saw lots of people complaining that bluesound promised it then never followed up on it.

I’m contemplating getting a node for my main rig if I can use Dirac on it for digital…then moving my Aries to my screened in porch…unless there’s some cheaper way to get Dirac. Looks like Dirac license is $250 at least
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Not by usb but you can by optical or coax. They’d promised they’d eventually software update to allow by usb but it don’t know if they ever did.
 
MikeH said:
very interesting. I forget—do any of the nodes let you use an external DAC? I tried a quick google and see mixed results. Saw lots of people complaining that bluesound promised it then never followed up on it.

I’m contemplating getting a node for my main rig if I can use Dirac on it for digital…then moving my Aries to my screened in porch…unless there’s some cheaper way to get Dirac. Looks like Dirac license is $250 at least
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Yes, I use the external DAC in the Fosi via USB on my 2021 Node unit.
The newer Nodes have better DAC's, especially the Icon.
I would try those before spending money on another DAC add-on.

It took BS a while to configure the USB out to ext DAC on my unit but it's been solid for a year or two now.

Now, I haven't kept up with the bugs and fixes BS is making for the new Nodes.
I'm also hoping they retro fit this DIRAC in my 2021 unit but it is unlikely.

I'm not using the Fosi much anyway. I tend to spin vinyl mostly. Old habit will probably never die.
 
MikeH said:
very interesting. I forget—do any of the nodes let you use an external DAC? I tried a quick google and see mixed results. Saw lots of people complaining that bluesound promised it then never followed up on it.

I’m contemplating getting a node for my main rig if I can use Dirac on it for digital…then moving my Aries to my screened in porch…unless there’s some cheaper way to get Dirac. Looks like Dirac license is $250 at least
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I mean you could just buy Dirac and route it through your computer, no? This isn’t like the C3050 card that comes with the license, they are just making the node “Dirac ready.” The benefit here is that since Dirac is equipment specific (you have to buy a license for each product you use it on), you can run it on everything when using the node as a bluesound hub. So anything you connect to the BluOS can then implement the processing.
 
Jbraswell said:
Yes, I use the external DAC in the Fosi via USB on my 2021 Node unit.
The newer Nodes have better DAC's, especially the Icon.
I would try those before spending money on another DAC add-on.

It took BS a while to configure the USB out to ext DAC on my unit but it's been solid for a year or two now.

Now, I haven't kept up with the bugs and fixes BS is making for the new Nodes.
I'm also hoping they retro fit this DIRAC in my 2021 unit but it is unlikely.

I'm not using the Fosi much anyway. I tend to spin vinyl mostly. Old habit will probably never die.
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The article said the n130 would be live later this year.
 
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