The Dark Side; Digital audio equipment recommendations and setup.

Mather said:
Once I added tidal and Spotify to the BluOs app on my phone it's pretty easy. I can either go straight to the Tidal app on my phone and play through there or I can go to the BlueOs app and select Tidal and play it that way. I'm not sure if BlueOs updated their app but I found it pretty simple to use so in general I've been playing everything from Tidal but using the BlueOs app rather than the Tidal app. I think all I had to do was "add service" and that popped Tidal into BlueOs. And from the Tidal app there's a little speaker in the upper right hand corner and when you click on that it'll show you the BlueSound as a destination. But you have to be on the same wifi channel. So if you have multiple wifi options in your house, make sure you're on the same one as the BlueSound.
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I get the Bluesond app to work OK. But with tidal connect, you are supposed to select the speaker icon in the bottom left. I don't get that icon

Screenshot 2021-08-26 at 17.27.54.png
 
Andy said:
I get the Bluesond app to work OK. But with tidal connect, you are supposed to select the speaker icon in the bottom left. I don't get that icon

View attachment 109987
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Screenshot_20210826-123258_TIDAL.jpg
Hmmm, on mine it's upper right. But same thing I think? I had to add Tidal to BluOs and then make sure they were on the same wifi channel. And it showed up. You on Apple?
 
Andy said:
yeah, that was a screenshot of the tidal, obviously out of date. I'm on apple, it doesn't show. I might need to restart eventing :)
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Yeah maybe restart, did you "add" the Node as a destination? I feel like I maybe had to do that?
 
Andy said:
Got it working, needed to re start my iPhone for some reason. It's been one of those days
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I find Apple products are particularly bad when it comes to this, both the iPhone's and iMacs need restarts regularly or they just stop doing certain wireless things.
 
My setup digital might not be the best, maybe need to look at cabling but after listening to some PE & thinking, amazing no crackles, did a comparison with the Bill Withers new arrival. Whilst the digital (Tidal Master) is louder, with my system set up as it is, there is night & day difference. Much clearer sound in the highs & the mids & tighter base through the turntable.

edit - I should maybe save up for a sub, but don't think the neighbours would appreciate it.
 
Done a lot of listening through the Node over the last 24hrs. Pleasantly surprised tbh. I wholeheartedly agree with @Mather regarding how pathetic the instructions were. Since I am using Roon, I really only needed to do the setup with the BluOS app, the rest of my use will be through Roon.

I’m using an Audioquest Cinnamon optical cable, which I used previously with my Onkyo CD player.

First thing I noticed is that my MQA light on the Luxman has more than one color. When using the USB input it always lit up purple when a Tidal MQA track played. Using the optical input, I no longer get purple, but rather blue and green.

My Luxman manual explains it as follows: image.jpg
Not sure I really understand if one is better than the other. Seems to only be a provenance thing. Any insight into this would be awesome.

As for the sound, my expectations were minimal. After all, I’m running it through the same DAC as I was previously. At least initially, I was wrong. It sounds better. There is much more air around everything. Better separation. We’ll see how it plays out going forward but can’t complain at all.
 
Slimwhit33 said:
Done a lot of listening through the Node over the last 24hrs. Pleasantly surprised tbh. I wholeheartedly agree with @Mather regarding how pathetic the instructions were. Since I am using Roon, I really only needed to do the setup with the BluOS app, the rest of my use will be through Roon.

I’m using an Audioquest Cinnamon optical cable, which I used previously with my Onkyo CD player.

First thing I noticed is that my MQA light on the Luxman has more than one color. When using the USB input it always lit up purple when a Tidal MQA track played. Using the optical input, I no longer get purple, but rather blue and green.

My Luxman manual explains it as follows: View attachment 110036
Not sure I really understand if one is better than the other. Seems to only be a provenance thing. Any insight into this would be awesome.

As for the sound, my expectations were minimal. After all, I’m running it through the same DAC as I was previously. At least initially, I was wrong. It sounds better. There is much more air around everything. Better separation. We’ll see how it plays out going forward but can’t complain at all.
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I have noticed some small differences between the green (approved) or blue (uh, also approved? I think). But I haven't really had anything sound much different, just slightly higher or lower volume it seems. But nearly identical. However I have come across a few albums that have like 8 different MQAs, 4 green and 4 blue. But glad to hear you're hearing what I'm hearing in terms of the higher quality in general. Totally agree in terms of dynamics and space.
 
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Slimwhit33 said:
Done a lot of listening through the Node over the last 24hrs. Pleasantly surprised tbh. I wholeheartedly agree with @Mather regarding how pathetic the instructions were. Since I am using Roon, I really only needed to do the setup with the BluOS app, the rest of my use will be through Roon.

I’m using an Audioquest Cinnamon optical cable, which I used previously with my Onkyo CD player.

First thing I noticed is that my MQA light on the Luxman has more than one color. When using the USB input it always lit up purple when a Tidal MQA track played. Using the optical input, I no longer get purple, but rather blue and green.

My Luxman manual explains it as follows: View attachment 110036
Not sure I really understand if one is better than the other. Seems to only be a provenance thing. Any insight into this would be awesome.

As for the sound, my expectations were minimal. After all, I’m running it through the same DAC as I was previously. At least initially, I was wrong. It sounds better. There is much more air around everything. Better separation. We’ll see how it plays out going forward but can’t complain at all.
Click to expand...
Depending on the device some prefer Optical connection over Coax and usb. If you google the question you get hits from audiokarma and hoffman discussing it.
 
Joe Mac said:
I’m in Ireland? You have a few more people than us 😂
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Yes but your copyright (EU) is easier to navigate. I think if Qobuz was going to happen in Canada it would have started years ago. Pretty much services like this, if they don't start in Canada 6mon after the US then they never start.
 
Joe Mac said:
Another Qobuz Price drop!

It was initially €249.99 a year
Last November it dropped to €179.99
And now it’s dropping to €149.99

Awesomeness!
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I got the email and thought it was a price hike at first 🤣🤣 I do yearly sub and couldn’t remember how much it was!
 
i would LOVE to move to qobuz.. BUT

sites like distrokid do not support sharing to qobuz so its hard to get smaller more obscure bandcamp projects or indie albums that aren't on bigger labels.. so i am stuck with tidal student rn (slightly cheaper but still)... and wishing spotify hifi would just fucking drop already because its been supposed to come out already
 
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