[Bingenito]

I recently sold some overly expensive gear and have come back to what I enjoy which is listening to music and experimenting with different gear along the way without having to sell a kidney in the process.

The intent of this quick summary is synergy and personal taste and not "This is better than that" Nonsense.

Paired with Cornwall IVs in a treated room:
- The BS Node N130 analog out presents a slightly warm tone with less precise imaging but with very realistic sustain/ decay/ reverb especially on live guitar tracks
- The same node USB out to a Topping D70 Velvet brings about a more technically proficient sound that brings vocals more forward in the mix and bass tighter (think typical Class A warm bass vs Class D bass). Initially for a short listen this brings about a Wow that is really different reaction. Playing some jazz guitar tracks the sustain and decay is gone. Instead of a musical sustain that relaxes you... you just hear the note stop.
- The Node via SPDIF coax to the Topping D70v is right in the middle. You get back some of that musicality from the Node N130 analog out but some speed of the outboard DAC.

Collective observations and assumptions of 2 listeners:
- The USB to DAC is the most technically advanced solution but in this system the least musical
- The Node N130 has the most relaxed presentation with my Cornwall IV in my main room and Forte IV in my general living room. You give up pin point technical imaging and get a slightly warm/ opaque sound that is more relaxed and what some would call Musical.
- SPDIF is probably best for upbeat music like Techno or EDM

In closing having owned some really pricey gear it seems like as you spend more you get more details and transparency but then spend more money on cables and room treatments to tone it all down. We are interesting creatures aren't we...

[AllanS]

Very helpful observations.  Thank you.
In one of his streamer reviews I recall Steve Huff mention the Node is a good choice for systems totaling something in the neighborhood of $10k.
To your synergy I have to add my experience last night listening to a Qobuz hi res masters prog rock playlist.  Many of the cuts were listenable but the room lit up when Tangerine Dream Phaedra 2014 came on.  What had been decent sound stage presentations mostly constrained to speaker width erupted into an immersive, enveloping sound field.  Listening to it again I might not hear a lot of the nuances that get most of the attention, but last night it wouldn’t have mattered one lick.
My system is currently Bluesound Vault2i>Schiit Bifrost>Schiit Lyr>NuPrime AMG STA>Spatial Sapphire M4.  The core is essentially a desktop headphone system but with the right cuts it’s magic.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Very helpful observations.  Thank you.
In one of his streamer reviews I recall Steve Huff mention the Node is a good choice for systems totaling something in the neighborhood of $10k.

I don't believe that for 1 second.  I took a friend to audition a Blue Sound Node last spring and we compared it to a Lumin D3 which cost $2500.  We went to 2 shops that had the same Rogue Audio Cronus III tube integrated and BS node and different speakers.  The Node sounded muddy, lifeless and at best midfi compared to the Lumin.  No way that I would pair it in a $10K system.  The Lumin was detailed, refined, smooth sounding and the more musical of the 2.  My friend walked away with the Lumin and the Rogue Cronus Integrated amp.

It was a real eye opener since we have heard so much about the BSN.  It was disappointing to say the least.

[Bingenito]

My posting calls out "The intent of this quick summary is synergy and personal taste and not this is better than that Nonsense."

Everyone has opinions and freedom of speech however as it relates to hobbies like audio where what works for one system and room does not work for other systems and rooms it is dangerous to have polarizing views formed of limited exposure. Anyone who has ever swapped mega buck product for much lower cost product might be very surprised at the result in that particular system but that result will not be consistent across all systems.

For example you can have open baffle speakers with very high QTS and some may much prefer a low cost class D amp with greater dampening over high dollar brands that are lusted after. Does that mean that the $500 amp is much better than the $10k amp? No however in that specific instance it is what made that system click for the sound that the listener "Prefers".

Then you have situations where the short term sound of a new component WOWs you do to major differences. For example the Topping D70v via USB opened up the soundstage big time and bass tightened up in my system. It wasn't until I spent days listening to simple acoustic instruments that I said... "Hey wait a minute that does not sound right", changed DACs and cables and yep the sound softened up, became slightly more diffused, yet 3D but instruments sounded more true and correct.

Anyone who heard the USB to D70v vs Bluesound direct to preamp with any electronic genre would have hands down picked the D70v.

Our hobby boils down to synergy and compromises based on Your Preferences. I suspect this is why the used market always has gear for sale.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I what you are saying about synergy.  However, the BSN was muddy and not resolving.  Even the salespeople said that the Lumin would sound much better than the BSN.  And synergy does not make music sound muddy, flat and unresolving.

I have reviewed and owned enough gear to know that inexpensive gear generally does not sound as good as expensive gear. I have heard and owned some bang for the buck gear and they never live up to the hype.

I understand that the BSN is forgiving and that gear that produces extreme resolution can sometimes sound fatiguing.

[Bingenito]

Appreciate the thoughts. That said I can easily point out that Lumin does not compare to MSB Ref/ DD and Aurender N20. That said this is Cheap and Cheerful hifi with "Cheap" being the primary area of focus.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Appreciate the thoughts. That said I can easily point out that Lumin does not compare to MSB Ref/ DD and Aurender N20. That said this is Cheap and Cheerful hifi with "Cheap" being the primary area of focus.

You are right.  I was just mainly responding to how someone said that the BSN would be at home in a $10K system. I beg to differ.
For the price the BSN is good.  Most bang for the buck gear is overhyped.  There are exceptions like AVA gear but even they are getting pricey.

[Bingenito]

RE: BS Node. I can tell you that the N130 (2023 version) with the latest firmware is much better than previous versions. I had the original N130 with the firmware at the time of release when they just enabled USB and the USB was horrific. Sonically compared to SPDIF output the sound was washed out and distant. Sort of as you describe.

Today that is night and day better. I don't put much stock in what reviewers say at all as most of them are total tool bags with a 5 word vocabulary "Special, rich, beautiful, blah and blah"... that said I am running the latest N130 in a system that closer to $40k and waiting for an LTA Aero DAC to arrive... hence the Node stand in and comparison.

Is the Node the last word in sonic Bliss? Heck no... Is the current model paired with the right gear good enough to enjoy music... Yep