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ultraRendu v Bluesound Node

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Posted on November 15, 2021 at 10:18:59
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 I'm using an ultraRendu with LPS 1.2 and Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC as a Roon endpoint. Would a Bluesound Node be a sonic upgrade, downgrade, or equivalent? Constants are Ethernet, USB to DAC, Roon app running on iPad.

 

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RE: ultraRendu v Bluesound Node, posted on November 15, 2021 at 10:37:02
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46307
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 Who knows?!

Realistically, I would put my money on the Bluesound Node sounding the same as your ultraRendu provided you adhere to the "Constants" mentioned in your post, especially with attaching it to your existing Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC.

However, I would put my money on the ultraRendu + LPS 1.2 as being the technically superior streamer... BUT, will you hear a difference? Please let us know.

What are you trying to achieve?



 

RE: ultraRendu v Bluesound Node, posted on November 15, 2021 at 14:48:24
lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 1990
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003
 Agree.

Sideways move at best (but probably worse).

 

RE: ultraRendu v Bluesound Node, posted on November 15, 2021 at 15:12:53
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 Abe, trying to achieve a bit of simplicity, single chassis v two. I suspect I will have no comparison to offer, because I'm unlikely to buy a Node. As a temporary simplification I used an Oppo 205 directly to a NAD M22 amp. I preferred the sound of the ultraRendu/Ayre DAC with an Ayre A7Xe integrated, but do I attribute that to the Roon endpoint, the amp, or the combination?

I have an Ayre KX-5xeMP that I would use with an Ayre V-3 if I found one, but I have JC 1 monoblocks, a JC 2 and a JC 3 that I can use while looking for a silver V-3. I may like the JC combination with the LS50s; I thought it was great with the Reference 107/2s. A limitation of the Ayre integrated was that it has no provisions for subs, whereas both the KX-5 and JC 2 do, and I now augment the LS50s with a pair of KEF KC62 subs.

 

You can effectively create a "single chassis", posted on November 16, 2021 at 05:24:38
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37673
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 by purchasing the combo faceplate for both.



Look at internal pics before you buy as the Bluesound is not of the same build quality and isolation.

 

RE: You can effectively create a "single chassis", posted on November 16, 2021 at 08:59:00
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 Thanks for reminding me, E-Stat, that I do have one of those faceplates and that it will work with the setup I envision. Your setup is very handsome; I assume it sounds as good as it looks. That's the look I was aiming for with the Ayre KX-5xeMP and yet-to-be-acquired Ayre V-3, but acquiring a silver V-3 is not so easy.

 

RE: You can effectively create a "single chassis", posted on November 19, 2021 at 17:32:11
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 I've just finished setting up a secondary system. It's comprised of ultraRendu with LPS 1.2 and Ayre QB-8 DSD DAC, JC 2 preamp, and a pair of JC 1 monoblocks. Mains are KEF LS50s, subs a pair of KC62s. The sound is excellent even for large orchestrations, e.g., Mahler's 2nd, far better than I anticipated, Replacing the Oppo 205 with the ultraRendu complex as the Roon endpoint made an unexpectedly large improvement.

 

The Bluesound Node doesn't currently have USB output, posted on December 1, 2021 at 17:24:59
MaggiesAndCats
Audiophile

Posts: 697
Joined: August 31, 2009
Contributor
  Since: July 16, 2010
 It's supposed to have it with a future software upgrade.

Regards,

Steve

 

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