Bluesound - Node N100 Network Music Player

Received my node100 quickly and within minutes the unit was plugged into my system. Downloaded the app and it updated automatically. I used both an optical cable to run it through my dac and also ran it directly to my amp using rca plugs included. I could compare which dac to use by changing the inputs . Although my dac sounded a bit better, the dac in The node sounds good too,if not quite as full.I stream Amazon hd music and the ultra hi res files really brought the music to the best sound I've heard through my system. This unit is a steal and does exactly what I wanted it to do,with ease.grab one at this price and you wont be disappointed.Update: after two weeks of using the n100, I'm very impressed with the ease of use streaming Amazon music hd files. The internal dac very good. I did an A/B comparison with the dac in my emotiva ta 100 and can say,the nodes dac is more detailed in the midrange but not as full in the bass. It is a really great way to stream hi res files and the price is right.One year update: I bought this on sale when the 2i had just been released. I still think it was a fantastic bargain. Now, the price has gone up around $200. At $450 you might as well buy the 2i for another $100.This original node has a few issues. It only has optical out. Its nearly impossibe to access the ports for ethernet and optical out. Its crammed into a very small space that makes it quite frustrating . Also, bluetooth is not built into this unit. These are minor problems. For the price i bought it, it was a fantastic deal. Bluesound has been very good with customer service and the unit updates regularly. The dac built in is good,but ive added a modest external dac and the difference is clear. Anyway, i love the node and would recommend it highly. Wait for a sale, ill bet there arent many original nodes in stock,so maybe the price will come down again. Happy listening!

I like it's overall sound, it sounds really smooth and clear. It plays Hi Rez, and TIDAL MQA, I use it with my Outlaw RR2160 through the Node's analog output; and to ELAC UF 5 loudspeakers. This system allows me to listen for hours without sonic fatigue, and it lets me get into the recording.

This unit works quite well and is easy to set up. Great user interface compared to Marantz music players, for example. However it's better off in a non critical listening environment as the power supply is quite noisy. Probably explains why the new version has an external power supply.Contrary to all the reviews I found the sound to be quite bright with a bias toward high frequencies and subdued bass.The unit also has a problem with ground loops. It is the first component in many years that has caused hum in my system.Power supply noise I am referring to is not the hum, rather it is a load of high frequency hash indicating that the unit has a poorly shielded switching power supply.I returned mine.

I’ve been using a Bluesound Node for 3 years now and I needed a second one. These are great digital players. I love that they keep updating the software and adding new features. It might be somewhat expensive but it is offset you can keep using them for a long time. It’s a good investment.

I have five other components from bluesound but find its overall performance to be annoying. The componant I bought from you works fine as long as my wifi is working.

This is the entry portal to streaming. BluOs works natively with more streaming services than ANYONE else. On this unit the WiFi sucks, you'll spend more time reconnecting than listening. If you can not get ethernet to it do not bother.The internal DAC blows. All you've got for digital output is 24-96 toslink. At that it sounds great.The ports are almost impossible to access. I glued a optical Y to mine because the toslink lock broke.It is better with art than Volumio, worse than Logitech Media Server.It WILL power a 1/2 T SSD but not no larger. The problem with playing local files is that BluOs player is the only one I know of that defaults to a play queue. That is, if you want to uniquely play a folder you first have to empty all previous tracks in queue in a seperate 3 click operation. Does not handle genres well.Great sound however into your favorite DAC streamed from lossless or better services.Welcome to streaming. Much better SQ than ANY computer going USB to a speaker.

I use this payer to stream both standard files as well as MQA/masters files. Using the spdif out as a streamer to my Parasound Dac it easly improved on streaming from my PC via USB. The MQA streaming from Tidal via the RCA outs is the best digital I have ever heard in my system. My only regret is waiting so long to purchase this player.

The music quality is fine. The software is twitchy. They make major releases without much QC. The current version of software running the controller 3.0.28 is hard to navigate and suffers many flaws. They will probably improve it, but the software is consistently weak. Setting library shares on a Mac is unnecessarily complicated.