Bluesound NODE X vs. Outboard BEL CANTO 3.7 DAC.
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- čas přidán 22. 02. 2024
- 1:04 Bluesound direct
2:45 Bluesound out to BelCanto DAC
5:37 Bel Canto DAC optimized using +.5V
I wanted to show you all the difference between a Node and an outboard DAC...
Happy Listening !
Mikey
Thanks, Mike! Here are some timestamps for people to jump back and forth quickly to compare:
1:01 Node X
2:44 Bel Canto (voltage matched)
5:36 Bel Canto (99% output voltage)
Yes, it's in my description... thx !
@@OCDHIFiGuywhoops, sorry. I missed it there. Thanks for the video!
Salute Mikey, Thank You. This is so important for Digital listeners. I have a Node X and you showed me a whole new listening level
Awesome. Sean
Cheers Sean !
Wow, big difference in the vocal! Thanks for doing this!
Great Video, Thanks!😃👍
Thx
Helpful video, thanks! Also, nice artwork.
Glad it was helpful! Cheers !
Absolutely, Mikey, that is the way to go brother every time. 👍🎧
You got that right!
Great info that many people really don't know. Great piece of music to demonstrate the difference. The contrast of Stevie's voice and Lyndsey's guitar is very useful to see differences in gear.
Thanks !
I played this via AirPlay to my LG TV and using my Fortes and system. I could hear a big difference. It's the first time I've ever played anything like these comparisons back through my speakers.
Yes, it works ! ;-)
Voice came forward a lot.👍
Thanks---great video! I have a 3rd gen Bluesound Node and I'm looking to get an external DAC. This gives me hope. :)
Glad I could help!
Dude Mikey your A/B test never disappoint. Night and day difference. The .5 was so enveloping.
Crazy, right ??
Good one
Thanks for the visit !
Great presentation, so true 👍
BluOS stream w Sirius XM & Qobuz
External DAC must have later date
Thx !
The sound stage, depth, timbre all increased over here with the bel canto. When you jacked the voltage up it became more layered/Bloomed/dimensional, for sure an audible improvement, even with the compression inherent on CZcams.
Yes, it was very clear to hear
Did not realize the difference when buying a streamer .. You know you see prices of DAC's and for the average stereo guy 5-10 k is a lot .. So i bought a cambrigde streamer a wile ago .. And ahh i listen to music once in a wile nothing great sounding .. Now i understand the differance .. what can i do with out killing my bank account ???? I just started following you MIKE i like what your videos .. YES i have the vinyl rig lol .. BUT UNDERSTAND WHERE YOUR COMMING FROM with the DAC stuff , makes total sense .
I'd say buy a good DAC used or buy a DAC from 11stereo.com. I hand pick them all and they start at $1K for a DAC made in USA.
You got that right, Steamroller
Rollin, Rollin, rollin...
Tribe truth right there!
Yessir !!
That was actually noticeable even through my laptop. Thanks Mikey. I’m still lusting for a Jeff Rowland 735 mono set. 😅
I know someone that has a pair for sale. $40K. U can get a pair of 555 which will sound better IMHO for $10K less ... ;-)
I know someone that has a pair for sale. $40K. U can get a pair of 555 which will sound better IMHO for $10K less ... ;-)
It just seems to me that the higher the voltage output the better as a general rule increasing the signal to noise ratio as well as giving the downstream amplifier stages more to work with. Of course it's desirable to stop short of any clipping or other forms of distortion.
Yes. For sure.
Good demo. If I'm not mistaken those are Liberty Audio speakers that you sell? Also, liken the wine shipping cartons on the walls for diffusors!
I sold 3 pair and that was it. Now the price is double...
The Bluesound node is fine for background music only. Not if you're sitting down and only listening to music. It has a definite house curve built into its sound. Not a flat frequency response at all.
Thats all I ever use mine for but I do use an external DAC as bluesounds is terrible
Yes, it's true.
My poor old node2i still going strong, I upgraded the power supply though. I am happy with the music for now! 😊
As long as you are happy, that's all that matters...
Thank you for the interesting presentation. I have a query regarding the importance of volume level in this type of assessment.
I used a SPL meter to check the levels during the 3 sound clips. The second clip was on average 2.5 dB higher than the first, the third clip was almost 3 dB higher than the second, making it almost 6 dB higher than the first. It's my understanding that the volume level has a large effect on a person being able to compare sound clips.
Is it fair to say my measurements of the volume levels of the 3 sound clips supports the opinion that the assessment is not equal, that volume matching should have been done to create comparables and this is a very very broad generalization of your point?
By the way, I totally agree regarding the aspect of using an external DAC but that should be obvious given the price points of the two pieces of equipment.
First thing is you are assuming money buys better sound with Audio. Thats a Big mistake and not true. Next, we matched voltage at the outputs with a test tone. Spl with a meter is not the way you REALLY test between gear, it's just an easy general way for consumers to get an approximation. Then on the third clip, I tell you that we added .5V to the output.. so perhaps if you had listened closer, it would make sense why it was louder. ASR may be a good channel for you. Bottom line is seperates are better and we care about getting better music, not better measurements. We like to have FUN with our systems, not stress out on science...
@@OCDHIFiGuy Hello Mike. I wanted to learn from you. I tried to ask my question in as neutral a manner as I could think to do so. I am certainly not an ASR fanboy. I have a dedicated, treated listening room (with the grace of my wife) with over 6 figures of gear carefully curated mostly by ear alone, a lot of reading of some science and a lot of trial and error. My question was intended to help with my trials and errors. I meticulously attempt to volume match when I am comparing components and I wanted your opinion on whether that was as important as I have read/seen.
I can see that I failed to ask my question in an appropriate manner. Perhaps it was the last portion of my final sentence. Perhaps I beat around the bush too much and needed a direct statement. I don't know but I do apologize for raising your blood pressure and causing you to respond with, what I interpret as, a condescending aggressive attitude.
All in all it's no biggie. I will continue on my quest to learn from other people and apply that knowledge to my slice of heaven. I will take your hint and unsubscribe from your channel and I will also take your advice and continue to have fun with my system. My system is my greatest stress reliever from all the vitriol in the world. Sadly, there is more and more of that vitriol nowadays.
I wish you well. Thank you.
Saw some old Thiel speakers on the side.
Yes, $1500 they are yours..
Hey Mickey, in this case would you recommend upgrading the power supply on the node? Thanks
For another $700 ? Total of $1400 ? What's your total budget ?
@@OCDHIFiGuy I have the older 2i and a Wyred for sound dac2. 2,000 is my budget, Thanks
Hi Mikey
I have Bluesound node with Cherry Audio Dac Dac, unfortunately Tommy O’Brien has passed away RIP, but to your point it’s a good Dac that will improve the sound.
Take Care
Bill
How did he pass ? Sad, he was a pumped up dude..
@@OCDHIFiGuy
Hi Mikey
From complications of COVID
I love you man. You can do whatever the hell you want! That’s my opinion! LMAO!! I definitely heard a clear difference.
Thanks Brother, let's ride sometime !!
I bought a Node X as an upgrade for my Node 2i, and ended up returning the Node X. In my opinion the Node 2i had better sound and more gain, which was surprising.
Interesting
big difference!
It was easy to hear for all in the room
@@OCDHIFiGuy it was easy to hear in the video, most guys do comparisons and you can’t really tell but there was such a big difference here, great job!
I think it softens the edges up put a little more air into the
Environment... I agree 100% when you increase the voltage the sound was punchier had more depth too...
I don't believe all dac's change the output of the voltage like this one I believe is what you were doing is there a setting inside the dac if you increase the voltage ?
The whole thing sounds muffled like it’s play through a tube, oh wait, it’s CZcams, pug joke! How do you add voltage at that point?
Adjustable DAC output voltage... only present on actual Audiophile gear..
What are the amp and speakers?
BAT REX and Liberty Audio floorstanders
How do you change the voltage?
Front panel..
People who say that bits are just bits clearly never messed with different dacs. Hell one of my old setups was a Samsung Galaxy a10e and ion tailgater with a monster audio 3.5 aux cable when I added a usbc dac the difference was night a day so yeah if can hear the difference in a sub $200 system I don't know how people can't hear a differences in $1k+ system
For real...
The bits ARE just bits... But the ass end of a DAC is an analog stage that drives your preamp inputs. So impedance, voltage, all the usual come into play. Along with the components used to drive that amplified voltage..
Right. I believe virtually everyone concedes this point.
DACs' analog stage is critical to sound quality.
So is its power supply. And the filter scheme...
Not a fan of youtube listening sessions generally. The concept of trying to evaluate a half million dollar system after it was captured by a smartphone or at best a couple hundred dollars in mics and DSPed to hell and back by the time I get the youtube and stream my PC's analog out. But with my little Schiit Magni and AT50's I can hear differences in this type review. As to which is actually better based on the difference I do hear at this end?
Interestingly perhaps, the first pass w/Node X only was almost unacceptable. Compressed and smeared vocals. Adding the BelCanto did help. But I can only hope that sitting there listening was significantly better than what I was hearing.
It was very noticeable in person for sure...
3.7 can be used with att fiber optic cable,,,, same as the pd8..the 3.7 is not better than the pd8.. though they both share the same fiber optical input.. major win
That's not the only thing high end about this DAC. It's grossly undervalued on the used market.
@@OCDHIFiGuy I agree !! I own the Bel Canto 3.7. I recently sent it to Ace Tomato(Former Bel Canto tech) for upgrades. Now have linear power supply. I couldn't afford the Statement upgrade, just the reference upgrade. Very happy with the now 10 year old DAC. Very musical. Love your channel @OCDHIFIGuy. Cheers
The volume differences are not the same
Clearly not on the third, as we juiced it..
Shame you never had kids ❤
Dodged the bullet.
Mikey should do a “life decisions” channel, looks like there would be a few watching that as well😂😂
No place for a Blueballs node anywhere in a serious system imo
Werd
Bizarre example of a basic node to a DAC
You have a hard time understanding it ?
@OCDHIFiGuy nope, its just very obvious