Carlos and Alex bring our famous DIY spirit to the annual United Way Day of Caring. Naim ND5-XS (S/H) I purchased a black one this morning from Music Direct at the reduced price. actually working with the Bluesound Node on a SN3. Sure, you can carry a small handheld speaker with you, but Deia takes her portable tunes more seriously. They do not share. 99 Sale price $299. Crutchfield has and always will be the number one source for all electronic needs, there is no one better. Every review I saw raves about the sound quality on the CXN-(V2). The CXN V2. What are some of the differences between the 2 streamers with regards to high res streaming? Its a brilliant streamer, dac, Preamp, bluetooth & Mqa is also there. I have only used it for streaming from Apple Music with the intention of hearing new music which I might then buy in physical form. SpeakerCompare gives you a sense of the sonic differences. NAC102/HiCap/NAPSC You dont have to spend a lot of money to get a decent stereo system. The CXN is great at $900, but even better at less than that. Sony A95L QD-OLED, X95L MINI LED And Full BRAVIA Range For 2023 (In-Depth Interview). On their Support/Community site, they state the Firmware that opened the USB output is still in Beta. I changed out the PC on my Vault 2 and it made a noticeable improvement. NAP180 SpeakerCompare simulates the sound of home and car speakers through your headphones. Learn how to choose the best speakers for your home. The only lower cost transport that I know of that does a full MQA or DSD pass through is the Aries Mini. Others like Cambridge CXN and 851N or steamers up to 2500 euro/dollar like Teac, Sotm, Lumin, Innuos Zen etc. A network music streamer lets you play digital music from different sources, and play them through connected speakers and devices in your home. affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network, and Yes, I agree! Is this possible? Which did you prefer and why? Has both digital and analog outputs, SQ is likely superb and available at a small fraction of their top of the line products, and resale value, however limited, is likely high among competing products. CA has no Roon or direct Qobuz connection. It is half the price of the Cambridge and has a much better user interface with BluOS. From their Facebook page post of 9/20/19: I sold off the CXN 2 because it sat unused. If not, for just a bit more money than a new Node 2i, you can get a second hand Cambridge Audio CXN V2, which is in a completely different league, and . Find a used Ayre Codex Dac. The factor that most affected my home network music streaming performance was/is the quality of the switch. Do you know what I mean? Itll work with you iPad or out of your Windows laptop. I dont think that is correct. I don't need to spend thousands but it's a toss up between the Bluesound Node 2i and the CXN. Messages: 2,061 . Ok. the Amazon Associates Program via amazon.com. When I had the Node 2 I used two outputs. Ive also hooked it up to my integrated amp and it works great as well. All using original Naim interconnects and NAC-A5 cabling to an old pair of Castle Harlech speakers. Inside the a-s801 is ES9010K2M. The CXN V2 is older but likely to have better sound quality. The CXN V2 has three digital inputs, two digital outputs, analog (single-ended and balanced) outputs and one Ethernet input. Purchased both as opened box/clearance from CA with warranty. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, ND5-XS vs Bluesound Node vs Cambridge CXN v2. If using toslink it could be the cable as some do not work well above 24/96 . I also heard that Bluesound Node has support for the upgraded Bluetooth Aptx and better support for Roon and Qobuz compared to the CXN. But what about the sound quality? But I've heard consistently that the Cambridge sounds better which I would expect. No support for AirPlay, Chromecast, Roon. Naim ND5-XS (S/H) Bluesound Node (New) The only oversight I can see is not including HDMI arc. I stream from the Qobuz app. But it's a little involved and if you don't like to tinker stick with the CXN or get a Node 2i. Not the earlier Node model though that pre dates the 2i, just to confuse matters I see Bluesound are now naming its latest iteration The Node. Wi-Fi speakers are the building blocks for wireless multi-room audio systems from Sonos, Bose, and other brands. All rights reserved. Poor WiFi performance: you need to use an Ethernet cable for reliable performance. So I know if I get a streamer and hook-up a hard drive to my files then I know Ill get clean source if I bypass the streamers DAC, however what Im trying to find out, is that if I skip the streamer and directly go from USB-B on the A-S801, through an appropriate cable, and straight into a tablet or phone, HOW to bypass the internal processing of the tablet or phone, so it can send a direct signal to the cable and onto my A-S801. I am looking forwarding to attaching one of my external hard drives to it for playback of lossless vinyl rips while I work. #12. The Cambridge is in the list because i like the idea that I could use the internal DAC instead of my A-erhalten DAC, if It is better. I know the node has USB out (if Bluesound have managed to get it working correctly). You know more than I do! Being able to connect a HDD is much more ideal. 1 Home Entertainment Tech Resource. I really appreciate your technical staff. All my music servers play it from the NAS drive over Ethernet. But the term "chromcast" refers the technology which nowadays available in variety of equipments like TV, Streamer, Sound bar etc. Then I traded up to the CXN 2, and late in 2018 to the Node 2i. All web chat conversations are recorded. Any opinions on BS node 2i into Yggdrasil Dac. So I want a clean signal from a source to be internalised with that DAC. The Node is very new and seems to have great functionality. In equal power mode, you'll hear these differences in loudness as they naturally occur between speakers. Linked to my laptop, other than getting the artwork wrong occasionally, its pretty seamless. And from my windows laptop I also have USB C.. so theres that, and Im also concerned about loss of quality over the length of cable, which steers me in the direction of a quality cable, but I dont want to spend $$$ on that trap. Thoughts if so? Sounds like folks are leaning to the NODE which I think I am as well. CXN v2 supports full 192khz if available. Copyright 2000-2023 M2N Limited E. & O.E. Hopefully this will be fixed with a future Firmware update, but at the moment it's an issue. Product link at Music Direct. with the design (ie look) of it. Comparing their single-ended analogue outputs (because the Node 2i doesn't do balanced), the CXN (V2) exposes us to a little more inner detail but a substantially more expansive soundstage. #streaming #tidal #qobuzSUBSCRIBE TO PATREON to support Honest & Credible and well produced HiFi reviews and for ;-Ad Free Videos-Added Video Review content . The No. Please consider the user interface. This raises the question of what you mean by dipping your toe in - what do you want to find out? I have my ipad pro connected to my dac/amp via usb c , everything sounds nice. BUT. Focus on speakers/room where a much more substantive change is possible. So I'm thinking of buying my first streamer. IMO any unit that does not have an MQA decoder will be effectively obsolete within 2 years. Im not even sure which service might be best, for me. Other than that, I would like to use Airplay (1). You must log in or register to reply here. Plus an in-depth review of the service by Jeff Miller, Crutchfield's headphone guy. I have been reading some threads about the addition of an nDAC being a possible wothwhile upgrade to these, at some point. Great customer service, product expertise & lifetime technical support has me as a happy customer. The Matirx streamer as well as the audiolab streamer are superb too. Star Wars 4-6 are the best movies. If I am using an outboard DAC then is there much difference in SQ between these two streamers? Very bummed they are dropping the black gear though, and very happy I purchased mine in black already. Thanks. This is where the cable game can get me. Compare Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) vs Bluesound NODE Free 2-day shipping to Washington 1-888-955-6000 Contact us Your account 0 Your cart Shop all departments Articles & videos Car audio & video Home audio TVs & video Headphones & wireless Marine Smart home Cameras & drones Pro audio Health More Specials Articles & videos B2B Sales Go Back No one supports Amazon. Certainly got a point Seeker-smith,i was on the other side of this before, drooling over these big streamers, but then Im even considering just a cable. Possibility of dropouts on Tidal in particular due to the small buffer. you get some phase and time alignment voodoo as well as some system optimization benefits. To be honest, with a good high quality stream there are times when it can give my fairly advanced on the upgrade path LP12 a run for its money. Too bad the matching amp is priced so high. CXN is amongst a handful of players to have Chromecast built-in. company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. Local and via tidal, qobuz et al. This device lets you stream stunning sound quality and let you play music files from various apps such as Spotify and Deezer. Virtual audio technology allows you to compare sonic characteristics between speakers so you can make a more informed shopping decision. Plus, our headphone writer reviews the high-res streaming music service. It offers Roon Ready and Spotify Connect but no Chromecast Built-in. I owned a CXN (first version) and the original Bluesound Node for a couple of years. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. With this limited intention I am not bothered that it doesnt match my other sources, although its very listenable. I appreciate its going to be affected by the DAC, I currently have a Chord Mojo (and will possibly upgrade to Hugo) and I prefer the USB, but thats not a deal-breaker. So far, so good! Great SQ, suppports just about any streaming platform your likely to want, very reliable and stable over wifi. This does bit mean that the digital signal is not up/down sampled or otherwise processed in the device before it's passed to the external dac. I always choose to support you guys over a big box. You are using an out of date browser. https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/usa/en/products/openboxclearance?f%5B0%5D=category%3A10. Read the manual, the CXN v2 passes digital through up to 24/192 on the toslink or coax. This website uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb. I suspect a ND5 XS2 is in my future, for simplicity. File format is predominantly FLAC with some WAV and Mp4 for the 16/44.1's. Otherwise you need to move up to something like a Lumin U1 Mini. This does though, get some good reviews and not too expensive to dip your toe in, as has been suggested. Which is by no means guaranteed with Android (and possibly Apple- but check the threads on here about that) devices. Difference between Bluesound Node 2i and Cambridge CXN v2. I compare the Cambridge Audio CXN version 2 to the Bluesound Node 2i in this video review. I want to add a streamer to my existing set up and have my eye on the new Bluesound Node 2021 and the Cambridge Audio CXN V2. What is the difference between 'dark' and 'warm'? Both can be Roon endpoints, thought the Cambridge is by virtue of Chromecast. I currently have both the bluesound node2i and the Cambridge CXNv2 and IMO, the DAC in the CXNv2 is better. Does anyone have any insight. Cambridge Audio CXN V2 is a great combination of nice design with consistent geometry and ultra nice buttons, and many great features built-in by the manufacturer. Im passed this point of temptation for now, but Ive decided Ill just buy it either next year or if there is a great deal. The Node can be impressive and always seems to be compatible with every streaming service around. CXN (in my opinion) has a little darker sound (not to be confused with warm). It is similar in terms of inputs and versatility, packed in a classy looking black or white box with a single LED and somewhat useless controls on the top. Hi, there is no NDS2!? Ive been looking at Audioquest cables, and Im think about 2 or 3 meter, and I guess a 2 meter is going to be better for sound than 3, but ideally 3 would be great. I guess. They're always very helpful! Do we get hands-on with the gear we sell? I posted this in the Coupons, Discounts & Sales section Its a good sale now that Cambridge has announced the CX Series 2 line coming next week. The Bluesound node and the Bluos app have my highest recommendation,been using them for six months streaming Qobuz an Amazon music to Electrocompaniet amplifier and Dali Menuet SE speakers,sounds amazing,I have considered the Cambridge,but reading reviews of it's control app put me off,sticking with the Bluesound.. Also in my humble opinion spending BIG bucks on a streamer is a waste when you can get a PI streamer with Roon, AirPlay2, and DNLA support for next to nothing. 853. Estimated wait for next available agent : Well email you a transcript of this conversation for your records. Cambridge CXN v2 (New). I prefer Audiolab over Bluesound Node 2i. So the cambridge gets rave reviews but It would be a struggle finding room in my existing CD6006 and Marantz Pearl Lite set up. Wiim Pro? Powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original design Critical Media Ltd. I have a CXN v2(as source with Flac, streaming Spotify) paired with CA351a and Elac 2.0 B5.2. I get the feeling the prices on these needed to go up to keep them in circulation and including them in a "new" series is a pretty common move. I'll be a customer for as long as they are in business. SpeakerCompare tailors your listening experience to the exact headphones you have, so that what you hear is comparable to auditioning speakers side-by-side in person. It lets you compare sonic characteristics between speakers so that you can make a more informed shopping decision. I know own the Cambridge, and Im using Chromecast for the high Rez Qobuz offerings, Ok thanks. I did not try a directly connected HD. Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by wingram, Jul 5, 2019. It can also transmit studio-quality music to Bluetooth headphones or external speakers. It does that both analog out and digital out, - and with AirPlay . It may not display this or other websites correctly. and you got the option to use an external dac. The SQ isnt a match for my Hugo when I listened to one, but definitely got closer with an upgraded, Naim, interconnect. So, if I get an MQA capable DAC, can I bypass the Cambridge DAC and get full MQA? So Bluesound is both streamer and DAC, CXA is power amp 2) Bluesound to CXA via digital coax. I love my Vault though. If so the I guess it just comes down to features/size etc. All the node's outputs are active all the time, which makes the Node quite nice for its price. 390. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. CXN is also 40% more expensive. The trade-off is form factor and a higher price. So, are the prices going on the new paint scheme CXN v2? this can result in this site earning a commission. With the Node 2i connected to my LAN by ethernet, performance is seamless. Have you tried plugging a hard drive into the Node 2i? New Bluesound Node vs Cambridge Audio Day Magic 200. company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. Select your brand of headphones in the right-hand column. Love Crutchfield! Panasonic 55FZ950. AVForums.com is owned and operated by M2N Limited, It may not display this or other websites correctly. Yeah I want to get full resolution from what files and services I'm using so that's a con on the Cambridge. Based on how I hear the Node 2i indexes, I think the CXN v2 may be the better bet for thisit's how I plan to use it mostly. My place for electronics, great customer service, product expertise & lifetime technical support. To help you choose the right speakers, we recommend using Crutchfields SpeakerCompare Listening Kit. It doesn't just read the files and display them in the Bluos app? Hi all, just considering dipping my toe into the sreaming world Then again, I do need to think forward and perhaps an outside/backyard setup may be advantageous. Let's take a closer look at this device. the Amazon Associates Program via amazon.com. If you're doing Roon just get a Sonore Ultra Rendu and go USB to the DAC, Yeah, Ive looked at those and I just dont think I can get along. The Bluesound supports a HDD whereas the Yamaha only supports a USB stick. Another vote for the Blusound here, like you I was curious and dipping my toes, auditioned a Node 2i and it stayed. Thatll be $10 of the best $$$ you spend on audio. . #4. Chromecast is not an option as I cant stand non-gapless, although having chromecast would be a plus for using things like SoundCloud. Find out what gear you need to hear Qobuz at its best. The customer support team is personal and phenomenal. That USB-C is direct, right? JavaScript is disabled. Thats sort of the point of external USB DACs. I stand correctedthe Cambridge does indeed have the Wolfson DAC, question regarding the need for external DAC above?. The Bluesound Node 2i is designed with enhanced dual-band WIFI to render the best-in-class performance even in crowded airspaces. Marantz BD8006, Bluesound Node 2021, Marantz Pearl Lite, Revel Concerta2 M16, Sony XZ Premium, LGV30. All Naim streamers have a digital output which allows you to run them with a separate DAC as an upgrade option. I use Airplay for Qobuz. The Node, no question. DACs, Streamers, Servers, Players, Audio Interface. This discussion is important for me. Crutchfield is a servicemark of Crutchfield Corporation. The OP was interested in the Node, not the Vault. Europe's busiest forums, with independent news and expert reviews, for TVs, Home Cinema, Hi-Fi, Movies, Gaming, Tech and more. That's interested @rvpiano. Thank you djones. Someone mentioned here that the Cambridge doesnt so full resolution unless using their app? See which models top our list of best picks for 2023. I had intended to make an introductory post, in the lounge, but got carried away with myriad questions! If your headphones aren't listed, we recommend using our Listening Kit. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . That's weird. Phones /tablets should never go through their internal DACs when connected to an external dac and any player software should tell you where it is sending it to. 19,270. The more I read about the Node 2i, the better it seems for my purposes. Cambridge DacMagic vs Cambridge CXN v2 /v3, cambridge streamer cxn v2 USB tracklist error, issue with ECI-2, CXN v2 and external 2.5" HDD, Amplifiers, Phono preamp, and Analog Audio Review, Streamer/Dac Suggestions For AE1 Active's. Anyone have hands on with both? I want to load a hard drive up with my library (AIFFs) and play from it. It outperforms the Dac in my Cambridge 851C cd player. Am I correct? Why can't I access my USB stick via the USB Audio menu on the CXN (V2)? But how can i use it from my couch? Any thoughts on which would be the best idea from the following choices? The CXN V2 is part of Cambridge Audio's midrange CX series, which also includes two integrated amplifiers and a CD transport. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It includes a pair of studio-quality headphones, and a guide to getting the most out of your session, and a few other necessary items. displayname, Oct 2, 2019 #12 psulioninks Forum Resident I use a dedicated Roon Rock server for my Roon to PS Audio DAC endpoint. I use Qobuz via a Raspberry Pi running MoOde Audio software. Have you checked the review index? New Bluesound Node vs Cambridge CXN v2 for High Res Streaming? On March 6, 2020 By hifitr5_wp There are a couple of budget (around $500) Audiophile Music Streamers I recommend. In addition to its new Roon Ready support, the CXN features Chromecast built-in, making it easy for users to access content from Sirius XM, Soundcloud, and hundreds of other music sources. Thanks for the update, consider adding this to your profile. Hows that for humble? digital 149206-129624 Difference between Bluesound Node 2i and Cambridge CXN v2 Looking at both of these units and I know there is a $500 difference but can anyone tell me the differences between them and which might be better? Absolutely outstanding are the words I think of to describe the selection, price, shipping, & the customer service. Node? this can result in this site earning a commission. Not sure how all this would sort out, appreciate advise. But, if I were later still to obtain an NDS2 or NDX2, would the nDAC still serve as an upgrade to them? Getting hands-on with our products helps us pick what's best for our customers. Details -$300.00 Price break. Yes, with the caveats that the source device (tablet/ phone / streamer) isnt doing anything to the file before passing it on. DACs, Streamers, Servers, Players, Audio Interface. Other than that, I would like to use Airplay (1). Especially with Tidal MQA, would the node 2i unfold MQA to a partial level since the Yggy is not MQA compatible? More modern, more compact, headphone out, sub out with cutoff filters for bass management, and allegedly blue sound is the best streaming software around. I Have the Node and like the connectivity, and supported features to other services like Roon, Qobuz, TuneIn and many more. Every time I use Crutchfield I am happy. Is this the very latest model? Weve carefully chosen the components of this kit to ensure a crystal-clear listening experience. Powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original design Critical Media Ltd. CD3.5/Flatcap If it is if any use. I dont know the Cambridge except for what Ive read. It's a good sale now that Cambridge has announced the CX Series 2 line coming next week. But i feel I want to know for sure whether it skips the internal DAC or not. bumpquestion regarding the need for external DAC above? Since 1974.SM. Oh, apart from the RCA to DIN, where I have a Chord Crimson and a Chord Chrysalis (iirc?). Or, would the DAC quality in these streamers have surpasseed that offered by the nDAC, by this point, making the nDAC now redundant? I am a Qobuz user and for me, it surpasses all other streaming services when it comes to SQ and content. I have seen numerous posts from people who have and love either unit. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, Others? So have Sony, Onkyo, NAD, and others. Bluesound Node (2021) or CXN V2? For free personalized advice, call 1-888-291-8923. See our in-depth review of the Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) streamer and CXA80 amp, with our analysis of the design, sound quality, accessories, and more. I use both qobuz and local flac files via Roon so integration with Roon is important too. I was aware that it could be an issue, but was hoping it had been sorted by now. Dont want the ****** internal DACs to touch the signal. I didn't know that. The NODE has native integration with just about every streaming service with the exception of Apple Music (and it does have access to Amazon, despite a previous post). So the cambridge gets rave reviews but It would be a struggle finding room in my existing CD6006 and Marantz Pearl Lite set up. The internal device DAC isnt used when you connect via USB. Built my own and took ten minutes. Unfortunately not. Europe's busiest forums, with independent news and expert reviews, for TVs, Home Cinema, Hi-Fi, Movies, Gaming, Tech and more. One thing I appreciated with Bluesound Vault is its app support of many streaming platforms. Pleased with this digital part of my sound system while looking around and saving funds for a more performant replacement. The only lower cost transport that I know of that does a full MQA or DSD pass through is the Aries Mini. The world's largest high-end audio community. But, if I were later still to obtain an NDS2 or NDX2, would the nDAC still serve as an upgrade to them? Thanks for that. I used (and still use) network attached storage. Sorry if this is a duplicate of some sort (lots of threads to sort through) but I was hoping to get some help from you guys. I have just returned to this forum, after around 15 years, having finally aquired some upgrades to my original entry level system of NAC92R/NAP90.3 which I bought with the intention of entering the upgrade path, though never got around to it!