My experience with Bluesound Node X as a Roon endpoint (and how to improve analogue out)

Audio Gear Talk
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I want to share my experience with the Bluesound Node X as a Roon endpoint.

I was looking for an end point to improve on my Kitchen zone, that was previously driven by a DacMagic 100 connected via USB to the Roon core, a Mac mini. I was missing volume control from Roon, and synchronisation with my Living Room zone that is in the same open space.

So my criteria was for the device to be Roon Ready, and not too expensive. I looked at standalone DACs like Topping E70 and RME ADI-2 DAC FS. While they are excellent DACs, they did not solve my main issue.

I ended up with the Bluesound Node X.

I use 5 of the 7 amps of my NAD M27 for my living room surround system with a NAD T 778, and the remaining 2 amps for my kitchen, the Node X.

Initially I was not impressed with the analogue output, connected directly to my amp NAD M27 - something was not right, the sound was muddy, lacking details in mids and highs were not clear. So I connected back my lowly DacMagic 100 to the digital out of the Node X and immediately things went back to “normal”.

I was back to starting point - no volume control from Roon. But I did not settle for this, I started experimenting with settings in the Bluesound app. Something bothered me about all the clutter in the front page, especially the inputs that I will never use with the Node - HDMI eArc, Analogue In, Bluetooth. So I turned off these inputs, not knowing what will happen. Then, I removed the DacMagic 100 and went back to analogue out from the Node X directly to my amp with varaible volume.

I did not believe the change, it was like night and day - all of a sudden the Node X was performing much better than originally, and way better than DacMagic 100.

And this is the whole point of this post: If anyone has the Node X and is not pleased with the analogue out quality - try and turn off all other inputs except Bluesound. I found this by accident!

I hope this helps someone!

And BTW, I love the 12V trigger out on the Node X - it powers my amp automatically. Also the NAD T 778 powers it automatically - FYI how to do this - a Y splitter goes in the amp, with inline diodes before the Y splitter to isolate the NAD T 778 and the Node X.

3 Likes
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Nothing lowly about the DAC Magic , it was my first DAC , an oldie but goodie :smiling_imp: I think you can still buy it

Only got replaced because I wanted a headphone output (I should have got the DAC Magic Plus)

2 Likes
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I was wrong to use “lowly” - I really meant cheap and old, it is still a good DAC with SINAD of -100dB.

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Hallo, könntest Du mal bitte testen ob der Bluesound Node X AptxHd ausgibt. Bei mir funktioniert das nicht, nur Aptx in Verbindung mit dem SolitaireT Kopfhörer.
Fröhliche Grüße,
Tom

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I don’t have any AptxHd files. Where can I get a file from and try it?

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AptxHd ist ein BT Format und wird, wenn der Node x (soll er können) automatisch erzeugt. Der BT Empfänger z.B. Kopfhörer muss dieses Format beherrschen.
Ich habe bei Bluesound einen Fehler gemeldet und erwarte noch eine Antwort.