Recent content by Hawkmoon

So has anyone into streaming music found any gains by replacing the cheap switch mode power supply that comes with your router with something like an ifi one?

Thanks for that very full user review - really useful !

Is it expensive though? I mean many spend as much now on a DAC as they do on amplification so it's not unusual to spend considerably more than what the Qutest costs - perhaps less so in the UK but in places like the US

I have read a lot of reviews of this DAC - I mean, spent months researching it. I would say maybe 60-70% say it is amazing and that it competes with DACs almost twice its price. I read that it is particularly impressive with c;lassical and vocals. Yet there are some dissenting voices - some say...

Well Amazon IS high res if you stream it from a BluOS device like a Node 2i, and not from a Mac or PC. That's how I do it.

Just noticed that when I watch a movie on Sky Q recorded to the box I get a brief 1-second sound dropout on my 5.1 system connected via optical/toslink roughly every 2-3 mins. Went on the Sky forums expecting to find an easy fix, only to find numerous ongoing threads and discover this is an...

Anyone tried one and found it made a noticeable difference to the sound quality when streaming?

It will not be night and day but definitely better, if you invest in a Node 2i. The BluOS app is excellent and it fully supports streaming services like Tidal, Qobuz and Amazon HD - you can compare the built in DAC with that in your amp via coax out and see what you like the best. At its current...

I use both Tidal and Amazon HD on a Node 2i connected via ethernet. Note that the optimal way for the Node 2i to access these services is using its own network bridge, which requires you to access the services using the BluOS app. If you play Tidal or Amazon from within the BluOS app then the...

They look very similar. I have a PMA800 in my B system at the office - it's a decent amp but note it does not have a sub out, which is a bit of an omission. Also if you are a fan of tone controls, this is not a good amp - the tone controls are poor and the amp sounds much better with them...

Yes sorry I meant Airplay but I was essentially correct - stream from within the BluOS app if you want the best SQ

The only way for the 2i to stream Tidal directly is if you do it from within the BluOS app. Same with Amazon Music etc - if you try to use Tidal app or Amazon app your phone will use Bluetooth to the 2i.

You’re welcome! Do remember though that if you use the Tidal app instead of the BluOS one, you’ll be using Bluetooth and not hearing things in full high def - you’re only going to get the true best sound quality if you stream Tidal from within BluOS

Depends. For example I have a Node 2i streamer. Recently upgraded my DAC to a £880 Mytek Liberty (similar to the Mytek Brooklyn) - it sounds phenomenal with the 2i and is a noticeable improvement on the internal DAC in the 2i. Also allows me to use my CXC CD transport with it. What's not to like?

Why wouldn't you? If you buy an amp with a DAC then you lose your DAC as well if your amp fails and typically DACs in amps are not as good as standalone DACs. Similarly, if you buy a streamer with a built-in DAC then these tend not to have great DACs built in unless the streamer is £1000s...