cambridge audio cxn v2 vs bluesound node cambridge audio cxn v2 vs bluesound node

AVForums.com is owned and operated by M2N Limited, The CXN is great at $900, but even better at less than that. One caveat with the Cambridge you should know. 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. I want to load a hard drive up with my library (AIFFs) and play from it. It was getting too late at night for me! The OP was interested in the Node, not the Vault. This has been a fantastic experience. I love my Vault though. Very bummed they are dropping the black gear though, and very happy I purchased mine in black already. Discussion in 'PCs & Music Servers' started by centralflori, Jul 3, 2021. Been down this road; if you're using the Yamaha DAC and want plug/play convenience, easy to use interface with self updating software, very good customer support, excellent resale, and access to EVERY source known to man just get the Node or used Node 2i and be done with it. Cambridge Audio CXN V2 Stereo Network Streamer - All-in-One Wireless Media Streaming with WiFi (Lunar Grey) Visit the Cambridge Audio Store 179 ratings | 117 answered questions Amazon's Choice in Streaming Media Players by Cambridge Audio Lowest price in 30 days -23% $99900 List Price: $1,299.00 See more About this item If you want to save some money and still want Tidal MQA you could go with a Bluesound Node 2i instead of the CXN. It works great. All the node's outputs are active all the time, which makes the Node quite nice for its price. JavaScript is disabled. The Node 2i costs about RM1,000 more than the Yamaha. Europe's busiest forums, with independent news and expert reviews, for TVs, Home Cinema, Hi-Fi, Movies, Gaming, Tech and more. Our Advisors have listened to most of the speakers we carry, and can help you make the best choice for your system. The Bluesound Node 2i is designed with enhanced dual-band WIFI to render the best-in-class performance even in crowded airspaces. Also the means and ways of interacting with the CXN and its 'switchability' in always . It might actually sound better but any help would be appreciated. As already mentionned by others, good streamer with nice corresponding app and added a Teddy Pardo power supply to lift up SQ. The Bluesound supports a HDD whereas the Yamaha only supports a USB stick. JavaScript is disabled. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, The SQ isnt a match for my Hugo when I listened to one, but definitely got closer with an upgraded, Naim, interconnect. I find it an excellent combination. With its 24-bit/384kHz Wolfson DACs, the CXN V2 delivers great sound quality and support for Internet Radio, Tidal, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth aptX, and your networked music collection. It may not display this or other websites correctly. My advice to anyone who asks is to investigate them only after you are satisfied with every other part of your system, with emphasis on the speakers, room acoustics, and electronics. The Node 2i earned a place in second and third systems and lately in my test system that I use for equipment reviews and general fiddling, experimenting with and staging of new components, etc.. Jaded1 Nov 20, 2020 cxn marantz J Jaded1 Established Member Nov 20, 2020 #1 So I'm thinking of buying my first streamer. No complaint about the Cambridge app. Sorry to throw a monkey wrench into the discussion, but after many A-B comparisons, in general the Chromecast sounds better than the Sondstream despite the occasional higher sampling rate. I would prefer to have a streamer that connects to my existing pre, rather that one that replaces the pre, at these price ranges, as I havea long term plans to keep going up the Naim pre/power ladder. 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? But also I really need to know if the signal from the tablet or phone is untouched. Weve carefully chosen the components of this kit to ensure a crystal-clear listening experience. Other than that, I would like to use Airplay (1). 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. A lot of good advice on this site. DACs, Streamers, Servers, Players, Audio Interface. No support for AirPlay, Chromecast, Roon. 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. Marantz ND8006 vs Cambridge CXN V2 or other? I was aware that it could be an issue, but was hoping it had been sorted by now. #12. Bluesound Node 2 vs Cambridge CXN. Ned's best friend helps him evaluate frequencies only dogs can hear. The only lower cost transport that I know of that does a full MQA or DSD pass through is the Aries Mini. 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've heard the sound quality is superior in the CXN v2 but I also do not believe it even supports Amazon Music HD. I didn't know that. Have tried all possible troubleshooting, followed the Bluesound manual/forums and since formatted HDD to NTFS, Fat32, used different flash drives to the exact same outcome. The Node can be impressive and always seems to be compatible with every streaming service around. CA has no Roon or direct Qobuz connection. To be fair Blue Sound vaguely mentions this and favors the use of a NAS but personally unable to justify the extra hustle. No dealers near me carry it. The world's largest high-end audio community. bunno77; 1 Link to comment . Do we get hands-on with the gear we sell? CXN v2 supports full 192khz if available. 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. Im not even sure which service might be best, for me. If I needed to play MQA from Tidal, I could just switch the input on my Preamp. #4. You must log in or register to reply here. In an actual listening room, you'd find that some speakers play louder than others when fed the same amount of power. If so the I guess it just comes down to features/size etc. You also mentioned the IFI Zen. I use an iPad Air as a streamer into the USB on my Element II DAC/Amp. Sorry, I meant ND5-XS2 and NDX2 not NDS2 and NDX2 I dont know the science around it, but my thinking is youd need to have a cable much longer that 2-3 meters to experience any noticeable degradation in sound quality. affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network, and company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. 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. Sony A95L QD-OLED, X95L MINI LED And Full BRAVIA Range For 2023 (In-Depth Interview). Copyright 1996-2023, Crutchfield New Media, LLC. It is half the price of the Cambridge and has a much better user interface with BluOS. Cambridge Audio CXN V2. Will it give full res using Roon? My guess is, very few have listened carefully to both, so it's going to be difficult to get this specific feedback. Someone mentioned here that the Cambridge doesnt so full resolution unless using their app? I Have the Node and like the connectivity, and supported features to other services like Roon, Qobuz, TuneIn and many more. Estimated wait for next available agent : Well email you a transcript of this conversation for your records. The Node, no question. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. But, if I were later still to obtain an NDS2 or NDX2, would the nDAC still serve as an upgrade to them? I was a complete novice and you helped me figure out what would work best for me. I know the node has USB out (if Bluesound have managed to get it working correctly). But I've heard consistently that the Cambridge sounds better which I would expect. Other than that, I would like to use Airplay (1). Have you tried plugging a hard drive into the Node 2i? From their Facebook page post of 9/20/19: I sold off the CXN 2 because it sat unused. A better switch dramatically improved performance by eliminating lag, dropouts, arbitration issues when the network is particularly busy, etc. The factor that most affected my home network music streaming performance was/is the quality of the switch. But how can i use it from my couch? 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. The trade-off is form factor and a higher price. Posted: . My setup is as follows and it sounds great. Crutchfield has and always will be the number one source for all electronic needs, there is no one better. iTunes ( my Windows computer) rips my CDs directly to my NAS Ethernet drives. If CXN has Google Chromcast Audio ( GCA) built in, I wonder ( out of curiosity) how it's SQ would compare with a set up using GCA plus highEnd external DAC t o a Preamp ? marcozero Registered Joined Nov 16, 2021 14 Posts I had intended to make an introductory post, in the lounge, but got carried away with myriad questions! Your website is very efficient and easily navigable, selection is wide, and technical/chat support is outstanding. To help you choose the right speakers, we recommend using Crutchfields SpeakerCompare Listening Kit. AirPlay 2 and Chromecast compatible, the Cambridge CXN v2 network player can receive music from any iOS or Android smartphone. Been down this road; if you're using the Yamaha DAC and want plug/play convenience, easy to use interface with self updating software, very good customer support, excellent resale, and access to EVERY source known to man just get the Node or used Node 2i and be done with it. Is this possible? My place for electronics, great customer service, product expertise & lifetime technical support. Plus, our headphone writer reviews the high-res streaming music service. I thought I'd just see how well it worked for larger drives so I connected my Toshiba 2TB drive with about 1TB of music files via the USB input. Even its built-in headphone amp is respectable. CXN's DAC is definitely better than Node. I have one and they make a great Roon endpoint. Hello. I need to replace my modded Sonos connect with a new streamer. /Stageline So, are the prices going on the new paint scheme CXN v2? So the cambridge gets rave reviews but It would be a struggle finding room in my existing CD6006 and Marantz Pearl Lite set up. I've had a node 2i for about a year now. The more I read about the Node 2i, the better it seems for my purposes. It does that both analog out and digital out, - and with AirPlay . All using original Naim interconnects and NAC-A5 cabling to an old pair of Castle Harlech speakers. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Hi, I have tested both Audiolab 6000N and Bluesound Node 2i with a wide variety of speakers. Have you checked the review index? More modern, more compact, headphone out, sub out with cutoff filters for bass management, and allegedly blue sound is the best streaming software around. There are pros and cons on both sides. Not familiar with the the streamers youve mentioned, but youre getting some good advice. Plus an in-depth review of the service by Jeff Miller, Crutchfield's headphone guy. Local and via tidal, qobuz et al. (,,,) The node is appealing pricewise and I like what I have seen/heard but have yet to see or hear a cxn in the wild. JL audio E-sub e110 . I dont think that is correct. Thanks everyone, So I presently just use an Audioengine D2 wireless out of my MacBook and connect via Audioquest Cinnamon Toslink into my Krell Digital Vanguard. The Bluesound Node 2 comes with an MQA decoder.. Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group, which make up 75% of the recorded music industry, have committed to MQA. But performance in the real world is affected by the acoustics of your car or home, your choice of amplification, and your source material. Purchased both as opened box/clearance from CA with warranty. The only lower cost transport that I know of that does a full MQA or DSD pass through is the Aries Mini. 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. If anyone still on this thread, what is the difference in streaming quality vs the two. Hence the post! The CXN V2 is part of Cambridge Audio's midrange CX series, which also includes two integrated amplifiers and a CD transport. Hm, lets see what others have to say, but i think any random long usb a to b (there were plenty because of the printers) + an adapter to whatever usb you need should be more than fine. One into my Dac and then one analog out from the Node. You are using an out of date browser. .The C 658 is pure high resolution from input to output and features NAD's Direct Digital 35 bit 844kHz DAC, one of the . I'm always impressed with their professionalism and sincerity. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 853. Cambridge Audio/Music Direct - CXN v2 Network Player Network Player on Sale for $725 Awesome deal on this unit! Not using the internal dacs? Dear friendsWhich one to choose? Im sure some are going to throw in the Node does MQA but even so a superior DAC w/o MQA is still going to be better. Any difference? I was just surprised to see the ND5-XS at a comparable price (although s/h) to the other 2 aforementioned products, which made me wonder I have a CXN2 on my living room serving as 2 channel multi media interface also connected to a 4Tb HDD for streaming high res ripped vinyl files and some CDs. File format is predominantly FLAC with some WAV and Mp4 for the 16/44.1's. The iPad Pro making the switch to USB-C means now is the perfect time to look at how it all works and why it matters when it comes to the sounds of your life. 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. #streaming #tidal #qobuzSUBSCRIBE TO PATREON to support Honest & Credible and well produced HiFi reviews and for ;-Ad Free Videos-Added Video Review content . Find a used Ayre Codex Dac. The former is more detailed, neutral and works with a variety of upstream equipment. On March 6, 2020 By hifitr5_wp There are a couple of budget (around $500) Audiophile Music Streamers I recommend. Thorens TT (Cant recall the model, its from around 1968 and maybe TD125 or TD150, but I do remember its a MkII !) I dont know the Cambridge except for what Ive read. All web chat conversations are recorded. Problems with DSD, flacs skipping, bad WiFi connection. It outperforms the Dac in my Cambridge 851C cd player. It's a good sale now that Cambridge has announced the CX Series 2 line coming next week. Personally, I think you are better off with the NODE. (Not sure if I can get the correct interconnect for my toe though!). Find out what gear you need to hear Qobuz at its best. I stream from the Qobuz app. Let's take a closer look at this device. I thought that was interesting, but I guess the products have been on the market for a few years, and tariffs probably aren't helping things. 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! The internal device DAC isnt used when you connect via USB. I've used the USB out to my DAC, and like many others have had to revert to a digital coax connection for Roon as crackles and pops make listening impossible. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. All the boxes are checked in streaming capability (be nice if BT were included vs an option). Ok. Very good units for the price, especially when connected via wired internet as opposed to WiFi. So I want a clean signal from a source to be internalised with that DAC. The NDAC was certainly an upgrade on the internal DAC on the original NDX. Love Crutchfield! Mac Mini? I own both the CA 851n and the CXN 1. New Bluesound Node vs Cambridge CXN v2 for High Res Streaming? Every review I saw raves about the sound quality on the CXN-(V2). All Naim streamers have a digital output which allows you to run them with a separate DAC as an upgrade option. Hopefully this will be fixed with a future Firmware update, but at the moment it's an issue. CXN V2? But what about the sound quality? You know more than I do! Jul 27, 2020. You bet! Cambridge Audio CXC V2 CD speler CD-Spelers, SA-CD-Spelers 699. . One thing that strikes me about this product is the combination of competitive sound with the balanced design and dual DACs employed. Then I got thinking the money I would spend on a streamer.. Are you aware that the original ND5XS uses rather dated streaming tech compared to its Mk2 replacement and has limitations if you are intending to stream from internet sources rather than a music collection stored on your local network? Too many DACs> Too many amps> Too many headphones. Being able to connect a HDD is much more ideal. 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. This discussion is important for me. Reviving this old topic as I am looking at both of these streaming devices and cant quite make a decision. The Cambridge CXN (V2) is $1100. 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. Sounds like folks are leaning to the NODE which I think I am as well. 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. Connect the CXC to one of the digital inputs on the CXN V2 using either S/P DIF for a shorter connection, or TOSLINK optical for a longer connection. Powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original design Critical Media Ltd. 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 $$$ on that trap. Wiim Pro? @wgosma: Opinions vary on the efficacy of aftermarket power cords. Thatll be $10 of the best $$$ you spend on audio. Great customer service, product expertise & lifetime technical support has me as a happy customer. Hi. When I had the Node 2 I used two outputs. For free personalized advice, call 1-888-291-8923. JavaScript is disabled. CXN is amongst a handful of players to have Chromecast built-in. SpeakerCompare is protected by patents and patent applications owned by Crutchfield Corporation. What is the difference between 'dark' and 'warm'? Yeah no to be clear, the DAC I want to use is in the A-S801 amplifier. No one supports Amazon. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Yeah no to be clear, the DAC I want to use is in the A-S801 amplifier. Definitely get a cable to connect you iPad to the as801. Now changing the amp to Acoustic Portrait Swara v2 integrated amp. Is this the very latest model? What not a PI streamer with a Hat like Hifiberry or Allo. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, ND5-XS vs Bluesound Node vs Cambridge CXN v2. Connect the CXN V2 outputs to one of the analogue inputs of the CXA61/81 via balanced XLR (CXA81 only), or unbalanced RCA. Focus on speakers/room where a much more substantive change is possible. Any opinions on BS node 2i into Yggdrasil Dac. Both are good but prefer my PS Audio Directstream with Bridge II overall. But the term "chromcast" refers the technology which nowadays available in variety of equipments like TV, Streamer, Sound bar etc. I guess really my question is which sounds better (if we discount the internal dacs) or are they going to be pretty much the same. USB-C audio and the iPad Pro: Everything you need to know, 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. But just to emphasise, digital coax output to a DAC works absolutely fine with the Node as Roon Endpoint. Qobuz skipping files. New Bluesound Node vs Cambridge Audio Day Magic 200. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. this can result in this site earning a commission. I auditioned both the Node and the Cambridge. Both can be Roon endpoints, thought the Cambridge is by virtue of Chromecast. I have a CXN v2(as source with Flac, streaming Spotify) paired with CA351a and Elac 2.0 B5.2. Can't say for surejust learning about this all myself. Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by wingram, Jul 5, 2019. The pluses for the CXN2 is good sound quality, overall feel (no plastic), a more powerful processor, and physical controls. Thing is I just bought a Node as a streamer for my main system to find this unit is incapable to play any of the large files while the CXN2 has absolutely no issues going through the same data. Oh, apart from the RCA to DIN, where I have a Chord Crimson and a Chord Chrysalis (iirc?). model is referred to as Node N130. This raises the question of what you mean by dipping your toe in - what do you want to find out? Bluetooth is a simple, wireless way to send music from your phone, tablet, or laptop to your home stereo. I think that perhaps my options are likely to be focussed on the Node or maybe the iFi Zen streamer (?). My entry into streaming was an cxnv2. 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? I guess. First, Yamaha wxc 50 in preamp mode does SRC to 48 KHz with everything . Im still using a NP5 and Hugo mk1 - it sounds fabulous. Audioquest said they dont do that size but on their product sheet they state they do, Ive checked all over the internet and found some odd shops that do, but are too far for Germany. Preferred the smsl su-8 over their inbuilt DAC. My 2 cents; Buy the CXN v2 it's such a pleasure.the app works really quick and the quality is more then good. The main issues with the 1st gen models include: I was thinking of a chord qute 2 or maybe a moon 300d v2 . Thanks for that. You'd think hardwired would be easier to get right Cambridge Audio/Music Direct - CXN v2 Network Player Network Player on Sale for $725, https://www.audioxpress.com/news/ca-audio-components-with-updated-ess-sabre-dacs, Forum Policies, Rules, and Terms of Service.