Dac/streamer for beolab9

16 replies
K(
KMabokela (archived2)
Bronze
50 posts
Posted January 16, 2021 at 18:48 GMT
#2150258

Hi all

i'm in a process of acquiring the beolab 9 speakers however i have a bit f challenge which will sound better between a sonos amp, bluesound node 2i or the beosound core? i normally sream high res audio from tidal amd want to ensure i get the best sound out of the lab 9's,

 

i'm in a process of acquiring the beolab 9 speakers however i have a bit f challenge which will sound better between a sonos amp, bluesound node 2i or the beosound core? i normally sream high res audio from tidal amd want to ensure i get the best sound out of the lab 9's

SA
Sandyb
Bronze
2575 posts
Posted January 16, 2021 at 20:12 GMT
#2150259
The Bluesound has Tidal Connect now, unless i am badly mistaken.

That would seem a strong argument in its favour.

That way you can just use your phone / tablet and the Tidal app, it will allow you to select (i.e tell) the Node to get your Tidal streams.

Outside of that the BlueOS software is generally regarded as pretty good.

Not sure what your multi room listening needs are, with Tidal? If you have other speakers / units in other rooms which are not Tidal Connect enabled, then you will probably then have to use Airplay (or CC?) from your phone / tablet to control multi room experiences.

That quirk aside, I’d need a pretty good reason not to go for the Node.

K(
KMabokela (archived2)
Bronze
50 posts
Posted January 17, 2021 at 06:04 GMT
#2150260

Thanks for the update. Multiroom audio is not on the cards as yet, however I needed a unit that can serve as a preamp/streamer and wanted to find out if it will sound great with the beolab 9's. Will the lab9's handle hi res audio of about 192kbps/24 bit? Compatibility is really my Focal point at this stage. 

SA
Sandyb
Bronze
2575 posts
Posted January 17, 2021 at 07:55 GMT
#2150261

Looking at the Node 2i, it has a onboard DAC which you can use if you connect to your speakers using the RCA outputs of the Node

The BL9 does not have RCA inputs as a connection option, so you will need an RCA to Powerlink cable, which I think can be bought with a bit of looking around. For this I'd check with Steve at Sounds Heavenly.

You will need to use the RCA outputs (and connect this way to the BL9s) to ensure Node 2i is doing the full decode and rendering of Tidal MQA.

 How good it sounds (i.e how good the 9s are), I don't know, as I don't have much listening experiences of them.

 

 

C(
cboudier (archived2)
Bronze
1777 posts
Posted January 17, 2021 at 09:03 GMT
#2150262

KMabokela wrote:
Will the lab9's handle hi res audio of about 192kbps/24 bit?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the BL9s have (only) analog inputs. Therefore, bits are not relevant here...

On the product page, you can find this characteristic : input sensitivity (Power Link) 125mV @ 91dB SPL

Not sure it helps a lot...

Millemis
Millemis
Bronze
15984 posts
Posted January 17, 2021 at 09:48 GMT
#2150263

CB wrote:

KMabokela wrote:
Will the lab9's handle hi res audio of about 192kbps/24 bit?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the BL9s have (only) analog inputs. Therefore, bits are not relevant here...

On the product page, you can find this characteristic : input sensitivity (Power Link) 125mV @ 91dB SPL

Not sure it helps a lot...

Yes, the BL9 have analog inputs only.

The driver are speced to max out at 20 kHz - an analog signal based on the CD specs (16/44) will be perfectly fine with them.

No need to pay for higher speced files (which 99% originally aren’t anyway) - no need chasing rabbits there.

MM

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

K(
KMabokela (archived2)
Bronze
50 posts
Posted January 17, 2021 at 14:34 GMT
#2150264

Correct, the lab 9's are analog. 

K(
KMabokela (archived2)
Bronze
50 posts
Posted January 17, 2021 at 14:35 GMT
#2150265

Thanks for the update and your inputs are highly appreciated. 

K(
KMabokela (archived2)
Bronze
50 posts
Posted January 17, 2021 at 14:36 GMT
#2150266

Thanks will consult Steve with regards to the cables. 

E(
Esax (archived2)
Bronze
337 posts
Posted January 18, 2021 at 19:37 GMT
#2150267
There is a huge differens streaming tidal hifi on blousound node 2i vs airport express on beolab 50. And with the blousound connected via rca analog. I think you should try it out. I think the beolab 9 is to good to not. I hade them almost 10 years.
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