trappy

Excellent and detailed review. I agree with pretty much all of it. Am using the Powernode 2i, which is a stunning piece of kit, especially for the money, and also the Pulse mini 2i, which is great for most music except pieces that need scale. I’m pretty much hooked on the software, which is dead easy to use as you say. It does in my experience, however, hiccup for no discernible reason, at least once a week and can sometimes take a while to fix itself. I would also agree with the poster below that the Roon integration is not seamless. I had no trouble on my gen 2 Pulse mini, but could never get it to work quite right on the 2i. Eventually I decided I was happier with just the BluOS and quit my Roon subscription. If I were convinced that the issues were solved I’d be tempted to return. Anyway, I look forward to more collective brain power going into development of this platform. It really is something special.

Just in case you haven’t noticed, the Decco Sky is an amplifier as well as a streamer — you might be paying for what you don’t need if you want to continue using your Denon. If you’re thinking of changing amps then the Sky is certainly a fine cost-effective option, as is the Bluesound Powernode 2i. I’m using it connected to a couple of JMR Lucias and frankly it’s awesome. If your wireless router is up to snuff, I doubt very much you’ll notice a difference between wireless and wired. And when the only cable you need to use is speaker cable the sound is amazingly clear. The DAC in the Bluesound products sounds pretty amazing, better than a Dragonfly (which I have also owned.) I can’t testify to how good or bad the analogue outs on the Node 2i are, but the rest is the same circuitry as the Powernode. If you’re even remotely thinking about changing amps, give the Powernode some serious consideration. I also find the BluOS software great to use. It’s not Roon, but it’s better than most, and it’s free. Good luck in your search!

Well you’d have been pretty annoyed finding it on Tidal, as it’s another one of the albums where they’ve screwed up the track organization... too much work to organize into playlists as I’ve done with some others. What a PITA. Edit: I found a way of fixing it.

Thanks! I will look for these.

Put him on ignore: I did it over a year ago and the SNR improvement was better than an upgrade.

Watermarking is mostly DG. I haven’t come across it on ECM.

I just got a Schiit Eitr a few weeks ago. Never have I had a piece of equipment so slap me across the face with the force of revelation. I am done with USB (unless it’s on a Schiit product — this is the first one I’ve ever owned.)

Which one? If you don’t mind me asking...

Have you listened to the Tidal MQA versions? Sounds to me like those are NOT watermarked. That annoys me as I’m finding I don’t generally like MQA, (although it kind of works on my Bluesound Pulse.) Anyway, as this place has already made me paranoid about MQA, I now suspect collusion between them, Tidal, and Univeral Music Group (or whatever they’re called now) to only permit the unwatermarked masters to be used for MQA. Looking forward to Qobuz coming to Canada...

Yessir.

Con spirare = together breathing ( the implication being people in a huddle breathing each other’s breath.) Spirit = breath. On the present usage I hold no opinion, although I am genuinely puzzled by Mr Atkinson’s enthusiasm.

I have noticed that the MQA versions of some of the most obviously watermarked recordings (i.e older DG) do not exhibit watermarking signatures. Especially obvious when both versions are there. I’ll try to find an example later. I’m thinking the Chicago Abbado Mahler 5... No idea how it works...

I owned the DAC2 for about a year. Many virtues; classical vocals not one of them.

The Amethyst is a totally different beast to the Octave. But yes, NOS DACs are not an automatic recommendation for everyone. However, the Amethyst and it’s predecessor the Musette were both terrific for classical vocals; I owned both of them, and the only reason I changed was for a good DAC/amp solution. Which, sadly, is not quite as great on the vocal front...

Ugh, I would not listen to opera or choral music on a Benchmark, unless you want a headache... Try the Metrum Amethyst. Good for classical and has a decent headphone amp.

I listen to pretty much anything, and I don’t find Tidal limited at all, although there are sometimes inexplicable omissions — inexplicable by me anyway. What do you not find on there?

I just did this yesterday: sent the same content to my main rig and a Bluesound Pulse Mini. Worked like a charm.

I would be very interested in this comparison. Please post when/if you make it. Thanks!

I used the Uptone Amber and the Curious USB, both together and separately. As well as the Jitterbug. There were changes, but nothing unambiguously good. The Intona (industrial) on the other hand, was was like removing a whole layer of muck I didn’t even know was there. And so far (I’ve had it for about 3 months) I hear no penalty. Can’t imagine going back. I would be interested to hear the curious cable on one side or another of it.

I really would like to have an extended listen to those speakers. I heard them briefly and was very impressed. They’re incredibly elegant looking too.

That’s a pretty sweet deal: enjoy! Let us know what it’s like.

Very responsive, if somewhat brusque folks at Job. The website works fine, and my INT has made glorious music without a single hiccup for 15 months now. No shortage of current; it drives my 89db 4ohm Reynauds to neighbour offending levels and is pretty awesome on heavy metal, weighty brass, tinkling cymbal, and tickled ivory. I’m damn sure the DAC section kicks the HK990’s into last year. Best single piece of equipment I have ever purchased. The Marantz is a fine amplifier/DAC actually, but a little too laid-back for me — I kind of feel that way about most Marantz, TBH.

Listen to both. Decide which you prefer. Don’t listen to people who haven’t listened to your equipment. FWIW, I have owned several DACs that could work as preamps. The transparency was incredible, but there were usually soft patches in the sound that a preamp firmed up — at the expense of transparency...

Did you run the Jade direct into your monos, or always through the preamp? Thanks for for the write up!

I’ve had the Bliss Silvers with the Magic Stands for just under a year. I have to say, I have a very hard time imagining a better standmount. I occasionally wish the scale was a bit bigger, so I think I might try the Abscisse some day. But other than that they have everything I love. Gorgeous tonality, speed, coherence. It took a long time to find the right speakers, but it was worth the wait and the search. The Job INTegrated is a great partner for it too. (... and some fancy cables.)