Bluesound Node VS Audiolab 6000N - Music Streamer Review + Major Play-Fi Updates

[@CreRay]

Thanks for this review! It is very good to hear that the much criticised Play-fi app has gotten much better, it illustrates why in some cases it is actually a good idea to review a product some time after it has been released.

[@JadeTheWolf1982]

Good review. I have the Cambridge Audio CXN vs 2 and its internal DAC is incredible and the unit is very easy to use with its onscreen menu or the app.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Yes the screen is definitely a plus!

[@r423sdex]

I would not call the dac in the cxn incredible. It's probably transparent, but it's not as good as the Topping E30. But as a streamer and dac combo, it's not bad.

[@user-xg6zz8qs3q]

Kudos to Bluesound for providing an easy way to plug into a TV. For 600€ I only had one option with that feature: Bluesound Node. All other streamers only give you an optical out, coaxial out, and RCA out.

[@DRICKismyNAME]

Bluesound Node is a better overall package tho, with one of the best in it's class software BluOS, better features, flexibility and reliability, one of the best plug and play purchase I've made this year.

[@MattCoykendall1]

They do have a very nice complete package.

[@michaelwright1602]

I will second that. ;-)

[@inaki9381]

AND what about the sound? One of The most important thing

[@zoranjovancic9816]

Hi, Thx for a great review Is the 6000n worth buying in 2024 since the play fi have gotten some updates. Wonder if the 6000n will do better compare to volumio primo hifi edition dac streamer

[@jlappin6277]

I’m pairing the node with a Hegel H190 with a pair of 705s2 .thanks for your feedback on the product .

[@ychon6322]

Hegel h190 and SF cremona auditor m owner here, how did the node perform with your system? I am about to get a node too..

[@stephenkelly9586]

I am about to buy the node next week but will keep this in mind

[@chrishmeet]

hi Matt thanks for the great review, i purchased the 6000a and the 6000n today, will the 6000n make the 6000a sound better?

[@MattCoykendall1]

The 6000n can stream via the Play-Fi app at a much higher quality than the Bluetooth the 6000a offers.

[@mden2490]

Thanks so much for a great review, and sorry for the late comment. You briefly mentioned in your review about the units displaying the bit rate/ frequency rate on app? Do both display this info while the song is playing and what does it display? This for me is a non starter if it is not shown either on the units screen or app. I really do like to know the resolution of the playback, especially if I am paying for hi-res streaming? Thank you

[@sfuguy]

Thank you for the review, I was just humming and hawing about which of these units to get for my 2nd system.

[@MattCoykendall1]

haha decisions decisions… what do you plan to pair it with?

[@sfuguy]

@@MattCoykendall1 . My 2nd system is a simple tube amp + Triangle bookshelf speakers. 6000n goes for cheaper used and from what you say sounds better, (so was leaning towards that) but I'll probably go with the Node only because I have a Bluesound device on my main system and want the same software experience. Thanks again for your comparison.

[@garybartlett7690]

Hello Matt Great review. Quick question, should I use the Dac in my node or the Dac in my 6000a amp?

[@MattCoykendall1]

I am leaning the 6000a but they will be pretty close.

[@garybartlett7690]

@@MattCoykendall1 Thanks Matt

[@kreatorcuriosity232]

Can u try to connect both to a dac to see how they perform as a network bridge Thanks

[@pankajbihari]

Also curious about this!

[@VicenteCoves]

Thanks Matt for this post. What do you think about use directly from rca the Audiolab? the internal dac is fine or really need for increase the difference an external dac? Thanks

[@MattCoykendall1]

The internal DAC is actually pretty good, no worries there.

[@aussie8114]

I’m getting my node in a few days. Will use my ext DAC. I would of happily paid a few times more for a higher end product but it seems like navigating a mine field to work out which will be good to use and which will be frustratingly buggy. I suspect the node will be ok.

[@MattCoykendall1]

The node will be great !

[@r423sdex]

You will find the dac in the node to be transparent, but it's not state of the art.

[@ClumsyDragon3]

Great video, cheers. Do you know if music can be played form a USB stick on the Bluesound Node?

[@MattCoykendall1]

Hey Kenny the node should support a usb library.

[@kreatorcuriosity232]

V good review no bs short and precise This is exactly what reviewer do

[@MattCoykendall1]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the watch

[@andyherzog00]

This is great. Will definitely be purchasing.

[@MattCoykendall1]

A man with a plan!

[@terryc7654]

Hello Matt, If I have the 6000a and I stream my music using Tidal directly to the unit, do I need to purchase a separate streamer like the 6000n or bluesound node? Will it make that big of a difference in sound quality? Thanks!

[@MattCoykendall1]

You must have the 6000a play which is essentially the 6000n streamer built in. The regular 6000a only streams Bluetooth and does not have the Play-Fi app.

[@terryc7654]

@@MattCoykendall1 Gotcha. Thanks for the tip. Would the play-fi app sound much better than streaming bluetooth then. Would the bluetooth audio quality inadequate from my phone tidal app to the regular 6000a?

[@nathanjones4039]

Plan on using Node with my Yamaha CD-S2100 built in DAC, how do think that’ll sound?

[@MattCoykendall1]

I would suspect it sounds great connecting to the ESS Technology ES9016 SABRE in your Yamaha, you can always experiment with the internal Node DAC as well though.

[@vvmaster2010]

192 khz is enough. we just need to connect a high-end dac to Audiolab 6000N + another high-end preamp+amp or integrated amp. There is no need to spend money in an expensive streamer imo.

[@michaelwright1602]

Matt, serious question, have you hooked either of these units up to an external DAC, and do some sound testing? Long story, but I have had more than a few folks tell me the Node sucks, that the ifi Zen, this or that streamer, pick your flavor of streamer... Are all superior. I have a hard time wrapping my head around that. This is digital stuff, not analog. I did buy the Zen to test, but after doing a bit of A/B between my Oppo BDP-83 that I use as a transport with the GeerFab digital breakout box, that strips the native signal out of the Oppo via the HDMI output, which sends it to my Ares II DAC, I cannot tell or hear ANY difference in sound between my Node stream vs the Oppo playing the same CD. I never opened the Zen and sent it back. That Oppo is still a solid unit, one of the best lasers available, even to this day. We are bypassing the internal DAC, so that does not play into any of this, and stripping out a pure digital signal to send to the DAC, any thoughts? As far as the Node, I really like it! It is very easy to navigate from any of the Apple devices I own. I have it connected via wifi on my network, never an issue there, just rock solid. I have the Verizon Home 4G internet service, $40 a month, limited to 50 mbps on the download side, unlimited data, stream all I want. Funny too, I had Xfinity GB service, this Verizon service kicks my previous Xfinity service in the teeth, much faster and stable, who'd thunk? Play-fi, I have experience with that too... I have the SVS SoundBase, which uses Play-fi, and it is pretty much unusable. To use the SoundBase, I have a cheap Amazon Erskine bluetooth unit attached to it, as Ply-fi is unusable and buggy as hell to say the least. That is my garage system when I am out there working, and I wish they still made boom boxes, because I would replace this SVS Play-fi unit in a heartbeat. The SVS side is great in the sound department, the Play-fi ap kills anything good about the engineering that went into the SoundBase. Just my .02 on that.

[@aussie8114]

A video suggested the ifi product sounded noticeably better than the node, however I read a thread on the ifi and it said it was horrible to use, so buggy that it was not useable. You of course won’t hear that from people trying to sell them. I’m getting a node in a few days and will bypass it’s DAC for my amps very good DAC. I’m sure for 95% of users it’s onboard DAC would be more than ok, but I’m equally sure that using a high quality external DAC will take it to a level suiting most expensive systems. It all depends on how anal you want to be too, maybe many of us need to get our system sounding decent, with the most user friendly UI, then just enjoy the music.

[@otiv3554]

I have 6000a, cant decide between Node and Wiim Mini, I use only Tidal tho and I am very happy with 6000a DAC but skeptic about Wiim Mini :/

[@MattCoykendall1]

6000a dac is great, I am uncertain about the Wiim as well. There is a lot of hype around it as a budget performer but I have not had my hands on it yet.

[@michaelhametner9780]

any thoughts about audiolab 600a play vs. bluesound powernode?

[@MattCoykendall1]

I have not had a powernode in for review. I’m partial to the 6000a as the unit has great sound and performance. The streamer advantage will go to the powernode (play-fi vs blue sound). You get more connection options on the 6000a, so a few things to consider.

[@michaelhametner9780]

@@MattCoykendall1 I also would consider the bass management of the powernode (at least it high passes the mains and low passes the sub. Unfortunately still no way to correct the timing). The node should offer the same functionality I think when it comes to integrating a sub. Unfortunately most amps lack any such feature though many AVR have had it for years

[@brianeberdt]

Excellent review. Thanks.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Thanks for watching!

[@donvittoriosierra]

Is Tidal Connect on PlayFi now gapless?

[@MattCoykendall1]

No from what I gather the gap is smaller but not gone.

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Node N130 usb a to b rocks

[@Slappyhappychappy]

When you bypass the dac on the node it downcodes any input to 96 khz, making it the loser if this is your intent

[@christiantagliaferro4123]

My dac connected to Node show 182khz on display

[@christiantagliaferro4123]

Possiedo entrambi. Il Node credo abbia una qualche distorsione perché sentivo sempre il bisogno di abbassare il volume. Guardando le specifiche del dac effettivamente sono molto scarse. Ora lo uso con Dac esterno. Il 6000 suona bene. Bisogna ricordarsi di attivare la funzione hi-res perché sblocca anche una serie di limitazioni per diminuire il consumo di dati. A differenza del Node, per il quale non esistono ancora le apposite skins, è comandabile da Alexa. Li tengo entrambi perché Audiolab ha Naim tra le web radio e il Node radio paradise in formato Flac con apposita sezione nella sua app.

[@chihungchan8325]

Audiolab 6000N sound better? the rca output sound no well . I only use digital output to Rega dac Sound quality close to CD play.

[@MattCoykendall1]

My preference is the 6000N DAC over the Node, its close but a little more of what am looking for. Im sure the Rega DAC does very well paired with either.

[@chihungchan8325]

@@MattCoykendall1 Thanks for your reply The sound quality is great, but the app is too bad. Ofte stuck (6000n)🙃

[@michaelwright1602]

@@chihungchan8325 Same experience with Play-fi on my SVS SoundBase... The Play-fi kills all of the good stuff SVS did.

[@christiantagliaferro4123]

No doubt about that: 6000n best sound, Node more features and best app. control. I am owner of both

[@christiantagliaferro4123]

But audilab can be controlled by alexa

[@bcychung]

Thanks for your review, very helpful

[@MattCoykendall1]

Appreciate the watch Benny! Glad it helped.

[@tacofortgens3471]

Playfi now offers gapless i think

[@MattCoykendall1]

I believe you are correct there.