Bluesound Node 2i vs Raspberry Pi SQ

"1. I'm looking for the best sound quality and music server function under 500."

Sigh ... let the opinion spam begin (including mine).

"2. ...use my phone, tablet and PC as a remote to control FLAC files "

I'm guessing you meant "...use my phone, tablet and PC as a remote to control [the playback of] FLAC files [stored] on an external hard drive".

"3. Are there any RPi solutions that can compete with the 2i on sound quality"

Is the Bluesound 2i sound quality any good? Compared to what?


Addressing your #3 first:

I have two RPi 3 B+ builds, both with DAC HAT's (Hardware Attached on Top): one a HifiBerry DAC+ Pro (TI/Burr-Brown PCM5122 x1), the other a Orchard Audio ApplePi DAC (dual TI/Burr-Brown PCM1794A's).

The ApplePi DAC is quite good. My baseline is the Asahi Kasei AK4490 ‘Velvet Sound’ DAC circuit in the Micromega M-100 integrated amp ($4500 srp).

Are you handy with PC's/Macs and Linux, and/or do you like to build cute little computer things? If yes then a RPi-based audio rig is just your kinda game. Fun and super-easy. For cost, like this:

Raspberry Pi 3 B+                 $40
Apple Orchard ApplePi DAC $199 + $5 for stacking connector
HifiBerry case                        $16
                                     Total $255

RPi 3 B+ and case are on Amazon, ApplePi DAC is direct from Orchard Audio. Owner Leo is top-notch for care, support and sheer passion for what he's producing. Ask him to throw in the stand-offs for the DAC board, if you don't already have some.

Bonus: set up the RPi as dual-boot with Berryboot, and install Volumio as music server/streamer/player, and OSMC with Kodi as media center including video playback (any compatible movie files on your NAS, Youtube playback via plugin, etc).

Your #2: use a UPnP/DLNA control point app to control playback from the RPi/Volumio. If your phone & tablet are Android, you got options. BubbleUPnP is the best, from my experience. You can use a web browser for remote-control of the Kodi media center (movie playback).

If you're on iOS, it's harder if not SOL due to Apple OS's walled-off approach.

Your #1: sigh...
You say you got a PC? And a hard drive with FLAC files on them? Assuming you have a LAN too, you don't need a "music server" - you already have one: Windows OS, your hard drive, and the SMB network protocol.

What more are you looking for from a "music server"?

@usery THanks for the pretty thorough response. 

I'm guessing you meant "...use my phone, tablet and PC as a remote to control [the playback of] FLAC files [stored] on an external hard drive".

Correct.

Is the Bluesound 2i sound quality any good? Compared to what?

Well from what I read, compared to a stand alone DAC in the same price range. I read somewhere its not worth adding a stand alone DAC unless you're willing to spend upwards of 1k. FWIW.

I'm not particularly DIYy, but if its a one time thing that a reasonably smart person can do and that will bring down the cost of great SQ multiple hundreds of dollars, I can be dabble in DIY. How stable is the RPi stuff? Is it just do it once and enjoy the music or crashing and tweaking ad infinitum?How reliable is the hardware? And how long should getting the whole thing up and running take someone with no experience?

@stuff_jones,

Both my RPi builds have been stable including the new one (Orchard Audio ApplePi DAC). For those of us with other more compelling interests, it’s a do-it-once-and-enjoy thing.

There is some fiddly computer tech, OS and network interaction needed for initial setup. Smart, open-to-new-adventure person with gumption but no experience can get it done in 1-3 days, depending on how long your days are.

Tons of guides and support out on the forums, finding/reading of which is part of the several hours - and the fun ; ). For many, experiences like this have a way of keeping one young, and resilient, and always learning.

Are you on Android and Windows, and what’s your home network setup?

Some intel on DAC chips:

Looks like the BS Node 2i has a single TI/Burr-Prown PCM5122 in its DAC circuit. That’s the same chip as the $40 HifiBerry DAC+ Pro.

The $200 ApplePi DAC has dual PCM1794A’s, and sounds dramatically better than the HifiBerry DAC+ Pro. No surprise given the respective DAC circuits. Is it 5x better-sounding than the HifiBerry? To my ears, a resounding yes.

Read all about TI/Burr-Brown audio dac chips here. Especially notice price differences across the various models.