Measurements
Contents
We measured the Bluesound NODE and Volumio Primo on the PicoScope 5000-series, in combination with the LISN setup. We measured common mode and differential mode noise. The bandwidth is 10 kHz – 2 MHz. Resolution is 15 bit and a bin size of 60 Hz.
The measurements at the anloge outputs are done directly at the analog output. There it is the total noise, so please do not look at the channel designation for these measurements. Blue is left, red is right.
Measurements Bluesound NODE
It’s pretty clear that the Sbooster gives a significant gain in noise. Both over Ethernet and through the power supply and on the analog outputs. The biggest gain, is the noise over the Ethernet cable. But also the power supply is a lot quieter, we see. Although we must say: the switching power supply of the NODE is – considering the price range – not bad.
Below you can see how we made the measurements.
Measurements Volumio Primo
The switching power supply of the Volumio Primo is downright bad. Much worse than that of the NODE. Therefore, the differences are quite drastic when we switch the adapters.
Noise through the Ethernet port is higher with the Primo than with the NODE. However the power supply noise is lower again with the Sbooster modification. But note that the spectrum is completely different. The Primo has a peak at the beginning and then drops rapidly. The NODE has the peak much further away. And there it is more of a curve than a sharp peak.
The biggest difference is the analog output. It is cleaner with the Volumio Primo. In both cases. As with the NODE, the difference there is not very big, but visible: with the Sbooster attached, we see fewer spikes.
Funny fact:wWe tested the Super 10 with the Primo. It’s amazing. But it’s a bit out of balance. Although, it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard from the Primo :-).
What’s the limit with a device like the Primo? Would an even better PSU like a Farad Super 10 make sense? Although the Farad is very expensive, it’s also not so hard to drop comparably serious money on a combo of hifi server/streamer + DAC (and the cables!). Everyone assumes that a separate DAC is the way to go, but I do wonder…