A crazy good upgrade.
If you’re old enough to remember the wise old owl, when asked, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?” the answer was three because it was so yummy, the wise old owl couldn’t wait. The SBooster linear power supply is like that. Starting in the garage system with a pair of vintage ESS AMT-1b speakers and a recently refurbished (by Echo Audio in Portland, OR) Sansui AU717 integrated, the difference between the two identical Bluesound NODEs is instantly recognizable.
Beginning with the title track from Billy Joel’s Streetlife Serenader, the low bass is much more robust, tuneful, and better defined. Joel’s piano also sounds more natural. The overall musicality of this modest system still makes enough of an improvement in the NODE that I’d happily spring for one. (I am actually buying the review sample because once you hear it…)
Keeping that 70s thing going, the Steven Wilson remaster of The Yes Album is equally exciting on my reference system. Bigger bass, more dynamics, and more tinkly tidbits of musical information that don’t come through on the garage system quickly reveal themselves here. The longer I listen out in the garage, it’s clear how much better the boosted NODE holds musical pace together in a way the standard one does not.
By now, you’ve probably heard, heard of, or even purchased a Bluesound NODE. For 500 bucks, it’s a great DAC/Streaming solution compatible with almost everything. Cool as the NODE is, the audio performance is decent, but not over the moon. You can only get so much for that price. Just as mass-market audio stores sacrifice service and support, mass-market audio manufacturers often sacrifice the power supply to meet a price point. That’s good for you, though.
If you think buying a $379 power supply for a $499 device is crazy, stay with me and keep an open mind. Hey, if you’re a Naim audio fan, you know the difference a higher-performance outboard supply makes to their products. Fortunately, Harmonia Distribution sent a stock NODE and one modified for the SBooster to make my job easier. This makes it a snap to switch between preamplifier inputs and quickly A-B the delta. SBooster makes a wide range of power supplies for other gear as well. Based on this demo, I’m looking into a few more in the months to come.
It’s unfair to call adding the Sbooster to the NODE an upgrade. Adding a better power cord or interconnect cable is an upgrade. Boosted and unboosted NODES are entirely different components—that’s how much more music
You’ll hear much more music on a Boosted NODE, even on a modest system. This external box features a large toroidal power transformer, low ESR capacitors, and a highly efficient design that weighs about five pounds, compared to that wimpy wall wart that comes packaged with your NODE. It uses a standard 15A IEC power cord and a polarized connector, replacing the standard connector, so there’s no turning back.
The SBooster’s improvement is stunning and worth every penny. Having listened to more of my share of $1,000 DACs, I’m sticking my neck out and saying that the NODE/SBooster combo delivers more musical information and refinement than any other DAC I’ve heard at this price. (It’s a streamer/ROON endpoint and line-level preamplifier as well)
One Caveat
Before you jump off the cliff and buy an SBooster for your NODE, please remember that doing so will void the warranty. However, considering that the original warranty is only a year, and this is a relatively inexpensive device, to begin with ($499 for the NODE, $379 for the power supply), I’m happy to take that risk. I’ve seen people send 10 thousand-dollar DACs to modders and be horribly disappointed. Especially when something goes wrong. We’re not discussing circuit re-design here; we just need additional power supply capability. Once the SBooster is installed in your NODE, it uses a proprietary connector, so you won’t be able to use your power cord anymore. After 30 seconds of music, you won’t care, though.
If this causes you to pause, wait until your NODE is almost out of warranty. But think of all the fun you will be missing out on…
Further listening
Moving the pair indoors to the system comprised of the new Magnepan 2.7x speakers and Octave V110SE tube integrated (with tube box – another great power supply upgrade), cabled by mid-grade Cardas cables, makes for a much larger delta with more resolution available.
Switching the program material up to more acoustic fair, the boosted NODE again excels with a massive increase in dynamics and lifelike tonality. The SBooster takes a mostly forgettable (sonically) component, making it a top-of-class contender. No shame meant to the NODE owners in the crowd—many years ago, I had a $15,000 Sooloos that was decidedly mediocre-sounding but was used every day because it was so convenient. The $499 NODE sounds better today via its digital output than my Sooloos did, so that’s progress.
Track after track of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, some Crowded House, and even the Jackson 5 delivers digital music, rendered with delicacy and space between the vocalists, where there was precious little via the stock unit. As with some classical tracks, regardless of the music auditioned, the SBooster also brings more space in all three dimensions. In contrast, the stock model is flat and uninvolving.
On a more resolving system, it’s also much easier to hear the lack of graininess in the presentation of the boosted NODE, and this combination is much quieter. It’s always a good thing when you can remove a wall wart power supply from your system. Less RF for everyone!
Whether you already have a NODE and want more music or are just looking for a $1,000 DAC/Streaming solution, the SBooster/NODE combo is outstanding.
If I were an octopus, I’d give the SBooster eight thumbs up. But I’m only a wise old owl, so I’ll give it two. (Do owls even have thumbs?) And you’ll get to the center of the SBoosters’ awesomeness in three licks, maybe less. I want to try a couple more on some of my other components.
Exceptional Value Award – Definitely. #toneapproved Award – Absolutely.
If this review has you anxious to purchase an SBooster right now, please click right here to go to Upscale Audio’s website—this will take you straight there. We do not receive compensation for this; we are just trying to save you a little time.
Enjoy!
