Bluesound’s Latest Streamers: A New Era for Hi-Res Audio

Bluesound steps up with its novel high-resolution music streamers, targeting market leaders like Cambridge Audio. Now in their 13th year, Bluesound's devices—spanning the entry-level Nano, the classic Node, and the new flagship Node Icon—aim to eliminate any digital disruptions in the audio path. Understanding the 17 critical points from recording to playback, Bluesound has devoted itself to ensuring authentic, pristine sound quality.

The smallest offering, the Node Nano, packs a punch with high-quality ESS Sabre DAC, dual-band WiFi, and multiple analog and digital outputs, supporting audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. Ideal for cost-conscious audiophiles, the Nano integrates seamlessly with powered speakers or existing hi-fi devices and supports streaming platforms such as Amazon Music, Qobuz, SiriusXM, and Tidal. It features Apple AirPlay 2, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, and Spotify Connect, promising ease of use with a backlit touch-panel.

Mid-Range Node and High-End Node Icon

The mid-range Node undergoes significant upgrades with the ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M DAC and new components. Introducing THX AAA headphone amplification, it also features aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, DSD support, and HDMI eARC connectivity, providing a touch of modern versatility for TV and console hook-ups.

Now steering towards the crème de la crème, the Node Icon raises the bar with dual ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M DACs, a 5-inch full-color display, and an emphasis on purist audio presentation. MQA Labs’ QRONO d2a technology sharpens DAC performance by correcting timing errors and realigning the digital-to-analog conversion process to preserve sound integrity. The Icon includes both twin headphone jacks and balanced XLR outputs, aligning with the connectivity standards sought by top-tier audiophiles.

Listening Impressions and Price Comparisons

Our hands-on review of the Node Icon left a favorable impact despite strong market competition from brands like Naim, Cambridge Audio, WiiM, and Eversolo. Initial impressions herald the Icon's clear, separated sound and refined signal purity. During test sessions, from Marian Hill's "Differently" to Victor Wooten’s "Miller Time," the Icon compellingly revealed higher detail and dynamic precision compared to its siblings.

Priced competitively, the Node Nano is available now at £299 (~$399), the mid-tier Node at £499 (~$670), and the flagship Node Icon at £899 (~$1,200), launching globally from October 17 and shipping by November 15.

Conclusion

Across its new range, Bluesound seeks to captivate both casual listeners and entrenched audiophiles with nuanced, high-quality playback. By leveraging its extensive control over digital signal path processing and maintaining a competitive feature set and price point, Bluesound is well-positioned to vie for dominance in hi-res digital streaming.

Earlier, SSP wrote that Google TV rolled out big updates to all devices.