Bluesound NODE ICON Music Streamer - Bluesound's BEST Streamer EVER!

[@AudioAdvice]

Bluesound NODE ICON: audioadvice.io/NODEICON Bluesound NODE: audioadvice.io/NODEN132 Bluesound NODE Nano: audioadvice.io/NODENANO

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Without proper power supply Another average streamer😮

[@johovjohov]

@@CarlVanDoren61 hi. What u mean, sorry iam not expert.

[@MK-rn2hm]

@@CarlVanDoren61I saw Kevin from Upscale selling a power supply replacement for Bluesound Node but when I checked the store I could not find any such product.

[@shawnreed6545]

This video didn’t share anything, just an advertisement.

[@harrisonlainhart8754]

So many great streamers to choose from! The ICON definitely seems like it'll be super popular.

[@AudioAdvice]

We think so!

[@brisingrxm6022]

Very excited to see the crazy performance for the price! Dirac and balanced XLR outputs at this price point is a big win!!

[@AudioAdvice]

Agreed! Bluesound has always made great products. The ICON will be a hit for sure.

[@stevestrike]

Except it doesn’t have Dirac. *Available via future software update. They’ve been saying that for a while now. Maybe one day they will, maybe not, but no one knows how long you’ll be waiting for it.

[@Brett1334]

Also bare in mind you’re going to have to pay atleast 300 dollars for Dirac and you will need a mic at about 150 also, word is Dirac will be December time but yeah it’s going to cost you

[@CruxFPV]

@@Brett1334latest I got from BlueSound is DIRAC won’t be arriving until 2025 now and it won’t support Bass Control OR Bass Management……I mean what the hell……..

[@tedtimmis8135]

7:20 With HDMI attached to TV, the Icon can sound to a 2 channel system. Not sure why you need the Icon to do this. Can the Icon can send its video display to the TV?

[@AudioAdvice]

It can not send video out but if you connect it and a pair of speakers up this way it will sound far better than the built in TV speakers. Many people use systems like this as its a great option for both better TV sound a great music. Thanks for watching

[@tedtimmis8135]

@ Why does one need the Icon to do this? The TV can connect directly to the receiver.

[@AudioAdvice]

@@tedtimmis8135 Because lots of people use units like this with either a power amp and speakers or even more use it with powered speakers. The Icon is the preamp in that case.

[@cliftoncrooks]

I’m running a WiiM ultra through an SMSL-su-1 external DAC.. this is winning budget setup

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for sharing

[@shilent]

Is this supposed to be a review? Sounds like he's just reading a script that BluSound provided. I Was hoping to see some of the interface and user experience, all I saw was increasing the volume?

[@toorop111]

Haha!

[@orangecountycargeek2226]

A couple of questions that I can't seem to find info on: SMPS or LPS? You just mention that its an upgraded power supply. FemtoClock or something like a Accusilicon TCXO? Roon ready? Thank you!

[@bizmofunyuns6463]

I have the same PS question.

[@Lion-vv8dq]

@@bizmofunyuns6463 Can they tell me the weight, size and color?

[@AudioAdvice]

We will have to ask on the supply and clock, yes on Roon.

[@AudioAdvice]

Got an answer back- Still uses a SMPS supply with better Nichicon caps and better filtering then what is used in the NODE. Hope this helps

[@MandalaOfThe7]

3:44 so if I am understanding you correctly, This is going cut lower end frequency from your mains right? I know you were pretty clear but I have to know because that's most of the reason I'm buying this.

[@AudioAdvice]

Yes, that is correct, you can even adjust the frequency over a pretty wide range. We hope you will make your purchase from Audio Advice to support our small business.

[@JohnZolla-bp7tl]

I've been using a Node and Vault for about three years. I cringe every time BluOS issues an "upgrade".

[@Audiodreamer192-24]

I have a 2i and 130 w/ lps upgrade and I’ve had zero issues with the app.

[@KeithHeinrich]

My experience with updates has been trouble free.

[@mikehayes1404]

I love seeing new products like this!

[@AudioAdvice]

Us too! Thanks for watching!

[@mehmetcamat4458]

How would you compare only the streaming sound quality of the node icon against the WiiM ultra ?

[@AudioAdvice]

We did not have time to compare but probably will in the future. Thanks for watching

[@cunawarit]

I typically use Raspberry Pis paired with a USB ESS Sabre DAC for streaming, running Volumio as the software. It’s a very cost-effective setup, though there are, of course, the Volumio license fees to consider. I prefer running my own hardware since it gives me the flexibility to switch operating systems if needed. That said, the Bluesound streamer is really appealing-it’s packed with features! HDMI eARC and room correction are particularly tempting, especially at a price point under £1000.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for sharing! That seems like a great DIY setup. But yes, the ICON is a great option!

[@philipperegnier4569]

Can you please clarify the Dolby Digital decoding? Is this offering the same functionality as the powernode which can have surrounds added wirelessly? I just saw they added the feature recently on their website for the Icon and standard Node.

[@AudioAdvice]

It just decodes it to two channel stereo. We reached out to NAD/Lenbrook/Bluesound about the comment surround was added to the Nodes and it was not. But it does work with a POWERNODEv2 or newer, Soundbar Plus, NAD M10V2/V3 or NAD C700v2 as the front end. Rears can be added with Powernode Edge, any version of Powernode, Pulse Flex2i or Pulse M.

[@philipperegnier4569]

@ ok thx for looking into it!

[@randycribb5227]

Awesome unit. Incredible bang for the buck.

[@AudioAdvice]

We agree! Thanks for watching.

[@odd_plebeian]

Do you not think it's a little misleading in the comparison with the Wiim Ultra? for a product that is three times more expensive than the Wiim Ultra it should perform better but you just dont mention the cost difference at all..

[@AudioAdvice]

That's a fair point. We should have mentioned the WiiM pricing.

[@Grooverski]

Do you need external mic for room correction calibration ?

[@AudioAdvice]

For Dirac, yes. We would recommend using a laptop and microphone like the Umik 2 or similar.

[@Audiodreamer192-24]

Ive been waiting for this one! Wiim fan boys will be triggered by it but it doesn't matter the icon is better made inside and out.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@ChowdMusic]

Can i plug a record player directly into this if my record player already has a built in preamp?

[@AudioAdvice]

Yes, it has a normal RCA based analog input. Thanks for watching

[@michaelglenn2399]

The Node Icon looks amazing!

[@AudioAdvice]

It's a great product!

[@jbwelborn]

If one would use this as a streamer only and connect via usb to an external DAC, would the subwoofer output on the Icon still work in this scenario?

[@AudioAdvice]

We think it technically would but you would have a huge volume issue. The USB out is fixed level, and if you set the analog outs at variable, which you would have to, you would be using two volume controls

[@dadoyaq]

I really hope it has a digital vu meter on the screen like other streamers...

[@AudioAdvice]

Unfortunately, it does not.

[@johovjohov]

😢

[@louisdefunes8952]

Maybe a stupid question, but sounds it better than the Node 2i? Use Triangle Borea 3 speakers. Aiyima D03(yes, sounds amazing!) amp.

[@AudioAdvice]

Yes it does. Thanks for watching

[@louisdefunes8952]

@ Okay thanxx👍

[@Andrew-wc2ol]

Can the Node Icon use eARC input, output audio via optical to a DAC, and allow the TV remote to control the volume at the same time?

[@AudioAdvice]

The optical out is fixed.

[@zzeitg475]

One question here... Having the Icon connected to TV via. eARC (HDMI), will it push the now playing album art to the TV? (Example: I'm streaming music via Tidal to Bluesound Icon, sound goes to external amplifier and the album art is show on my TV (eARC connected to Icon). Could it work like this? Any chance to test?

[@AudioAdvice]

That is a great question, we are about 99% sure the HDMI Arc is an input only but we will test to confirm

[@rcchap]

Will the dirac settings flow through optical/coax to an external dac?

[@AudioAdvice]

None. Thanks for watching

[@rcchap]

@AudioAdvice thank you

[@shinseitaizen]

I would hope it beats the Wiim Ultra for 3 times the price.

[@Slim-man1977]

Nice! But once again the Google cast is missing🙂

[@AudioAdvice]

Yes, no chromecast unfortunately. Good point.

[@jdm-uk-yank]

Maybe I missed it but, is the power supply still onboard?

[@AudioAdvice]

Yes it is and improved over the regular NODE. Thanks for watching

[@Nikita-P]

No one mentions the Surround mode if paired with another Node. Please test that - I’m using 4.1 Sonos Amp setup in my office/media room with some TV/AppleTV use and surround decoding is nice. Wonder how BlueSound stacks up!?

[@mohamedahmed1023]

I'm not sure this one has surround sound by pairing with another node or by connecting one of their wireless speakers.

[@Nikita-P]

@ oh it might be just PowerNodes

[@AudioAdvice]

We confirmed with Bluesound that is not an option with any of the Nodes.

[@Nikita-P]

@ thank you! PowerNodes only and powered devices

[@jonathanstephens9094]

The NODE ICON looks like a great upgrade!

[@AudioAdvice]

It really is, thanks for watching.

[@patrickmeylemans9627]

USB out to DAC, should be OK for all streamers towards a good DAC

[@AudioAdvice]

Yes, it has USB out

[@bizmofunyuns6463]

Linear ps?

[@AudioAdvice]

www.eversolo.com/Product/index/model/AMP-F10/target/2nlt0ebpmoxKKmVViAFMcQ%3D%3D.html#/

[@datbaguettedoe6436]

Does it have a remote?

[@AudioAdvice]

It does not

[@zzeitg475]

"Server Message Block (SMB) up to 200,000 files" - is this related to the "local server mode"? This is a deal breaker for me. I need higher amount of files. With this limitation the Icon can not perform as our home music server. Pity.

[@AudioAdvice]

We reached out to Lenbrook on this question. That is what they publish, but they said members of their team have far more files than that, they have one member with 700,000 where it works with no artwork. Hope this helps

[@zzeitg475]

@@AudioAdvice This information seemed to be very positive, till I got to the part "with no artwork"... Thanks for checking anyway.

[@OrazCostanzo]

Icon is more than 3x the price of the Wiim in Australia and offers nothing substaintial over it

[@brisingrxm6022]

@@OrazCostanzo having the ability to use Dirac and being able use XLR for lower noise are both pretty substantial, plus high end dual mono dacs are a nice added benefit.

[@OrazCostanzo]

@@brisingrxm6022 Dirac is not even included! so that will bring the price of a streamer depending which version of Dirac over 2k!! which is absurd.

[@AudioAdvice]

If sound is not important to you, yes you are right.

[@OrazCostanzo]

@@AudioAdvice Sound is quite important to me what i want to know is will i hear a Audible difference over the Wiim if so i would happily get the Icon.

[@fthfhhdf]

if i Plug a turntable on analog in, will dirac correct the sound of it too ?

[@fthfhhdf]

just got my answer by watching till the end aha !

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for watching!!

[@toorop111]

How does this compare against the WiiM Ultra? Sincerely,

[@AudioAdvice]

We thought it sounded better.

[@toorop111]

@ i have a WiiM Ultra/x2 -audiolab 8300MB’s/ Wharefdale Evo 4.2. No sub yet. It sounds pretty good! I will purchase an Icon soon!

[@grogmonster2408]

Great work hopefully there is more to come on the ICON. eg sound comparisons with more expensive streamers and DACS. It would be great if you guys or someone else cracked the unit open and showed us the internals, ie power supply, isolation, build quality etc. Also can Dirac curves be adjusted, saved and switched on or off with the phone app on the fly (as music is playing) ?

[@AudioAdvice]

Thank you. We plan to do a shorter video later once we get a real production unit. We could not test Dirac as it was not available on the preproduction unit we had.

[@fthfhhdf]

@@AudioAdvice please do a comparaison with eversolo dmp a8

[@grogmonster2408]

@@AudioAdvice A comparison perhaps up against an Auralic G1 streamer/ dac with eq ( twice the price) might put the Icons performance into perspective. What if any sound difference is there ? As a prospective purchaser of the Icon, I hope the differences soundwise are small if any.

[@BoRerunn]

Is music 32bit 195 playback

[@AudioAdvice]

Capable of 32 bit 192khz playback

[@nouvinci8692]

Real question : Can we connect a cd rom player with the USB IN like eversolo please ?

[@AudioAdvice]

We are not sure, it does have USB A for external drives. We will ask

[@nouvinci8692]

@AudioAdvice Can you came back to me after you get the answer please ? Thx for the answer

[@AudioAdvice]

@@nouvinci8692 We will, yes

[@AudioAdvice]

Got the answer- As long as the drive uses the NTFS or FAT32 file systems, the type of storage medium should not matter, whether it be Solid State, Flash Memory. Hard Disk or CD. However, the drive needs to behave like a independent drive. If it requires any type of drivers from the operating system, it will not work. Hope this helps for you and should you decide to get an Icon you will help support our small business by purchasing from www.audioadvice.com. Thanks!

[@nouvinci8692]

@@AudioAdvice thx a lot for the answer ! And yes im gonna buy one on your website. Have a great day !

[@madcrabber1113]

Is this manufactured in Canada?

[@AudioAdvice]

No, China. Thanks for watching

[@louisdefunes8952]

@@AudioAdvice Yeahh..if people it likes or not..but almost "all" audio is made in China. Especially ; American, Canadian, British, French, Danish etc. brands. Probably lower production costs, so more profit for the brand. And cheaper for the customer. I had a pair of Dali Oberon 5, Danish brand as you know; made in China. Perfect floorstanding speakers, very good sound. Nice build. Now i have a pair of Triangle Borea 3; better in my small room! French brand as you know. Also made in China. They create/ invent/design something in Europe/ USA / Japan etc. and than they produce it in China or Malaysia(Yamaha for example), Thailand(Genelec, i thought).

[@aweidenhammer]

No KZbin Music (chromecast) support, unreliable software. They aren’t really progressing their product line. They have ignored a massive request thread on their support pages to support it. I own a node and thanks to this, it barely gets used. When it does, via Bluetooth, the Bluetooth connection never works until we reboot it. Has been my worst audio purchase.

[@AudioAdvice]

Agree Chromecast would be nice, we have asked for an update

[@AudioAdvice]

We reached out to them and they said they will never have Chromecast or YT as they feel it eats up too much of the system resources (60%) and reduces the SQ.

[@aweidenhammer]

@@AudioAdvice if their sound quality were actually great, I might agree. Their dac has been mediocre at best. I own the 2021 node. It is inferior to a 120 dollar schiit dac. They are competing with wiim now. And they are losing.

[@adsph]

Thanks for sharing.

[@AudioAdvice]

You're welcome!

[@johovjohov]

For me perfect product i would to buy, only 1 big negative think, no REMOTE CONTROL??!! YES i know i can use the app, but rest of my famili don't..

[@AudioAdvice]

Remember you can do a lot from the top panel buttons. Thanks for watching

[@emailkenny]

The BluSound RC1 remote is sold separately.

[@marcgoldstein2957]

No built in Apple Music (via Airplay only) or Dolby support, which would have been great with the eArc output. Sabre DAC inside? Almost every DAC...

[@AudioAdvice]

It will decode Dolby. The DAC is the new ESS 9039Q2M

[@marcgoldstein2957]

@@AudioAdvice Awesome. Except you can't do Dolby over Airplay. (for those of us with Apple Music subscriptions)

[@jdm-uk-yank]

You're the only person that calls it blue os.

[@AudioAdvice]

Well it is the correct term as per Bluesound. Thanks for watching

[@scobi.hughes]

You’d be mad to take this over the WiiM Ultra unless already in the Bluesound ecosystem

[@AudioAdvice]

Even if it sounds better?

[@scobi.hughes]

@ does it though?

[@cardinalfang7725]

@@AudioAdvice Apparently it doesn't matter, but what did you expect? It seems to really bother people that they already have something else, so they feel the need to knock something new, even though they have obviously never heard it. It's a constant on reviews here.

[@AudioAdvice]

@@cardinalfang7725 Yep, same ole song. Thanks for sharing

[@chrisgargiulo304]

Impressive!

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for watching!

[@unicornslayer6963]

I bet Bluesound havet manage to fix the super annoying user issue when using Qobuz. I is impossible to sort the music (artist,albums,a-z etc) you are stuck with date added. Bluesound are aware(since gen1), but haven't bothered to fix this issue. IMO Bluesound is a Tidal only streamer.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for sharing this. We haven't seen that issue but we'll look into it and bring it up with Bluesound.

[@unicornslayer6963]

​@@AudioAdvice You can't Miss it just try use Qobuz on any bluesound device, it is totaly broken. This is true On Every bluesound device ever sold. Sadly It has always been That Way, and Bluesound blame Qobuz.there is Tons of reports on this (reddit audiogon etc) What's funny though,is that this BIG issue doesn't exist on any other streamer I have tested or heard about.

[@SoTwissted]

I run the WiiM Ultra

[@AudioAdvice]

That's a good choice for the money.

[@carminedesanto6746]

GM ☕️🍩 $1K US = $1400 Cad (+ tax and import duties) …so $1700 on this side of the border ……you’re getting into HaloMay Red territory.😬

[@AudioAdvice]

Good point! Thanks for sharing

[@carminedesanto6746]

@ Still in the market for a great steamer ..with usb and i2S outputs to feed my Denafrips DAC 🤔

[@Audiodreamer192-24]

Blue sound is a Canadian company so no duty in Canada

[@ryanschipp8513]

Definitely outperforms WIIM Ultra..............ok in what specific regards? Then you say subtle differences. I'm confused and I'm not being sarcastic.

[@AudioAdvice]

Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss what we heard. Thanks for watching

[@atoz6552]

I stopped watching when i heard "the are going to support..." sorry but the product had one chance to make a first good impression. I don't buy on futur promises.

[@AudioAdvice]

You must not know much about the history of Lenbrook. They have always delivered on future promise. Just look at the history of their MDC boards that allow you to upgrade many NAD units.

[@Lion-vv8dq]

It seems you don't know what you're selling

[@nodoubt1616]

Umm nice streamer but to expensive if your just going to use it as a streamer and already have an external Dac . WiiM has way cheaper products that do the same thing for way cheaper

[@HaraldBergTechTv]

Neither wiim or blue sound are any particular good streamers

[@amarokanovicmtb]

What wouldyou recommend in this price bracket@@HaraldBergTechTv

[@davestevens4193]

But they don't sound as good or use BluOs. Cheaper is just that...cheaper.

[@iamsnakehips]

Sceen is snazzy though innit 😂

[@AudioAdvice]

Yes, if you have another DAC you are paying for tech you would not use

[@CruxFPV]

Great……but when will it arrive. Paid and Pre-ordered months ago and then BlueSound only go and bother to update its customer ON THE DAY it was due to arrive. Poor effort BlueSound…….not hard to communicate delays ahead of time. Also; won’t support Bass Control or Bass Management - they’ve been pretty quiet on this very point too. What would be useful here; let’s get some impartial feedback on how it competes……everyone pushing this seems to have an agenda with selling it….as opposed to providing objective feedback.

[@AudioAdvice]

They are supposed to arrive in mid December. The unit we used for this overview was not even a production unit. It does support subwoofer management, the one we tested had that working.

[@CruxFPV]

@ - that is not the same as DIRAC Bass Control or Bass Management for which BlueSound have confirmed via email it won’t support. They were supposed to arrive in November but told customers the last minute (the day they were due) they were due it was a month delay.

[@jimwilliamson7798]

Enjoying all of these videos, nice job guys.

[@AudioAdvice]

We really appreciate the support!

[@joshhaimes]

Thanks for the review! I'd love to see the performance of this model measured. I reached out to Bluesound about them supplying a unit to (for example) ASR or SoundStage and no surprise - they didn't ever respond 🙄 Can Audio Advice help facilitate?? The other comment I'd like to make is that after the $300 Dirac subscription, this becomes the same prices as the miniDSP SHD, which has a very similar feature set (streamer, analog and digital in, balanced out, Dirac, etc).

[@AudioAdvice]

We are sure once they get more units in they will distribute more out for reviews. Yes, the miniDSP SHD has some merit, but its DAC's are a lower end ESS model and not in fully balanced mode with XLR. And there are more streaming sources available in BluOS. Thanks for watching

[@Sweetairotor]

I'm a Mellencamp fan, It's great to see those screens. 😊

[@AudioAdvice]

Us too! Thanks for watching!

[@utoad9]

It’s all Mellencamp all the time.😂

[@BillKim1]

The Blue OS cannot handle the Apple Music app. I think you are wrong.

[@ChitoLimson]

I guess he meant Apple Music via Airplay.

[@AudioAdvice]

Via AirPlay. Sorry, we should have made that more clear. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@keithmoriyama5421]

I won't buy any component that poses as high end unless it is in a full size metal chassis with built in isolated power supply.

[@AudioAdvice]

Fair enough. Thanks for watching

[@Prosto_Putnik]

Man....please speaking slowly 🙏🙏🙏

[@AudioAdvice]

Haha

[@newfieboy1973]

I couldn't get through this video the way he was pronouncing bluOS was driving me completely batty

[@AudioAdvice]

It can be said either way. When we spoke with their engineers, they told us they all pronounce it as "Blue-Oss" but we know many people say "Blue-O-S"