It is becoming more and more apparent that we live in a future era of hi-fi, where music streamers play a pivotal role, allowing versatile audiophile listening with all the benefits of massive music libraries within your grasp.
Tough competition in this price range
And we have seen some big disruptions in this market recently, with big disruptors coming from China with Eversolo and Wiim. They offered great sonics for great value and just started to break the mold of how much value you can get from a streamer. Wiim Ultra and DMP-A6 show how great sound comes from small and big boxes. And I think that legacy players are learning and adapting to these new market trends.
And you can easily see that with the new Bluesound Node. The Node, which was always a conspicuously smaller, budget-conscious streamer, brings all the future hi-fi technologies, including a display screen, to compete. It is there to say we can do it, and we can do it better. Or at least they think that way.
But the market of 1000€ streamers is so packed with great streamers that just being a good streamer is not enough. Beside already mentioned brands, Cambridge Audio, Marantz, Volumio, and Fiio all bring their A-game in this price range. So for the Node Icon to really become visible in that sea, it needs to bring more in sonics for the same or less money.
Build Quality and Ease of Use
And just looking at this device, I love it. It is a hefty, but not large, box which will easily fit in your system. It is a sturdy, beautiful, black aluminum box. It snuggles nicely between your amp and other components, and what everyone will see is the beautiful 5-inch screen. It is full HD and very sharp, and can be used as a clock, showing metadata of the that you listen to, including bit rate. I love screens; I am a huge fan of the HiFi Rose's huge screen; it looks aesthetically pleasing in my room, but I wish that they could be a little bit bigger. I don't know if it is age showing or what, but beside the art and name of the song, it is literally impossible to read the artist name from a distance. And I sit somewhere around 2 meters from my streamer. So they are useful, but could be bigger and bolder in their fonts and design. I think the problem with the artist name is that it is a smaller font, obviously, but also that it is a darker font which blends in with the darker art in the background. I know when you look at it on your screen right now it looks design-pleasing, but when you sit from across the room, I would wish less design-pretty and more user-experience pretty. And it would be great if it could be an OLED screen so that the plate is seamlessly merging with the design when the clock is enabled.
And you might have expected that the screen is touch-sensitive, like in the Eversolo. But it is not, which again, for me is no problem at all. Even on an Eversolo, I used it once or twice, just to see how it works and never again. I don't see why I would rise up to go to my streamer to operate it, especially as it is in a rack, and I have to lower myself to click on the screen. Bluesound did a much better thing, which they preserved from previous models: keeping touch controls on top of t device. So that if I ever need to, let's say, turn off the device—which is the only way to do it unless you have the remote (but they charge 60 euros for the remote, like, no thanks)—I can easily see and click it without lowering myself too much.
It is a very simple UI at the top, for volume, next, previous, and favorite actions. Easy to understand, easy to see, great choice.
Inputs and Outputs
Left of the screen is a headphone amplifier, with a full-sized headphone jack. Now, I am not the biggest headphone guy out there. But adding AAA linearity, AA, for low noise, distortion, and clarity, is certainly a great bonus. And good for those more intimate listening moments using headphones.
Behind, there is a lot to be happy about, mainly XLR—I love XLR. But I also love HDMI ARC, and USB A and USB C. There are your typical optical and coaxial in and out. So it is really stacked with inputs and outputs. I am so happy that XLR and HDMI are becoming more common in this price range; it makes my audiophile heart happy.
From a connection standpoint, we have AirPlay 2, Tidal and Spotify Connect, and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth. It is also Roon Ready and Dirac Live ready. That Dirac is a gigantic plus if you have additional money to spare, as you need a Dirac license and a measuring microphone to fully use its services. But I think it is really worth it; I would really love one day to do a review of Dirac, but for now, for an additional 220 euros, you can get a measuring tool that will do a better job than EQ to correct and optimize your sound.
DAC inside
Regarding the DAC, it is a dual-mono ES9039Q2M; it is a common DAC in this price range now. But nonetheless, even though it is not something more exciting, it is a great DAC, so at least you know you have decent DAC technology inside that, in my tests, rivals my up-to-400-450 euro standalone DACs. That is one less box and declutter in your system, unless you have some great DAC, then you already know the drill and what to do. It is 24-bit, 192 kHz, and DSD up to 256. So nothing fancy, pretty standard.
Application BluOS
The application that comes with this device, BluOS, is decent, but I have not used a single application that I can consider excellent. They always prefer good UI to great UX. I always dance around the application searching for what I need; the home screen should be much better, utilizing everything from other places into quicker operations. As I always use Favorites or music or player items in navigation to handle my music playback. Hopefully, one day I am going to design an application for this that will be perfect in the UI and UX department. And it just never feels right; I much prefer the UI of Tidal or Spotify, as this could be done so much better.
Also, I was expecting equalising to be similar to in Wiim and Eversolo, where you get parametric and graphical equalising. Here, you have controls similar to an amp, but what the application does is, when you equalise, the application actually creates a straight line, so if you like super neutral listening, use this control; you might enjoy that. It makes the streamer really balanced and neutral; it is completely different than how they tune it to actually work. And it gives you the ability to add decibels to bass and treble to mold the sound how you like. I still much prefer how Wiim does it. And also, Wiim does room corrections software on app, without needing anything else.
While Bluesound uses Dirac, which is obviously miles better, it also is a costly variant that requires a lot of additional purchases. As I said earlier, Dirac is awesome, but for a thorough improvement of sound, you can go with Dirac or an external power supply to see tangible improvement results.
The app is good-looking, and when you get the gist of it, it becomes pleasing to use. Except I don't know why they decided to take such a big place for those "Now Playing" and "Play Queue" buttons, like it is something of the utmost importance. But still, in my opinion, with all its flaws, it is still the best software that comes with any streaming platform.
Sound Quality
Now we come to the meat of this review: the sound.
And the sound took me some time to appreciate and like. And it is a fault of the ES Sabre and Bluesound Node synergy. Maybe fault is a strong word, but this is a very calculated sound. Often informative, sometimes a little bit dramatic. It took me some time to realise how Bluesound stands to the competition in this busy price range.
It just took me some time to gather my sonic composure about understanding this sound. Let's start with what this streamer does best, and that is its great organising qualities, how it represents the mids, the sheer quality of transparency, and space around instruments. It is a very clean and lean presentation.
Fantastical work into organizing, and decluttering
I enjoyed listening to various instruments across the frequency range; they just have room to breathe. And especially 500 Hz to 2 kHz is where it wonderfully creates a great, clear sound. This is done with the help of the ES Sabre, which does give a lot of precision and timing correction, and with a good clock, it works like a charm.
When you can even in busy compositions clearly hear and distinguish vocals from a lot of overdubbing, layering, and textures, you know you have a great one. It does that with a certain elegance, of being laid-back and intelligent in its organisation.
Great detail extractor
But even if the sound is neutral, it does lean into a territory of detail extraction and presentation. And that is a great second thing about how informative and detailed this is. You can hear all the nuances, all the micro-details of synths appearing around you in the soundstage. It is very informative to tell us about all the textured information that makes them present.Firm and vivid, you not only hear them, you feel them. It is not a nimble sound; it does not expand dramatically or show off.
The tendency of Node Icon is to uncover, show, and expose. Without putting light on it, it would be more showmanship-like. More like a great band in shadows overtaking every composition.
And that is why, with these two great things, at first you are reserved in praising this. You are saluted and greeted with a great sound, but a sound that just passes you by. It does not linger, for the sake of transparency and clarity; it does its thing and just leaves room for the next note.
Soundstage, vocals, imaging
And what you need from your source is that, with all its great organization, it lets the soundstage bloom. It, of course, needs a talented supporting cast in amps and speakers. But I was happy with the soundstage. What it did to Wharfedales, to Triangles, and Dalis. It holds the unaccountable, expanding more than they can, while not being too airy. It is one of those soundstages that opens more vertically, as it is helped by detailed sound to sound more open. It is not a massive soundstage, airy and exploding horizontally, but a greatly detailed One, a detailed and textured one that expands natural sound by just providing a lot of "meat" in the soundstage for it to be clinically observed and wonderfully enjoyed.
And while we are on the subject of soundstage, let's discuss something important to me: color accuracy and imaging of vocals and instruments. I love central imaging of vocals to be present; they don't have to be the most forward, energetic, or weighty, just to have that firm center with great timing and accuracy. And I am happy that this actually provides that. Again, in typical Icon fashion, Con, it is not too forward, not weighty, and I think it works better with more familiar vocals that open a bit in the higher register. But again, synergy does help with this; it is hard to review a streamer on the basis of its own merits when it is part of a larger system.
It might lack excitement and drama, or extending the treble and pushing it into a territory of conveying a sense of fire, punch... energy. Not a bad thing, and could be shaped differently by more treble-rich synergies. But just something to think about.
Bass
But I was satisfied with the dynamics of the bass; it had a certain attack and presence. Not something really rocking, but it does extend, and that is super interesting for a sound that is trying to be this clear, to have extensions in low and high. Not superb extensions, but isn't this the best of both worlds? It will push enough talented gear if you have it, and like anything, a streamer is a conductor; it cannot hard-color anything like speakers or amps, so think about synergy if you want to get better results.
As I said, insight into what is happening in the production and sound is there, but rhythmically pushing you to tap your feet to the rhythm of the song... this ain't the one, chief. It lacks that expression; it lacks that forwardness telling you to get out of that comfy chair and that it is time to embarrass yourself to think that anybody wants to see you dance and jump. It is defined and precise sound, leaving not that much to the imagination.
Synergy
And while we are on the subject of synergy, it would benefit from colorations. I think pairing it with a more neutral system is not that bad, like some streamers, but I would love to see the cocktail of sounds that this streamer produces with your system to be more weighty or more forward and punchy. So, in my opinion, give it a Dali or Bowers, with some neutral amps, like Roksan, or Hegel, or Musical Fidelity... to create the best synergy. Detailed, open, and rhythmically pleasing.
Real life test with music
Scott Walker - Nite Flights
To better convey all these thoughts with a real-life example of listening sessions: Do you guys know Scott Walker? He is one of my favorite artists. From his chansons and baroque pop to art and progressive music, to all the avant-garde and metal endeavors in his later career, he is one of the biggest enigmas in music. And one of my favorite albums of all time is Nite Flights by the Walker Brothers.It is an album where they said, "Screw our careers, we now do what we want," and created a musical game for a lifetime, and it is one of my favorite albums.
On one of their tracks, "Fat Mama Kick," there is this very brooding, dark bass. I use this track to measure bass and how it handles weight. And problems do arise here, as the bass is not so prominent commanding. g. As it lacks a bit of drive, it doesn't actually make this song truly feel like a big, moving force of nature. It does a good job of distinguishing the saxophone from the vocals, synths, guitar, and bass; it places them coordinately in space. But I would love more drive to make this moving piece a bit more rocking.
But I was satisfied with the dynamics of the bass; it had a certain attack and presence, so it did not disappoint. Only that, you know, side-by-side comparisons and the expectations of some people might cause some disappointments. But, like with any other streamer, it is synergy that can easily fix this.
Morphine - Cure for Pain
But then I put on Morphine's "Cure for Pain," and on a song like "Buena," which also has a lot to do with the drive of a song, but it is a very complex song with a lot of instruments clashing. With a lot of percussion existing at the edges of the song, it is a merger of jazz and rock like we don't have these days. And my god, does Bluesound Node Icon organize the music great with ease, no matter how much complexity there is in the composition. And fantastic Mark Sandman vocals are centered so nicely in the middle of that chaos, just in the middle, having its own room, lane, and presence to preach and sing. just I loved this so much. But synergize this with warmer speakers to get the correct synergy to properly enjoy this.
Steely Dan - Aja
But where this streamer is in the king is slower compositions of the superb audio quality of Steely Dan's Aja. As its clinical tendencies allow you to explore the production tricks and immaculate musicianship of Steely Dan, it is clean production, almost sterile, but with so much detail that the Bluesound Node extracts, it is a joy to have such a superb and clean partner to show, present, and give details en masse. You will enjoy listening to Aja a lot.
And in general, it is great for classical music. The Node Icon would be a great partner in calming the complexities of Rachmaninoff and making its dynamic richness presentable.
Alternatives
So how does the Node fare against the competition? Well, I borrowed an Eversolo from a friend, allowing me to test my streamer with a Cambridge Audio CXN in an audio store for direct comparisons, and used my Naim and Primare to do side-by-side comparisons. The only thing I could not do is test or hear the Cambridge Audio CXN in any capacity, and I will not compare it, even though I really wanted to.
Eversolo DMP-A6
Well, to me, the closest competitor is the very popular Eversolo DMP-A6. One thing I have to say right away about the Eversolo is that it is my favorite-looking streamer of all, and it has the best screen of all. It is 6 inches to Bluesound's 5 inches, but also Bluesound is full HD while Eversolo is 2K in sharpness.It is an amazingly built device, which is also cheaper. In all, it brings punches to Bluesound that might be enough for many people to look in this direction.
But what about the sound? And this is where these two devices diverge. Eversolo, on first listen, sounds better, but that is only on the first few listens. And it does sound better as it is a more exciting, more forward, and detailed sound. Maybe not more detailed, but when a sound is trying to prove itself, like with Eversolo, it seems amazingly rounded and textured at first. In some kind of isolated listening test, without Eversolo, I could maybe see myself leaning towards Eversolo.
But the Node Icon is just a slow-burn streamer. When spending time listening to the Node Icon, you are slowly rewarded for your patience, unlike Eversolo, which gives you everything at once. You get to appreciate a level of information and resolution you can hear, and how dynamically rich it rich on all sides, yet retaining the same detail as Eversolo.
Eversolo is certainly more energetic, and the rhythms are better than the Node Icon; even vocals extend a bit more. But, over time, I preferred listening to music via the Bluesound Node more, as it fits what I need, as it is a more prestigious, kind of audiophile sound.
And this often happens when comparing side-by-side and explaining it verbally. Eversolo has good clarity, transparency, and organizational quality; it really does. It is a great thing, but the Bluesound Node Icon is just better here.
Also, the DAC in Eversolo is more capable; it can decode 32-bit and DSD up to 512, which, for connoisseurs of high-end music files, might be a big differentiator.
But Eversolo is cheaper, and not by a little. Eversolo looks great; its app holds many cool secrets and tricks. It is a more fun and engaging sound, so I can see many people going for Eversolo. But if you want a clearer, more precise sound with great color accuracy and great detail—just to hear all the production tricks, all the breath, and influence of your songs, and just to be more informative—I think the Bluesound Node is a better choice.
Cambridge Audio CXN100
Similarly to what I opened with for Eversolo, I have to say that I am not a fan of the design of Cambridge Audio devices. Like Rotel and Primare, with their silver, almost clinical design, it is just not my forte, and that screen just seems smaller than it should be.
Do you remember the CXN v2 streamer? That would be a more fun comparison, in my opinion. The sound of the v2 had these distinguished warmer qualities, making the sound weightier and bigger, but also smoother. I remember that sound with great fondness. And the difference in sound signature would be a fun comparison.
But that is not the CXN100; it is a completely different streamer that retains some qualities from its previous generation. First, like with Eversolo, the DAC in the Cambridge Audio is more capable, with 32-bit, DSD 512.But where Bluesound and Eversolo had similar inputs and outputs, Node Icon comes with HDMI ARC, which could be a big difference for some people.
Cambridge Audio and Node Icon cost the same, so no price difference plays any role here, only what you like more. And quality sound-wise, these two streamers are very similar. But there are two points that distinguish them. And that is that inherently Cambridge Audio is a bit more musical, may I say. It is more weighty, fuller sound; it is not the warm sound of V2, but it retains some qualities of the previous model. And therefore, it is easier on the ear, and sometimes when there is a need for that, it has this bigger drive that makes songs feel full and everywhere.
I think the bass of CXN100 is more weighty, more encompassing, and detailed. While Bluesound has this attack to it, which is also good but not as weighty as Cambridge Audio. But I have to mention CXN100 is not a warm streamer, so don't expect command and authority from the bass, but in comparison to Node Icon, it was a bit weightier and smoother.
I think Bluesound is a bit more Detailed. Led, but may I say that both are very similar in many aspects: organization, presentation, detail retrieval. But you can catch some songs, neatly produced, that Bluesound informs you more about what is happening in the song and outside it. It groups and weaves some elements together to make it more visible who and what does things.
So, yes, Bluesound is more detailed and better at organizing instruments, being a better conductor. But the margin is not that big, and Cambridge Audio has better bass, but the margin is not vast.
Which one would I choose? I don't know. I like how Bluesound looks; it is not that big and fits everywhere; I like that it has HDMI ARC; I love that jazz music can be super detailed, and precisions can be tracked and sensed everywhere. So, some nights Bluesound is the definite winner. And some nights, Bruce Springsteen comes along, and those nights are more fun with Cambridge Audio's fuller and weightier sound. With vocals sounding weightier, more present, and even better. That musicality of Cambridge Audio is sometimes a deciding factor.
So, in the end, how you listen to music will be a deciding factor. Both are awesome and should be your top consideration when acquiring a new streamer.
Wiim Ultra
And there is Wiim Ultra, a streamer that is 600–700 euros cheaper. It is just an outstanding value—better than anything here by far. Small, compact design, great screen, fantastic inputs and outputs, and a great application.
And you might think, "Why don't I just buy Wiim and save some cash?" Well, Wiim is a good streamer, it is just not on the same level as the three previously mentioned. I had problems with Wiim trying too hard; in the process, it forgets to do what a great streamer is supposed to do: extraction and organization of the files it receives. I always felt that the midsection could use more refinement, more maturity. It has great treble information extraction and creates a brighter sound.
But I would definitely miss the more open sound of the other three devices: more texture, more palpable sound, with nuances in transparency and clarity.
But then again, they are much more expensive, and they should sound like that. But in Wiim's range, im is nothing beats it. Whoever buys it will have a smart and great introduction to audiophile magic.
Primare NP5 Prisma
Some might expect Cambridge Audio MX10 here, as a cheaper but fantastic alternative. And it is just that—an amazing device. But there is one I love more than the MX10: the Primare NP5.
Let's go with the problems. It does not have a DAC; it is a very versatile device. It has an awful application...and that is it. Add a DAC in the 200-euro price level or more.You get a device that is cheaper than all others besides the Wiim and MX10. But the device has a great level of clarity, transparency, and fantastic organizational value. Add even a 400 or 500 euro DAC, and you get a device that easily rivals any here.
It is exceptional not just in its organization but also in its detail, bass attack, and presence. It gives great attack and presence, while also being nimble to show and inform the listener of what is going on.
For more information, please look at my review; the link will be in the description, but this is one thing I can recommend and is on the cheaper side.
Read full review here:
Conclusion
So I don't like to take my words lightly, but I believe that this is the best streamer in this price range. Unfortunately, that does not mean that this is a definite must-buy, as a lot of competition is standing right next to it, which sonic flavors might intrigue you more.
But to get a device that is this dynamically sure-footed, to create a clear, transparent, detailed vision of songs you love will open many new horizons for you. It will play nicely with many different genres; it will enhance its soundstage and reach while not sacrificing solidity, timing, and tonal accuracy. It weaves sonic elements superbly, giving you nicely detailed and textured elements for your brain and ears to dissect and place on the sonic playground.
It could have a DAC that decodes more mature files, like DSD 512 and 32-bit audio. It could have a bit more energy and forwardness to make your listening sessions more goosebump-inducing and passionate. It could copy some rivals in adding additional features to the application, which would greatly open versatility and experimentation.
But it is a good-looking machine; it have nice application, a lot of inputs and outputs; it is a trustworthy device for a long time, allowing your audiophile needs to have access to many great audiophile songs in the comfort of your room and listening chair.
Pros:
Build Quality & Design
Sturdy, compact aluminum design
High-quality 5-inch full HD screen
Intuitive touch controls on top
Well-organized UI for basic controls
Connectivity & Features
Extensive inputs/outputs: XLR, HDMI ARC, USB-A & C, optical, coaxial
Supports AirPlay 2, Tidal & Spotify Connect, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth
Roon Ready and Dirac Live support (for additional cost)
DAC & Sound Performance
ES9039Q2M dual-mono DAC for high-quality sound
Clean and precise sound signature
Excellent organization and transparency in mids (500 Hz - 2 kHz)
Great detail extraction and instrument separation around 2khz and 3khz
Neutral and balanced presentation, well-suited for audiophiles
Software & App (BluOS)
Best software among streamers, despite some UX flaws
Offers EQ controls (though limited compared to competitors)
Soundstage & Imaging
Well-structured soundstage, vertically expansive
Clear, firm central imaging for vocals and instruments
Bass is dynamic, with good attack and presence
Competitive Against Rivals
Offers more clarity and precision than Eversolo DMP-A6 over time
Competes well with Cambridge Audio CXN100 in detail retrieval
Cons:
Limited Excitement in Sound Signature
Lacks the energy and punch of some rivals (e.g., Eversolo)
Not as rhythmically engaging for dynamic or lively music
Requires system synergy to bring out its best qualities
Software & App Limitations
BluOS app prioritizes UI over UX, making navigation cumbersome
Lacks parametric and graphical EQ found in competitors like Wiim and Eversolo
Dirac Live is a premium add-on, making room correction costly
Price & Competition
Faces tough competition in the €1000 range from Eversolo, Cambridge Audio, Marantz, etc.
Eversolo offers better screens, more engaging sound, and a lower price
Cambridge Audio CXN100 provides a fuller, weightier sound for the same price
