The Blusound Node Icon is a four-part product: streamer, D/A converter, headphone amp and room correction system. You could use it as the hub of a system simply by adding powered speakers or a stereo amp and speakers.
Rather than try to do many things, but somewhat badly, in this review I want to look at the Node Icon simply as a streamer/DAC, which I think is its foundational functionality. To whet your appetite, I will compare it to my reference $35,000 streamer/DAC through the lens of the absolute sound.
This video's sponsor: https://www.nordost.com/
The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/
Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound
Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com
Tom Martin’s Reference System:
Aurender N200 Server
Roon Nucleus server
Mac Mini (M2) server
Wiim Pro server/DAC
Bluesound Node server/DAC
Topping D70 Pro DAC
dCS Lina DAC/Master clock
Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 with Alpha USB Series 2 input module
J Sikora Initial Max turntable
Technics SL-1210G turntable
Kuzma 4Point 9” arm
J Sikora KV12 tone arm
DS Audio 003 cartridge
Benz Gullwing SLR cartridge
Hana Umami Blue cartridge
Hegel V10 phono preamp
Musical Surroundings Phonomena III phono preamp
DS Audio 003 optical cartridge energizer
Audio Research Reference 6SE preamp
PS Audio BHK 600 mono power amps
MBL N51 integrated amplifier
Magico A5 speakers
Wireworld Platinum Electra speaker and line cables
Shunyata Omega digital cables
Shunyata Venom power cables and director
AVN Systems acoustic design
Rediacoustic diffusers and absorbers
Rediacoustic bass traps
Salamander racks
Solidsteel Turntable rack
What Is The Absolute Sound?
The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.
#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound