Bluesound Node (2021) Review:
Verdict
Wi-Fi your Hi-Fi with this compact, affordable and effective wireless streamer. The BluOS app and extensive connectivity brand setup unproblematic and flexible, while an audiophile DAC and quad-core processor delivers top-notch audio.
Pros
- Superb all-round functioning
- First-class suite of features
- Easy to setup and use
- Sleek and well made
Cons
- No remote control included
- No DSD support
Availability
- UK RRP: £549
- U.s.a. unavailable
- Europe RRP: €549
- Canada unavailable
Cardinal Features
- Audiophile-grade processing Texas Instruments PCM 5242 DAC and ARM Cortex A53 quad-core processor
- Hi-res music streaming Back up upwardly to 24-bit/192kHz plus MQA
- BluOS operating organization Multi-room functionality and Controller App
- Concrete connectivity HDMI eARC; digital and counterpart inputs and outputs; USB; Ethernet
- Wireless connectivity Dual-band Wi-Fi; Bluetooth aptX HD; AirPlay 2
Introduction
The Bluesound Node is the tertiary generation of the Canadian visitor'due south network streamer, which, while adding a number of new features, remains an affordable and accomplished wireless hi-fi solution.
The new model boasts an improved terminate, redesigned DAC, next-generation quad-cadre processor, and intuitive touch panel controls. It besides supports every high-resolution music streaming service at up to 24-bit/192kHz (along with MQA), plus there'southward extensive connectivity via the BluOS Controller app.
Blueprint
- Compact and nicely designed
- Touch-sensitive controls
- Excellent build quality
- Choice of black or white
The Bluesound Node sports a revised design that uses the same basic chassis with curved corners, but adds a bear on-sensitive LED panel on top with a proximity sensor. This provides book control using a slider, previous/next track, and play/pause. It also adds v presets to which you can allocate functionality using the BluOS Controller app.
The chassis looks similar to the earlier generations – but, thankfully, it drops the rubberised finish for something that's sleeker and cleaner. The overall blueprint is based around 2 matte sections sandwiched either side of a glossy strip – where you'll detect a minor indicator LED and an IR sensor. The Node itself measures W220 x H46 x D146mm, and weighs in at 1.09kg.
Connectivity
- HDMI eARC; digital; analogue; USB; Ethernet
- Wi-Fi; Bluetooth aptX Hard disk; AirPlay two
- Wired and wireless headphone outputs
- Subwoofer output
The Bluesound Node is well endowed when information technology comes to connectivity, with a host of wired and wireless choices that allow yous to connect pretty much anything. Boot off with the wired connectors, these are primarily located at the rear. Hither you'll notice an HDMI eARC connector, allowing you to immediately boost the sound quality of your TV by using an amplifier and speakers continued to the Node.
There's also a dual-function optical digital/analogue input, and coaxial and optical digital outputs, along with stereo RCA outputs for connecting the Node to a power amplifier. There'south a dedicated subwoofer output, along with a trigger out for simultaneously powering upwards a connected amp when y'all turn on the Node. There's also an IR in, a USB Type-A connector, and a Gigabit Ethernet port; plus there's a 3.5mm jack on the forepart for connecting a pair of headphones.
On the wireless side of things there's dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11ac), enabling yous to stream hi-res music to the Node from premium service providers or your own network. At that place'southward likewise Bluetooth 5.0 aptX Hd with two-way connectivity (transmit and receive), assuasive you to stream 24-bit audio directly from a phone or tablet, and transmit it back to any paired headphones or speakers. Finally, there's AirPlay 2 for those with Apple devices, and fifty-fifty a wireless subwoofer output for the Pulse SUB+.
Features
- Quad-core processor and audiophile-class DAC
- BluOS Controller app
- MQA support
- Multi-room functionality
- Works with Alexa, Google and Siri
The Bluesound Node boasts an impressive array of features, starting with a Texas Instruments PCM 5242 DAC and ARM Cortex A53 quad-core processor, allowing it to handle high-resolution sound upward to 24-scrap/192kHz. This processing power is combined with the BluOS operating system, which in plough supports controller operating systems from iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac.
The Node not only supports PCM upwardly to 24/192, but can handle just about whatever format imaginable, including MQA. In fact, about the simply sound format it can't deal with is DSD, but at least BluOS is capable of identifying DSD files and cantankerous-convert them to FLAC. Information technology likewise offers every streaming service you can call up of, including Tidal, Spotify, and Qobuz, plus in that location'southward net radio, and whatsoever digital music library you take on a reckoner or external bulldoze.
Bluesound has created its own multi-room system based around the splendid BluOS Controller app. This seamlessly connects the Node to multiple Bluesound speakers throughout your home, creating an intuitive multi-room music organization. It likewise has the power to support up to 64 players in 24-bit hi-res sound, which is impressive even if you lot probably have nowhere near 64 rooms in your house!
There are all-encompassing command options, including the BluOS Controller app, touch panel controls with presets, voice assistants such equally Siri, Alexa, or Google Vocalization, and fifty-fifty programming your own IR remote. While there's no included remote, Bluesound offers the optional RC1 controller, and the Node can be integrated into a smart domicile with full-feature drivers for Lutron, Elan, RTI, Crestron, and other popular home control systems. Finally, the Node is also Roon Ready.
Operation
- AirPlay 2 connectivity
- Deals well with poorer quality audio
- Energetic delivery
The Bluesound Node is simple to ready – but earlier getting into the nitty-gritty, it's important to point out this isn't an all-in-one system; information technology's a pre-amp. This means you take to add an amplifier and speakers, or active speakers, for information technology to work, although if yous already accept a good pair of passive speakers and so you could choose the Bluesound Powernode instead, which is a Node with 80W of ii-channel grunt already built-in.
Once y'all've connected the Node to your system (either via the optical, coaxial or counterpart outputs), you can then admission your Wi-Fi network using the BluOS Controller app – and you're off to the races. Along with all the music services that the wireless connectivity brings to the party, you can besides access files from any connected network drives.
If you're invested in the Apple ecosystem then you take AirPlay 2 wireless connectivity, plus at that place'southward Bluetooth functionality that not only allows you lot to stream music from a smartphone or tablet, but also send audio to Bluetooth headphones and speakers. Finally, yous can connect any wired sources to the Node, including your Tv if it supports ARC/eARC.
BluOS uses a queue-based approach that works well, even if it appears slightly dated compared to newcomers such every bit Roon – although you lot have to pay for the latter. The app provides easy access to playlists, presets and favourites, forth with all the music streaming and cyberspace radio services, plus Bluetooth and whatsoever wired connections.
There's a host of set up-up features, allowing you to arrange the tone controls, turn on the subwoofer output, prepare the output style and level plus, of course, conform the volume. Overall the app proves a highly effective way of controlling the Node, although if you're the kind of person who prefers using a regular remote control and then you tin can buy the optional RC1.
Thanks to its new DAC chip and a well-designed output phase, the Node has wonderful control that allows it to handle all types of recordings – even poor ones. Equally a result, this streamer is pleasingly forgiving across a varied choice of fabric, and means you can partner the Node with some very capable equipment without fear of any bug.
The Node not simply reveals an ability to adapt to dissimilar recordings, but likewise sports a commitment that's undeniably energetic, which makes this streamer a lot of fun. It also retains first-class bass item and overall extension. Then, listening to The Ultra Vivid Lament by the Manic Street Preachers was thoroughly engaging as the Node expertly brought out all the layers in the songs.
The Node is as well a joy to live with, and during testing everything worked exactly every bit it was supposed to. Switching betwixt AirPlay and Bluetooth caused no issues, and the same goes for all the wired connections. BluOS could do with a few small tweaks, just it's all the same one of the best operating systems out in that location, and the Node remains a consummate performer.
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Should you buy it?
Y'all want an affordable way of adding Wi-Fi to your Hi-Fi This accomplished high-resolution audio wireless and multi-room streamer non but quickly and hands adds premium music services to your How-do-you-do-Fi organization, but can also instantly boost the sound quality of your Idiot box thanks to HDMI eARC. Extensive connectivity, and an effective remote app are the icing on the block.
You desperately desire DSD support or detest using a smart device every bit a remote The Node doesn't support DSD, although there are ways effectually this, and in that location'south no remote control included, although you tin can purchase the optional RC1 from Bluesound.
Terminal thoughts
The Bluesound Node is well made and easy to set upwardly, with extensive connectivity and an effective remote app. The performance is excellent, the high-resolution audio support extensive, and the multi-room capabilities impressive. There'due south every premium streaming service imaginable, and simply the lack of DSD support or a dedicated remote control disappoint – but, otherwise, the Bluesound Node is hard to fault.
How nosotros exam
Nosotros test every music streamer we review thoroughly over an extended menstruation of time. We apply manufacture standard tests to compare features properly. Nosotros'll ever tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more than near how we exam in our ethics policy.
Tested over several weeks
Used as principal music streamer for review period
Apply with a range music streaming services and files
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FAQs
What DAC is in the Bluesound Node (2021)?
Inside the Bluesound Node is a Texas Instruments PCM 5242 DAC.
Do I need a DAC with Bluesound Node?
No you don't, there'due south already one built in. Yous will need an amplifier to connect it to exist speakers though.
Full specs
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Smart assistants
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Jargon buster
AirPlay 2
AirPlay ii is the second generation of Apple's proprietary wireless streaming tech, which is built into all of its hardware products (and supported past many others). It's designed to laissez passer content from your Apple tree device - music, video and photos - to a compatible receiver over your Wi-Fi network such as a TV, wireless speaker, AV receiver etc.
Alexa
Amazon's smart voice assistant
eARC
eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) is the update to ARC and it boosts the bandwidth and speed, making room for object-based audio surround formats such as DTS:X and Dolby Atmos to exist sent straight to an AV receiver/soundbar.
Google Assistant
A vocalism assistant which is Google's take on Amazon's Alexa.
Howdy-Res Sound
Hi-Res audio is referred to as a standard as well as a marketing term that describes digital audio files of better-than-CD quality (16-bit/44.1kHz).
Multiroom audio
Multi-room refers to the act of group wireless sound systems together to play/control music throughout a home. For instance, Multi-room systems tin allow for the aforementioned slice of music to be played on all connected systems, or different music played on each individual speaker.
Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/bluesound-node-2021
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