The awards season continues to shine on Bluesound. The NODE ICON Reference Music Streamer has been named Product of the Year by What Hi-Fi? in the Best Music Streamer category.
The NODE ICON is a flagship wireless music streamer, designed for the audio obsessed. With its sleek aluminum chassis, and vibrant 5” full-color display, it sets a new benchmark for wireless music streamers. Seamlessly connect it to any premium amplifier, powered speakers, or headphones, and enjoy BluOS hi-res streaming, Apple AirPlay 2, THX AAA™ technology, and more. HDMI eARC, Dolby Digital, and Dirac Live ensure an immersive audio experience for music and TV.
Dual-mono DAC design with 2 x ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M DAC
THX AAA™ headphone amplifier technology with 2 x 1/4" jacks for cable management
High-quality balanced XLR outputs
HDMI eARC, optical, analog and USB-C inputs
RCA, coax, optical, USB outputs
Apple AirPlay 2 and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth*
Dirac Live Ready
Beautiful 5” full-colour HD display and backlit touch panel with presets and controls
The NODE ICON is the reference for wireless hi-res multi-room streamers.
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FROM ICONIC TO ICON
The NODE ICON redefines HiFi listening with its expertly crafted Dual-Mono DAC design. Featuring two cutting-edge ESS SABRE ES9039Q2M DACs and transparent circuitry, it delivers sound with unparalleled dynamic range, ultra-low distortion, and exceptional resolution. MQA Labs' groundbreaking QRONO d2a technology further refines DAC performance by correcting timing errors during digital-to-analogue conversion, ensuring the timing response aligns perfectly with the original recording for an authentic listening experience.
BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED FOR THE AUDIO OBSESSED
With a bold industrial design for the next generation of HiFi, the NODE ICON features a high-quality aluminum chassis, balanced XLR outputs, and a beautiful 5” full-colour HD display. Its sleek gloss black finish integrates seamlessly into any setup, while audiophile-grade connections ensure superior performance. Supporting DSD playback, it features the latest ES9826 SABRE ADC, delivering true-to-source analog audio with minimal noise or distortion.
STREAM EVERYTHING
Stream all the music ever recorded with the NODE ICON, from popular streaming services to your personal digital libraries, all accessible through the BluOS app. With built-in Apple AirPlay 2 and aptX™ Adaptive Bluetooth*, enjoy more music from even more apps and services. HDMI eARC lets you connect seamlessly to your TV, bringing hi-res music streaming into your movie and gaming experiences, all with just a single cable.
GO BEYOND THE HIFI SYSTEM
The NODE ICON can wirelessly connect to Bluesound speakers and stereo components to create a multi-room music system connected by BluOS™ throughout your whole home. With dual-band Wi-Fi for dropout free listening, you can play your new favorite track everywhere or listen to different music and genres in different rooms with total control from your phone, tablet, or desktop.
WORLD'S BEST HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER TECHNOLOGY
Lifelike headphone listening is made possible by THX AAA™ technology, the headphone amplifier that boasts the world's most linear response. Its patented feed-forward error correction results in remarkably low noise and distortion, revealing exceptional soundstage and clarity. Connect your high-performance headphones to the left or right full-sized 1/4" headphone jacks and enjoy audiophile listening without fuss or compromise.
SMART ACOUSTICS
The NODE ICON comes ready to intelligently fight bad room acoustics with Dirac Live, available as an upgrade directly from Dirac. Use Dirac's app to measure your room acoustics and eliminate standing waves, reverberations, and other unwanted distortions. The result is clear, balanced, and detailed sound for your music and movie soundtracks. A calibration kit with a high-sensitivity microphone is also required and available from Bluesound with additional purchase.
NODE NANO
NODE
NODE ICON
HD Display
•
•
✓
DAC Design
Single Stereo
Single Stereo
Dual Mono
Balanced XLR Output
•
•
✓
Analog RCA Output
✓
✓
✓
Coax, Optical & USB Outputs
✓
✓
✓
HDMI eARC Input
•
✓
✓
Analog & Optical Inputs
•
Combo
✓
USB-C Input
•
•
✓
THX AAA
•
✓
✓
Dirac Live Ready
•
✓
✓
Adaptive aptX Bluetooth*
✓
✓
✓
• Not Available
✓ Included
* Available via future software update
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• Not Available ✓ Included
* Available via future software update
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Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Posted on
Build Quality
100%
Value
100%
Sound Quality
100%
I love my icon! I just wish there more " Bells and Whistles " for screen options. Ie. Different clock face and main screen styles, and colors,
Review by
James
Best DAC for the Money!
Posted on
Build Quality
100%
Value
100%
Sound Quality
100%
I have a very expensive Void sound system in my living room. I love having the dual XLR out to go right into my amplified sub. Also having the eARC for my TV, and RCA in for a DJ setup while having dual XLR is a game changer. There's nothing else on the market with these inputs and outputs, and I've loved ownership for the past year. Also the ability to change between the TV and stream Spotify lossless is a game changer without needing the TV on to listen to music. Would highly recommend.
Review by
Jordan
Mid
Posted on
Build Quality
60%
Value
60%
Sound Quality
80%
The sound quality is solid. However, the popping in between tracks on the BluOS native app, Qobuz connect, Tidal Connect and Roon is driving me nuts. I have tried everything to alleviate this issue but seems it is not possible. I have looked into this on the Bluesound website and this issue goes back 4 years. Sadly I will be forced to return this product.
Review by
Dave
Astonished !
Posted on
Build Quality
100%
Value
100%
Sound Quality
100%
I bought this Node Icon as a trial purchase …… I try all sorts of hifi products and few meet my expectations,…. Some meet them and rarely they exceed them. I was, however, truly astonished how brilliant this sounds. It has opened up all my other, fairly costly, hifi components. From headphones to speakers….. amazing. The headphone quality is exceptional as is the sound connected to my Naim / KEF setup. Don’t hesitate. This is a 5 star product….. all day long. A rare find these days. Just love it. ???? Just buy one. You won’t regret it.
Review by
Sid911
Outstanding
Posted on
Build Quality
100%
Value
100%
Sound Quality
100%
Absolutely fantastic streamer. It's got a distinct signature sound that allows streaming music to reach its full potential. I have over $10k invested in my home stereo before I got the Icon. This was the key that unlocked my system. Previously, the only way to come close to this level of quality sound was with reference grade CDs.
Review by
Greg
Love it
Posted on
Build Quality
100%
Value
100%
Sound Quality
100%
I upgraded from the original node. Improved detail and bass was my first impression. Wish it had Atmos as does my Apple TV. I'm very happy with the overall quality
Review by
Doug
Great sound at this price range
Posted on
Build Quality
80%
Value
100%
Sound Quality
100%
I'm use RME ADI2-DAC before, but wanna hv a streamer with analog input for vinyl input. The DAC and balanced output sound great, I use for Roon & Apple Music, no complain at all! Dirac ready is nice too, although I hvn't tried yet. For Bluetooth, great if support ldac. Highly recommended!
Review by
David
Top of the Top
Posted on
Build Quality
100%
Value
100%
Sound Quality
100%
Upgrade da Node 2i che già funzionava benissimo anche come stabilità e funzionalità dell'interfaccia utente. Con l'ICON la prima impressione è di bassi più profondi, maggior dettaglio, maggiore trasparenza e dinamica. Del touch screen non se ne sente il bisogno come pure dello schermo 5" visto che lo comando dal cell o iPAD.
Upgrade from the Node 2i, which already worked very well in terms of stability and user interface functionality. With the ICON, the first impression is of deeper bass, greater detail, greater transparency and dynamics. There's no need for the touchscreen, nor for the 5" display since I control it from my phone or iPad.
Review by
Mik Firenze
Gateway to high end digital nirvana
Posted on
Build Quality
80%
Value
100%
Sound Quality
100%
The node ICON delivers serious performance for those that consume music in the digital streaming realm. As someone that can't remember the last time I purchased a CD let alone vinyl I am chasing the digital dream and this product delivers performance far beyond its modest price would suggest. Standards are developing at pace in the digital space and only those that have access to the developers of encoding tech and software will survive. The software is rock solid and "just works" indicating a polished and finished article that can't be said of much higher priced boutique products. Node ICON plus decent class D amp and DIRAC will deliver outstanding and afforadble real world results. Great work Lenbrook group, I can't recommend higly enough
Review by
LongLegs
Socialist Sound
Posted on
Build Quality
80%
Value
80%
Sound Quality
100%
The result is a great sounding device. I would describe it as a network streamer with refined dynamics and a variety of in/output terminals with Dirac Live, but everything comes with some limitations.
For example, there are some unnecessary limitations such as the inability to power off, the inability to select DAC filters, the inevitable ground loop issue that users with XLR connections have to deal with, the inability to user-adjust the gain of the headphone output, and the simultaneous output of RCA and XLR.
