Bluesound expands its “Node” family. Three new streamers are born: Node Nano, Node and Node Icon – big screen finally included!

Dear reader, I am about to announce a piece of news that I have been waiting for eagerly. Bluesound is launching a new set of digital players, a high-end one included! Yes, you’ve heard right, this is not a joke, April 1^st has passed for a few months now. Most probably, in the same manner as me, you have been waiting for a high-end player from Bluesound for years, right? Too many years, if you ask me. I mean, they have one of the best apps out there, why not build a high-end player around it? So – the most important question arises: is this new Node Icon this high-end BluOS player that we all have been waiting for? Let’s dive in and analyze!

So, what’s this news about? Well, yesterday, on the 20^th of August 2024, Toronto based Bluesound brand announced the launch of three new wireless music digital players: Node Nano, Node and Node Icon. From the actual press release we are finding out that the Node Nano is a new entry level streamer, offering only the essentials to be a simple and basic streamer in a Hi-Fi system. Please note that the Nano follows the design of the Powernode Edge. Here is the little thing:

On the other hand, the Node is a remastered version of the classical Node, a very successful music streamer that has been around for many years. The new simply called “Node” looks the same as the previous Node. Same name, same looks – it gets me all melancholic remembering the launch of a new Xbox (third generation) called “intuitively” Xbox One. In the same manner, Bluesound should have called this new iteration of its streamer Node One, funny isn’t it? However, the new Node is called simply Node, still confusing, but it is what it is. If the external looks of the new Node are the same as the previous ones, there is novelty on the inside, the device having a new ESS Sabre DAC. Here is the unit:

Next and most important on the list is this new Node Icon, the flagship of the series, featuring a stunning 5 inch full-color display and dual-mono DAC, also based on ESS Sabre chip. Here is the unit:

Here is his sexy backside:

Now, let’s try and answer the question at hand: is this new Node Icon the stellar BluOS streamer we have been waiting for? Well, for certain it has some expected features: BluOS, a big screen, a nice body, a decent DAC and XLR balanced outputs. However, I see the lack of I2S or AES/EBU interface for digital out and from the looks of it, the power source will again be a subject of third-party upgrades. We will get our hands on a unit and for sure we will be able to have a more educated opinion regarding the new Node Icon and maybe then we will be able to answer the question at hand.

Also, please note that the Node and Node Icon will both support high-resolution DSD playback, both have THX AAA headphone technology, being equipped with a ¼ inches headphone jack. Also, as a big thing, both will have the option of Dirac Live Room Correction software, available as a separate license purchase. This implies also that a microphone calibration kit needs to be purchased separately from Bluesound.

Node Nano is available immediately and will cost around $300, the middle Node will cost around $550, and it will be available from September 24, 2024. The Node Icon will cost $999 and will start shipping November 15^th, 2024.