Best Streamer/DACs Under $1000: Bluesound Node Icon Review

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.

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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

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