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:
Bluesound Node server/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
Benz Gullwing SLR cartridge
Hana Umami Blue cartridge
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
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
Solidsteel Turntable rack
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