Each year, dozens of European journalists gather to select the best electronic products of the year. Awarded by a diverse and impartial jury, the EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association) awards recognize exceptional products for their performance, design, or ergonomics.
A global reference, What Hifi? is one of the most comprehensive magazines covering Home Cinema and Hifi. The "5 stars" award distinguishes the highest quality products, according to this British magazine.
The NODE ICON is the flagship of Bluesound’s wireless network player range. Designed for the most discerning audiophiles, it pushes the boundaries of music streaming with its premium design and components. Its sleek aluminum chassis features a large 12.7 cm HD color display that shows album covers and extensive track information. Touch buttons on the top allow you to control the music without using the mobile app.
The NODE ICON stands out with its dual ESS SABRE ES9039Q2M DAC architecture. The use of two DACs promises enhanced openness and sound precision. They are paired with a low-noise power supply to deliver superior dynamics, ultra-low distortion, and the highest possible resolution. The DACs’ performance is further enhanced by MQA Labs’ revolutionary QRONO d2a technology, which corrects timing errors during digital-to-analog conversion and realigns the temporal response to the original recording. The result is unparalleled sound clarity.
The NODE ICON’s connectivity is exceptionally comprehensive:
The NODE ICON provides unlimited access to tracks thanks to its extensive compatibility:
The NODE ICON is compatible with the Dirac Live acoustic correction system, available as a paid software update. With a specific measurement microphone, Dirac Live analyzes the room’s acoustics to eliminate standing waves, reverberations, and unwanted distortions. Listening is thus optimized according to the environment.
In addition to its cutting-edge DACs, the NODE ICON features a next-generation ES9826 SABRE analog/digital converter. This allows analog sources to be converted to digital with virtually no added noise or distortion. The analog signal is thus faithfully transcribed into digital.
What types of high-resolution audio files are supported by the NODE ICON?
The Bluesound NODE ICON network player is compatible with major high-resolution audio formats, including PCM files up to 24-bit/192 kHz, DSD, and MQA. This allows you to enjoy optimal sound quality, far superior to usual compressed formats like MP3.
Can I use the NODE ICON to stream sound from my TV?
Yes, the NODE ICON has an HDMI eARC input that allows it to be easily connected to a modern TV. This way, you can enjoy much better sound quality than with the TV’s speakers, whether through headphones, your hi-fi system, or even on Bluesound wireless speakers placed in other rooms.
Can the NODE ICON function as a USB DAC to listen to music from a computer?
Absolutely. The NODE ICON is equipped with a USB-C input that allows it to be used as an external DAC with a computer. Music from the PC or Mac is then converted by the network player’s high-end converters for superior listening quality. It’s ideal for enjoying high-resolution files or streaming services from your computer.
Is it possible to connect headphones directly to the network player?
Yes, the NODE ICON includes a high-end headphone output utilizing THX AAA technology. This is characterized by extremely low noise and distortion, for the purest and most detailed headphone listening experience. Two 6.35 mm jack sockets are available to connect most hi-fi headphones on the market.
The Bluesound Node Icon is a comprehensive reference network player offering an excellent level of versatility. Its seamless connectivity allows for both digital playback and the connection of all your external physical sources. The latest version of the BluOS app is, in our opinion, quite successful and user-friendly. The color display is a nice touch, though we would have preferred it to be a touchscreen to further enhance ease of use.
Jacobus
Good product in very good condition. Unfortunately, the display unit was still connected to the store's Wi-Fi, and I had trouble and spent time reconfiguring it.
Comment from July 13, 2026 — Experience from July 02, 2026
Grégory
Excellent-quality network player. Very nice finish and audio quality in line with this price range. For the moment I’m using it as a simple digital transport, connected via coaxial to an external DAC; in this configuration you get an excellent network drive. As far as I’m concerned, the BluOS app’s ergonomics are perfect. My only criticism is that you can’t “write” to the hard drive/USB stick connected to the Node from your local network (it’s only available in “read” mode)... You’re forced to unplug the hard drive and connect it to your PC in order to add audio files...
Comment from January 27, 2026 — Experience from December 14, 2025
Daniel
Product purchased to complement an already old all‑in‑one Denon system, in particular to enable access to streaming. It fulfills its role perfectly. Sound quality is improved compared to the local CD player, and installation and use are made easy thanks to a very well‑designed app.
Comment from December 16, 2025 — Experience from April 10, 2025
