Bluesound Node Icon Streamer Review

[iNetRunner]

However, just one thing. I've ordered some XLR cables from Aliexpress because I can now make my system fully balanced by using the dual dacs in the Node Icon and feeding the B100 monos using XLRs. Would that give me a gain boost to the speakers? If so that might also resolve the problem.

Typically XLR outputs should have higher output voltages. (4V vs. 2V on RCA.) And you can see that from original/first post by Amir: XLR output was 3.68Vrms at maximum volume and RCA output was 1.349Vrms.

 

[antcollinet]

Thanks for this. That would leave a sour taste in my mouth given that the Node Icon costs three times as much as the WiiM Ultra and you then ha e to pay to solve these issues.

However, just one thing. I've ordered some XLR cables from Aliexpress because I can now make my system fully balanced by using the dual dacs in the Node Icon and feeding the B100 monos using XLRs. Would that give me a gain boost to the speakers? If so that might also resolve the problem.

check the gains on the B100 - often XLR inputs have lower gain the RCA to compensate for the higher voltage.

 

[antcollinet]

Thanks for this. That would leave a sour taste in my mouth

And I'm not defending it - but you asked for a solution - I suggested the only one i can think of. If you can do your own soldering, creating an attenuator is pretty cheap and easy.

 

[vddobrev]

Does anyone here have the Node Icon with a subwoofer?

I've just switched from the WiiM Ultra to the Node Icon (purchased second hand) and I'm having issues with the subwoofer. I have a Kef KC62 subwoofer and a pair of Topping B100 mono amps driving Robson Acoustics Burlington MKII floor stander speakers.

The issue I'm having is that the default gain that the Node Icon sends to the subwoofer is too high. So I need to reduce the gain on the subwoofer using the manual gain knob. However, I can't lower it enough so the sub is too loud.

The WiiM didn't have this issue (I had the gain on the subwoofer a lot higher) but even if it was an issue there is a setting in the WiiM app to adjust the gain level of the subwoofer output.

So what can I do? Please tell me there's an option here because otherwise the Node Icon can't stay.

For those of you who know the Topping B100s they have three gain settings but I already have them on the highest setting so I can't improve the gain of the speakers any more. I've also switched the setting on the KC62 to "corner" which reduces the gain a bit.

The Node Icon that I purchased does have a Dirac Live Full licence attached to it but I've not go that transferred over yet. Does that enable any additional in app settings when I activate that? My guess is that is will correct the sub but it's going to be artificially correcting the entire frequency range below the crossover cut off (let's say 85hz).

I use my Node Icon with a wireless subwoofer, the Bluesound Pulse Sub+. The default level is too low for me, and I increase it by 6dB. My connection to the amp is via XLR out. I know you have too high volume, but just wanted to mention this as a data point. If I use RCA out, then the sub level is spot on at 0dB.

 

[sapphari]

I use XLR out of Icon to a Purifi amp with LS50 Metas (these are not sensitive speakers and take a bit of power to drive). I use a SB-2000 sub and set the gain on the sub to around -10 to -13dB.

It's possible that the Dirac Live settings from the previous user are still active, which you do not want. You should be able to check this in the Bluesound app.

 

[Hugo!]

This thread discusses the Bluesound Node Icon versus the WiiM Ultra a lot, but not really from a usability perspective. As someone who has used Bluesound products for nearly a decade and now owns a WiiM Ultra, I’d like to share my thoughts for people who are considering either device as the main “hub” for powered speakers or a power amp. In daily use, it’s often the small things that make you fall in love with a product.

Remote Control
The Node does not come with a remote control by default. You can configure most IR remotes to work with it, but I’ve always found this solution unreliable and not particularly elegant.
The WiiM Ultra, on the other hand, includes an Apple TV–style remote that is genuinely enjoyable to use. It works over Bluetooth rather than IR, which makes it much more responsive and reliable.

Volume Control
Because of the remote limitations mentioned above, volume control on Bluesound devices can sometimes feel inconsistent. Volume adjustments may be too fast, too slow, or change in steps that feel unpredictable. The volume slider in the app can also be frustrating.
On the WiiM Ultra, volume control is far more refined. The remote adjusts volume reliably and in consistent increments. In the app, the slider changes volume in precise 1/100 steps regardless of where you tap, which avoids sudden jumps to dangerously high levels.

Source Selection
The Bluesound app is not particularly intuitive when it comes to source selection.
On the WiiM Ultra, source selection feels much more straightforward, whether you use the app, the remote, or the touchscreen.

Display
The Node has a larger display, but the actual text size is not much bigger than the text-only mode on the WiiM Ultra.
So unless you specifically care about larger album artwork, the smaller display on the WiiM Ultra is not really a disadvantage.

Personal Music Library
This is where the Bluesound really shines. It can index your music library and present it in a way that makes browsing, searching, and selecting music a genuinely pleasant experience.
The WiiM Ultra does not offer this kind of library management out of the box. However, it does support Squeezelite integration. This does require a NAS or another server device to handle the indexing, so setup is more involved.

Once configured, though, the result is superior to the Node’s implementation. You essentially create your own private Spotify-like ecosystem that works independently from the WiiM app itself. Just like Spotify Connect or TIDAL Connect, playback control happens through a web-app.

Room Correction
I haven’t used Dirac myself, but I do come from using ARC (Anthem Room Correction), so I have some experience with room correction systems. I found WiiM’s RoomFit to produce excellent results when paired with a UMIK-1 measurement microphone.

In terms of sound quality, both devices sound excellent to me. I honestly doubt I could reliably hear a difference in a blind A/B test.

As an extra bonus, the WiiM’s built-in phono preamp is surprisingly good, certainly better than the phono stages built into most turntables.

Cost in Europe
Bluesound Node Icon: approximately €1250 (device, Dirac license, and measurement microphone)
WiiM Ultra: approximately €450 (device plus UMIK-1 microphone)

I couldn't justify the Node at almost three times the price. The WiiM Ultra is a great piece of kit.

 

[MaadScience]

Remote Control
The Node does not come with a remote control by default. You can configure most IR remotes to work with it, but I’ve always found this solution unreliable and not particularly elegant.
The WiiM Ultra, on the other hand, includes an Apple TV–style remote that is genuinely enjoyable to use. It works over Bluetooth rather than IR, which makes it much more responsive and reliable.

It's a matter of preference, but I really disagree about IR vs bluetooth remote. If I'm using it for a multimedia system, I don't want separate remotes for changing channels/apps and adjusting volume. And i don't want my wife to have to think about it. I use a learning remote with my tv, a Wiim Pro Plus, and a topping dac that is mainly in the chain so that I can adjust volume with the same remote that controls everything else. I find it really frustrating that so many streamers have opted for proprietary bluetooth remotes.

 

[Hugo!]

It's a matter of preference, but I really disagree about IR vs bluetooth remote. If I'm using it for a multimedia system, I don't want separate remotes for changing channels/apps and adjusting volume. And i don't want my wife to have to think about it. I use a learning remote with my tv, a Wiim Pro Plus, and a topping dac that is mainly in the chain so that I can adjust volume with the same remote that controls everything else. I find it really frustrating that so many streamers have opted for proprietary bluetooth remotes.

I understand. That’s why I specifically wrote my comparison from the perspective of using both as a preamp for powered speakers or a power amp (see first paragraph). I also use one remote for power, music/input controls and volume. Using it as a streamer only is a different use case.

 

[snickers]

Bluesound is offering a remote (Bluesound RC1), but it has to be bought additionally for 79 Euros, which I consider a bit high.
And ofc Airplay, which is missing on the Wiim Ultra. I was on the fence of buying the Ultra, but then still choose the Node N132,
as I valuate Airplay over the display. But at the end it depends on the specific use case and which inputs/sources which user needs.

Think booth are great devices and it's nice that we at least are able to choose from different offerings what suits us the best.

 

[C0mbat]

This thread discusses the Bluesound Node Icon versus the WiiM Ultra a lot, but not really from a usability perspective. As someone who has used Bluesound products for nearly a decade and now owns a WiiM Ultra, I’d like to share my thoughts for people who are considering either device as the main “hub” for powered speakers or a power amp. In daily use, it’s often the small things that make you fall in love with a product.

Remote Control
The Node does not come with a remote control by default. You can configure most IR remotes to work with it, but I’ve always found this solution unreliable and not particularly elegant.
The WiiM Ultra, on the other hand, includes an Apple TV–style remote that is genuinely enjoyable to use. It works over Bluetooth rather than IR, which makes it much more responsive and reliable.

Volume Control
Because of the remote limitations mentioned above, volume control on Bluesound devices can sometimes feel inconsistent. Volume adjustments may be too fast, too slow, or change in steps that feel unpredictable. The volume slider in the app can also be frustrating.
On the WiiM Ultra, volume control is far more refined. The remote adjusts volume reliably and in consistent increments. In the app, the slider changes volume in precise 1/100 steps regardless of where you tap, which avoids sudden jumps to dangerously high levels.

Source Selection
The Bluesound app is not particularly intuitive when it comes to source selection.
On the WiiM Ultra, source selection feels much more straightforward, whether you use the app, the remote, or the touchscreen.

Display
The Node has a larger display, but the actual text size is not much bigger than the text-only mode on the WiiM Ultra.
So unless you specifically care about larger album artwork, the smaller display on the WiiM Ultra is not really a disadvantage.

Personal Music Library
This is where the Bluesound really shines. It can index your music library and present it in a way that makes browsing, searching, and selecting music a genuinely pleasant experience.
The WiiM Ultra does not offer this kind of library management out of the box. However, it does support Squeezelite integration. This does require a NAS or another server device to handle the indexing, so setup is more involved.

Once configured, though, the result is superior to the Node’s implementation. You essentially create your own private Spotify-like ecosystem that works independently from the WiiM app itself. Just like Spotify Connect or TIDAL Connect, playback control happens through a web-app.

Room Correction
I haven’t used Dirac myself, but I do come from using ARC (Anthem Room Correction), so I have some experience with room correction systems. I found WiiM’s RoomFit to produce excellent results when paired with a UMIK-1 measurement microphone.

In terms of sound quality, both devices sound excellent to me. I honestly doubt I could reliably hear a difference in a blind A/B test.

As an extra bonus, the WiiM’s built-in phono preamp is surprisingly good, certainly better than the phono stages built into most turntables.

Cost in Europe
Bluesound Node Icon: approximately €1250 (device, Dirac license, and measurement microphone)
WiiM Ultra: approximately €450 (device plus UMIK-1 microphone)

I couldn't justify the Node at almost three times the price. The WiiM Ultra is a great piece of kit.

What a great review and it's shame that it's basically going to be hidden in this thread and never found by people who really need to see it. I'll offer my views having owned a WiiM Ultra for 18 months and now recently switched to the Bluesound Node Icon.

Remote Control

I find it ridiculous that you don't get a remote with the Bluesound Node Icon. For £900! However, I got a cheap IR remote from Aliexpress for a about £2 and I find it better than the WiiM Ultra one. The WiiM's remote had to be woken up before using it. So you press a button and then wait about 5 seconds before being able to use it. At least, that's the way mine worked.

Display

I agree with the above. The display is bigger but it's not really much an an advantage

App

The WiiM's app is much better in my opinion. However, it doesn't really matter much as I control my music directly from Spotify.

Room Correction

I got my Node Icon second hand with the Full Dirac Licence included for £700 so it was a pretty good deal. I have a miniDSP Umik-1 mic and used it with REW to get the eq settings for the WiiM previously. I never actually tried WiiM's automated room correction because you've got to plug the mic in to the WiiM and the mic lead wasn't long enough. Dirac Live is really easy to use so I did appreciate that user experience over REW and then having to manually plug in the settings in to the WiiM app. But I'm not comparing apples with apples there given that I never tried the WiiM auto room correction.

Subwoofer output and settings

This is a big drawback for the Node Icon. There's no ability to adjust the db level for the subwoofer output like you can in the WiiM app. What I've found is that the gain on the subwoofer is way too high compared to my Topping B100 mono amps. This wasn't the case with the WiiM Ultra but even if it was I could have adjusted the gain in the app. I'm not sure why the gain is much higher on the sub out on the Node Icon but it causes an issue with my Kef KC62. The Kef is a bit weird in that if you turn it down to about 20% the signal doesn't get through to it. So I need to have it up higher and then you end up not being able to level match it with the speakers. Luckily Dirac Live has fixed this through eq settings but that's a poor way of doing it.

Sound

This is tricky to judge because of the above issues and the fact that I've eq'd using different software. However, the end result is that the Node Icon does seem to have an extra bit of high frequency sparkle that I prefer. Yet the bass is still there, which is really important for me as I listen mainly the electronic music.

Fully Balanced

To what extent this makes any difference is beyond me. However, it does make me feel better (nice placebo boost maybe?) that I'm able to use the fully balanced dual dacs and outputs in the Node Icon in to my Topping B100 mono amps.

Conclusion

For anyone considering both I wouldn't hesitate to say just choose the WiiM Ultra. I don't really see where the extra money is going. Save your money and then make sure you put some of those savings towards the miniDSP Umik-1 mic and use the room correction on the WiiM. This makes a bigger difference than any hardware change in my opinion. And on both on the WiiM and the Bluesound it's been a big positive difference.

 

[somebodyelse]

The WiiM's remote had to be woken up before using it. So you press a button and then wait about 5 seconds before being able to use it. At least, that's the way mine worked.

That's not how mine works - you just press the button and it works. The only appreciable delay, which I do find a bit frustrating, is in cycling through inputs - certain inputs take time to sync. In those cases it seems to wait for the sync to complete before switching to the next, rather than switch immediately on the next button press, or count repeated button presses then skip directly to the required input.

 

[doodlebro]

Was this (ever) tested with digital passthrough enabled in the app player audio settings? Maybe I missed it. Not sure when BluOS enabled this feature, could have been their compromise after receiving feedback.

To be fair, the 'feature' is useless outside of testing, requiring volume control and replaygain to be off. I get why that is needed for bit-perfect, but they really should allow choice on MQA/QRONOS decoding without implicating other settings, like everyone is asking.

FWIW, Lenbrook/Bluesound did fix the very easy backdoor/RCE prior to v4 release in 2023, but these devices will gladly hand over WiFi/network share credentials to anyone with LAN access. As far as I can tell, "BluOS" is just a bunch of perl scripts running as root, always has been. In general, they seem a little behind technology-wise for how long they've been around. Embedded is hard, but the software side clearly doesn't meet the standard that Lenbrook is aiming for.

BluOS has some definite quirks, wish their internal metadata model captured things like multiple genres and artists. Still, better than Sonos whose 'database' caps at 65K songs!