The Icon is currently being tested by STEREO. A report has been announced for issue 03/2025.
That's interesting.
If you look at the WiiM Pro Plus, they measured a SNR of 94 dB and 0.012% THD at -9 dBFS.
The newer Node N132 has a SNR of just 84 dB, but the distortion is 0.007% THD at -9 dBFS.
The Node Nano measured poorly.
If you look at advertised performance:
N132 is -118 dB SNR and 0.0007%
Icon is -129 dB SNR and 0.0004%
So if the Icon is really 10 dB better in SNR, it should beat the WiiM Pro Plus, which is similar to the WiiM Ultra in measurements.
Stereo.de said that the new Node : "Classical music and orchestra in particular demonstrated the superior spatial imaging of the new Node. The sound was noticeably better removed from the loudspeakers, individual sound sources were at the same time better focused and their dimensions were more clearly perceptible."
The old PowerNode had lousy channel separation
Sidebar 3: Measurements
www.stereophile.com
If we look at the WiiM Amp, it is better but still weak
Sidebar 3: Measurements I performed a complete set of measurements on the WiiM Amp with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. Before I did so, I installed the WiiM Home app on my iPad mini and connected the amplifier to my network with a CAT-5 Ethernet cable. The app (version 2.9.5.24041612)...
www.stereophile.com
By contrast, dual mono preamp
Sidebar 3: Measurements
www.stereophile.com
And premium streaming amp
Sidebar 3: Measurements
www.stereophile.com
Do a lot better.
So *if* the Node Icon has better cross talk than WiiM products, it might translate into the difference presented. (The WiiM’s 67 dB crosstalk is around the threshold of audibility.)