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Bluesound releases 2024 ICON streamer
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pogo
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Now that Dirac Live has been rolled out, I would be interested to know whether post-processing is carried out at 192kHz as with my M33. You would simply have to activate Dirac Live and perform a frequency response measurement up to 100kHz.
Trying to measure my Icon and found that it depends on AC, no matter XLR or RCA out.
Red - with AC Filter (Powerquest 2), green - direct.
Checked the same with Wiim Pro Plus, and there are no differences for both filter/no filter.
Seems not to be audible but...
Red - with AC Filter (Powerquest 2), green - direct.
Checked the same with Wiim Pro Plus, and there are no differences for both filter/no filter.
Seems not to be audible but...
Can you run some more tests with Multitone tool ? That SINAD looks great and the red seems to eliminate mains noise??
Yes, red one is via Audioquest filter that reduces 50 Hz AC noise and it's harmonics.
I use Scarlett 2i2 3gen, so it's just for fun as both Icon and Wiim have better SINAD.
Anyway here are MTs. Blue - RCA Wiim Pro Plus, Red - RCA Icon. Mostly the same. I guess because of the ADC limitations.
Icon RCA (red) vs Icon XLR (green).
HF is better with XLR.
That’s neat. I have a version of tha unit and had sent it into Amir.
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At least looking at that, it seems like you would get great results using Multitone tool where you can add the AES17 notch and do something like 128 repeats to average out the noise. You can present the data as dBr and do things like look at THD without THD+N. By your measurements, the Node Icon is *really good*
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Question: I have a node (n130) I use with a topping d50iii dac which connects to naim xs3 via RCA outs (no XLR on naim). Any thoughts if the icon would be a significant upgrade cutting out the d50iii (and relegating it to another room). Both have dual ES9039Q2M so hard for me to judge. I mainly use with tidal/tidalconnect if it helps.
As a newcomer to ASR, it's disencouraging to see claims like these with no real backing by evidence. In my opinion ASR should rely 1) on technical analysis 2) on ABX testing to verify claims. Subjectivity is okay, but should be clearly stated. As I have read this thread, a newbie like me will get the impression that this streamer and Qrono is something special. That is yet to be verified.
For me, the Qrono sounds a lot like MQA without the moniker.
More analysis here: https://archimago.blogspot.com/2025/01/lenbrooks-mqa-next-generation-qrono.html
In other words, QRONO d2a probably is just a reformulated filtering scheme like the original MQA with its collection of low quality filters that replace the "unnecessarily aggressive" (their belief, but likely technically superior) filters in your DAC. Unless there is some evidence that this makes a beneficial and audible, difference, aren't we all quite familiar with digital filters these days? Is this in any way exciting any more in 2025?
pogo
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There are already reports of this in some YT videos. However, I will deliberately not link to them here.
Fact is, that a different filter is used.
I appreciate the responses and looked into QRONO after (found that archimago post but little else that isn't youtube). I have focal 816s which are fabulous to my ears great but a bit 'high' or 'sharp' to my scotch-reviewing ears. The d50iii improved overall and on that sharpness before filters in A/B testing by toggling inputs and USB/RCA on the node. Was thinking eventually of a (used or demo) ND5 XS2 but that is an expensive streamer/DAC so looking into icon.
Just FYI, Bluesound officially has stated that the Icon cannot be upgraded to be the HT front in a Bluesound Theater due to hardware issues. (The C700 v2 might be a better choice with preouts… although it doesn’t seem like any NAD product has QRONO).
support1.bluesound.com
dolby digital 4.1
Hi Team, Happy New Year. LG evo C4 tv earc (already have) + Node Icon + NAD C350 external amp (already have)+ front left and right, dali oberon 5 (already have) + active sub + powernode edge (rear ...
pogo
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Part of Home Theatre Grouping is hardware or chip set based. <-- What is the difference here?
And of course the Icon could also play back a front stream, even if it cannot decode it itself. Technically, this should not be a problem under BluOS.
Let's just give it time, similar to the upgrade for older nodes with Dirac Live.
And of course the Icon could also play back a front stream, even if it cannot decode it itself. Technically, this should not be a problem under BluOS.
Let's just give it time, similar to the upgrade for older nodes with Dirac Live.
Look at the thread. A lot of times, Bluesound says “your request has been forwarded to the dev team” and this one seems like a pretty hard NO.
It’s possible they will pull off a magic trick, but I think for the decision making purchase, assume it won’t work.
Look at C700 and C700 v2. The v2 works in home theater, but the original will not. Heck, even the M10 vs M10 v2 is the same scenario.
That German report may have been done with early access to the hardware given the print magazine nature and lead times.
NAD Announces The New Masters M10 V2 BluOS Streaming Amplifier - NAD Electronics
The M10 V2 features 100 watts per channel of amplification and BluOS streaming capabilities, and adds the capability to expand with Dolby Digital Surround decoding, an enclosed IR remote control, and updated gain algorithms.
nadelectronics.com
The press release in North America states that the feature is there in the M10 v2, much like Dirac for Node Icon.
While Dirac for Node X is a bonus, NAD is pretty clear that in present day, there is no indication that Node Icon v1 will work as a HT front with wireless Bluesound rears. Again, they didn’t say “we have forwarded your request” — they said not possible.
Thanks for the help with Dirac. I made some tweaks, got to a point where I was happy, I also had reached out to Dirac who were very quick to respond and even offered a couple of target curves based on my Dirac project. I was pretty impressed with their support. In the end I used the target curve that they provided with some minor tweaks in the mid's of my own.
I'm now a Dirac believer. After listening for a while, I tried turning it off, ooof, what was I listening to before Dirac!
Overall, really pleased with the Icon between it an the Buckeye, makes for a wonderful sounding minimal setup. I stream to it from Roon 90% of the time, but nice to be able to connect it to the Mac via USB-C, which was a bit of a miss for me with the Wiim Ultra.
I'm now a Dirac believer. After listening for a while, I tried turning it off, ooof, what was I listening to before Dirac!
Overall, really pleased with the Icon between it an the Buckeye, makes for a wonderful sounding minimal setup. I stream to it from Roon 90% of the time, but nice to be able to connect it to the Mac via USB-C, which was a bit of a miss for me with the Wiim Ultra.
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