Bluesound releases 2024 ICON streamer

[darth]

The A8 review seems to be done by a different author so test parameters might vary. Would be hard to compare test results from different people even on the same site.

 

[darth]

Bluesound strikes back - almost no alternative with Dirac Live

I think for people that are connecting to TV via HDMI, Apple TV (or Google TV) + minidsp flex htx/htx can get you the same with more audio channels and dirac live. Can't beat native apps for audio and video streaming on these platforms compared to blueos and wiim. And you get multi channel audio as a bonus if you use Apple music. I believe minidsp is objectively a tad bit better measuring too.

 

[Galliardist]

Is there a second page to this review? The last section I see is about Qrono. I see no measurements, no conclusion... it just ends??

I could see numbers, but only if I didn't use translation and with my adblocker turned off for the page.

The key takeaways for me:
1) noise and distortion figures are plenty good enough
2) they have avoided going near any measurements or tests around QRONO, just rather selectively quoting the White Paper. That may be because of conditions imposed when they received the Icon, of course.

They have effectively attached a puff piece about QRONO to the review rather than examining it at all. Those of us here who have learned to be sceptical are hardly going to accept that.

 

[GXAlan]

Bluesound Node Icon (Quick User Measurements)

Bluesound Node Icon (Quick User Measurements) I know @amirm has a Node Icon in the queue, and I'll let him run the full suite of tests including the THX AAA headphone amp tests, but here are some quick measurements for everyone. The Node Icon is the flagship of the current Bluesound line-up...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Created a new thread. 113.9 dB SINAD on my testing, but what's cool is that it's got lower noise than the Fosi ZD3 -- it just has higher distortion. Some of that distortion may be QRONO d2a.

 

[psykano]

I think for people that are connecting to TV via HDMI, Apple TV (or Google TV) + minidsp flex htx/htx can get you the same with more audio channels and dirac live.

Different applications for sure though cause bluesound is also a streamer but like you said the flex HTx does multichannel. Though, imo they really really should have included Dolby decoding. Like, if you've already got a multichannel setup it's much more worth your time getting an AVR as opposed to the flex. Heck, then you can also get Dirac bass control and ART in the future.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Subscribing
Just bought one yesterday
Due this week

 

[delamelon]

I confirm the proper functioning of the Icon with the @boXem Purifi!
I just switched from the Eversolo Master Edition and I don't hear any difference.
I tackle Dirac when I have a little time...

Needless to say, I'm waiting for Amir's test with extreme impatience

 

[Centuriaromano]

I confirm the proper functioning of the Icon with the @boXem Purifi!
I just switched from the Eversolo Master Edition and I don't hear any difference.
I tackle Dirac when I have a little time...

Needless to say, I'm waiting for Amir's test with extreme impatience

It seems ridiculous to me that you ask for a review if you already have the Icon and you are testing it with your audio equipment in your living room.

 

[GXAlan]

It seems ridiculous to me that you ask for a review if you already have the Icon and you are testing it with your audio equipment in your living room.

A positive review does help with resale value and can sometimes give insights into best practices within your own personal setup through methods better than trial and error.

I still measure all my gear that comes in.

 

[Centuriaromano]

A positive review does help with resale value and can sometimes give insights into best practices within your own personal setup through methods better than trial and error.

I still measure all my gear that comes in.

I insist that if you have the streamer and you are already using it in your own home without doing any more tests than listening to your favorite music, I think that this is not practicing trial and error of anything. I don't care what tests are done on the device.

 

[delamelon]

Amir's tests have greatly improved my system.
And as @GXAlan said, I try to get the most out of it so all the stuff is good to take!

 

[Centuriaromano]

Oh yeah, but this time no

 

[darth]

It can also be to feel mentally re-affirmed that you shelled out $999 for something thats actually worth it. To avoid buyer's remorse and justify the purchase.

 

[mikematrix]

Or know that it is better not to use the tone.

 

[GXAlan]

It can also be to feel mentally re-affirmed that you shelled out $999 for something thats actually worth it. To avoid buyer's remorse and justify the purchase.

I think it’s a bit different for the Node Icon which is new enough that most everyone is still in their return window.

Just as you had the Node Icon and returned it due to the ground loop that couldn’t be solved and you are happy with the WiiM Ultra, there are those of us who had the WiiM Ultra first and upgraded to the Node Icon to deal with the WiiM’s shortcomings. In my particular environment, I had more noise on the right channel of my WiiM Ultra, compared to a Fosi ZD3 or Node Icon.

It would be interesting to hear Amir’s own experience in part because his expertise with testing equipment might lead him to figure out what is truly causing the “common” ground loops. We have definitely seen multiple (edit: two) Buckeye Amp owners with problems, but there are clearly those with HypeX and Purifi amps from other companies without problems.

Remember, ASR should be a kinder online forum rather than toxic tribalism that you can find elsewhere. Competition breeds cheaper and better products for us all.

 

[robsonj]

I think it’s a bit different for the Node Icon which is new enough that most everyone is still in their return window.

Just as you had the Node Icon and returned it due to the ground loop that couldn’t be solved and you are happy with the WiiM Ultra, there are those of us who had the WiiM Ultra first and upgraded to the Node Icon to deal with the WiiM’s shortcomings. In my particular environment, I had more noise on the right channel of my WiiM Ultra, compared to a Fosi ZD3 or Node Icon.

It would be interesting to hear Amir’s own experience in part because his expertise with testing equipment might lead him to figure out what is truly causing the “common” ground loops. We have definitely seen multiple Buckeye Amp owners with problems, but there are clearly those with HypeX and Purifi amps from other companies without problems.

Remember, ASR should be a kinder online forum rather than toxic tribalism that you can find elsewhere. Competition breeds cheaper and better products for us all.

Have we seen multiple Buckeye Amp owners with issues? I have a Buckeye Purifi amp and Icon without issue at all, its playing wonderfully right here now, also have a Buckeye HypeX with a N132, also no issues.

I'm just aware that Buckeye is a small business, where these sort of comments can hurt him quite badly based on something that may not be totally accurate or mean different things to different people, multiple to me infers several, maybe a dozen, maybe you meant 2.

 

[GXAlan]

Have we seen multiple Buckeye Amp owners with issues?

We have @darth and we have the person who posted the YouTube video who is NOT darth according to darth.

So there are two. I did tag Buckeye when it seemed like there were two units, but he didn’t reply and as more Node Icon’s are released, many people are very happy with it.
https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...eleases-2024-icon-streamer.58100/post-2189533

I have a Buckeye Purifi amp and Icon without issue at all, its playing wonderfully right here now, also have a Buckeye HypeX with a N132, also no issues.

+1

It’s a vocal minority I suppose. Definitely a lot of concerns from the Bluesound support forums about ground loops.

Hearing that your Buckeye Purifi amp works tells everyone that it’s not a core problem — but an individual problem.

 

[darth]

Yea not me, I am running genelecs

 

[GXAlan]

Yea not me, I am running genelecs

Oh no. Then I misunderstood. Need to fix my posts!

Edit: oh, it’s @sapphari as the person with the Buckeye (and then the YT person).

Post in thread 'Bluesound releases 2024 ICON streamer'
https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...eleases-2024-icon-streamer.58100/post-2223890

 

[sapphari]

Yea I was having humming issues with the Icon and Buckeye Purifi (and I'm not the person from the YT video). The issue was fixed by connecting the ground of an Icon RCA to the chassis of the amp (pretty lame fix). Before this fix, my amp occasionally wouldn't even turn on if it was connected to Icon via XLR (but turned on every time if not connected).

I agree that the issue is intermittent and context dependent, as it was not an issue with the Crown amp I was running before the Buckeye. However, considering that the Icon is relatively new and not yet even readily available (eg some people are still just receiving units they ordered weeks ago), yet there are numerous threads with numerous replies on the Bluesound support boards, I think it's safe to say that there are "multiple" people having this issue.