Bluesound releases 2024 ICON streamer

[AdrianusG]

MQA is not QRONO technology…No…

QRONO TECHNOLOGY IS AT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LEVEL…….HIGHER. I believe this has a patent

Just Google and read Absolute Sound, and What Hi-Fi writings.

I find Absolute Sound write up fascinating, from December 5th-2024.

Quote from Absolute Sound…
“The QRONO technologies can enable time performance that exceeds the best analogue systems. The audible improvement is immediate”

Design team are incredibly intelligent.
Competition may be little nervous. 100%

Quote from Absolute Sound…
“The QRONO technologies can enable time performance that exceeds the best analogue systems. The audible improvement is immediate”

Q, did they provide verifiable (by third parties) measurements with that statement?, otherwise we would just have to take their word for it.

 

[rdytro]

Can we just leave it at:

Any benefits are unclear and haven't been proved.

Everyone advocating it seems to have affiliation with LenBrook or their products, or only posts about them.

--------

Back to whether the Icon may be good or not - certainly the spec is good.

 

[AdrianusG]

"That improve the overall impulse response and transparency of digital-to-analogue conversion to get the absolute best from each DAC chip"

Performance of current state of the art DAC chips (if properly implemented) is already fully transparent to 99,99% of all human ears,
So again a solution to a non existing problem.

 

[Siltech]

Ha ha, that is not too hard. Unless you don't think wow and flutter have to do with time.

Ha Ha, how fluttery

 

[AdrianusG]

Back to whether the Icon may be good or not - certainly the spec is good.

You are right, the Icon could be a good streamer

 

[Siltech]

You are right, the Icon could be a good streamer

BLUESOUND Node Icon, won CES Innovation Award 2025. Excellent

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Node icon + Eigentakt Purifi amplifier. Nice combo and you can even set volume limits to prevent speaker damage.

 

[pogo]

...or wait for the POWERNODE ICON

 

[vinyl_slayer]

Today is December 6, and I picked up my Bluesound Icon today. It was ready to be picked up yesterday, but went today. I live in Toronto, Canada.

I also have the Eversolo DMP-A8
I purchased the DMP-A8 four months ago. I’ll compare both units, beside each other. I’ll only compare as streamer, using analog out. In other words, I’ll be using internal dac and streaming with Tidal. This is the way I’m currently using my Eversolo DMP-A8…..See What Happens

4 PICTURES POSTED BELOW -
Top 2 are Bluesound Icon, new in unopened box
Bottom 2 ARE MY EVERSOLO DMP-A8

Really looking forward your opinion, I'm hesitating between the two units

 

[Galliardist]

Today is December 6, and I picked up my Bluesound Icon today. It was ready to be picked up yesterday, but went today. I live in Toronto, Canada.

I also have the Eversolo DMP-A8
I purchased the DMP-A8 four months ago. I’ll compare both units, beside each other. I’ll only compare as streamer, using analog out. In other words, I’ll be using internal dac and streaming with Tidal. This is the way I’m currently using my Eversolo DMP-A8…..See What Happens

4 PICTURES POSTED BELOW -
Top 2 are Bluesound Icon, new in unopened box
Bottom 2 ARE MY EVERSOLO DMP-A8

With apologies to you as a newcomer (but this is ASR), will you be able to do a "proper" blind test comparison?

 

[AdrianusG]

Really looking forward your opinion, I'm hesitating between the two units

As already written, by many knowledgeable people here (i'm definely not one of them btw.) sound quality wise there won't be much if any between them (properly conducted testing), so it will come down to looks, built quality, functions and so on, or which device (you trust or expect) to be still working properly after X years, service , updates.

I chose my latest DAC purchase after it's positive test here by Amir, (Eversolo Z8) that's the objective part, however additional the final decision was made subjectively, based on looks ; built quality enz.

That was a little over one year ago, still extremely happy with this product!, i could have had similar sound quality for a few 100$ less, but hey, we all have our subjective preferences.

 

[Siltech]

As already written, by many knowledgeable people here (i'm definely not one of them btw.) sound quality wise there won't be much if any between them (properly conducted testing), so it will come down to looks, built quality, functions and so on, or which device (you trust or expect) to be still working properly after X years, service , updates.

I chose my latest DAC purchase after it's positive test here by Amir, (Eversolo Z8) that's the objective part, however additional the final decision was made subjectively, based on looks ; built quality enz.

That was a little over one year ago, still extremely happy with this product!, i could have had similar sound quality for a few 100$ less, but hey, we all have our subjective preferences.

Interesting writing, you just posted. You say sound wise, there will be very little difference between the two?

There definitely is a difference in sound, yes. I won’t get into specifics, as I’ll be writing all day. Both A8 and Icon are excellent. Comes down to preference. A8 very pinpoint with slight warm. Icon to me is more analog sounding and dynamic. I have both units, and not criticizing anyone. I’m only conveying from my experience, as I’ve been an audiophile for many years.

BLUESOUND has been around many years, and ther app system is second to none and updates. My guess, they’ll be around a long time.

EVERSOLO is a very new product, and updates, etc are very uncertain, as well as longevity and very important, service.

MOST INPORTANT FACTOR.
BLUESOUND NODE ICON cost half the price of
EVERSOLO DMPA8… This is more than a few hundred dollars difference. Difference is well over a $1000 including taxes in USA

I’m in Canada, and price difference is $1400 plus taxes. EVERSOLO A8 $2799 Cnd
NODE ICON $1399 CND

I HAVE BOTH PRODUCTS IN MY HOME NOW. I mostly stream Tidal Connect and Qobuz via XLR output, thus using internal dac. Maybe if I used the preamp out of A8, would make this more cost effective. I don’t use the preamp out of A8, and probably most other don’t either. I’m sure the preamp section in DMP-A8 added a fair amount of cost to this product.

CONCLUSION: I’ll sell my Eversolo A8 and keep the BLUESOUND Icon. Both DMP-A8 and Icon sound incredible. Even if they cost the same, still both sound incredible. But, that’s not the case! At half the price, DMP-A8 will leave my house.

 

[pogo]

Icon to me is more analog sounding and dynamic

That would be exactly what you would expect from QRONO.

...there was something about digital audio that was less engaging, less lifelike than pure analogue audio...

I hope that my M33 will also receive the QRONO update.

 

[pjug]

That would be exactly what you would expect from QRONO.

If you are told that is what you will hear you are likely to hear it.

edit: sorry to be so cynical but I just am not a believer that Qrono adds anything. Otherwise I don't doubt that the streamer is very nice.

 

[rdytro]

Are you using their in-built analogue pre-amps or bypassing them? That's where differences would be detectable.

 

[Siltech]

That would be exactly what you would expect from QRONO.

...there was something about digital audio that was less engaging, less lifelike than pure analogue audio...

I hope that my M33 will also receive the QRONO update.

Your Nad M33 streaming dac is very high end. Congrats on such an excellent product.

 

[AdrianusG]

Interesting writing, you just posted. You say sound wise, there will be very little difference between the two?

There definitely is a difference in sound, yes. I won’t get into specifics, as I’ll be writing all day. Both A8 and Icon are excellent. Comes down to preference. A8 very pinpoint with slight warm. Icon to me is more analog sounding and dynamic. I have both units, and not criticizing anyone. I’m only conveying from my experience, as I’ve been an audiophile for many years.

BLUESOUND has been around many years, and ther app system is second to none and updates. My guess, they’ll be around a long time.

EVERSOLO is a very new product, and updates, etc are very uncertain, as well as longevity and very important, service.

MOST INPORTANT FACTOR.
BLUESOUND NODE ICON cost half the price of
EVERSOLO DMPA8… This is more than a few hundred dollars difference. Difference is well over a $1000 including taxes in USA

I’m in Canada, and price difference is $1400 plus taxes. EVERSOLO A8 $2799 Cnd
NODE ICON $1399 CND

I HAVE BOTH PRODUCTS IN MY HOME NOW. I mostly stream Tidal Connect and Qobuz via XLR output, thus using internal dac. Maybe if I used the preamp out of A8, would make this more cost effective. I don’t use the preamp out of A8, and probably most other don’t either. I’m sure the preamp section in DMP-A8 added a fair amount of cost to this product.

CONCLUSION: I’ll sell my Eversolo A8 and keep the BLUESOUND Icon. Both DMP-A8 and Icon sound incredible. Even if they cost the same, still both sound incredible. But, that’s not the case! At half the price, DMP-A8 will leave my house.

Seems you already found the answer to what's best for you and i understand, (based on price difference alone) the choice you made,
anyways, you probably couldn't have gone wrong with either of them, so enjoy your new purchase

 

[Siltech]

Seems you already found the answer to what's best for you and i understand, (based on price difference alone) the choice you made,
anyways, you probably couldn't have gone wrong with either of them, so enjoy your new purchase

I didn’t choose on price alone, or really at all.This is what I should have conveyed earlier. To my ears, BLUESOUND ICON sounds most enjoyable between these two products. DMP-A8 still very good. What matters, is what makes you happy.

 

[pogo]

Have you been able to test the headphone output? It's supposed to be excellent too.

 

[qirex]

All this QRONO business feels like them just trying to get some coverage in audiophile press with whatever's left in the MQA kitchen junk drawer. Analog audio marketing was so about each company's "special sauce" which gets kinda challenging when you get into the digital domain, I think they're using this stuff to try to differentiate from other companies to that market. Don't forget: magazines and sites for the 65 years+/$10k+ set breathlessly promoted MQA for years.

I'm honestly interested in the Icon, first as a streamer only then later as a Dirac preamp once I figure out my next steps with speakers. I hope it sounds and tests well and I can get a good used or refurb unit.