Bluesound Node 2i review: This excessive-constancy song streamer sits on the tip of its class

Audiophiles method the Bluesound Node 2i with suspicion. As a compact song server with built-in DAC that dares to support up the very ideal quality song-streaming products and companies, this thing appears to be like virtually, it is advisable soundless pardon the expression, too cheap at $549 to produce all those initiatives effectively. Extreme digital-to-analog convertors alone can payment that great—or a whole bunch more.

But pinch me, the Node 2i is the actual deal, and the handiest of the “reasonable” excessive-constancy web song streamers I’ve tested in new months. Laying out an ethereal, originate soundstage (by no method cluttered or compressed), reveling in precision and finesse, song flows from this small equipment in a most honest, personable vogue. And that effectively-rounded air of mystery persists, it doesn’t matter what your stylistic taste, from AC/DC to Jay Z, Ambient to Zouk, Albeniz to Zappa. This is a player that can climb every musical mountain and ford any circulation you ship its contrivance.

Jonathan Takiff / IDG

Without a doubt, a Node 2i is extremely responsive as soon as you feed it the in actuality perfect issues. Roar, by landing on a meticulously engineered, higher-bit-charge web radio self-discipline that obsesses over every hyperlink in the chain. Or by splurging a pair of bonus bucks per 30 days for the most sensible probably grade of 24-bit/96kHz (or infrequently even 192kHz) order material streaming from a Qobuz, Tidal, or Amazon Music myth. The ideal-resolution details pumping by this song machine in actuality might possibly pass for studio masters, and one offer (Tidal) has labeled them thusly. The unusual Sonos Radio HD is another candidate, even supposing it tops out at 16-bit FLAC.

How some distance we’ve method. Undergo in suggestions when sound purists argued that digital encodes were so chopped up and join-the-dots fatiguing that listening might possibly actually construct you faded in the knees? Now I’d argue these excessive- (and ultra-excessive) resolution streams can provide each you and your sound rig a peculiar rent on life.

Kissing cousins

The Node 2i is a in actuality conclude relation to the self-powered (60-watts per side) Bluesound PowerNode 2i that I reviewed in September with identical delight. But as a self-contained, perfect-add-speakers-and-support product, the Powernode 2i left me with some questions unresolved. Did I truly hear all that great enchancment over Sonos media gamers I’ve flee with the identical speakers? I couldn’t construct an instantaneous A/B comparison because I didn’t agree with a Sonos Amp available. I additionally puzzled what sonic traits Bluesound’s effectively-tuned chassis and chipset—alongside side a 1GHz Arm Cortex A9 processor and a 32-bit/192kHz DAC—might possibly bring if I might possibly pump up the amp energy and load-bearing speakers, and then put off this thing out on the excessive-tech streaming highway and in actuality let ‘er rip.

Jonathan Takiff / IDG

The Node 2i lets me attain perfect that, with nary a disappointment. This isn’t perfect another part that brings unusual order material (streaming) to your equipment. It’s a recreation changer, the handiest argument I’ve realized to this expose promote my loopy-broad vinyl and CD series, ‘cause virtually about all that order material on the walls is hiding in this small box’s connection to the web.

Originate Sesame!

To uncork the sonic genie, I plugged a Node 2i into my 150-watt-per-channel Yamaha Aventage RX-A3060 receiver mated with Bowers &Wilkins’ Nautilus 803 floor-standing speakers. I then began feeding it excessive-resolution topic matter—artists and retail outlets that I hoped would attain my ears perfect. Luxuriate in singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, going for the sonic gusto alongside with her unusual More Fancy space, snap-gay nation cousin Lee Brice (Hi there World) and Cat Stevens (agree with in suggestions him?) daring to reshape historical previous with a re-organized 50^th anniversary remake of Tea for the Tillerman. All recording experts with (perfect) ears, attuned to finessed production and engineering efforts.

No longer simply trusting first impressions, it gave the impact wise to attain some severe evaluating and contrasting. Thanks to my receiver’s multitude of inputs and pretty responsive some distance flung withhold a watch on, I used to be soon plugging in and switching between the Bluesound Node 2i and the two assorted web streamers I’ve lately reviewed right here. One being the excessive profile Sonos Port ($449), which left me with a lukewarm feeling, and then the Russound MBX-PRE ($399), a black-horse candidate that bested the Sonos in articulation, openness of presentation, and all-round emotional pleasance, even supposing no longer on operating comfort and sheer volume of offer alternate choices. (Truthfully, will any person ever surpass Sonos on those traits?)

Jonathan Takiff / IDG

I’m now passing the “sounds handiest” crown to the Bluesound Node 2i in this three-horse toddle. With reasonably inviting web radio topic matter that used to be straightforward to sync up—the 320Kbps MP3-streaming Linn Jazz channel tapped on TuneIn—the Bluesound Node 2i and Russound MBX-PRE were neck-and-neck for the lead, with Sonos trailing by a length-and-a-half. In case you haven’t heard of it, Linn Jazz is a trudge-off of a famend UK audio products maker and file mark, showcasing their agree with audiophile-grade, small ensemble acoustic recordings with artists love guitar master Martin Taylor and the elegant cabaret vocalists Barb Jungr and Joe Stilgoe. Frequently placing playback equipment to the take a look at, the Bluesound and Russound streamers each showed superior organizational and articulation powers. And they shined in particular gleaming with swiftly transient challenges—plucked guitar and bass traces, sustained piano chords, splashy/ringing cymbals, and rattling tom-toms.

Don’t gain me antagonistic. When consumed by itself, Sonos renderings of the identical topic matter are with out a doubt fine. I’m gay as a clam in mud listening to Sonos speakers in my mattress room, bathroom, and kitchen. But when doing severely focused (k, obsessive) listening comparisons on my handiest rig, I used to be struck anew by the deeper soundstage and sharper level of curiosity; by the more dynamic, informative, and thus involving interplay afforded on the Russound MBX-PRE and even more so on the Node 2i. (FYI: all three bins were linked to the Yamaha by the use of variable-level analog outputs the use of identical audiophile-grade cables to enable for factual volume matching and to patronize the devices’ agree with DACs.)

Where the Node 2i (and its amplified sister, the Powernode 2i) clearly put off the lead is their enhance for excessive-resolution song subscription products and companies. Bluesound equipment and the BluOS operating machine enhance the most sensible probably grade of provider available from Qobuz (my non-public fave since it courts grown-up artists, kinds, and listeners) and from Amazon Music HD. Every Bluesound bins bring excessive-res lossless FLAC encoding at up to 24-bit resolution and sampling charges as excessive as 192kHz (that method bit charges up to 3,730Kbps). Why Russound doesn’t offer the identical is a mystery, as its DAC can address 24/192 streams. Bluesound additionally stands alone in supporting Tidal’s Masters tracks, albums encoded with MQA audio abilities to bring the quality of the distinctive studio recordings.

Jonathan Takiff / IDG

While the emblem-unusual Sonos unusual S2 platform can theoretically jump higher, Sonos stays order material serving Qobuz, Tidal, Amazon Music, and its aforementioned Sonos Radio HD provider at 16-bit/44.1 Hz FLAC (or less.) Luxuriate in Russound, Sonos is having a bet that virtually all listeners are cheerful with that quality. And in actuality, who’s to argue, given the replacement of subscribers paying Spotify for its 320Kbps streams (and the hundreds of thousands more listening to the free 96- and 160Kbps advert-supported streams on that provider).

Throw it what you are going to

Apart from those web sources, the Bluesound Node 2i stands able to drag song off your thumb drives, NAS box, or wherever else you can retailer your non-public series (the use of gigabit ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, or Bluetooth 5.0—with enhance for aptX HD. AirPlay 2 enhance is onboard, too.) The tool helps the excessive-res codecs FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, and MQA to boot to MP3, AAC, and WMA.

With each a Node2i and a Powernode 2i now below my roof, I’ve been fortunately grouping the two devices to output the identical song circulation with completely synchronized results. Throwing Airplay 2 indicators to each Bluesounds (by the use of my Wi-Fi community) has been a hit or leave out thing, even supposing, with the Node 2i customarily losing by the wayside for a 2d or three while the Powernode 2i squaddies on. (I’m able to’t blame the iOS platform messenger, a designate-unusual iPhone 12 Official.)

Jonathan Takiff / IDG

The Node 2i doesn’t agree with an onboard microphone, but you might per chance speak Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri on assorted devices on the identical community to trigger the Nodes with frequent instructions love “Alexa, query Bluevoice to diminish the volume of the den” or “Alexa, query Bluevoice to play preset six in the theater.”

Every the Node 2i and the Powernode 2i offer equally graceful styling, with high-mounted controls and a 3.5mm headphone jack conveniently situated in entrance. The Node 2i doesn’t match the Powernode 2i in phrases of HDMI enhance, but you are going to web a gigabit ethernet port, a USB-A port for a thumb pressure, an IR input, and a 12-volt trigger output. There’s additionally a goodly array of audio inputs and outputs: A combo 3.5mm Toslink (optical) digital/analog stereo input, an RCA subwoofer out, and Toslink (optical) and coaxial digital outputs—helpful in the event it is advisable use a higher-cease outboard DAC. Undergo in suggestions, then another time, that you just might lose MQA enhance if that outboard DAC doesn’t enhance it.

If the Node 2i suits your value range, and you might per chance simply agree with an amplifier and a pair of speakers you’d be gay to pair with it, this networked media streamer will reward you vastly with unheard of sound.

• With excessive-quality sound and products and companies, the Bluesound Node 2i brings 21st-century aspects and renewed vitality to your sound machine at a rational sign.

  Pros

  • Superior sound staging and musical detailing
  • Hosts the most sensible probably-resolution subscription song products and companies
  • Product pricing is somewhat soft, given the efficiency and feature space

  Cons

  • The BluOS app isn’t constantly butter soft or intuitively presented
  • Signal dropouts were a sooner or later contrivance back with Airplay 2 on my busy Wi-Fi community
  • Several popular streaming products and companies must be “solid” to the Node 2i (with out the support of Chromecast)