yes, this is really very strange. Generally Bluesound products are reviewed everywhere while the icon is reviewed by practically no one even though it is the flagship of the bluesound house. Furthermore, on the various distribution sites of the product it is always unavailable. Probably the product has some problem but little is known about it.
the-ear.net
So are you setting music volume at 83dB?
Thanks for that, not very useful review though as he doesn’t compare it to any rivals but instead to 5 figure DACs and Streamers.There is a review on ear.net
Bluesound Node Icon: A Streamer Worth Stretching Your Budget For | The Ear
I initially set up the Node Icon in my bedroom via wifi and the listened with the Sendy Peacock headphones that I usually use with a Chord 2Go/Hugo2
Really interesting review. It was tested in DAC and pure streamer mode and the results were good. I also understand that it is also compared with the ultra and it seems better than the ultra in both modes but especially in DAC mode. Obviously neither ULTRA nor ICON could do anything against the very high-end machines used as benchmarksThere is a review on ear.net
Bluesound Node Icon: A Streamer Worth Stretching Your Budget For | The Ear
I initially set up the Node Icon in my bedroom via wifi and the listened with the Sendy Peacock headphones that I usually use with a Chord 2Go/Hugo2
That's not true at all as the £349 unit is actually the Wiim ultra. And the icon according to the reviewer sounds much better than the ultra in Streamer/DAC mode and little better in pure transport.
He does vaguely mention a £349 streamer but doesn’t name it. Wonder why?
How do you know that? I must have missed it being mentioned, perhaps only obliquely as a £349 unit…
it's definitely the wiim ultra because it costs the same and above all because it doesn't have XLR and has difficulty inserting high-end RCA cables into the single ended outputs which are narrow and coplanar exactly like the ultra (it's something I hate about the ultra because I have the same problem)
I noticed now, sorry. Strange that he does not name it though.
Yes, the fact that he doesn't specifically name him is very strange but it still makes it clear which streamer he's talking about.
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We are in exactly the same situation, I also use the digital output at the same time as the subout. In fact, the new beta that allows you to use the USB at the same time with the Wiim subout is really a bomb. It allowed me to connect my DDC singxer su-6 to the Wiim Ultra via USB, significantly improving the digital audio quality of the Wiim towards my Dynaudio focus 60XD and at the same time being able to use my Arendal 1723 2v subwoofer. As for functionality, the Wiim Ultra is truly unbeatable. I also used a node n130 lately (using the coaxial spdif output) and unfortunately I have to admit that the node sounds significantly more natural, more harmonics and in a more analog way. However, the node does not have the same functions and adjustment possibilities as the Ultra which also sounds more dynamic and loud. The blanket is short. The optimus would be a fusion between Bluesound and Wiim.Hm so for my scenario (feeding external DAC) the Icon would provide a very small improvmenet if any.
Too bad as these two devices seem to be the only ones that can output to a SUB at the same time as outputting a digital out.
(Or good, because I can save the money
How do you find the bluos and WiiM apps compare? The reviewer seems to have a downer on the WiiM app too, lauding the bluos app.
I have both apps, they are both great but I prefer the wiim one because of the myriad of functions and features that are available. It will be interesting when Bluesound updates its products with dirac, that could be a game changer. I have been using Dirac since its first version in fact I have a lifetime license and I believe that if Bluesound plays its cards well it could easily surpass everyone with Dirac. Even Auralic has been announcing Dirac for two years but to date none of its machines have implemented the Dirac ambient correction. Really strange. Even Bluesound replied to me in October that they would have updated their systems with Dirac by 2024 but to date all is silent and even their Icon is having hiccups in sales.How do you find the blues and WiiM apps compare? The reviewer seems to have a downer on the WiiM app too, lauding the bluos app.
Maybe I should ask him about the less than stellar Alexa and Amazon Music HD support on Bluesound, but I guess he wouldn't be using that anyway on his audiophile “revealing” system
As my daily experience with both, I really can't understand why prefere Bluos app, under every aspect...How do you find the blues and WiiM apps compare? The reviewer seems to have a downer on the WiiM app too, lauding the bluos app.
Maybe I should ask him about the less than stellar Alexa and Amazon Music HD support on Bluesound, but I guess he wouldn't be using that anyway on his audiophile “revealing” system
