Best Streamer/DACs Under $1000 Series: Bluesound Node Icon Review

The Blusound Node Icon is a four-part product: streamer, D/A converter, headphone amp and room correction system. You could use it as the hub of a system simply by adding powered speakers or a stereo amp and speakers. Rather than try to do many things, but somewhat badly, in this review I want to look at the Node Icon simply as a streamer/DAC, which I think is its foundational functionality. To whet your appetite, I will compare it to my reference $35,000 streamer/DAC through the lens of the absolute sound. This video's sponsor: https://www.nordost.com/ The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti... Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/news... Facebook:   / theabsolutesound   Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack... Tom Martin’s Reference System: Aurender N200 Server Roon Nucleus server Mac Mini (M2) server Wiim Pro server/DAC Bluesound Node server/DAC Topping D70 Pro DAC dCS Lina DAC/Master clock Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 with Alpha USB Series 2 input module J Sikora Initial Max turntable Technics SL-1210G turntable Kuzma 4Point 9” arm J Sikora KV12 tone arm DS Audio 003 cartridge Benz Gullwing SLR cartridge Hana Umami Blue cartridge Hegel V10 phono preamp Musical Surroundings Phonomena III phono preamp DS Audio 003 optical cartridge energizer Audio Research Reference 6SE preamp PS Audio BHK 600 mono power amps MBL N51 integrated amplifier Magico A5 speakers Wireworld Platinum Electra speaker and line cables Shunyata Omega digital cables Shunyata Venom power cables and director AVN Systems acoustic design Rediacoustic diffusers and absorbers Rediacoustic bass traps Salamander racks Solidsteel Turntable rack What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound