Review: Bluesound Powernode Streaming Amplifier

$949. Between that price and the product name, which describes its function, some people are already ready to click “Add to cart”.

And for good reason. I’ve reviewed a bevy of Bluesound products over the years including the Node, Vault, Flex, Pulse, and even the Soundbar (I don’t like soundbars as a species) and a few things they all have in common is ease of use via Bluesound’s BluOS app or Roon (I like Roon a lot), and solid sound quality all delivered at very wallet-friendly prices. The Powernode carries on this Bluesound tradition.

As its name suggests, the Bluesound Powernode Streaming Amplifier packs most of the things you need to play music inside its book-sized black or white matte satin painted body. Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2x mini Toslink/3.5mm stereo combo, HDMI eARC (for your TV), and USB Type-A for attaching USB storage make up the ample inputs. 5-way binding posts, Subwoofer (RCA + network pairing to Pulse Sub+), 3.5mm headphone and wireless Bluetooth comprise the outputs. Just add speakers (or headphones), so says the Bluesound marketing department.

Up top reside touch sensitive controls that light up when you get near ’em (i.e. a motion sensor), a nice touch but something I never used because I prefer controlling any Bluesound product with the BluOS app for setup and Roon for playing music. Inside, the Powernode gets its power from NAD’s HybridDigital amplification technology, built on the Bruno Putzeys’ Hypex UcD (Universal Class D) module, that offers 80 Watts of output as deployed here. A quad-core 1.8GHz ARM Cortex A53 processor takes care of the computing while a 32-bit/384khz DAC handles PCM resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz.

Under the Settings menu in the BluOS app you’ll find both functional and sound preference options to tailor the Powernode’s operation and sound to your liking. I like using the Powernode sans Tone Controls, straight, no chaser. The BluOS app is also where you can connect to your streaming accounts (Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon, TuneIn, Deezer, Radio Paradise, Sirius XM, and more). Since I ran with Roon for playback control for the duration of the Powernode’s Barn time, I was ready to roll minutes after I connected the Powernode to my network with a length of Ethernet cable and to the speakers I paired it with. Seeing as my router is but a few feet from the audio stuff, I could connect via Wi-Fi but my motto is—wire gets you higher.

In terms of dancing partners, I paired the Powernode with the HiFi Bargain GoldenEar BRX stand mount speakers and the over-achieving Q Acoustics Concept 50 floor standers (review).

Let’s begin with the GoldenEar BRX. First off, these speakers are capable of delivering a full-bodied and meaty sound that reaches down to 40Hz (according to GoldenEar and my ears) with plenty of air and resolution to boot. They are fun with plenty of funk. Paired with the Powernode, I was smiling from ear to ear with a big, fat sound image that granted access to music’s finer moments. Your going to be hearing a lot of Lucrecia Dalt’s forthcoming record ¡Ay! because its already among my favorite releases of 2022 and it hasn’t even been released yet. But every trickle of a single that has appeared is one joyous tropical cornucopia of boogie. Layer after layer of sounds and beats ride under Dalt’s smoky vocals and this budget combination delivered a nice slice of ¡Ay!’s sonic goodness.

My experience with Bluesound gear in general is it tends to fall on the rich, fat and fun side of the sonic spectrum, leaving fine-grained detail, subtlety, and nuance for stablemate NAD’s more costly, but still budget-priced in this crazy hifi world, amplifiers. When you connect the Powernode’s traits with the GoldenEar BRX and its strengths that include ribbon tweeter-endowed silky extended highs, you have a nice sonic stew that invites listening for pleasure with a capital “P”.

Kevin Martin as The Bug mates a different vocalist with every track on Absent Riddim, his latest record released on Pressure last month. “17 versions of the same beat, mutated, modified and sometimes mutilated to suit each guest i invited, to jump this heavyweight rhythm.” And that beat reaches low and drives heavy, with each vocalist adding their own special sauce on top. The Powernode/BRX pairing delivered a convincingly deep and heavy sound in Barn, which is kinda surprising based on the size of these things. Do you remember, I do, when some audiophiles would gauge an amp’s worth based on weight? I can pick up the Powernode with two fingers while scrolling through Instagram eating tortillas. OK, I made that last part up but you get the idea.

Moving up in size and price to the wow-inducing Q Acoustics Concept 50, I was treated to more—a larger sound image in every dimension, a bit more heft, and a richer, more full-range feel. While the Concept 50 have more to offer musically than the Powernode can muster from them, budget conscious shoppers can start with this combo and swap out to a more costly and better performing amp when the mood and money moves ya. I say this because I mated the Q Acoustics speakers with some pricey integrated amps and they absolutely handled the increase in music information coming their way.

Weather Alive is Beth Orton’s latest, her eighth full length, and its a beauty, filled with rich sounds and Orton’s distinctive voice. While I had no trouble falling under its spell with the Powernode/Concept 50 combo, I was aware that the overall sound image was a bit generalized, a bit diffuse, with less timbral variation and richness than I’ve heard through other more costly systems. While this shouldn’t come as a surprise to people who listen to different gear with different price tags, I mention it to keep the Powernode’s performance relative to the bigger hifi picture. While it does many things well, the Powernode didn’t kill any giants during its Barn visit, but it did punch above its weight! The more gear I listen to, the more I’ve come to learn that in hifi, as is the case with other things we consume for pleasure, you usually get what you pay for.

Black Country, New Road’s latest Ants From Up There is a Barn-ful of wonder and delight with the band’s seven members firing on all cylinders and then some. All to say there’s a lot of sonic stuff to unfold on Ants From Up There and the Powernode/Concept 50 system reproduced enough of it to make for a thrilling ride. The Powernode’s strengths highlight this music’s drive and flamboyant fun which is fine by me. I have heard other budget gear that leans toward the thin and brittle and I’m happy to report that Bluesound goes in the opposite direction. The preferable direction in my book.

The Bluesound Powernode has a lot to offer for not a lot of money when talking hifi dollars. You can run, with pleasure, with Bluesound’s free BluOS app and your streaming service(s) of choice, add your own library into the mix and a pair of speakers and cables and you’re done. A Bluesound bonus is its ecosystem makes it a breeze to add other Bluesound devices around your home, all controlled through the same app. When mated to sensible speaker partners, the GoldenEar BRX are kinda perfect mates in many ways, musical pleasure awaits.


Bluesound POWERNODE
Price
: $949
Company Website: Bluesound

Specifications

Audio

Supported Audio File Formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA-L, OGG, ALAC, OPUS
Supported Hi-Res Audio File Formats: FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF, MPEG-4 SLS
Supported Multi-Channel Audio Formats: Dolby Digital
Processor: ARM® Cortex™ -A53, Quad-Core, 1.8GHz per core
Native Sampling Rates: up to 192 kHz
Supported Network File Sharing: Server Messsage Block (SMB) up to 200,000 files
Native Sampling Rates: up to 192 kHz
Bit Depths: 16 – 24
Performance: SNR -100dBA | THD+N, 0.008%
DAC: 32-Bit, 384kHz Differential Output design
Amplification: HybridDigital™
Rated Power Output: 80W x 2 (8 Ohms)
IHF Dynamic Power: 220W (4 Ohms) / 130W (8 Ohms)

Connections

Network: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac, 2.4/5GHz), Ethernet RJ45, GigE 1000 Mbps
Audio Input: Mini TOSLINK/3.5mm Stereo combo x 2, HDMI eARC
Audio Output: 5-Way Binding Post Speaker Terminals
Bluetooth: Bluetooth with support for aptX HD, Two-Way (transmit & receive)
Headphones: 3.5mm Stereo Out, Wireless Bluetooth Out
Subwoofer: RCA, Network Pairing to PULSE SUB+
USB: Type-A Port for external drive connection (Fat32 or NTFS formatted)
IR Remote: IR Sensor Built In – front panel with IR Remote Learning, Universal 3-pin AC cord input (100-240AC)

Software & Integrations

Operating System: BluOS
App Controller Operating Systems: iOS, Android, Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, macOS 10-11
Network File Sharing: SMB up to 200,000 track index
Album Art Supported: JPG, PNG
Internet Radio: click here
Music Services: click here
Voice Control: Amazon Alexa Skills; Actions on Google
3rd-Party

AirPlay 2
Spotify Connect
Tidal Connect
Roon Ready

Control Systems: Control4, Crestron, URC, RTI, ELAN, Lutron

User Interface

Status Indicator: RGB LED x 2
Play/Pause Button: Touch LED
Volume Control Buttons: Touch Slider LED
Previous/Next Track Buttons: Touch LED
Preset Buttons: Touch LED x 5
Proximity Sensor: Yes

General

Finish: Black/White; Matte Satin Paint
Included Accessories: 120V AC Power Cord, 230V AC Power Cord, Ethernet Cable, TOSLINK Optical to 3.5mm Mini Adaptor x 2
Safety/Warranty Guide
Quick Setup Guide
Power Consumption

Storage Environment: -10°C to 50°C, 20% to 80% relative humidity
Operating Environment: ‘0°C to 40°C

Product Weight: 1.78kg/3.9lbs
Product Dimensions: 220 x 70 x 190 mm, 8.7 x 2.75 x 7.5 in
Shipping Weight: 3.15kg/6.94lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 300 x 300 x 110 mm, 11.8 x 11.8 x 4.33 in