Hi Rap, I had the itch of trying the Icon as pre, and this weekend I borrow a Clones Audio P25 power amp, and it was surprisingly good, so good that at first glance it confused me so much that I turned it off, to preserve my sanity, next step is trying it with a Naim power amp…
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Connected the Icon to a Classic NAP 200 non DR, with Proac D One Speakers and wow great sound, that Node Icon is a serious bit of kit, my wish for 2025 is that Naim would make something simple and alike this Icon
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I brought the Node Icon two weeks ago, and is a good streamer, very different sound than the node 2i, the icon is a more neutral and cleaner sound, is a superior product than the node 2i, is not an NDX 2.
The DSD processing only works when streaming your files with the Bluesound App, DSD is not usable in Roon, Audirvāna or other App that I know.
Better than the node 2i for sure, on par but different sound and presentation as the Master Edition Eversolo, inferior to an NDX 2, I think is a great upgrade for an older Bluesound.
But my conclusion is only mine and is nothing to take as granted, I still consider the Eversolo a more impressive looking product on the software goodies, also has more bugs. But knowing the way Ziddo drops support for their products, I feel the Icon has a more stable and durable platform, the BluOS is a more solid foundation. And the Icon is the best Bluesound of the moment.
The Eversolo has gone some time ago, the icon now will take his place. It has a better pre than the Eversolo and is also a better USB transport.
I had the less expensive eversolo. Sounded good but buggiest thing ever. Dropped signal every five min. spent 3 days doing every fix imaginable. eventually returned it
No dlna/upnp, only internet radio is TuneIn. Overpriced & under-spec’ed compared to Wiim Ultra.
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Eversolo was a great value, but the brand wants to do a lot to please every user in added value with software functionality, when you start to add too much things get less stable and intuitive.
The two eversolo I had, the normal model and master edition were stable enough for me, and a great streamer value. The Gen 2 eversolo that came out could even be a better proposal but I never had the pleasure of experience one.
Eversolo is a Zidoo brand, and Zidoo support is almost non existent or impossible to get, and their hardware is abandoned faster then we can think and the software is normally buggy. The value is there, but the rest is something to take into account.
The return on my case to Bluesound, is because of stability and confidence of a platform that is on the market for a few years now, and used by more than one brand, the support is there if you need it. It could be better, what is the product that could not.
On the other brands I never experienced with, I could not say anything because giving an opinion about something I never experienced or lived with it for some time makes no sense to me.
My take on most affordable brands is that they offer a lot more bang for the buck than expensive ones.
Funny, I was talking to my dealer only this afternoon about the FW issues I have with my ND555. He knows I had a Node/Ndac/555PS and mentioned that he thought the Node Icon was a significant improvement on the original Node. I was always very impressed with the original Node as it lured me away from a CDP555 and introduced me to streaming. It took an ND555 with two 555DR power supplies to better that combination. If I’d known then what I know now I don’t think I’d have ever moved away and would have been very interested to listen to the new Node Icon.
I’ve a NODE ICON into my NAIT50.
Absolutely superb. Cant recommend it enough.
I tried a my WiiM Ultra and my CA EXN100 and the synergy of theICON into the N50 is sublime.
RCA out to 5 pin DIN in here.
I love my Node Icon in my office system, currently attached to a NAD amp. I am contemplating a Nait 50 to replace the amp.
I hear the Cambridge audio EXN 100 is also pretty good. ~1700 US dollars. That’s like 5 pounds now
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the EXN100 is very good. mineis mated to matching EXA100 into some AlChris TX9’s.
it’s a phenomenal mid tier system.