bluesound powernode 2i review

Hi-Fi. Took me a while. Don’t let the petite dimensions and minimalist design of the $899 Bluesound Powernode 2i deceive you. Please refresh the page and try again. I looked at this product to hook up to a NAD 320Bee 50 watt integrated amp a while ago. Powernode 2i leverer en musikalsk gengivelse, der tåler sammenligning med fuldvoksne stereoforstærkere, og klarer samtidig alle de HD-formater, du måtte ønske at afspille. For hard-wired Harrys, there’s Ethernet. I’ve read your review and many others and have decided that a Bluesound front end will give me all the functionality I need for a very reasonable outlay. Weiterhin können die Sicherheits-, Datenschutz- und Vertriebsrichtlinien von den auf der brexiten Bluesound Seite angegebenen abweichen. Just add your own loudspeakers. It can be said to be particularly exciting for listening to jazz and pop music. I found the audio quality superb, but I did have a few glitches during the setup, and … What Hi-Fi? is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. It’s hard to believe the amount of tech packed into this 3.8-pound chunk of a thing measuring just 8.7 x 7.5 x 2.75 inches (WxDxH). I had difficulty discerning which was the “hard copy” and which the stream. Having connected to our network via ethernet, we plug the Powernode 2i into our reference ATC SCM50 speakers, as well as something more price compatible in the form of Mission’s QX-2s and Monitor Audio Bronze 2s. Along with the necessary power cables, the Bluesound Powernode 2i comes with an ethernet cable and two mini-jack to Toslink adapters. The Powernode 2i also reacts poorly to network outages. In fact, the gains appear to be based around trickle-down high-end circuit board design from the NAD Masters M50.2 BluOS network streamer and a smaller wi-fi chipset, with Bluesound’s engineers optimising the layout and isolation from there. Bose isn’t nearly as open to streaming services—it doesn’t offer Tidal or Qobuz—and CD resolution is as good as it gets from any source with its two lines of networked audio gear, Smart Speakers and SoundTouch. Curiously, however, Apple Music, Pandora, and Sirius/XM are not currently supported (unless you stream them from your mobile device over Bluetooth). © Bluesound launches seven generation 2i multi-room products, Multi-room audio: everything you need to know, Best B&O speakers 2021: portable, hi-fi and wireless, Best wireless speakers 2021: wonderful wi-fi speakers for all budgets, Best Bose speakers 2021: portable, multi-room, wireless. Its high frequency is bright, the middle frequency is soft, and the low frequency is solid and flexible. Older Sonos components are limited to 16-bit/48kHz. Even short breaks caused it to lose its connection to my Xfinity XB7 gateway, which meant I could no longer control the player via Android, iOS, or Windows until I rebooted everything. Check out Sonos’ offerings, instead, just know that you won’t get high-res audio that way. The specification below says it all with a huge array of functionality. That makes this multiroom-compatible amplifier with HDMI input even more interesting to use in combination with a TV. The Powernode 2i is tight and rhythmic, picking out patterns and using the space in its presentation to let them breathe without becoming untethered in the overall composition. If the Award-winning Naim Uniti Atom is out of reach, Bluesound has come to the rescue with another one-box product that refuses to compromise in any single area, representing another superb all-rounder on a smaller budget. In addition, Bluesound have included their talented BluOS streaming software, giving users access to the vast majority of streaming services and multiroom audio. You can’t just say “Play Beyoncé,” for instance, you need to say “Alexa, ask Blue Voice to play preset four on Living Room” (or whatever name you’ve assigned the Powernode 2i). This is a review and detailed measurements of the Bluesound Node 2i Streamer. Audio settings are another head scratcher. I mean, what’s not to love here? I never heard those tape reels spinning on the original vinyl pressing. Got it? No competitor delivers better performance at this price, Supports every high-resolution music-streaming service, Doesn't gracefully recover from network outages, Must use stilted language to control with a digital assistant. There is added punch and authority too, tempered well when extra subtlety is required, which makes for an even more confident and entertaining performance. De Bluesound PowerNode 2i levert een goede aansturing, met hoorbare controle over de Oberon. Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc. What looking at its chassis doesn’t reveal is the inclusion of Apple AirPlay 2 and Alexa Voice Control support as well as two-way aptX HD Bluetooth for streaming and facilitating the Powernode 2i’s use with a pair of wireless headphones. Having said that, the larger scale of this album does reveal the Powernode’s limitations and it begins to sound a little strained as the volume level … Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! You will receive a verification email shortly. Wireless aptX HD Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2. Node 2i and Acoustic Energy AE1 Actives or Powernode 2i and … You can also use the Powernode 2i with what just might be the world’s best music-listening software: Roon—if you don’t mind paying $120 a year or $700 for a lifetime license. I selected tracks recorded by well-known studio perfectionists: Dire Straits, Jackson Browne, Norah Jones, Donald Fagen, and Stevie Wonder. Bluesound Powernode 2i Review Conclusion. Visit our corporate site. … The WhatHiFi review for Bluesound convinced me to buy a powernode 2i and node 2i to compare with my legacy Sonos kit. The improvements made to the Powernode 2i are similar to that of the Node 2i. The PowerNode 2i offers almost seamless integration of streaming services in a beautiful sounding amplifier that has no competition at its price. We’re never finished tweaking this product.”. The Bluesound Powernode 2i is an 80W per channel streaming amplifier with full digital support and plenty of analogue options should they be needed. You get whistle-clean amplification (60 watts per channel), high-resolution audio support (up to 24-bit resolution with sampling rates as high as 192kHz), support for every important file format (including FLAC, Apple Lossless, and MQA), robust connectivity options (USB, gigabit ethernet, dual-band 802.11ac, Airplay 2, two-way Bluetooth 5.0), diverse inputs and outputs (Toslink, combo Toslink/3.5mm in; 3.5mm headphone, subwoofer out), and even HDMI ARC support. Bluesound suite can be considered as an audiophile grade or Hi-Res supporting Sonos. My sample is encased in a pristine white plastic shell, exuding an air of unassuming sophistication. Sonos delivers an unparalleled user experience, and it supports almost every streaming service under the sun, but even its latest-generation S2 components are limited to sampling rates up to 48kHz (albeit with 24-bit resolution), and that’s only with FLAC and Apple Lossless tracks. Een opmerkelijke prestatie, voor 60 Watt rms vermogen per kanaal. Read our, [ Further reading: The best surge protectors for your costly electronics ], Andover Audio PM-50 planar magnetic headphone. I am waiting with buying, but if competing device appears with HDMI arc, I would consider longer waiting. The Powernode 2i combines that familiar presentation with the added detail we heard in the Node 2i to offer a bold yet insightful performance – ripe for analysis but willing also just to be enjoyed unthinkingly – without you even going to the bother of system matching. Hardcore smart-home dwellers, meanwhile, will appreciate the system integrations the Powernode 2i offers, including Control4, Crestron, Elan, and Lutron. The arrival of Arcam’s rPlay streamer last year was a spanner in the works. After receiving the Bluesound PowerNode 2 Wi-Fi music player for review, I took the plunge and started buying albums in the venerated 192 kHz FLAC format. So, while it no longer comes as a surprise to be washed in such warmth, it remains a consistently impressive performance nonetheless. Of course, when you review a streaming amplifier like the Powernode 2i, the software at the heart of the system is a massive part of the equation. Unique in this product category, the Powernode 2i can also stream music to your favorite Bluetooth headphones—with support for the aptX HD codec and remote transport control (pause/play, volume up/down) if your cans also have those features. I am assuming their target market is where SONOS dominates if you are familiar with that brand. Effortlessly driving your choice of speakers with audiophile grade amplification Bluesound that has become known for, the POWERNODE 2i becomes the core of a high-res streaming sound system. Most of its shortcomings are software related and therefore fixable. Its pluses far outweigh its negatives, just like that abiding love of your life whose eccentricities you learn to ignore. Man kan dog godt mærke, at Sonos også er ankommet. The Powernode 2i is the first (and still only) integrated streaming tuner/amp combo I’ve encountered in this price range that can deliver the high-resolution tiers of Qobuz, Tidal HiFi (including MQA), and Amazon Music HD. Bath A bunch intended for EQ are basically useless, and another one is entirely counterintuitive: Plug in a powered subwoofer, as I did, and you’ll need to navigate to “Select Attached Speakers” in the app. This self-amplified, multi-room streaming music player is packed with audio goodness and will deliver blissful sonic experiences from nearly any source: Local or network storage, a disc player, your mobile device, or your streaming service of choice—including their high-res tiers. The Bluesound Powernode 2i isn’t much higher than a stack of discs. I used a pair of Q Acoustics’ 3020i bookshelf speakers (deliciously affordable at $329) and a vintage MB Quart subwoofer to round out the bottom. Bluesound Powernode 2i Review. Dynamics are equally bold, contouring swells and stabbing at those more immediate shifts for levels of expression we didn’t think were possible from a system at this level. Pro tip: You can avoid these “lost connection” error messages by reserving the IP address your router assigns it, so the app doesn’t lose track of it in the event of a network outage. It doesn’t sip much juice, either: 2.3 watts in standby and hovering around 13 watts during operation, according to my Belkin energy monitor. With the latest BluOS firmware update, Bluesound extends the functionality of the Pulse Soundbar 2i and the Powernode 2i integrated streaming amplifier by adding an optional surround mode especially for stereo sources. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Welcome to Bluesound, Hi-Fi for the Wi-Fi generation. Bluesound’s Powernode 2i is a 21st-century mini system that will deliver high-resolution audio from any source you connect to it, ranging from a NAS box to your mobile device; the best music-streaming services to disc players. The Bluesound Powernode 2i Wireless Streaming Amplifier and Flex 2i Wireless Streaming Speakers are more than just music players. When discussing the sonic merits of this Bluesound suite, we often begin our reviews by talking about the open soundstage and full-bodied presentation. Bluesound’s Powernode 2i has touch-senstive transport controls on top of its chassis. I got my groove on with Andover Audio’s PM-50 planar magnetics (newly updated with the larger-cavity ear cups I’d been asking for). Handling of vocals often highlights that kind of dynamic aptitude, so the personality present in the Powernode 2i is hugely to its credit. It even has touch-sensitive controls on its top surface (play/pause, volume up/down, previous/next track), or you can manage it with your mobile device (Android or iOS), voice commands (Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant), or Bluesound’s RC1 Remote Controller (a $59 add-on). BluOS has evolved over the … The Powernode 2i doesn’t only sound better than pairing the Node 2i with a typical £300 amplifier, but it betters its stable mate’s five-star performance for what is effectively the finest just-add-speakers hi-fi system for less than a grand. From the outside, this is one looking and feeling unit! Norah Jones’ classic “Come Away With Me” was full of Technicolor, 3D moments in the 24-bit, 192kHz treatment from Qobuz. Often a little tinkering pays greater dividends than a whole raft of changes, but we doubt even Bluesound could have foreseen just how successful its comparably minor alterations to the Powernode 2i would be. All rights reserved. On the other hand, I have a major gripe with the way Bluesound expects you to navigate its BluOS Controller app. Bluesound’s competition doesn’t measure up in terms of support for high-resolution audio. And it does that perfectly fine. Just be prepared for a user experience that’s, shall we say, a wee bit rough around the edges. The fact you’re reading this review of its successor, the Powernode 2i, suggests that the differences between the 2i models are more marked. You can use a turntable, too, but you’ll need to plug it into a preamp, first. And sometimes the latter won the race. That change made a world of difference for me, changing my outlook from “Enough already!” to “I could happily live with this.” The apps on my Lenovo laptop, iMac desktop, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, and iPad now all run smooth and super quick. Its current menu structure, with its large album art, is best in class. Regardless of its setting within the context of Bluesound’s multi-room family, you’d need a four-figure budget for a streamer and amp combination before it could come close to bettering the performance of the Powernode 2i. Its sole purpose is to play audio coming in from your TV. Bluesound touts Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, but you’ll need to memorize highly specific phrases to call up one of the 40 presets you programmed. The source will show as an Analog And I gladly took a deep gut punch from Public Enemy’s slamming Fight the Power: Remix 2020. I was sent a Vault 2i, a Node 2i, and a Pulse Mini 2i, a wireless standalone streaming speaker. Freelance contributor, Annother odd but telling treat was hearing cricket-like tape-recorder sounds chirping in the background on Jackson Browne’s mixed hotel-room/concert-stage recording of “The Road,” from his musical verité-styled Running on Empty. The Bluesound Powernode 2i isn’t much higher than a stack of discs. The new Bluesound Node 2i is a clear step up from its previous generation, offering loads of features and an improved sound quality, touching the levels of network players nearly twice its price, add in the extremely user-friendly interface and we can undoubtedly recommend this to anyone looking for a network player within the $500, – range.

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