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John
Bluesound has this week announced the Powernode Edge (US$649 / €699 / £599), a baby brother to the Powernode (US$949). This new slice of Future-Fi is a less expensive take on the marriage of the company’s BluOS streaming platform to an amplifier for an all-in-one unit that invites the end user to ‘just add loudspeakers’ (and allows them to sidestep the possible madness of separates, cables and a hi-fi rack).
Like the Powernode, the Edge gets the BluOS streaming module with software control apps for iOS, Android, Windows and MacOS. It also supports (2-way) aptX Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Roon Ready and on the back panel puts hard-wired digital inputs for HDMI eARC, TOSLINK and analogue and a subwoofer output.
Where the Edge version steps away from its bigger brother is on amplification. Bluesound has dispensed with the Powernode’s 80wpc UcD Class D module to go with 40wpc (into 8 Ohms) of DirectDigital™️. The latter features none of the former’s interstitial analogue conversion and instead uses a digital signal to drive the output stage. Sometimes this is called a ‘Power DAC’. Figuring these two types of amplification might be tricky for the average consumer to separate, I got Bluesound’s Matt Simmonds on the horn to discuss the differences between the Powernode and the Powernode Edge in greater detail.
Listen via SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn or the embedded player below:
Additional product highlights:
- Quad-Core 1.8GHz ARM® Cortex™ A53 Processor
- MQA and hi-res audio streaming
- Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri
- Dual-Band Wi-Fi + Gigabit Ethernet
- IR remote learning capability
- Front panel touch controls
- Compact 1U form factor
- Easy four-way mounting system
- Black or white finish
Further information: Bluesound
