BLUESOUND POWERNODE STREAMING AMPLIFIER REVIEW

The Bluesound Powernode (2021) Streaming Amplifier is, as the name suggests, an all in one streaming unit with onboard amplification. Dan Worth adds some loudspeakers and takes us on a tour of its features and sound.

BUILD AND FEATURES 

Here you see a familiar design with the overall dimensions of the new Powernode remaining the same as the Powernode 2i, yet with a larger all-glass top control panel that has a built-in proximity sensor that illuminates to reveal a volume slider, playback control, presets, and standby functionality.

Bluesound’s motif has also had an upgrade from painted to metal emblem. The finish on the chassis is nicer too, moving away from the rubbery feel of the previous generation to a smoother slicker feeling ABS.

Around the back, the Powernode 2021 looks very similar to the previous model and there’s still a whole host of connecting options available on this diminutive design. Two sets of combined analogue 3.5mm/mini optical Toslink ports for connection of a CD Player, turntable, computer or older style television/set-top boxes or games consoles that are unable to make use of the integrated HDMI socket for ARC and eARC. An Ethernet port for hard-wired connection over the built-in convenience of Wi-Fi is included, as is a USB port for connection of external storage and soon to be updated for DAC output support. A subwoofer output is included and of course, a set of speaker binding posts are there.

The new model definitely looks more upmarket and will give a touch more class to minimalistic installs.

The new Powernode 2021 has increased power output with an 80wpc hybrid digital amplifier taking care of powering the speakers – the previous generation had a 60W/ch amplifier with dynamic peaks of 120wpc into 8ohms and 220wpc into 4ohms.

Inside there’s a new ARM 4-core processor, which is claimed to be 8 times faster than the previous generation and with 4 times more memory speed that should make app use, track playback, and caching more speedy.

The onboard 32bit 384khz DAC  is able to comply with all of today’s audio formats including MQA and DSD playback.

Powernode is also capable of sending and receiving wireless signals from Wi-Fi,  Bluetooth signals over the 5.0 aptX protocol, enabling users to wirelessly transmit audio to the Powernode or send music to Bluetooth-enabled headphones or speakers. Airplay2 is also available for iOS devices allowing for transmission of device-based files or YouTube music.

A look round the rear shows just how compact this unit is, whilst still having excellent connectivity.

Spotify Connect, Tidal and Qobuz are amongst the many streaming services offered within the BluOS software, which I’ll add is an absolute joy to use and so user-friendly. It has to be said that some products really do let themselves down with their user interface. Internet radio and Roon are also key features.

SETUP 

Setting up the Powernode couldn’t be easier. Connect your chosen speakers, add an HDMI cable from the TV and a Power cable and you’re ready to integrate into your home network.

Download the BluOS app for either iOS or Android and follow the on-screen setup guide which will detect your Powernode, allow you to add your home’s Wi-Fi password if you choose to use it wirelessly, and in a couple of minutes you are ready to log in to your online music service subscriptions direct from BluOS’ menu – that’s basically it. Nice, simple, logical, and totally fuss-free.

A view of the top of the Bluesound Powernode.

CONTROLLING THE POWERNODE 

Controlling the Powernode once set up is just as simple as the set-up process and, of course, there is full functionality of every option available for Powernode via the BluOS app. The physical unit itself has its onboard screen for touch control and Bluesound also offers a physical remote control for more basic functionality.

PLAYBACK PRESETS 

Now, this function I’m sure will become a go-to for many as it did with me. On the Powernode’s unit control screen are 5 user-designated presets. These presets can be easily configured within the BluOS app and can range from a particular playlist from a specific online streaming service, as an online radio station, or as one of the unit’s input selectors for connected devices. I used this feature often and primarily for the most common radio stations I listen to as background music when coming home from work or in the morning whilst getting ready.

HOME INTEGRATION AND MULTI-ROOM 

As I already use some other Bluesound products it made sense to take on the review and integrate the Powernode into our multi-room setup. Again, setting this all up was a breeze.

Hit the home button on the BluOS app to reveal the list of players and then from here you can send different music to each speaker or Node/Powernode, groups thereof, or if it’s or party play them all at once. We very often would group our Node 2i which lives in the dining room with our Pulse 2 which is in the hall and add the Powernode in the living room for a complete first-floor seamless sound with no latency issues wherever we went. Each unit has an independent volume and when carefully set it can be difficult to pinpoint the source of the sound when roaming around the house. In addition to this, when going upstairs we could group a Pulse Mini 2i alongside a Flex 2i independently or for the whole house. Removing an item (unit) is as easy as pressing the subtract rather than an add icon on the app to once again use that unit independently of the others. All very logical and all very simple.

Maximum volume settings can be preset on each device to stop the kids from getting over-exuberant or just to protect speakers. Tone controls, bottom end cut-off points, and subwoofer volume/integration are also featured on the app making it a great tool to tailor the units you have to your preferred sound.

The Powernode is available in black or white.

Want to connect an external device? Plug it into the corresponding port on the Powernode and that input will then become available within the BluOS menu allowing you control over its levels etc.

SMARTHOME INTEGRATION 

With the ability to support voice control, Bluesound products (including the Powernode) can be controlled through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to control playlists, play radio stations and adjust volume levels. Bluesound’s BluVoice allows control of the Powernode, along with other current and older Bluesound products, tying them all in together into one eco-system which is a nice touch over some other brands whose legacy products are not supported by new updates and features. 

THE SOUND 

From memory, the new amplifier in the Powernode 2021 has made a very worthwhile difference over the older 2i. It sounds more confident with a more robust, dynamic, richer sound overall and with a punchier bassline. The older version was a little less capable of digging down as low as the new version and detail in the bass is now better extracted to give the listener a more solid, punchier, and informative note to carry the music along far better. A touch of warmth in the upper bass and lower midrange will definitely favour most smaller speaker designs.

The midrange is clear, intelligible, articulate, and pronounced. For the money, it’s incredibly difficult to fault the midrange performance of the Powernode 2021, and its high notes are equally as clean with a little more emphasis on resolution in the extreme high registers than before. Female vocalists are able to wail without harshness and male vocals have a wonderfully earthy and chesty feel to them. The overall voicing of the Powernode is very good indeed, giving good separation and soundstage shape with notably good width and depth.

I played everything from Acoustic to pop, folk to reggae, jazz to dance music, and with everything the Powernode performed so even-handed across all genres I can’t see how it wouldn’t appeal to anyone searching for a unit of this form factor and price point, with any taste in music. It enjoys punchier faster music as well as its ability to project a strong vocal and two-instrument band with all the acoustics conveyed to the listener. This is a very commendable performance for what is essentially a “lifestyle” kind of product.

Adding a subwoofer again was simple. There are two options here – I connected my Piega sub to the integrated subwoofer output socket which allowed me to tune the crossover point of the subwoofer to integrate with my main speakers within the app – a very useful and welcome feature. Secondly, a sub such as my REL with its much preferred and better quality high input connection type can be simply added to the speaker binding posts and configured locally.

Using the Powernode with my TV was a very nice experience. Here I was able to lower the bass and overall cut-off point for nighttime viewing where big crashes and bangs may not go down so well. I particularly found speech to be crystal clear and easily discernible in busier scenes and especially at lower volume levels where it can often be cloudy. Using a unit such as this over my tube amplifier has obvious benefits –  low power, low heat and doesn’t affect tube life. However, with the streamer in my main system not having Spotify Connect I would find the Node version without amplifier a very worthwhile addition to the setup as my Node 2i doesn’t have the eARC functionality that the 2021 version of the Node does. The previous Node does of course have an optical input, but it requires an adapter for any of my standard and better-sounding glass-based cables. I was hoping that the newer models would have full-sized input sockets and although Bluesound provides adapters it’s a shame they don’t include these full-sized inputs as standard.

Just add passice speakres and away you go.

Another interesting feature of the Powernode is that when using a Bluesound Soundbar+ the Powernode is able to run a pair of rear passive speakers as surround sound channels and can be combined within the app to the Soundbar+ for this purpose. This feature is especially interesting if you wish to not use two Pulse Flex’s as I currently do for rear speaker duties and prefer to run something like bipolar speakers in order to disperse sound even more around the rear of the listening space. I didn’t have any bipolars to hand as my days with full-blown home cinema systems have long gone, but I did have a pair of Dali Zensor 1s which I hooked up to confirm this feature and they worked admirably. Similarly, a Node can be added to the rear to run a set of active speakers in the same manner, I have a Node 2i but never tried this.

The Powernode could be used quite efficiently in a home cinema setup with a speaker switch added. Running the Powernode with cables to a set of small rear speakers and larger front speakers would (using a command inside the BluOS app) enable the ability to play 2 channel stereo for music and then switch to rear duties when settling down for a movie night.

CONCLUSION 

The Powernode 2021 from Bluesound is a hugely flexible and great sounding diminutive heart of any 2 channel system. With its ability to stream from all major online services including radio, Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz to name but a few, plus additional analogue and digital inputs and a HDMI for ARC/eARC duties alongside an upgraded and more powerful amplifier section, most would find this solution to be an un-imposing fit into any living space, office or bedroom – just add speakers.

App control is simple from any Android or iOS based phone or tablet and Mac or PC operation alongside its handy onboard touchscreen display and optional remote control allow users to interact with the Powernode in many different ways offering high usability and flexibility.

AT A GLANCE

Build Quality:

Very well thought out packaging with custom inserts and compartments for the main unit and peripherals

Great aesthetics and overall design with a nice touch of class and sleek lines at this price point

Rear panel is very well set out 

Sound Quality:

Good balance and extension

Smooth non-fatiguing open and airy treble

Surprisingly good soundstage

Punchy bass

Value For Money:

Really very good indeed when you factor in all the features, sound quality, footprint and aesthetics 

We Loved:

Sound per pound

Overall finish

Diminutive size

Connectivity array

Range of controlling options

Amount of online streaming services supported

Ease of use 

We Didn’t Love So Much:

Tone controls take a bit of fiddling to match speakers (if your speakers and room require the adjustment)

The subwoofer crossover point is essential to getting a stereo set of speakers sounding correct even without a sub attached

Price: £850 €999

Elevator Pitch Review: if your looking for a small all in one unit with plenty of power and with all the online streaming services you could ever want, various controlling options an intuitive app, great style and sound quality to match then look no further. For the price of Bluesound’s Powernode it’s hard not to feel that your outlay has been worth every penny spent.

SUPPLIED BY BLUESOUND

Dan Worth