Just Add Speakers with new Bluesound POWERNODE EDGE

All-in-ones are well and truly back, and thanks to technological advances, modern hi-fi has never been easier. Bluesound's new POWERNODE EDGE is a prime example of the company's catchcry, "just add speakers".
The company, which was the first to bring hi-res wireless audio to the market, has announced its new single-zone, wireless music streaming amplifier with a conservatively rated 2 x 40 watts DirectDigital amplifier.
It combines streaming sources, control and the amplification mentioned above into just one sleek and affordable device. It also handles hi-res audio tracks up to 24-bit/192kHz and supports MQA playback. Plus, over 20 natively integrated music services and thousands of internet radio stations are accessible directly on the POWERNODE EDGE and controlled from the BluOS™ Controller app.
It will also allow you to play from a personal music library via Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet or playback from an external USB drive. Built-in AirPlay 2 makes for easy integration into the Apple ecosystem. At the same time, users of other devices can use the high-quality aptX™ HD Bluetooth connection to stream audio directly to the POWERNODE EDGE. Traditional wired sources, such as a TV or turntable (with an inbuilt phono pre-amp), can be connected using the HDMI eARC input or the combo analog/digital input.
POWERNODE EDGE makes connecting a pair of passive speakers easy, or add the EDGE in another zone to extend a HiFi system. You can also add a PULSE SUB+ wireless subwoofer for a powerful but compact 2.1 stereo system. Alternatively, the POWERNODE EDGE can power the rear channels of a Bluesound wireless surround sound setup for the ultimate modern home theatre experience.
Finally, you can add multiple Bluesound players around the home to create a high-performance, multi-room system using BluOS. Send music from player to player or sync up multiple players to one stream for parties and gatherings. Easy control is available via the BluOS Controller app for iOS, Android, Mac, or PC, or the elegant glass touch panel for quick-access controls like Play, Pause, and Volume Up/Down.
The POWERNODE EDGE integrates with the most popular home automation platforms, such as Crestron, Control4, URC, RTI, ELAN, and others. At the same time, hands-free control is possible with voice assistants like Apple's Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.
The Bluesound POWERNODE EDGE will be available in October, priced at £599/ €699 RRP.
For more information visit Bluesound

Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
Posted in: Hi-Fi | Lifestyle | Integration
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.