The Bluesound NODE X gives us access to Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth; and that’s before we dig into the partnering BluOS app to peruse its additional streaming service integrations. The NODE X can be run as a line-level source or as a variable-gain pre-amp. The volume slider inside the control app or on the glass top plate talks to both the analogue and digital outputs. On the back, we note connections for external DACs – including USB – as well as HDMI eARC and a subwoofer output whose crossover frequency can be adjusted in the BluOS app.

The upshot is that this Bluesound streaming DAC gives us a lot to talk about — and that’s even before we get to comment on the sound quality of its ESS-based DAC circuit or the THX AAA headphone amplifier. It’s more than can be tackled in one review video. So here’s a follow-up video with 18 more thoughts on the NODE X, as spearheaded by comments left on Patreon and on YouTube.

NOTE: the Patreon version of this video contains a couple extra 🌶️ thoughts and is therefore titled “20 more thoughts on the Bluesound Node X”. You can watch that here. Patreon is also where you’ll find playlists of the music heard and seen in each video.

🎥 Camera: Jack Kaminski / John Darko
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan

Further information: Bluesound

👉 As seen in this video…

Bluesound NODE X
🛒 http://howl.me/cjXY9LeIhoY

Bluesound NODE N130 (2021)
🛒 http://howl.me/cjXY9L2WNbQ

Wiim Mini
🛒 (US) http://amzn.to/3pbJG4S
🛒 (UK) http://amzn.to/3PuaLuG

FiiO R7
🛒 http://amzn.to/3CzHKGm

Enleum AMP-23R
📖 https://darko.audio/2022/03/enleum-amp-23r-video-review/

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