Bluesound

POWERNODE with HDMI (Gen 3) Streaming Amplifier

£849

POWERNODE (Gen 3) from Bluesound, new for summer 2021, adds more powerful streaming hardware (for BluOS, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2), a re-worked DAC section, more powerful amplification (80wpc instead of 2i’s 60 wpc) and has eARC connectivity on the rear plus larger touch panels – with proximity sensors and assignable presets – on the glass top panel.

This wireless, streaming amplifier merges traditional components into one box and unlocks the world of hi-fi streaming. With built in amplification to drive your speakers – traditional or in-wall/ceiling – POWERNODE also comes with HDMI ARC + eARC connectivity as standard to connect your TV, UHD Blu-ray player or TV streamer. The ARC (Audio Return Channel) function lets you take the sound from a compatible TV using a higher quality connection than optical digital.

Dimensions: 220 x 70 x 190 mm
Weight:  1.78 kg

The BLUESOUND POWERNODE is the HiFi amp reinvented for the streaming age, combining audiophile-grade componentry and multi-room music capabilities to create an intuitive “just add speakers” hi-res sound system for modern music lovers. The compact minimalist exterior disguises 2 x 80 watts of award-winning HiFi amplification, a premium hi-res DAC design, and access to all the music ever recorded with a tap in our BluOS Controller app for smart devices and laptops.

  • Easily drive your existing pair of premium speakers.
  • 80 Watts per channel of HybridDigital™ amplification technology
  • A state of the art Quad-Core 1.8ghz ARM® Cortex™ A53 processor and a 32-bit/384khz premium DAC design ensure flawless playback with precision and clarity.
  • HDMI (ARC & eARC) connectivity.
  • Featuring digital, optical and analogue input options, wired and wireless headphone and subwoofer outputs.
  • Wireless Dolby® surround sound.
  • Dual band Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet and support for 2-way Bluetooth aptX HD
  • Bluetooth ensures music playback without interruption.
  • Hi-res audio streaming with access to Internet radio stations, cloud music services, and your own local music library to multiple Bluesound Players.
  • Create and control a seamless multi-room system with the intuitive BluOS Controller app.
  • Top panel touch controls with presets.
  • IR input and remote learning capability – Control it with the optional Bluesound RC1 Remote Controller.
  • Connect with the BluVoice skill in the Alexa app and use Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant to control Players around the home.
  • AirPlay 2 lets you play music or podcasts from wireless stereo components throughout your house — all in sync.

JUST ADD SPEAKERS
Source, control, and amplification come packed into the compact and minimalist POWERNODE. Get the most out of your favorite speakers with an award-winning audiophile-grade amplifier that features 80 watts per channel of zero-distortion power. A premium DAC design flawlessly delivers hi-res, studio-quality music, including support for FLAC, MQA, and other popular file formats. The BluOS Controller app connects you to popular streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, SiriusXM, and dozens of others, or from your own music library through Apple Airplay2, aptX HD Bluetooth, or even a network-connected drive or USB hard drive.

HIGH RES MUSIC. EVERYWHERE
Whether it’s one or many rooms, the POWERNODE is a versatile workhorse. It can be placed either freestanding or in a custom installation rack, allowing you to easily toggle back and forth amongst a number of listening set-ups. Looking for a traditional 2-channel audiophile listening experience? Just add a pair of your favorite speakers. Add the PULSE SUB+ to your 2-channel set-up to create a capable and musical 2.1 wireless system. Bring a pair of PULSE FLEX 2i to the party as rear channel additions to your 2.1 system for a wireless Dolby surround sound home theatre experience. Sprinkle other BLUESOUND players around your home for a whole-home multiroom audio solution.

PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
The POWERNODE supports HDMI eARC, dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet, Apple Airplay 2, two-way aptX HD Bluetooth, RCA, Toslink optical, 3.5mm jack, and USB Type A connectors. Bring music into your POWERNODE from dozens of internet radio and streaming services, Bluetooth devices, TV and gaming consoles, network or local hard drives, nearby Apple devices, CD players, and many others. Then send your music into your favorite speakers, other Bluesound players or BluOS devices, Bluetooth headphones, wired headphones, Apple AirPlay devices, or other network-connected speakers.

“B” IS FOR “BRAINS”
With BluOS you can easily create a DIY multiroom hi-res audio system with a few taps of the BluOS Controller app. Additional hands-free controls are available through voice assistants like Siri, Google Voice, or Alexa. For professional smart home installers, full-feature drivers are available for Lutron, Crestron, RTI, Elan, and other popular control systems.

Bluesound Powernode

SPECIFICATIONS

AUDIO
Supported Audio File Formats
MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA-L, OGG, ALAC, OPUS

Supported Hi-Res Audio File Formats
FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF, MPEG-4 SLS

Supported Multi-Channel Audio Formats
Dolby Digital

Processor
ARM® Cortex™ -A53, Quad-Core, 1.8GHz per core

Native Sampling Rates
up to 192 kHz

Supported Network File Sharing
Server Messsage Block (SMB) up to 200,000 files

Native Sampling Rates
up to 192 kHz

Bit Depths
16 – 24

Performance
SNR -100dBA
THD+N, 0.008%

DAC
32-Bit, 384kHz
Differential Output design

Amplification
HybridDigital™

Rated Power Output
80W x 2 (8 Ohms)

IHF Dynamic Power
220W (4 Ohms) / 130W (8 Ohms)

SOFTWARE & INTEGRATIONS
Operating System
BluOS

App Controller Operating Systems
iOS, Android, Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, macOS 10-11

Network File Sharing
SMB up to 200,000 track index

Album Art Supported
JPG, PNG

Voice Control
Amazon Alexa Skills; Actions on Google

3rd-Party
AirPlay 2
Spotify Connect
Tidal Connect
Roon Ready

Control Systems
Control4, Crestron, URC, RTI, ELAN, Lutron

GENERAL
Finish
Black/White; Matte Satin Paint

Included Accessories
120V AC Power Cord
230V AC Power Cord
Ethernet Cable
TOSLINK Optical to 3.5mm Mini Adaptor x 2
Safety/Warranty Guide
Quick Setup Guide
Power Consumption
Storage Environment
-10°C to 50°C, 20% to 80% relative humidity

Operating Environment
‘0°C to 40°C

Product Weight
1.78kg/3.9lbs

Product Dimensions
220 x 70 x 190 mm
8.7 x 2.75 x 7.5 in

Shipping Weight
3.15kg/6.94lbs

Shipping Dimensions
300 x 300 x 110 mm
11.8 x 11.8 x 4.33 in

USER INTERFACE & CONTROLS
Status Indicator
RGB LED x 2

Play/Pause Button
Touch LED

Volume Control Buttons
Touch Slider LED

Previous/Next Track Buttons
Touch LED

Preset Buttons
Touch LED x 5

Proximity Sensor
Yes

CONNECTIONS
Network
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac, 2.4/5GHz)
Ethernet RJ45, GigE 1000 Mbps

Audio Input
Mini TOSLINK/3.5mm Stereo combo x 2
HDMI eARC

Audio Output
5-Way Binding Post Speaker Terminals

Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD
Two-Way (transmit & receive)

Headphones
3.5mm Stereo Out
Wireless Bluetooth Out

Subwoofer
RCA
Network Pairing to PULSE SUB+

USB
Type-A Port for external drive connection (Fat32 or NTFS formatted)

IR Remote
IR Sensor Built In – front panel with IR Remote Learning
Universal 3-pin AC cord input (100-240AC)