Bluesound Powernode Edge Is Great Mini Audio System For Digital Music

Jan 27, 2024

The Bluesound Powernode Edge is incredibly compact and can fit on almost any shelf or desk.

The face of audio has changed in recent years and some of the reason for that change can be attributed to power. In days gone by, a "proper" hi-fi enthusiast would give pride of place to a power-hungry amplifier that could rock the very foundations of a home with its sound. Some of the monster-size power amplifiers hi-fi enthusiasts favored can run hot enough to fry a proverbial egg.

Fortunately, we live in slightly more enlightened times where electricity is increasingly expensive and we care a little more about the environment. The drive towards energy efficiency has brought about a new generation of lightweight digital amplifiers that run cool and consume far less power than old Class A amplifiers.

Many of us also enjoy listening to our music throughout our home thanks to multiroom audio technology that enables us to play music all around the home. The old days of just one large audio system in a special music room are now fast becoming a thing of the past.

The Powernode Edge is a small and neat unit with just a few controls on its front.

The Bluesound Powernode Edge is typical of the new breed of compact audio systems. A high-quality digital amplifier powers this streamer and it's about the same size as a couple of paperback books. All this little powerhouse needs is a suitable pair of speakers and you have a hi-res music system that can stream from almost any service. The only thing the Edge doesn't have is a color display for album artwork that some larger amplifier streamers include.

Bluesound is one of the brands owned by the Lenbrook Group, a Canadian company behind the BluOS streaming platform that also owns NAD and PSB Speakers. BluOS is an excellent audio platform that offers comprehensive support for almost every music streaming service.

The slim Powernode Edge is small enough to fit on a shelf or desktop. The front of the unit has illuminated touch controls for adjusting volume levels, pausing music, and skipping or repeating tracks. It's intuitive to operate and the unit can also be controlled using the BluOS Control app or by using almost any infrared remote control.

The Powernode Edge is available in Black and White finishes.

At the rear of the unit, there is a small selection of connectors, including a pair of speaker terminals, an HDMI eARC port for a TV, a 3.5mm combo digital optical input, a USB-A port for connecting a storage drive, plus an output for a subwoofer output next to an Ethernet port. Most people will probably use the Edge's built-in dual-band Wi-Fi to connect to a home network and stream music. And although the Edge doesn't have endless connection possibilities, there are enough options for handling sources like a turntable or a CD player.

The Edge doesn't have many outputs beyond a pair of speaker terminals and an RCA phono connector for a subwoofer. Unfortunately, there's no way of taking the preamp signal from the Edge to drive a separate power amplifier or another device. However, perhaps the most serious omission for me is the lack of a headphone jack. Although the Edge can stream its audio output to a pair of Bluetooth headphones – which it does well – it can't drive wired headphones.

Another omission is the lack of a remote control. There is an optional Bluesound remote, but there's no need because the Edge can learn from almost any old infrared remote lying around the house. The Edge can be taught the commands from almost any remote by mapping functions using the BluOS Control app. Once programmed, the remote can switch sources, change audio settings and alter the volume levels.

Although the Bluesound Powernode Edge isn't bristling with connections, the basics are there, ... [+] including HDMI eARC, USB A, 3.5mm digital/analog, subwoofer and Ethernet.

The BluOS Controller app also supports Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music streaming services and a raft of Internet radio stations. The one streaming service not supported is Apple Music. If that's your go-to streaming service, you can play it on a smartphone or tablet and stream with Bluetooth or Apple AirPlay. As well as accessing streaming services, the Edge can stream music stored locally on the user's home network.

The Edge is slightly hobbled when decoding hi-res music files, with support for audio files limited to a maximum of 24-bit/192kHz. Although most audio file types are supported – including MQA ­– to play ultra-hi-res music files, you must upgrade to the more expensive BluesoundPowernode. However, the 24-bit/192kHz cap is perfectly adequate for most people.

Despite its diminutive size, the Edge's DirectDigital amplifier can pump out a respectable 40W per channel into 8Ω speakers. If you want more oomph, you’ll have to upgrade to the more costly Powernode, which doubles the output to 80W and uses a more sophisticated technology called HybridDigital. However, don't let the lower output or more basic amplifier put you off because the Edge has a superb sound with an almost analog presence and a marvelously warm sound.

The Bluesound Powernode Edge doesn't have a 3.5mm headphone jack, but you can stream music to ... [+] Bluetooth headphones wirelessly.

I partnered the Edge with my trusty old pair of B&W DM303s. I probably should upgrade these 20-year-old bookshelf speakers but they worked so well with the Edge, revealing superb detail and serenity while playing Seckou Keita's "Simply Beautiful".

I also streamed several more of my favorite tracks from Tidal Masters, which streams MQA files. The Edge supports Tidal Connect, which means you can select the music using the BluOS Connect or Tidal apps. The Edge then fetches the track directly from Tidal's servers, so the music isn't being streamed wirelessly via your phone or tablet.

Verdict: The Bluesound Powernode Edge is a satisfying audio system for the money and provides most of the features you could wish for in such a small unit. Although it has an upper limit on the resolution of digital files that can be streamed, the Edge's cap of 24-bit/192kHz will be adequate for most people. However, the one shortfall for me was the absence of a proper headphone jack. The Edge streams perfectly to Bluetooth wireless headphones, but I have a lot of wired headphones I’d love to have tried with the Edge. Considering its limitations and price point, the Edge has remarkable finesse. I didn't try adding a subwoofer to the setup as I don't think most people would probably do that, but it was gratifying to hear such a compact sound system pumping out a solid low-end with a strong midrange and a top-end that's smooth and not harsh or jagged. The Bluesound Powernode Edge is a great little streaming amplifier that sounds great and just needs a pair of speakers.

Pricing & Availability: The Bluesound Powernode Edge is available now and costs £599 / $649

More info: bluesound.com

Tech Specs: