The majority of music being enjoyed by consumers these days comes from streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, but the vast majority of those consumers simply aren’t aware that what they’re listening to is a far cry from the high fidelity (Hi-Fi) audio that represents the music the way the artist intended. This is because on streaming platforms, the audio files are compressed to make them easier to transfer over the internet. This results in the loss of audio quality and limits what an audio system can produce.
Audiophiles–a rare breed–are largely aware of these issues, but for most consumers, this scaled-down version of their favorite music is good enough.
While streaming services like Spotify have claimed to be working streaming solutions for audiophiles, manufacturers like Bluesound, a Lenbrook Media Group brand, hopes to solve this, however, with its new lineup of Node high-fidelity music streamers, featuring the affordable entry-level Node Nano, the mid-level Node, and audiophile-grade Node Icon.
The Node Nano is a compact, entry-level music streamer designed to transform existing hi-fi and home audio components into powerful streaming systems, featuring ESS SABRE DAC with Hyperstream IV technology The mid-level Node is a remastered version of the company’s original streamer, featuring a new ES9039Q2M DAC, built-in THX AAA headphone amplifier, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, and DSD support. For more advanced users, the Node Icon sets a higher standard with its 5-inch full-color display and Dual-Mono DAC design, utilizing two ESS SABRE ES9039Q2M DACs and a low-noise power supply, among other high-quality features.
In varying capacities, these streamers support Spotify, AirPlay, Amazon Music, Pandora, Qobuz, SiriusXM, Tidal, and more.
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Lenbrook Media Group and Bluesound executives lead a listening demonstration of the new Bluesound Node music streamers in a special listening area at New York City vinyl bar All Blues. (Photo/Zachary Comeau)
These new Bluesound Node streamers were unveiled at a launch event in New York City at a music listening bar called All Blues, which features an endless catalog of vinyl and vintage JBL speakers.
The difference these music streamers make was clear, as the company led press through a demo of all three Node devices. The Node Icon was particularly impressive, with some listeners even able to tell that the guitar being played by the artist was slightly out of tune.
All models handle high-res audio, allowing listeners to hear the subtle nuances in their music, whether it’s a punchy bass line, delicate guitar plucks, or the warmth of vocals. The THX AAA headphone technology in the NODE and NODE ICON also distortion-free sound for private listening, while multi-room capabilities expand the sound experience throughout a home. The NODE ICON’s display and premium components create a seamless blend of top-tier audio performance with modern design, perfect for audiophiles.
Audiophiles are not the entire intended market here, as a panel discussion at the event explored the need to better inform the average consumer of the Hi-Fi experiences had in the All Blues bar, in which countless vinyl records are on display shelves around the venue.
“If you could take those off the shelf and see all the liner notes and everything, that’s an experience that a lot of people really enjoy and probably how this this venue is operating,” said Matt Simmonds, a Bluesound product manager.
On the topic of consumers being complacent with the quality of their music, Simmonds compares it to the television market, which has consistently evolved from 1080p to 4K and now 8K. Consumers have shown that video quality does matter to them, and audio quality should be no different.
Similarly, most people would become believers in fine food if they splurged on a Michelin star restaurant for dinner.
“If we can see the difference and taste the difference, why on earth can’t we hear the difference?” Simmonds asked.
Taking those intimate experiences with music into the app-based experience that most consumers are using could lead to deeper engagement and a desire for better-quality audio, Simmonds said.
Another panelist, Howie Singer, a music industry professor at NYU, said intimate experiences with music don’t typically revolve around listening to high-fidelity audio. According to Singer, about half of people that buy vinyl don’t own a record player.
“They’re buying a thing to hang on their wall or a thing to demonstrate their fandom for a particular artist,” Singer explained.
However, the music streaming industry’s growth is beginning to slow some.
Marat Berenstein, who leads partnerships and industry relations at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, commented on the fact that young people are conditioned to listening to music in a compressed format.
According to Berenstein, one faculty member at NYU conducts an exercise where he shows students two versions of a song, one an uncompressed WAV file and another a compressed MP3 file.
“When you ask the kids which one they prefer, they all prefer the MP3,” Berenstein said. “For the first 15 years of their life, they’ve been conditioned to hearing music in the compressed format.”
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