Bluesound Icon or Eversolo A6

[dx052]

Looking to get a streamer for the living room to stream Tidal etc and possibly to stream my personal music collection through Roon, been looking at Bluesound Icon and the Eversolo A6 as I like the connections & the interface. I am going to be using my Adam Audio speakers via XLR to the unit as I am looking to keep the set up as minimal as possible. I have only seen the Icon (&not heard) in my local store. These units both seem very simular and to far of in price as well.

 

[davidf]

The last comparison of an A6 and Node X, both myself and the other person present preferred the Node X. The A6 looks fancy, but it sounded thin and uninvolving in comparison.

 

[RTHerringbone]

I can't knock the Icon after having had one for a month or so. Granted I was "only" upgrading from a WiiM Mini, but it had a tangibly fuller, wider and more detailed sound to my ears. It's responsive, attractive, compact and just works.

The BluOs app works great and isn't far at all in my opinion from the WiiM app and if for some reason you didn't like it, you can simply use TIDAL Connect to effectively bypass it (and you have to do that to listen to things like My Daily Discovery).

 

[RayP]

Happy Icon owner here having changed up from the 2i. A slightly more detailed presentation and slightly smoother too. App is solid and reliable. Display is crisp. Canada versus communist China? Easy decision. 👍

 

[jjbomber]

The last comparison of an A6 and Node X, both myself and the other person present preferred the Node X. The A6 looks fancy, but it sounded thin and uninvolving in comparison.

Though by some remarkable coincidence, you sell the Node but don't stock Eversolo.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Icon here. It’s very very good.
Display has uses but not really big enough.
Handy motion controls on top which I can reach from my office chair!

 

[GroeneLeeuw]

Eversolo user here, the A6 Master Edition 1st gen.
XLR balance connected to a Rotel RA-1952.
Installed a 2TB SSD.

Very happy user, very satisfied with the tech, features, easy of use and app.
It sounds great, very clean and transparent.
Cannot imagine how other streamer/DAC can sound better.
Sound as good? Sure, DACs are beyond transparent these days.
Better? Nah, BS

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

@GroeneLeeuw
Not too sure .
My Icon has better staging and dynamic swing than my considerably more expensive CAMBRIDGE EXN100

 

[Witterings]

My neighbour recently home trialed the A6 Gen 2 and the Icon ... he still has the Icon.

 

[GroeneLeeuw]

@GroeneLeeuw
Not too sure .
My Icon has better staging and dynamic swing than my considerably more expensive CAMBRIDGE EXN100

Don´t see how a streamer/DAC can influence staging or dynamics swing (what does that mean, what is it?).

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

DAC is only part of the equation
Analogue sound circuit design , clocking, etc all part of streamer design and application

 

[Gray]

@GroeneLeeuw
Not too sure .
My Icon has better staging and dynamic swing than my considerably more expensive CAMBRIDGE EXN100

You must wish you could've fully compared the two - before ending up with both 🤔

 

[RJW232]

On paper the Eversolo looks like the best deal. However, in the real world buy the Bluesound if you want to listen to music.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

You must wish you could've fully compared the two - before ending up with both 🤔

No, I like the aesthetic match in the big room, but I have better ideas involving a Sugden….

 

[daytona600]

Eversolo have 2 new models out this month

 

[nopiano]

Though by some remarkable coincidence, you sell the Node but don't stock Eversolo.

I wouldn’t sell a product I didn’t believe in. Surely you wouldn’t either?

 

[jjbomber]

I wouldn’t sell a product I didn’t believe in. Surely you wouldn’t either?

Everybody except you does. Especially second hand car dealers on finance! Banks wouldn't be far behind. People who sold PPI?

 

[dx052]

Thanks for your thoughts. Pulled the trigger and bought the Bluesound Node Icon. Very happy with my purchase, it was very easy to set up and integrate with my steaming service of choice, very much plug and play! from my initial tests using Tidal CD quality and Hi Res music the music sounds very pleasing to my ears, bearing in mind my space is not treated & my set up is rather simple to some. Next step is to test out Roon as I have a big archive of music that I have stored. I really can't complain it does what I wanted and expected.

 

[davidf]

Though by some remarkable coincidence, you sell the Node but don't stock Eversolo.

By another remarkable coincidence, I've heard both. If it had been the other way round, I'd be selling Eversolo. And yes, I had the option.

 

[matthewpianist]

Everybody except you does. Especially second hand car dealers on finance! Banks wouldn't be far behind. People who sold PPI?

I briefly worked for a franchised VW dealer about 16 years ago. I went there because I believed in the product, but I soon found I didn't agree with the sales tactics or lack of real, genuine interest in the customer. I left, and my previous boss at the Sony Centre took me back on as an Assistant Manager. There, I believed in the product, but also in the way the franchise did business.

 

[Witterings]

I briefly worked for a franchised VW dealer about 16 years ago. I went there because I believed in the product, but I soon found I didn't agree with the sales tactics or lack of real, genuine interest in the customer. I left, and my previous boss at the Sony Centre took me back on as an Assistant Manager. There, I believed in the product, but also in the way the franchise did business.

Was there one owner of The Sony Centre or were each of the stores franchises so you know?

 

[davidf]

Not long come back from someone's house who has an A8 and a Node Icon - both were played through his system, and the Icon sounded better. He said he's going to sell the A8.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Not long come back from someone's house who has an A8 and a Node Icon - both were played through his system, and the Icon sounded better. He said he's going to sell the A8.

Not surprised. The wee ICON is sublime… I feel no need at all to run it through an external DAC at all.
Interestingly, my interest in ATC active speakers has been piqued and as such, the ICON would be a wonderful partner…..

 

[matthewpianist]

Was there one owner of The Sony Centre or were each of the stores franchises so you know?

They were all franchises. The one I worked for, Willo Ltd., had two stores, in Preston and Bolton. The MD was one of the best people I've ever worked for.

Unfortunately, Sony screwed the franchisees over in the end, by supplying big box stores at lower prices.