Description I knew Bluesound was up to something when I got word they were working on a new hi-res music streaming amplifier. This is the all-new Powernode Edge, designed to be an entry-level amplifier to power your passive speakers. When I got the email letting me know this would be available, I told Tommy (our Director of Product Development) that we needed to get these in the store. I’m a sucker for good-looking products. Aesthetically, it just grabs your attention, especially the white one. I like how Bluesound tapered off the front of the device so that you have easier access to the controls. Now, for us installing this in the garage, you’re probably not going to think about this function as much because you’ll be using the BluOS app to control it. But, it’s nice to see they made this subtle yet noticeable change. This device has audiophile-grade componentry capable of hi-res audio up to 24bit/192 kHz and MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) playback. So, for all you bros who are like me and have a Tidal music subscription, you can enjoy high-quality audio with this thing. Let’s talk specs. First and foremost, this amplifier should not be confused with the Bluesound Powernode. If you look at that one, you’ll see that 1) the design is different, and 2) it delivers 40W per channel as opposed to 80W from the Powernode. Take note of that; I’ll talk about what speakers work best with the Edge in a moment. The specs we care about: Delivers 2x 40W of power with zero distortion Possesses Bluesounds’s latest generation Quad-Core processor Internet Radio built-in Apple Airplay 2 External NAS drive HDMI eARC input They made this thing with integration in mind: the stackable 1U height, the half-rack width, heat management and venting, easy-to-use speaker terminals, HDMI eARC input, front panel controls, and a wall mount bracket included in the box. No matter how you decide to install it, you will have complete control over where you want this to be. If you’re asking me, it’s going in one of my locker cabinets in the garage, or if I’m using it in the house, I’ll find a spot in my entertainment cabinet to place it - it’s compact. So, the question you may have is, what speakers should you buy with this thing? My recommendation would be a pair of PSB P3 bookshelf speakers. The P3s don’t require much power and don’t need much power to achieve their best sound. If you decide to go with another brand of speakers or you already own some with similar specs as the P3s, this amplifier will work great.
