Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Digital Music Systems

The Bluesound HUB Connects the Old to the New

The Bluesound HUB helps add legacy devices to your wireless speaker system. Is it worth the money? We are going to find out soon.

Bluesound Hub Lifestyle Angle

With the majority of consumers using streaming as their primary source of music delivery, and the propagation of wireless speakers, there is a real need for some sort of hub to connect legacy hi-fi components.

Bluesound certainly isn’t the first to offer this; Dynaudio has had a hub for their wireless speakers for almost 6 years and other manufacturers jumped on this train long before the Canadian manufacturer.

It is a wise tactical move to bring more prospective people into the Bluesound/NAD orbit this way because so many people still have turntables and CD players that they might want to use.

Bluesound Hub Angle

Bluesound, makers of the award-winning hi-res wireless multi-room line of audio players, have announced the HUB, an affordable network accessory that connects to a variety of analog and digital audio sources, bringing them into the Bluesound ecosystem for multi-room streaming.

Retail availability of the HUB is expected in mid-June 2022 and is priced at USD $319 at Crutchfield / CAD $419 at Amazon.ca.

Any Source, In Any Room

Streaming audio is more flexible than ever with the HUB. Easily add a Bluesound HUB to any non-BluOS enabled audio source and transmit music to one or many Bluesound players around the home. Audio sources like a turntable or CD player instantly become network-connected and are new sources from which your Bluesound system can play music. The HUB unlocks the problem of geography in letting users stream vinyl wirelessly for the first time. 

Bluesound Hub Rear

Connectivity

​​From TVs to CD players, turntables to the latest gadgets, a host of inputs on the back panel: HDMI eARC, Coaxial, Digital Optical, Stereo Analog, and a moving magnet Phono stage supports the vast majority of music devices. Each HUB can manage one analog and one digital source simultaneously, and up to four (4) HUBs can be added to a single network.

Easy Setup

Equipped with BluOS, the HUB makes adding audio sources simple using the BluOS Controller app setup wizard. A few taps on the familiar BluOS app controls a whole multi-room system from a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Bluesound Hub Lifestyle Top Angle

Minimal Wires

Simplicity is guaranteed with the HUB. With a 1U rack height, and 1/3rd rack width, external USB-C connected power supply, the HUB can easily be placed on shelves, behind TVs, or mounted with four different orientation options using its two keyhole mounting slots.

The Best of Both Worlds 

Streaming music fans who also love vinyl will be especially appreciative of the HUB’s built-in audiophile-grade MM phono stage preamp that brings audio from your turntable to any Bluesound player for whole-home turntable streaming. The HUB acts like a networked low noise, wide-bandwidth phono pre-amp, delivering spectacular audio quality for vinyl enjoyment in any or every room of a home at hi-fidelity.

Bluesound Hub Front

Key Highlights

  • Network Audio Source-sharing with BluOS™
  • Low-noise MM Phono Stage
  • Stereo Analog Line Input
  • HDMI eARC with CEC
  • Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs
  • ARM® CORTEX™ A53 Processor 
  • Dual-band Wi-Fi + Gigabit Ethernet 
  • Powered by USB-C Power Adaptor 
  • 1U Rack Height, 1/3 Rack Width 
  • Four-way Keyhole Mounting Slots 
  • Front Panel Function Button 
  • Black Finish

For more information: bluesound.com

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. ORT

    May 11, 2022 at 2:02 am

    Nice. This has been a feature of Denon/Marantz HEOS for years now. I can play CDs or records through out my home.

    Easily and wirelessly. HEOS is excellent and standard on many Denon and Marantz products. You can even buy a HEOS amp that allows you to use passive speakers in a HEOsystem. You can even use HEOS powered speakers without having a HEOS AVR! I have done so for a lot of folk that do not need or desire a home theater but primarily want music through out their home and HEOS does just that. Easily and wirelessly.

    A friend and co-worker owns Bluesound and I can understand his joy and satisfaction but in like fashion, he knows the reasons for my choosing HEOS and has been amazed (to a degree, mind you) that I can play CDs and vinyl through out my home in one or all rooms. I can also play the same Pandora statioin in one room or all rooms or SiriusXM or Amazon HD Music or any combination thereof.

    HEOS is more than worthy of consideration. I have owned my set up for several years now and it is trouble free, including the App which I have installed on iPhones, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire Tablets and iPads. The application is far from being a “beta” as I have read here on the mini-report on the excellent Marantz 40n. In my estimation, based entirely upon real world use over 5+ years now, the HEOS app just flat works as advertised. It is NOT “buggy” in the least and if any one would know, it would be I.

    I am an ardent user and fan of HEOS for good reason. No…Make that “reasons”.

    Oh yes. For the Roonatics, HEOS is RomperRoon Ready. Meh… I despise Roon for what it is, which is to say, fAd Copy. I will NEVERagain load that tripe onto my computer but that does not mean the sheeple can not. Buzz Word compliant is all Roon really is. Yes. It is my opinion based again on a real world, objective test that lasted two of the three months of the trial period offered by Denon and Roon. It does nothing of real worth in the real world in which I and many of those I know and call friend, live in. I get it that some in the audio and frAudio world genuflect over RomperRoon Ready. FTN.

    But, I digress. Bluesound is fine but HEOS is better. Trust me. I know whereof I speak and I know what I’m doin’ when I’m reviewin’.

    ORT

    • Ken M

      May 12, 2022 at 6:49 am

      Thanks for this info. 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

Campfire Audio Axion IEM Connected USB-C with Controller

Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

Offering premium sound quality, USB-C connectivity with a DAC, and seamless integration with iPhones and Android smartphones, the Axion IEMs are Campfire Audio's most...

Rotel DX-5 Integrated Amplifier Silver Front Angle View Lifestyle Rotel DX-5 Integrated Amplifier Silver Front Angle View Lifestyle

Integrated Amps & Stereo Receivers

At $1,499, the Rotel DX-5 is a compact sized 25-watt per channel stereo integrated amplifier with Bluetooth, HDMI-ARC and Roon.

Wattson Audio Madison Power Amplifier Front Wattson Audio Madison Power Amplifier Front

Amplifiers

Discover the new Madison Power Amplifier from Wattson Audio — a Swiss-engineered Class A/B amp delivering rich harmonics, ultra-low distortion, and dynamic performance in...

WiiM Voice Remote 2 with components lifestyle WiiM Voice Remote 2 with components lifestyle

New Products

With WiiM's continuing quest to improve the music listening experience, the upgraded Voice Remote 2 improves control for WiiM devices.

Sharp TIVO TV Lifestyle Man View Sharp TIVO TV Lifestyle Man View

HDTV 4K & 8K TV

Would you buy a 55-inch Sharp 4K TV with built-in TiVo for $299.99? Let's take a look at what it offers.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance Natura Wireless Speakers Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance Natura Wireless Speakers

New Products

This convergence of Danish Hi-Fi and some of the finest Italian stone or petrified wood will not be cheap. And that was before the...

Gift Ideas?

Cost-no-object Audiophile Gear

Floorstanding Speakers

When money is no-object in building a high-end audio system, this is the audiophile gear you'll want to check out first.

You May Also Like

Digital Music Systems

At $4,000, the McIntosh DS200 is a high-end music streamer with HDMI ARC, TIDAL Connect, and a Quad Balanced 8-channel, 32-bit DAC.

Home Theater

After three days roaming the hallowed halls of CEDIA Expo 2024, here are our picks for "Best in Show."

Digital Music Systems

Bluesound NODE music streamers now support Dirac Live acoustic room correction, but activating it will cost you $159 or more.

Articles

The 10 best digital music streamers of 2023 include models from $219 to $2,500.

Digital Music Systems

Bluesound updates the NODE, while adding a less expensive NODE NANO at $299 and new flagship NODE ICON at $999.

Integrated Amps & Stereo Receivers

Depending on your budget, the $499 NAD C 316BEE V2 might be the ideal stereo integrated amplifier to build a hi-fi system around.

New Products

At $3,680, the Eversolo DMP-A10 music streamer packs in so much it just may be the Swiss Army Knife of network streamers.

Gift Guides

Give the gift of high fidelity sound this Holiday season to the music lover on your list at prices that won't break the bank.

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers