Audio & Headphones · Head-to-head
Bluesound NODE vs WiiM Pro Plus
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Music Streamers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The NODE has the broadest connections and service support here, including HDMI eARC, a headphone amp and Roon Ready. The WiiM Pro Plus covers most of the same streaming ground and adds Google Cast for a much smaller spend.
Bluesound NODE
Buy itThe most complete streamer here, with HDMI eARC, a THX AAA headphone amp and almost every casting protocol that matters.
- Bluesound lists AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect with Spotify Lossless, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect and Roon Ready support.
- HDMI eARC input with Dolby Digital decoding means a TV can play through the same stereo.
- Outputs cover RCA, optical, coax, USB Audio 2.0, a subwoofer RCA and a 6.3 mm headphone jack, plus Gigabit Ethernet and a 12V trigger.
- It is the priciest of the two buy picks by a wide margin.
- Google Cast is not on Bluesound's list of integrations.
- Room correction is Dirac Live Ready rather than built in, and Dirac does not work over the USB output.
WiiM Pro Plus
Buy itA small streamer with a strong built-in DAC, both AirPlay 2 and Google Cast, and room correction for a fraction of the premium spend.
- WiiM rates the AKM AK4493SEQ line output at 121 dB SNR and -113 dB THD+N.
- It supports AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect and Roon Ready, so most phones and apps can cast to it.
- RoomFit auto-correction, 10-band graphic and parametric EQ, a voice remote and RCA and optical cables come in the box.
- There is no HDMI input, headphone output or wired subwoofer output; WiiM points buyers to the WiiM Ultra for those.
- The optical input takes stereo PCM only, so Dolby Digital and DTS from a TV are not supported.
- Ethernet is 10/100 rather than Gigabit, and DSD is not in its listed codecs.
Side by side
| Bluesound NODE | WiiM Pro Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Buyers who want one streamer to handle music services, a TV, a subwoofer and headphones without extra boxes. | Anyone who wants to add streaming to an existing amp or powered speakers at a sensible spend. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Bluesound NODE - The most complete streamer here, with HDMI eARC, a THX AAA headphone amp and almost every casting protocol that matters. Choose the WiiM Pro Plus instead if anyone who wants to add streaming to an existing amp or powered speakers at a sensible spend.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Music Streamers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).