New Products

Bluesound, the sister company of Canada’s NAD and PSB specializing in wireless streaming gear, has announced an accessory hub that turns any wired analog or digital audio source into an app-controllable multiroom streaming player.

Slated for release in mid-June at $319, the Bluesound Hub provides a host of connections, including a phono input, that make it possible to convert turntables, CD players, and other legacy source components into BluOS-enabled streaming devices. A setup wizard in the BluOS Controller app makes it easy to add new sources to a Wi-Fi-based BluOS network.

Digital connections include coaxial and digital optical inputs and an HDMI port with eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) for connection to a TV. On the analog side, stereo analog and (moving magnet) phono inputs are provided. When connected to a turntable, Bluesound says the Hub acts like a “networked low-noise, wide-bandwidth phono preamp” so you can listen to LPs over BluOS-enabled speakers in other parts of the house.

Up to four Hubs can be added to a single BluOS network and each Hub can manage one analog and one digital source simultaneously. The Hub supports native sampling rates up to 192kHz and bit depths up to 24 bits.

At 5.6 x 6 x 1.8 inches, the Hub is small enough to fit almost anywhere and has keyhole slots on the bottom for wall mounting. For more information, visit bluesound.com.