Bluesound Node Icon vs Cambridge Audio CXN100: Which premium five-star streamer reigns supreme?

Two GOATs of the music streamer world share the battlefield once more

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This race has already been run.

When the Bluesound Node Icon arrived in the What Hi-Fi? test rooms, it went up against the established five-star Cambridge Audio CXN100 and came away from that head to head victorious, in the process winning the 2025 What Hi-Fi? Award for the Best music streamer £750-£1000.

But while that somewhat gives away which has the performance edge and is What Hi-Fi?'s preference, it doesn't tell the whole story of how these excellent streamers compare - nor does it necessarily determine which one you should favour. After all, one of these products may have more suitable connectivity for your setup, one sonic character may suit your system components more than the other.

Here, our expert reviews team have put the two literally side by side to compare their build, features, sound, user experience and price directly, to help you make an informed choice over which streamer, if either, is right for you.

Bluesound Node Icon vs Cambridge Audio CXN100: price

Bluesound streamers have occupied the entry-level end of the market - its Node units being the core model in the Canadian company's range for a decade now, priced around and below the £400 mark.

The Node Icon sees Bluesound reach higher up the market, where fellow streamer stalwart Cambridge Audio has, in contrast, years of experience. The new flagship costs £899, making its natural rival Cambridge Audio's similarly priced CXN100 (currently £799).

While many five-star streamers sit on either side of this price level, not much there has genuinely impressed besides the Cambridge and Bluesound. We are also big fans of the Lindemann Limetree Bridge II (£875), but unlike the two streamers here, it doesn't integrate a DAC and is therefore considered a 'streaming transport'.

Bluesound Node Icon vs Cambridge Audio CXN100: features & connectivity