Bluesound POWERNODE vs Audiolab 6000A Detailed Comparison

Bluesound POWERNODE vs Audiolab 6000A

Amp to replace

Change

Bluesound POWERNODE

Integrated Amplifier | 80 watts RMS into 8-ohms

Check price atAmazon›

Change

Audiolab 6000A

Integrated Amplifier | 50 watts RMS into 8-ohms

Check price atAmazon›

Bluesound POWERNODE

Check price atAmazon›

Audiolab 6000A

Check price atAmazon›

Bluesound POWERNODE

See at AMAZON

Audiolab 6000A

See at AMAZON

Bluesound POWERNODE vs Audiolab 6000A Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of amplifiers. Bluesound POWERNODE is a Streaming Integrated Amplifier speaker whereas the 6000A is a Integrated Amplifier with built-in DAC speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Bluesound POWERNODE and Audiolab 6000A first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Bluesound POWERNODE	Audiolab 6000A
Power	80 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms	50 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 75 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier class	Class D	Class A/B
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Phono input	No	Yes
Headphone output	3.5mm	1/4
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
App control	Yes	—
Weight	1.72kg / 3.8lbs	7.81kg / 17.2lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	2.75" x 8.6875" x 7.5" 69.9mm x 220.7mm x 190.5mm	3-1/16" x 17-9/16" x 14-1/8" 78.0mm x 447.0mm x 359.0mm

What size room are the Bluesound POWERNODE and Audiolab 6000A Amplifiers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these amplifiers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their max power parameters:

Listening Environment	Bluesound POWERNODE	Audiolab 6000A
Near-field	Poor	Average
Small Room	Average	Good
Mid-size Room	Good	Average
Large Room	Average	Poor
Very Large Room	Poor	Bad

The sections below take each area in turn: power output, inputs and outputs, features and physical size.

**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Bluesound POWERNODE over Audiolab 6000A

App-Based Control	Yes vs None	Control the amplifier via an app
Watts into 8-ohms	80 watts vs 50 watts	Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Signal to Noise Ratio	100 dB vs 76 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Coaxial Digital Inputs	No vs 2	More options for connecting Digital sources
USB Input	Yes vs Firmware only	Connect Sources via USB
Apple AirPlay	Yes vs No	Compatible with Apple Devices with AirPlay
Apple AirPlay 2	Yes vs No	Compatible with Apple Devices with AirPlay 2
Roon	Ready vs No	Roon Compatibility
BluOS	Yes vs No	Compatible with BluOS Wireless Ecosystem
Max Bit Depth	32-bit vs 24-bit	Play higher resolution range media
Max Sample Rate	384kHz vs 192kHz	Play higher resolution media
Base Surface Area	418.0cm²/ 64.8inch² vs 1604.7cm²/ 248.7inch²	takes less space in your room
Height	69mm vs 78mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose Audiolab 6000A over Bluesound POWERNODE

MSRP Price(*)	899USD vs 949USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Handheld Remote	Yes vs No	Control the amplifier by the included RC
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)	0.003% vs 0.008%	Less Harmonic Distortion
Total Analog Inputs	4 vs 2	More options for connecting Analog sources
PhonoInput	Yes vs No	Connect a turntable directly to your amp
Coaxial Digital Inputs	2 vs No	More options for connecting Digital sources

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the Bluesound POWERNODE and Audiolab 6000A differs from each other.

Bluesound POWERNODE Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
2 Optical Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB-A(playing files from a thumb drive or external hard drive)
Ethernet Port

Audiolab 6000A Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 4
Phono Input
2 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input

Bluesound POWERNODE Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

Outputs

Mono-RCA(Sub) Preamp Outputs
3.5mm Headphone Output
Subwoofer Output

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
Pre-out/Main-in Loop
1/4 Headphone Output

Audiolab 6000A Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of Bluesound POWERNODE?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of POWERNODE:

Wireless music streaming amplifier
6-feet AC power cord
58-inch Ethernet cable
2 Optical-to-3.5mm adapters
Quick Setup Guide
Warranty Information
License Agreement

What's in the Box of Audiolab 6000A?

Here are the items that come with the 6000A:

Integrated amplifier
6.5-feet AC power cord
Remote control
Bluetooth antenna
User Instructions