The Well-Tempered Computer, an introduction to computer audio

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Bladelius Embla

Mike Bladelius was the head designer of the great Threshold Audio and consulted for Classe' Audio and Primare during the 90s.  Now he is back with his own company, Bladelius Design Group, based in Sweden.  The Embla has got to be one of the most beautiful piece of audio gear in existence.  Classic Scandinavian clean looks plus super high-tech touches.  

"The Embla offers a silent playback system without any moving mechanical parts when playing from the built-in flash memory.  Unlike computer based playback products the Embla is based on our proprietary audio DSP design, allowing complete control over the timing and reading of the discs. The Embla is designed as a true audiophile unit from the ground up and it's not a modified computer that can copy discs. Not only is the Embla a playback system but it also includes an analog preamplifier, a world class DA-converter based on our reference CD-player, the Gondul M. The DA-converter also carries a switchable digital filter with analog behavior. Insert a CD and you have the option to play directly from the disc like a standard CD-player or you can store the disc on the internal flash memory. You're not even limited to just internal storage. External units can directly connect via USB to the Embla, as well as you may access files on a network drive or music streaming from a PC.
The Embla comes preloaded with a database with album and track names and will display album art if connected to the internet via its Ethernet port."
  • Bit perfect copies into memory from integrated DVD-ROM drive, eliminate transport-related jitter
  • Silent operation when drive not in use
  • 2 x USB host port
  • PCM, WAV, HRx, FLAC, MP3, and OGG
  • 2 x 32-bit/192kHz dac chips per channel
  • User selectable digital filters to suit listening preferences
  • Built-in pre-amp with analog volume control in 0.5dB steps
  • Digital inputs: 1 X AES/EBU, 1 x RCA, 1 x Toslink
  • Digital outputs: 1 X AES/EBU, 1 x RCA
  • RJ45 port for internet connection
  • Bluetooth 
  • Balanced and un-balanced analog output