Bladelius Miner €3.000

Bladelius Miner €3.000

• 2 pc Toslink input
• 2 pc spdif input
• 1 pc analog input
• 2 pc USB
• 1 USB togo
• Analog input
• Headphone out
• Pre out
• Ethernet
• Wifi
• Supports 32bit/384khz

Expansion port (future external boxes)
CD player optional
Plays from WIMP, Spotify, Nas, USB Etc

iPad App released soon.

NAIM NAC-N 172 XS

Pre-amp with streaming audio (UPnP), digital and analog inputs.

• UPnP™-enabled to stream audio files from any UPnP enabled server such as UnitiServe or a NAS at up to 32bit/192kHz resolution
• vTuner 5* full service internet radio
• Optional FM/DAB module variant available
• Streams/plays WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, AAC, WMA, Ogg Vorbis and MP3 files
• Gapless playback available on all lossless file formats
• Front-panel USB port for replay of MP3 player/iPod and USB-stored audio
• Multiple intuitive control interfaces: front panel, remote control handset and n-Stream control app
• USB mini-b connector for software upgrades
• High quality Burr-Brown PCM1793 DAC
• Five 24bit/192kHz-capable S/PDIF digital inputs (2 x coaxial RCA, 2 x TOSlink, 1 x front panel mini-TOSlink)
• 3 analogue inputs (1 DIN, 1 RCA pair, 1 x 3.5mm front-panel socket)
• 1 line output
• Front-panel 3.5mm headphone connector
• OLED display for high contrast and easy visibility
• Ethernet and Wi-Fi network connectivity

Website NAIM 

Price: € 2350

T+A MP 1260 R - DAC / NETWORK-CLIENT

Streaming Client formats	MP3 , WMA, AAC, OGG-Vorbis, FLAC (192/24 via LAN) and WAV (192/24 via LAN) with gapless playback (where supported by server)
Supported media servers	UPnP AV, Microsoft Windows Player 10, (MS DRM 10), vTuner Internet Radio Service, DLNA compatible servers
Features	Web server (remote PC web browser control), Audio network config., Internet Radio Station database (automatic update via Internet) digital access of iPod contents (D/A conversion in MP 1260 R)
Interfaces	USB 2.0, iPod with control and display, 2 x Digitalentrances (SP/DIF) coax + optical (TOS-Link), 16 ... 24 Bit, 24 ... 96 ks/S, LAN, W-LAN
Audio data
Analogue outputs	Stereo 2,5 Veff / 22 Ohm
Digital outputs	1 x coax IEC 60958 (LPCM)
D/A converter	32 Bit, 352,8/384 kHz Sigma Delta 8-times oversampling
Upsampling	free programmable signal processor with 4 selectable oversampling algorithms. FIR short, FIR long, Bezier/IIR, Bezier
Analogue filters	Phase linear bessel filter with 100 kHz limit frequency
Frequency response	2 Hz - 20 kHz
Total harmonic distortion	< 0.001 %
Signal / noise ratio	112 dB
Channel separation	106 dB

Website: T+A
Price: US$ 4,200

Trigon Chronolog

Networked CD/DVD player/ripper

Formats:
wav, mp3, flac, cdda, nsv, m4a, aac, strm, pls, rm, mpa, wma, ogg, mp2, m3u, mod, amf, 669, dmf, dsm, far, gdm, imf, it, m15, med, okt, s3m, stm, sfx, ult, uni, xm, sid, ac3, dts, cue, aif, aiff, wpl, ape, mac, mpc, mp+, mpp, shn, zip, rar, wv, nsf, spc, gym, adplug, adx, dsp, adp, ymf, ast, afc, hps, xsp

OS: Linux
Protocol: UPnP
HD: 120GB SDD
Networking: 1GB LAN Ethernet/WLAN-WiFi interface

Graphical user interface using touch-WEB portal
Bit rate and frequency display
Automatic updates via the Internet

Output: RCA/XLR and HDMI/DVI

Website: Trigon
Price: $9,495

Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6

Streaming audio player

Wolfson WM8740 DACs in dual differential mode
24-bit/384kHz upsampling

Inputs
Wi-Fi / Ethernet
S/PDIF optical and electrical
24 /192 asynchronous USB (driver for Win)

Services: Aupeo!, BBC iPlayer Radio, Pandora, Rhapsody, Sirius/XM and MP3Tunes

Remote: Stream Magic Remote app for the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad

Price: € 995.00
Source: What Hi-Fi?

Devialet D-Premier

DAC (digital-to-analogue converter), stereo preamplifier and stereo power amplifier in a single chassis.

Streaming over WiFi.
The initial release of the Devialet AIR Application works with:

• iTunes (as a library browser) on Mac or PC
• up to CD resolution (RedBook 44.1 kHz / 16 bits)
• Wide range of formats: uncompressed PCM formats (WAV, AIFF), lossless codecs (ALAC, FLAC), lossy codecs (AAC, some MPEGs)
  An upgrade of the Application (Q1 2012) will support all lossless and lossy formats and expand resolution to 96 kHz / 24 bits.

Price: €11,920.00
Website

Chapter Audio Notepad

150W into 8 ohms a Class D amplifier
DAC
USB input
Apple's Airplay protocol.
Streaming up to 24/192 via Ethernet, 24/96 wirelessly.
Price: $2,500 (available in December)
No specs yet on the Chapter Audio website.

Denon DNP-720AE

  

dlna 1.5 Certified (AUDIO ONLY)

Windows 7 Certified

Apple AirPlay Certified

USB iPod Direct/Flash/HDD

Made for iPod/Works with iPhone Certified

RadioDenon.com - access to over 12,000 Internet Radio Stations

Pandora Radio Streaming

Rhapsody and Napster Streaming Price: US$499.99

Widealab Aurender Digital Music Player

Widealab of South Korea announced the launch of their Aurender Series Digital Music Storage and Playback Systems with Solid State Drive Playback and iPad user interface. Solid State Drives have numerous advantages over CD mechanisms and hard disk drives which have mechanical parts that wear down and emit noise. More importantly, there are limitations to accurately reading and playing back data from a spinning disk in real time. Solid State Drives have no disks, almost no seek times and vastly lower random access times than hard disk drives and compact disk drives. This ensures absolute accuracy in reading and playback of music files.

Another vital factor in flawless playback is the accuracy of the clocks which are used as references in reading and playing back music data. Aurender's clocks are based on ultra-stable TCXO or OCXO oscillators, depending on the model. The next step up in performance to OCXO oscillators are rubidium oscillators which are used in atomic clocks. The OCXO oscillators used in the Aurender are of the finest quality and boast an accuracy under 5 billionth of a second. TCXO and OCXO based clocks along with proprietary re-clocking using Field Programmable Gate Arrays guarantee that the signal to the Digital Analog Converter is as accurate as possible. 

The Aurender can store up to 6 terabytes of music in uncompressed or lossless formats which are used by studios and broadcasting companies to archive their recordings. The iPad is the user interface for the Aurender Music System and the application is free of charge. By using the iPad as an interface, users can easily view all details of the music collection according to Song, Artist, Genre,Album, Composer and Conductor, in addition to instantly selecting songs and editing playlists.

All models are designed to be used with high quality DACs and have AES/EBU, Coaxial and Optical outputs. The S30 model offers an IIS connection and the R10 model has a digital I/O for master clock (10Mhz). Other features include Linux OS customized for audio applications, uncompressed and lossless formats, up to 24 bit/192 kHz resolution, fanless design and precision machined aluminum case and parts designed to protect sensitive components from electromagnetic noise and vibrations. In addition, the Aurender has LAN and USB connections for transfer of music files from external storage devices or PCs.

Expected retail prices are $4,600 for the Aurender A10 and $5,700 for the Aurender S10.

Aurender Brochure

Burmester Music Server 111

Berlin based Burmester Audiosysteme, founded in 1977, produces really high end stuffs. The legendary preamp 777 was indeed its foundation (named after its origination date – July 1977) and has established that shiny metallic look for all products that followed.  There are people who really like their stuff so much that they go out and buy a new Porsche, as Burmesters are premium sound system option for the car.  Of course, you need perfectly reproduced music to go with your Cayenne Turbo to pick up the kids.  

The new Music Server model 111 compliments their existing line of CD players (No 061, 069 and 089) and was launched during the high end show in Munich.  It is a hard disk based server with integrated drive slot for ripping, WIFI and LAN capable.

"The new Reference Line Music Server convinces not only by its excellent sound quality, but also by the extremely fast processing of even very large data sets. The local player is both about the device, via the web browser, and via handheld devices such as iPad with a specially developed Burmester Darfur app to be controlled.

Streaming over WLAN is also possible. On the integrated drive slot, an existing CD collection in the highest possible quality to rip it. Were not deposited album art and track information are added automatically to a comparison with the database. Due to the forward error correction (FEC) of only a few seconds for audio CD drives, there is the possibility that older or scratched CD went to an audio data stream that includes sporadic dropouts. Without appropriate countermeasures can thus reduce the noise listening."

Sforzato DST-01 Digital Stream Transport

And you think the Linn streamers are over the top? Extreme attention to detail, the Japanese made two-box Sforzato DST-01 upsampling Digital Stream Transport is a DLNA enabled streamer which connects to a Network Attached Server or PC over LAN network. Ultra-low jitter temperature controlled crystal oscillator to control the master clock.  Large toroidal transformers, with separate supply to digital processing and other circuits.  Each transformer is placed coaxially with leg spikes provide grounding of external vibration.  Front panel switch selects up-sampling rates of up to 192kHz with various digital filters settings (standard, no pre-echo, no post echo, minimum phase, etc.) which happens before sending digital signal to an outboard DAC.  Please note that the second box is the power supply, not the DAC. Sforzato is also developing a dedicated DAC for it which is going to be called the DSR-01 (DigitalStream Renderer).  Controls are done through iPod or iPhone using the included MLPlayer app.

• Supported Files: AIFF, Apple lossless, FLAC, MP3, WMA Lossless, WAV
• Sampling Frequency: 44.1k, 48k, 88.2k, 96k, 176.4k, 192k
• Bit of support: 16bit, 24bit (Lossless WMA is 44.1k/16bit only)
• Digital Output: AES/EBU, RCA (S / PDIF)
• Word clock output: BNC × 1
• Word clock input: BNC × 1
• LAN: 100Base-T RJ45
• Retail price: Yen 600,000 (approximately USD10,000)

Blacknote DSS 30 Tube Digital Streamer

Designed around an open source Linux platform, Blacknote's DSS 30 Tube Digital Static Streamer is capable of processing a wide range of audio format through external device connected via USB, with no moving parts inside.

• Two front and three rear 2.0 USB ports, one of which dedicated to the computer only, one Ethernet port and one RS 232 serial port for LAN connection
• Compatible with WAV, FLAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, as well as commonly used compressed files such as MP3, M4A, AAC, etc. via USB Memory Sticks, Hard Disks, Computers and even CD Rom External Drive players having USB connection
• All functions are managed by a customized Texas-Instruments microchip with future upgradability in mind
• Power supply is via three dedicated customized transformers. The transformers supply power separately to the digital stage, the analog stage, and the output tube stage
• DAC made by 24-bit AKM and Burr-Brown receiver chip
• Tube analog output stage based on two 6922 valves with a balanced powered output

Naim NDX network player

Compared to other established brands, Naim was a relatively late comer to the digital game.  But when they crossed over, they brought their analog amplifier experience with them.  Their first foray into digital music was in 1989 with the CDS-1 two-box player, considered one of the best in its time, and later its CD3 gained sort of a cult following.  


Zoom back to the 21st century, in addition to its  HDX hard disk player and Uniti all-in-one player, Naim has move on to the streaming player game with the NDX.  Think of it as a wireless DAC, the NDX plays UPnP audio streams, internet radio, iPod or iPhone audio, and files stored on USB memory hardware. Three high resolution S/PDIF digital inputs allow it to act as a stand alone DAC (up to 24 bit/192kHz resolution.)  Please note that it does not wirelessly play files on the iPod as it is not an Airplay compatible unit.

Its network connection can be either wireless (wifi) or wired (Ethernet LAN), and NDX can stream audio files, including from iTunes libraries, stored on a computer or on network storage, via UPnP. It can play all common audio file and stream formats at up to 24bit/96kHz resolution: WMA, MP3, MMS, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF and Ogg Vorbis. The NDX also recognises M3U and PLS playlists formats and supports gap-less playback on all lossless formats.


NDX can also stream files from internet radio stations (optional FM/DAB tuner module available) and integrates seamlessly with the NDX control interface. NDX can play iPod or iPhone music via its front panel USB socket and, via the same socket, it can play audio files stored on USB memory sticks and drives. NDX is fully Apple-authenticated enabling playback of iPod/iPhone-stored digital media, bypassing the iPod/iPhone internal DAC for optimised performance.


All functions can be operated from its front panel buttons, from its remote control handset or using the Naim n-Stream iPhone app. The app also allows input and volume control of other Naim preamplifiers and DAC. 

The NDX uses a RAM buffer and master-clock jitter removal technique of the top-of-the-line Naim DAC outboard digital to analogue converter. The digital to analog conversion function is handled by a single Burr Brown DAC chip.  NDX uses an extruded non-magnetic aluminium case and chassis construction with extra attention to power supply noise and regulation is a fundamental element of its performance. A massive mains transformer, oversize smoothing capacitors, independent power supplies and multiple regulators, along with meticulous PCB layout and earthing topology, ensure minimal power supply noise.

Consonance D-Linear 8C wireless DAC

Opera Consonance's new D-Linear 8C wireless DAC is an interesting alternative to Apple Airport Express and Micromega Airstream units.  It can connect to a computer (PC or Mac) via wifi and stream music wirelessly.  Various digital inputs are provided so the unit can function as a DAC.  It even has a capable headphone amplifier.  Quality parts through-out with low noise toroidal transformer and class A output stage.

The heart of the D-Linear 8C is an Analog Devices AD1853 24-Bit chip running at a 192kHz sampling rate.  There are 4 selectable digital inputs on the rear panel consisting of a coaxial RCA, AES, Toslink and Wireless.  The basic signals are displayed through the front panel meter. This meter will also indicate when the signal is locked in.

Wireless streaming is limited to 48k/16bit sampling but can be operated at a considerable distance (up to 25m) from source.  How this works is that a you connect the included USB wireless dongle at source computer, then select sound output in control panel to "USB Audio Device".  Dongle then send wireless signal to the D-Linear 8C.

The D-Linear 8C also incorporates a high end headphone amplifier suitable for headphones with load impedances ranging from 32ohms to 600ohms.

• Signal output 2.5V RMS (RCA, XLR)
• Digital inputs 1 Coaxial, 1 Optical, 1 AES / EBU
• Analog outputs Gold plated RCA / phono unbalanced x 1 pair
• Gold plated XLR balanced x 1 pair
• Gold plated 6.5mm headphone jack x 1
• Frequency response 0 Hz-50 kHz
• Signal-to-noise ratio More than 118dB (RCA, XLR)
• Distortion Less than 0.001% ( RCA, XLR)
• Dimensions 100mm x 225mm x 320cm (HxWxD)
• Approx. US$1,000 street price

Classe CP-800 preamp/processor

Classe Audio of Canada recently announced a new stereo preamp/processor which seems to be the jack-of-all-trades. As a purist preamp, it has a pure analog pass-through that bypasses all the digital circuitry over its five analog inputs (2 x XLR, 3 x RCA).  For us digital buffs, there is also a DAC (using Wolfson WM8741 32-bit/192kHz chip), with asynchronous USB input (up to 24/96). For computer audiophiles, it can stream music via Ethernet with uPnP and DLNA protocols. For the kids, theres an iPod digital connection. There are of course the usual comprehensive digital inputs (coax, Toslink, AES/EBU) and also an HDMI 2-channel input. That's not all - it has parametric EQ, bass management with digital crossover, multi rooms, multiple outputs capabilities over its balanced and unbalanced outputs. It even has a dedicated headphone preamp for late nights. Available now for US$5,000 which is pretty darn good judging from everything it does along with its classy designs and seemingly excellent ergonomics.

The Classe CP-800 Stereo Preamplifier/Processor is said to be the first of a new generation of stereo preamplifiers designed to take full advantage of today's high resolution digital sources. The CP-800 offers new digital processing features including optimal asynchronous USB and full support of Apple's iPod®, iPhone® and iPad® range of products.  

In addition to accommodating legacy analog and digital sources, Classe announced that the CP-800 can also optimize playback from computer audio files and portable devices like iPods via USB using asynchronous techniques and proprietary clocking circuits. A storage device like an iPod or computer can contain all the data of the original recording, so it has the potential to be an audiophile source. The challenge is to clock that data into the D-to-A converters at precisely the right time, which the CP-800 achieves through newly-developed recovery and clocking technology.

A new power supply design optimizes the electrical environment for the audio circuitry inside the CP-800 and benefits associated equipment sharing the same AC power. PFC (Power Factor Correction) technology ensures the most efficient operation of the power supply while maintaining a constant load on the AC Mains. The benefit, according to Classe, is that the preamp/processor does not modulate the AC mains as would a conventional linear power supply without PFC. Other system components won't even know it's there.

In addition to superb performance as a digital-to-analog converter and stereo preamplifier, Classe says the CP-800 boasts features like bass management and parametric EQ that heretofore have been lacking in stereo preamps. There is a subwoofer output and two configurable auxiliary channels that can be used to drive additional subs, bi-amp the L&R channels or feed into another room.

Classe points out that a properly implemented subwoofer (or two) is at least as beneficial to stereo playback systems as it is to home theaters. Placing the Left and Right speakers for best stereo imaging rarely delivers ultimate bass response at the listening position, no matter how well those speakers can reproduce low frequencies. One or more subwoofers avoid this compromise. Parametric EQ enables further tweaking of the low frequency modes to achieve the best overall system performance. As with Classe SSPs, the subwoofer(s) may be configured for use with some inputs and not others or engaged with different crossover frequencies/slopes as desired.

An updated 16x9 touchscreen and graphical user interface give the CP-800 a fresh new look to match its advanced feature set.  

Cambridge Audio NP30 network music player

Cambridge Audio’s new NP30 network music player streams music stored on any computer or network storage device enabling premium quality 24-bit playback across your home using your existing hi-fi or home entertainment system.

Using UPnP (the simplest way of sharing digital music files), the NP30 instantly connects to your home network with minimal set-up for instant access to of all your digitised music. But best of all, connection is completely wire-free since the NP30 supports all types of wi-fi networks including the latest N standard.

Add fast and easy access to a roster of over 20,000 trusted Internet radio stations, plus computer-free connectivity to your favourite music streaming services and you have a network music player to be reckoned with!

A breeze to use with its clear display, the NP30 can also be controlled using the amazing new free UuVol Remote App.

• Simple no-hassle playback from any UPnP equipped laptop, notebook, PC, Mac or NAS hard drive
• 24-bit/96kHz playback allowing the streaming of studio quality 24-bit WAV, AIFF, AAC, OGG Vorbis, MP3 and FLAC 
• UuVol online music service enables fast and easy selection from over 20,000 Internet radio stations
• Wolfson WM8728 DAC chip 24-bit/96kHz capable
• S/PDIF coaxial and Toslink optical digital output

The Lampizator Transport

The legendary Lukasz Fikus just launched the new Lampizator Transport, full details on his website soon.

From what we know so far is that it is a transport based on the Logitech Squeezebox Duet and will be housed in the same chassis as the Lampizator DAC.  Lukasz built a new dedicated power supply and replaced stock capacitors with highest quality Oscons.  New MR superclock mk2 with its own transformer is installed. The key element that sets it apart from any other transport (well..except the stratospherically expensive Audio Note CDT Five, whose output stage is actually based on his design) is the Digilampizator buffered tube output stage, not for analog outputs since it does not have any, but for the digital S/PDIF output signal (Digital+Lampize+ator - get it?) 

The concept of Digilampization is quite refreshing.  We all know that a clean square wave signal with perfect timing is what needed from a transport. We spent time and money tweaking cables, re-clockers, isolation devices etc. to get closer to that.  Is there a better way?

From Lukasz' writing:

"....I analysed over 25 schematics and I reached the conclusion that all these player's digital trace and all schematics of outputs look bad. Some of them better than others, some - so-so, and some just plain bad.

What particularly annoyed me is that the signal trace is so sensitive to small changes of the load - resistance, capacitance and inductance. That's why digital cables sound different from one another - because the transmitter is not optimized. It is weak. Its output impedance is 10 times too high or even more.
if all the problems which distort the signal on the way to the DAC are arising from too weak generator, why not make what an engineer should and add a buffer. The chip will be happy working into virtually no load at all, just the grid. The square will be perfect as hell. Then the tube will have infinitely better output impedance (single hundreds of Ohms) and it will send the signal nice, pure, sharp , stiff and indifferent to cable and plugs. The quality means sending a proper signal not deploying voo-doo and mythology.

I took the tube which is good for high frequencies - the Russian 6N14P, which has a frequency response good till 200 MHz. Our signal needs circa 20 MHz bandwidth so the tube is ten times "too good" for the job. Any other radio tube is good, The parameters like amplification etc. do not matter because it is a cathode follower. The audio tubes are no good because the frequency range is too low.

Tapping of signal to output tube buffer  Credit:Lukasz Fikus

The resulting square wave is PERFECT. It beats the stock signal without sweat. The difference on the scope is night and day. There is no ringing, no roll off, all is just excellent. I have yet to see the output trace as clean as this one! The MR super clock also helps reducing jitter - data timing problems, as well as it eliminates the high frequency modulations of signals, power supplies and earth in the player...."

Before Digilampization  Credit: Lukasz Fikus

After Digilampization  Credit Lukasz Fikus

The LZ Transport's output tube also has a dedicated tube rectifier power supply. There is also provision for an i2s output in a proprietary arrangement (3 RCA outputs: clock, LRCK, and data). Music can be streamed via Wifi/LAN from any computer running Squeezecenter server software. There is also a memory buffer a-la Genesis Digital Lens, so that's even better.  The included Squeezebox Duet's remote has a screen which is highly usable from listening position.

All sounds very tempting.  Projected price is around EUR2,000.  Discussions about the new Lampizator transport over at Lampizator forum here.

Auraliti PK100 reviewed by ComputerAudiophile.com

ComputerAudiophile.com has posted its review of the $799 Linux-based Auraliti PK-100 File Player which we covered in our earlier blog.

Very interesting and in some ways similar to Bryston's BDP-1. The fan less , hard drive less PK-100 however does not stream from Network Attached Server Drives (NAS), does not rip CDs, and nor allow for connection to USB DACs yet. The philopsophy is to keep it simple stupid. Connect a USB drive and press play on a remote website or iDevice application. It output analog audio (via internal DAC based on an AKM chip) and digital S/PDIF coaxial.

Auraliti is also coming out with a new line of products which include the higher-end L-1000, the improved PK-200, and the PK-USB.

The PK-200 is similar to the PK-100 but with improved power supply regulation and transformer coupled S/PDIF connection. The PK-USB will allow connection to USB DACs.

Micromega AirStream WM-10 with AirPlay

The Micromega AirStream WM-10 network streamer is upgraded to work with Apple's AirPlay wireless streaming system.

From earlier digital audio blog post:

The WM-10 is basically a souped-up Airport Express but they call it "Airstream". It has basically the same specs and functions except the aluminum case (black or silver) and better power supply (R-core transformers rather than switching PSU). Although it uses the Cirrus Logic 4344 24-bit/192hKz DAC (same with the AE), the streaming is limited to 16-bit 44.1/48kHz files due to Airplay limitations. Another limitations is that no matter what file you choose to play, the WM-10 will convert to Apple Lossless (ALAC) on the fly (same as the AE). Retails for $1,595.

Behold Gentle G192 Media Player

Behold Gentle G192 Media Player comes with a 7" full coloured widescreen TFT-Display (800x480). The control of the device is realised by a touch panel placed in front of the display.  Connection can be via an external USB connected drive. This can be placed up to 60ft “away” from the Gentle for direct use at the listening position. The internal HDD can also be used with 120GB storage for up to 12.000 minutes of music.
There are up to 8 analog and 6 digital inputs available to run several stereo channels or one multi-channel 5.1.