Many sound experts have a rough time breaking into the system sound sector. With the experience of theirs in conventional analogue electronics or maybe mechanical engineering, the realm of hard drives, network protocols as well as the associated software engineering is usually means outside the comfort zone of theirs.
The apparent answer, one taken by all though the biggest businesses, would be to partner with a professional which can do these items and also buy in a comprehensive, configured, ready made component to perform the task. It was very much exactly the same in the times of compact disc, in which many specialized hi fi businesses wound up purchasing in the transportation, screen and connected software from the likes of Sony or Philips.
But Melco is a unique proposition. Basically the hi fi wing of Buffalo - a big player in the pc world, noted for the storage solutions of its and network solutions - that provides the Melco N100 something of a benefit.
Features
The Melco N100 packs 2TB worth of storage (around 3000 CDs, much less with greater res recordings) and also consists of the TwonkyMedia and MinimServer server program. Learning how crucial it's to find the correct metadata tagged upon the music files of yours, there is equally committed software program which recommendations several sources to guarantee that each file is categorised as correctly as you possibly can, with particular treatments for all the demands of various music types.
For instance, in music that is classical where several works are included on an individual album, it is essential to identify them along with the album. The exact same is true for info about the composer.
We have utilized a selection of music servers through the years, and the Melco is likely the slickest as well as minimum obtrusive we have run into. It simply gets on with the job of its rapidly and without fuss.
The forward panel control format is easy, but combined with the little but obvious screen, the N100 is simple adequate to set up. The supplied hand deserves a mention for being nicely presented and also easy to learn.
Connectivity is limited but covers all of the necessities. You will find 3 USB 3.0 sockets plus 2 of those may be utilized to link the N100 to outside storage in the type of sticks as well as optical drives or hard drives for ripping CDs. The last is designed to be used with an outside DAC.
This particular Melco does not possess a built in DAC, thus in case you would like to utilize it to be a streamer, playing music from the internal storage space of its, for instance, you will have to include it. We partner the N100 with Chord's good Qutest (£1195/$1895) because of this test which demonstrates a great fight.
You will find 2 ethernet ports, 1 of that is used to connect to the networking of yours and also the other links to a stand alone streamer. There's no provision for going wireless right here, and that is good interested in the extra stability hardwiring provides. Community sound set ups typically make use of a separate community switch, but the N100's agreement can make things cleaner and much more immediate.
Melco has a separate app, though it currently only functions for the iPad. If you are using Android phone or an Apple, you will need to work with third party options, for example mconnect Player or perhaps related, which work enough.
Build
Build quality is great with a good casework completed to a higher standard. The chassis is pronounced of 2mm heavy steel with the majority of the panels utilizing aluminium. It is a fan less style to minimise unwanted noise and also proves muted during usage. It is obvious that Melco takes a good deal of care about just how its products are created.
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We link the N100 in the test space networking of ours and also work with our reference Naim ND555/555PS music streamer to evaluate the effectiveness of its as being a server to our typical Naim Uniti Core HDD product (cheaper at £1899, though you will have to put in the hard drive). The other primary distinction in between the servers would be that the Naim features a disc drive for ripping CD as the Melco does not.
The company makes a separate unit known as the D100 for £1099, however, if that feels a bit of excessive, you will find loads of less expensive USB optical drive alternatives available on the market.
Sound
We load exactly the same music files (hi res as well as CD quality) on both the N100 as well as Uniti Core and listen via the guide process of ours, this includes a Burmester 088/911 Mk three pre/power combo as well as ATC's SCM fifty speakers.
The variations are not significant though they're constant, whether we pay attention to a Shostakovich symphony or maybe Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly set. The documents from the Melco audio crisper as well as cleaner. Top edges tend to be more exact and also the general presentation is a touch even more stable. It is not all one way traffic though.
Those very same music files have better body as well as fluidity when you are using the Naim and flow more beneficial rhythmically. But as for the issue of what type is better, that is right down to taste and program.
We likewise utilize the N100 as a stand alone streamer, hearing the music from the individual storage of its which of the Uniti Core. It is able to handle virtually everything from 32 bit/384kHz PCM to DSD512 as well as supports Tidal and Qobuz. The Melco is effective when partnered with the Chord DAC, and it is right up there with the very best streaming strategies we have read at this level when partnered the manner.
We pay attention to Leonard Cohen's You need It Darker as well as the Melco/Chord combo does a superb job communicating the brooding mood of the monitor. There is lots of information also it's nicely organised, with Cohen's harsh sounds coming through with the correct amount of authority and gruffness.
There is a great deal of drive to that particular menacing bassline, giving the song a good base. All of it seems impressively precise, but with sufficient in the form of powerful expression, drive as well as punch to avoid conditions sound overly analytical.
The story is similarly good whenever we participate in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The Melco/Chord pairing provides a forceful yet controlled sound, a camera which comes with an expansive as well as exact sound stage which exploits the scale of the recording effectively. We've no complaints with regards to outright sonic punch or even authority.
Tonally, everything is actually and open, with a good dose of healthy warmth to convince. It is a refined sound, one which never ever veers to unnecessary aggression or perhaps harshness.
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