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Disclaimer:
I try my best to reflect accurate information but cannot be held responsible for misprint, misquoting prices etc. Specs can and do change sometimes over the coarse of a product's availability. Prices are often approximated from the selling price in the country of origin. Due to taxes and such, prices may vary. If you find any mistakes, don't hestitate to mail me.
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Logitech Squeezebox
Network player. Max 24/96. Wireless ethernet. In: RJ45 (network) and USB (Touch only). Out: digital coax, toslink. Analog: cinch. Formats: MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, Apple Lossless. I tested the older discontinued Squeezebox (without touchscreen) but I'm fairly sure that the new Touch will sound exactly the same.
Short review:
The sound is very refined: fluid and supple. There's no hardness or shoutyness whatsoever. But everything seems dynamically and spatially compressed and colour is a bit pale and synthetic. There's just not that much contrast in the music as there can be when you use a good highend dac of even modest cost and go direct. This was the case with wired and wireless connection and on all outputs. Digital coax was best. Low cost, very handy and beautifully crafted but not audiophile. It is on a par with a 200 dollar cd player's output, so seen in that light it is not bad at all but better sound can be had for a little more outlay.
Retail price approx 229 euro
Logitech Transporter
Network player. Max 24/96. Wireless ethernet. In: RJ45 (network), digital coax, bnc, toslink, AES. Word clock. Out: digital coax, toslink, bnc, AES. Analog: cinch and XLR. Formats: WAV, AIFF, MP3, WMA, FLAC. Claimed to improve upon the simpler Squeezebox by means of extremely precise timing and careful clock management. This could very well be true but I haven't tested it yet. Reading through other reviews I tend to think that the Transporter's character shares a lot with the Squeezebox.
Retail price approx 2000 euro
Sonos Zoneplayer 90
Network player. 16/48max. Wireless ethernet. In: ethernet, analog audio on cinch. Out: Ethernet, analog audio on cinch, digital: coax, toslink. Formats: MP3, iTunes Plus, WMA, AAC (MPEG4), Ogg Vorbis, Audible (Format 4), Apple Lossless, Flac, WAV, AIFF. An integrated solution that works with a music library on a PC, Mac or NAS (wireless/wired). Multiroom capable (but you need to buy more hardware). All controls work simultaneously. There are many optional Sonos devices like active speakers, a zoneplayer with built in amplifier and a wireless extender to stream music over extreme distances. One reported (relative) downside is that it can only index a maximum of 65.000 files so if you have very large hard drives full of music, you may well be unable to play it all. Soundwise pretty decent, more or less on par with the Sqeezebox but unbeatable pricewise. Various accessories available allowing multiroom capability. Control via computer, frontpanel, optional touchscreen IR remote or i-app.
Retail price approx 345 euro (many accessories optionally available)
Olive 02 Multi Room Player
Network player. Max 24/192. Wireless ethernet. In: RJ45 (network), USB 2.0. Out: digital coax, toslink. Analog: cinch. Formats: WAV, FLAC, MP3 (128 and 320 kbit/s), AAC (128 kbit/s). Touchscreen, meant as supplement to an existing Olive Server (or compatible NAS) in order to add multi room capability. Control via frontpanel or i-app.
Retail price approx 600 euro
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Marantz NA7004
Network player/DAC. Max 24/96 streaming/USB, 24/192 via coaxial digital input. In: digital coax/toslink, USB 2.0 (ipod compatible). Out: digital coax/toslink, analog cinch. Wired RJ45 network. Formats: FLAC, WAV, mp3, AAC, WMA. Compatible with any UPnP server. Control via front panel, supplied IR remote and i-app.
Retail price approx 800 euro
Rotel RDG-1520
Network player. Max 16/48 streaming/USB, 24/192 via coaxial digital input. In: digital coax/toslink, FM, DAB, USB 2.0 (ipod compatible). Out: analog cinch. Wired RJ45. Formats: FLAC, WAV, AIFF, mp3, AAC, WMA. Compatible with any UPnP server. Control via front panel and iphone app.
Retail price approx 1000 euro
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Linn Akurate DS
Network player. Max 24/192. In: RJ45 (network). Out: analog cinch, XLR, digital BNC. Formats: FLAC, WAV, mp3, AIFF. The akurate could be seen as a simplified Klimax or a beefed-up Majik, depending on your view. It is said to have nearly 90% of the Klimax' sound quality. But I think that it at least has a different sound. For one, it doesn't have the Klimax' output transformers but uses simple opamps instead. The people of German "Audio" magazine are very happy with the result though. Control via frontpanel, supplied IR remote or i-app. Updated in 2011 from the older model that looked just like the Majik and didn't offer a digital output.
Retail price approx 5500 euro
Linn majik DS
Network player. Max 24/192. In: RJ45 (network). Out: digital coax, toslink and analog cinch, XLR. Formats: FLAC, WAV, mp3, AIFF. This is Linn's entry-level player only network player. (There is also a model named 'Sneaky' at a lower price point that includes amplification) It looks and feels like an Akurate but costs much less. (Majik DS-I is comparable in functionality but includes preamp and poweramp section and adds 5 digital and 6 analog inputs) Control via frontpanel or i-app.
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Yamaha NP-S2000
Network player. Max 24/96. In: Wired RJ45 ethernet. Out: analog XLR/cinch. Formats: FLAC, WAV, mp3, AAC, WMA. Compatible with any UPnP server. Slimline but very high quality, heavy build: separate sections for transformers, regulation and DAC/balanced output stage. IEC power inlet. Wood sidepanels. Control via front panel, supplied IR remote and i-app.
Retail price approx 1300 euro
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Musical Fidelity M1 Clic
Network player/DAC/Preamp. Max 24/192 streaming/Coax in, 16/48 USB. In: digital 2x coax, 1x toslink, USB 2.0 (ipod compatible) 3x analog cinch line in. Out: no digital output, analog 1x cinch fixed, 1x cinch variable. Wired RJ45/Wireless ethernet. Formats: FLAC, mp3, LPCM, AAC, WMA. Half size but packed with functionality: analog/digital preamp/DAC/streamer. Gapless playback. Compatible with any UPnP server. IEC power inlet. Large non-touch front panel display. Silver and black. Control via supplied IR remote and i-app. Soundwise better as a DAC than as a streamer. A highly neutral performer, see the extensive review.
Retail price approx 1499 euro
Naim NDX
Network player. Coax in 192kHz max, UPnP/USB 24/96 max. In: 3x digital coax, Ethernet, USB 2.0 (ipod compatible), DAB, FM, Wifi. Out: digital coax and toslink, analog cinch and DIN. Formats: mp3, AAC, Apple Lossless, WMA, WAV, FLAC, AIFF. Control via frontpanel, supplied IR remote or i-app.
Retail price approx 4200 euro
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Naim UnitiServe
Harddisk player/server. Max 24/196. In: 4x USB, ps2 keyboard and mouse, RJ45 ethernet. Out: composite and svhs video, digital coax bnc/toslink. Formats: WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, mp3. Storage: 1TB. CD ripper and hard disk server that functions on its own or in combination with other Naim components. Plays music from inbuilt hard drive or external drive/NAS. Control via optional IR remote, keyboard and mouse, browser on a networked pc, i-app and selected Naim components. Also available with solid state hard drive, then called: UnitiServe-SSD.
Retail price approx 2500 euro
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PS Audio PWD
Max 24/192. In: 1x toslink, 1x coaxial, 1x AES/EBU, 2x I2S, USB, ethernet. Out: cinch, XLR. Immensely flexible and high performing DAC/network streamer. It isn't the absolute best dac in the world as it lacks some refinement but it is big on dynamics, solidity, articulation, detail and very enjoyable due to its engaging enthusiastic musicality. When used in combination with network audio, this is currently the best solution I have heard, beating every computeraudio solution out there, including my best PC based solution.
Retail price approx 4500 euro (including The Bridge)
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Popcorn Hour PCH C200
Network audio/video player or integrated audio/video player depending on optional internal HDD. Max 24/192 (coax out limited to 96k). Wireless ethernet. In: RJ45 (network), 4x USB. Out: digital coax, toslink, S-Video, component video, composite video, stereo analog audio. Analog: cinch and XLR. Formats: all popular formats including WAV, AIFF, FLAC and MP3. Internal HDD mountable but not mandatory for operability. RF Remote included but given its UPnP AV spec should also work with i-Device remotes. Suggested as a very good and affordable alternative by a reader, but not reviewed yet.
Retail price approx 300 euro
Naim UnitiQute (with built-in amplifier)
Network player with built-in amplifier. Max 24/96. Higher samplerates are downsampled internally. In: Analog 1x cinch,1x 3,6 jack. Digital 2x coax, 2x toslink, 1x 3,6mm jack. USB 2.0 (ipod compatible). RJ45 Ethernet/Wifi. FM antenna. iPod digital in + control. Out: Analog: preamp out cinch, stereo speakers, Digital: BNC coax. Essentially a Uniti without CD drive, the UnitiQute is a network player with inbuilt 45w stereo amplifier. Formats: MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, Windows Media-formatted content-9 (up to 320kBit/s), FLAC, WAV (up to 24bit/96kHz via UPnp and USB only). Control: supplied IR remote or i-app.
Retail price 1950 euro
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Naim Uniti (with built-in amplifier)
cd player/cd ripper/network player with built-in stereo amplifer. In: Analog 3x cinch, 1x DIN, 3,6mm jack, RJ45 wired/wireless ethernet, FM antenna. Digital 2x cinch, 2x toslink. Out: line cinch, subwoofer cinch, preamp out DIN, stereo speakers. Functions as CD player, FM/DAB/Internet tuner, Streamer, Ipod player, USB player, DAC, integrated 50w amplifier.
Versus UnitiQute: I cannot really decide between the two. The Uniti is more refined and more transparent. The Uniti however has more character, looks cute, costs less and is still emotionally involving.
Retail price 3000 euro
Naim ND5xs
Network player. Coax in 192kHz max, UPnP/USB 24/192 max. Inputs Digital: 1x coax, 1x toslink, 1x BNC. iPod digital in + control, Ethernet, USB 2.0 (ipod compatible), DAB, FM (optional), Wifi. Out: digital BNC, analog cinch and DIN. Formats: mp3, AAC, Apple Lossless, WMA, WAV, FLAC, AIFF. Control via frontpanel, supplied IR remote or i-app.
Retail price expected to be 2500 euro
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Linn Klimax DS/0
Network player. Max 24/192. In: RJ45 (network). Out: cinch, XLR. Formats: FLAC, WAV, mp3, AIFF. The Klimax only has one network input. No coax, no usb. But with this one input it is said to even beat the famous Linn CD12 cd player. Whether this is true I cannot confirm, as I still haven't succeeded in obtaining an affordable CD12, but I have finally decided to buy a Klimax DS. It turns out that my preconceptions weren't even far off, but the Klimax DS did surprise me in some areas, most notably its smoothness.
Control via supplied IR remote or i-app.
Retail price approx 15.000 euro
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PS Audio PWD with MKII upgrade
Max 24/192. In: 1x toslink, 1x coaxial, 1x AES/EBU, 2x I2S, USB, ethernet. Out: cinch, XLR. Immensely flexible and high performing DAC/network streamer. The MKII upgrade literally transforms the PWD, giving it more smoothness, more fluidity, airier, more refined treble and state of the art soundstaging, pushing its performance so far that it can comfortably play in the premier league, not even being embarrased by the very best CD players I know. It is not entirely as organic as the Wadia S7i or as creamy and velvety as the Levinson 390S. But it has better soundstaging, focus, rhythm, bass solidity and sheer jump-factor than either of them. I rank it just as high as the Linn Klimax DS The PWD. They have very different characters but each has uniquely appealing qualities that make them stick out above the rest.
Retail price approx 4500 euro (including The Bridge)
Meridian Sooloos Media Source 600
Network player/Endpoint for Soloos system only. All popular formats (WAV, AIFF, FLAC, Apple Lossless, AAC, mp3) are supported up to 24/96 on coax out, up to 24/192 using its analog outputs. In: Ethernet. Out: digital coax, analog cinch, analog XLR, Meridian Comm, Meridian speakerlink. Control via i-app or Meridian Control 15.
Retail price approx 2450 euro
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