Network Player Reviews

17 August 2024
Aqua LinQ Network Interface – Part 4 – Squeezelite premium
In addition to the existing UPnP, HQ Player, and HQ Player Core + NAA modules, Aqua has introduced a Squeezelite renderer module for the LinQ Network Interface, adding ongoing significance to this streamer's future-proof nature.
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XACT S1 Music Server premium
With a custom 100% linear power supply with 100% linear regulation, a fully custom motherboard, a custom Operating System written from scratch and optimized for the hardware, and proprietary Femtoserver software running, all under control from the superb JPLAY for iOS app, the XACT S1 is a truly unique proposition.
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Melco N5-H50 premium
The Melco N5 Digital Music Library features a sleek build and very solid build quality. The N5 has all-new electronics, with a new mainboard, high-grade low-noise internal linear power supply, and extensive pro-grade Amphenol and Neutrik connectivity.
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Antipodes G4 K22 premium
Review samples supplied by Antipodes Audio Retail price (world) USD 9.000 excluding storage Upgrade price G3 to G4 USD 2.000 Storage can be included at purchase or later installed by the user Available in Black or Silver Part of the KALA series, the Antipodes K22 offers the best performance the New Zealand company can squeeze […]
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Grimm MU2 premium
Principally, the MU2 does not deviate all that much from the MU1, which is a good thing! But instead of relying on active digital speakers or an external DAC, the MU2 includes the company's proprietary 'Major' DAC and a relay-based analog preamp section.
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Auralic Aries G1 and Lumin T3 – Quick Impression premium
This is not an in-depth review but a Quick Impression of these two streamers with the aim of providing a high-level (overall) comparison of their features and performance.
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Antipodes K41 and K22 Music Servers premium
Antipodes servers have always offered a wide range of server and player apps and this makes them unique in a world dominated by single-purpose servers and streamers. But the brand's core quality is that they are all about conveying the soul of the music.
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Playback Designs MPD-6 premium
The Playback Designs MPD-6 is a discrete DAC with integrated analog volume control. As part of the Edelweiss series, the  MPD-6 has its roots in the Dream series from which it borrows key technologies and combines these with new ones to create a more compact and cost-effective package.
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5 March 2023
Playback Designs MPS-X premium
The concept behind the MPS-X Interface is to connect digital sources such as computers, servers, network-attached storage, internet streaming services, and any other digital sources to it rather than directly to the sensitive circuits of a DAC. The MPS-X is a full-fledged standalone Network Endpoint / Streamer compatible with streaming services such as Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, and vTuner, as well as local storage solutions on a NAS via DLNA/UPnP, and importantly, Roon.
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Antipodes K50 Music Server – Update Nov 2021 premium
Recently, Antipodes updated the firmware to from V3.0 to V3.1 to support the upcoming changes in how Roon runs on home servers and they took this opportunity to also further streamline and enhance their User Interface. Interestingly, I also noticed significant sonic benefits with the K50!
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10 November 2021
Lejonklou Källa Network Player premium
When Lejonklou launches a network player, you better believe that it will be anything but ordinary.
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COS D10 DAC, preamp, and network player premium
The D10 is a highly versatile control point, built in a modular fashion. As standard, it contains a preamp and DAC. Optionally, one can add a streaming input and a phono preamp. With every input that it offers, the D10 has surprised me with consistently fantastic performance.
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22 October 2021
Grandinote Volta Network Player premium
Contrary to many similar devices that offer every conceivable input, output, and protocol, the Italian Volta does not try to be the equivalent of a Swiss army knife. Rather, it focuses on a single task that it aims to perfect.
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Aqua LinQ Network Interface – Part 3 – HQP Core + NAA premium
The Core + NAA module marks the perfection of the LinQ as the universal and class-leading network player.
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Grimm MU1 premium
After countless Music Servers and Streamers, not to mention various server software and playback applications that I have tried throughout the years, I figured that, by now, surely, there'd be no more large surprises for me. Well, of course, that's when a new server entered my premises and totally surprised me.
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Mola-Mola Tambaqui premium
Originally available only as a two-board stack for use inside the Mola-Mola Makua preamp, the DAC with its special proprietary design is also available as a separate unit.
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Vermeer Audio TWO premium
Vermeer Audio is a relatively new French company that was started by a group of technicians and passionate investors that have roots in another famous French company, Audio Aero. In its curvy enclosure, the TWO houses a streaming endpoint, a DAC, and an analog tube preamp, all of superb quality.
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Classé Delta Stereo and Delta Pre premium
The third-generation Delta product line includes the STEREO amplifier, MONO amplifiers and the PRE preamplifier with built-in DAC and streamer, and conceptually based on the CP-800. Reviewed here are the preamp and stereo power amp.
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5 November 2020
Aqua LinQ Network Interface – Part 2 – HQPlayer premium
he addition of the HQPlayer module allows using Roon and all of its benefits along with even better sound than was possible using the now-discontinued RoonReady module. Additionally, Aqua's modularity ensures that the product remains up to date.
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Antipodes K50 Music Server premium
Having reviewed several Antipodes Music Servers and having owned the CX and EX for close to two years as my references, I was excited to hear of the OLADRA project and even more so the arrival of an all-new range with the K50 as the King of the Hill.
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Aqua LinQ Network Interface premium
Never before has a digital interface, network or otherwise, behaved so utterly consistently and dependently. The LinQ has the uncanny ability to improve the quality of upstream components but it does this while refraining from imposing any discernible character onto the proceedings.
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Weiss DAC502 DSP DAC and Network Renderer premium
The DAC502 is an absolute reviewer's dream. It contains every function that one could ever want, poured into a very responsive UI with direct access to every function, topped off with utter stability. Soundwise, this is a dead-neutral, highly-revealing DAC with a solid, punchy, crispy and no-nonsense delivery.
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Bryston BDA-3.14 Renderer+DAC premium
The BDA-3.14 is Bryston's current reference DAC and with its many inputs, streaming capacity and built-in volume control, it is meant to perform the central role in a multiple-digital-source system.
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Ayon S10-II Signature premium
The S-10 MkII is not only a streaming endpoint and a DAC but also an analog preamp complete with two analog inputs. And, unlike many competing products, the Ayon's preamp can actually replace a very good separate analog preamp.
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CH Precision Ethernet_IN HD board Upgrade premium
The C1 has simply never sounded better than via this new connection. And as a bonus, you get to use the superb Roon interface. It's a win-win!
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Bricasti M21 DAC and M15 power amp premium
It baffles me why the Bricasti brand does not pop up everywhere, it certainly should. Beautifully sculpted and with immaculate build quality, these components are not inexpensive but in context, they surely are also not extravagantly priced.
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Antipodes CX + EX Music Server and Renderer premium
There comes a time when a reviewer just lacks the superlatives to describe the latest experience and for me, this is it. This combination is, quite simply, the very best digital front end that I have heard.
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Antipodes EX Music Server premium
With its ODAPS2 power supply, four separate shielded chambers, and user-installable storage, the relatively affordable EX server marks the start of a new Antipodes range.
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Melco N1A/2 and N1ZH/2 Music Servers premium
Not all NAS servers are created equal!
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Bryston BDP-3 Digital Media Player premium
Easy to use, yet highly versatile digital music player.
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CH Precision C1 + A1 – part 2 premium
Part 2 of the C1+A1 review.
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CH Precision C1 + A1 premium
The C1+A1 combination sounds ultra-transparent, clean and controlled but also smooth and fluid, and organic, wholly musical and absolutely convincing.
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Antipodes DS Base Music Server premium
After having reviewed the costly Antipodes DX and proclaiming it my new reference, here is a product of the same manufacturer, but at the other end of the cost scale. At 1995 euro, it is far removed from the DX' lofty 6000+ price, but does it offer comparable sound quality? Read on to find out!
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14 August 2017
Bricasti M5 network player premium
The Perfect Roon Ready Streaming Endpoint.
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Antipodes DX2 Music Server premium
Ones and zeros are not just ones and zeros and music servers are not all created equal
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Euphony Buggy/Zotac premium
Futuristic looking highly versatile Music Server with class leading sound quality
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Meridian Ultra DAC premium
Meridian's DACs were usually assigned a number such as 606, 563 and 818. And now there is the Ultra DAC. Purely on appearance it is hard to see the differences with the 818 but soundwise it is immediately clear that this DAC deserves more than just another number.
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Meridian 818v3 – MC200 – DSP 5200 SE premium
For the first time, there are a pair of active Meridian DSP speakers in my listening room, along with an 818v3 Reference Audio Core and a Media Core 200. This makes for some very interesting comparisons.
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Devialet Firmware premium
Devialet Expert Firmware - newer versions add functionality, but also change the sound.
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EC Designs Mosaic T DAC premium
Non-conformistic, superbly unforced and natural sounding DAC.
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Devialet Expert 120 and 200 premium
Devialet Expert 200 and 120 hybrid class A / class D integrated amplifiers compared directly.
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29 November 2013
Sonos Connect with Wyred4Sound reclocker modification premium
A versatile music streamer equipped with a high accuracy direct I2S upsampling digital coaxial output.
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Meridian Control 10 Sooloos control unit premium
Discovering the original Sooloos experience.
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Meridian MS200 premium
Meridian Sooloos endzone for only 725 Euro!
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Meridian 818 DAC/Pre/Network Player premium
The very best Meridian Sooloos Streaming Audio.
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Meridian 808.3 Signature Reference CD player premium
Sooloos products had me hooked right from the start
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Linn Klimax DS/1 network player – Mini Review premium
The new Dynamik power supply and a newly designed circuitboard make sure that the Klimax DS stays on top.
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Meridian Sooloos MD600 and MS600 premium
After being so enthusiastic about the MC200 and almost having purchased one, I decided to first review its bigger brothers.
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Meridian Sooloos Media Core 200 premium
Combination of Sooloos server and endpoint in one neat and compact package.
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Naim NDX, CDX2, DAC and XPS2 premium
After being so enthusiastic about the UnitiQute and Uniti, I was curious to find out how much more there would be in the Naims higher up on the scale.
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MKII Upgrade for the PS Audio PWD premium
An upgrade that positively transforms the PWD.
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Linn Klimax DS Network Player premium
The Klimax DS/0 was the first high end music streamer.
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Musical Fidelity Clic premium
Comparable in size to the Naim UnitiQute, the Musical Fidelity Clic promises even wider compatibility, albeit without built in amplifier.
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Naim Uniti Network Player, CD player and Amplifier premium
The Uniti is the UnitiQute's bigger brother, with a cd player added, a bigger amplifier and more inputs.
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Naim UnitiQute Network Player and Amplifier premium
The UnitiQute is a smaller version of the Uniti, minus the CD player, but lacking none of its bigger brother's functionality.
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PS Audio PWD (Perfect Wave DAC) – part 3 premium
The PWD initiated quite a chain reaction Network cables, switches, power cables, and NAS placement were all examined and found to have an influence on the sound. Here is the final installment of the PWD review. Compared to the Audio Synthesis DAX Decade In the meantime, I had received an Audio Synthesis DAX Decade DAC for […]
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PS Audio PWD (Perfect Wave DAC) – part 2 premium
Here's part two of the review of this interesting netw0rk player.
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PS Audio PWD (Perfect Wave DAC) – part 1 premium
The PWD has long been on my list of things to do but there was such high demand for this unit that I couldn't get one in for a review.
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30 March 2009
Logitech Sqeezebox premium
The player reviewed here is no longer available. Instead, there is now the Squeezebox Touch, but I'd bet that soundwise nothing has changed.
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