First Listen: Roksan Caspian Series 4G Streaming Pre-Amp & Power Amp

Following the release of Roksan’s Caspian 4G Streaming Integrated, which we were suitably impressed by when we had it in for review, Roksan has gone official with the Caspian 4G Power Amplifier, which was already outed, alongside an all-new 4G Streaming Preamplifier to partner it. Each product is hand-built at Monitor Audio Group’s Headquarters in Essex, UK.

Offered as a complete stereo system with the option to go pre-amp and monoblocks, the new Streaming Pre-Amplifier and Power Amplifier join the Streaming Amplifier and Integrated Amplifier, bringing the Roksan Capsian 4G series neatly to four “cornerstone components.”

Roksan Capsian Streaming Pre-Amplifier

The Caspian Streaming Pre-Amplifier is the control hub, featuring BluOS streaming tech, Roon Ready integration, and a fully balanced analogue pre-amplifier section.

The pre-amp’s novel ground-switching input is designed to minimise cross-talk between connected devices, while multiple dedicated power supplies promise the cleanest current delivery with minimal noise.

Dedicated MM and MC phono-stage inputs with calibrated RIAA equalisation cater for vinylistas, alongside two further stereo RCA inputs and a set of balanced XLR inputs. Digital inputs are handled by HDMI ARC, two optical, and two Coaxial Inputs. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are supported via clever hidden aerials, but wired Ethernet is also offered. Outputs to your power amp of choice are via XLR or RCA, with the Caspian 4G model preferring balanced XLR.

The Capsian’s streaming smarts come via deep BluOS integration, supporting hi-res files up to 24-bit/192kHz. This means you get access to the world’s most popular streaming services and the ability to wirelessly stream music up to 64 zones. Using BluOS also means effortless browsing and access to locally stored music collections and streaming services. If that wasn’t enough, Roon Ready certification adds seamless music server integration and another rock-solid option for multiroom listening.

Digital sources are converted by the Caspian Series 4G’s Roksan dual-mono Rapture DAC, which uses a differential current-conveyor topology. The company says this allows more information to be extracted for the best possible analogue reproduction.

Furthermore, we are told this topology has several measurable advantages over the traditional approach to digital-to-analogue reconstruction using op-amp ICs. The current conveyor has superior gain-bandwidth characteristics essential for faithful high-resolution audio reproduction. Moreover, despite being discrete (no off-the-shelf solution exists), it relies on a single circuit element for gain matching. Therefore, it can be utilised effectively in a discrete-component level solution.

The pre-amp's output is controlled by a hybrid digital-analogue volume control algorithm that leverages powerful digital signal processing to enable tone controls and system matching. Featuring a mono design to ensure each channel is kept separate and reduce crosstalk, the control is implemented as discrete sections with 10dB steps in the analogue domain, and the steps in between in the digital domain.

Around the volume control dial is a lit progress indicator that can show things such as track length. Another neat feature of the display interface is that the volume bars can be ‘pulled down’ to the power amp(s). The very clear high-contrast OLED display also features customisable input icons to make source selection easy.

Roksan Caspian 4G Power Amplifier

The Caspian Power Amplifier promises to deliver uncompromising drive and power, whether used in stereo or mono-block configuration. It harnesses Roksan’s advanced Euphoria amplification architecture to deliver 105 Watts into 8 Ohms / 200 Watts into 4 Ohms.

Caspian Series 4G uses Roksan’s authoritative and intelligent class AB amplifier architecture, Euphoria, which the British firm states “excels in power and finesse.” Roksan has evolved the AB topology, with individual power supplies for the current and voltage amplifiers, reducing interactions and delivering purer, more detailed, cleaner sound.

This, in concert with precision-engineered analogue circuitry, ensures a transparent signal path that preserves every detail and dynamic nuance of the music, says Roksan.

Roksan’s engineers have carefully scrutinised both voltage and current amplification stages. The result is exceptional soft-clip behaviour, which we’re told has been tuned through extensive listening sessions to deliver the maximum SPL before perceptual degradation.

The Capsian Power Amplifier can run in bridged mode, so, as a monoblock, it offers 420 Watts into 8 Ohms and 630 Watts into 4 Ohms.

MaestroUnite

Caspian Series 4G makes use of Monitor Audio Group’s in-house designed MaestroUnite app. The easy-to-use app offers simple setup options and access to advanced features, including input configuration, headphone sensitivity, analogue input gain, balance, low-power standby, and the Roksan DSP Engine’s enhanced features for tailoring a system to a specific environment.

That DSP engine optimises your listening experience by applying four key technologies: Intelligent Tone, Intelligent Boundary, Intelligent Speaker, and Intelligent Phono. In combination, these technologies enable you to fine-tune your listening experience to get the most out of your system in your particular room.

The Listening

We listened to the Caspian 4G set up as the Streaming Pre-Amplifier, with a pair of Power Amplifiers in mono mode feeding a pair of Monitor Audio Platinum 3G floorstanders. The tracks included some of the expected, such as Dylan's Man In The Long Black Coat and Joss Stone's I Had a Dream. The classic Crockett's Theme, albeit remixed by Michael Cassette, was a blast from the past. Requests from the gathered press included Fishing Boat by The Mountain Goats and Misirlou / Ah Ya Zein by The Ayoub Sisters.

Firstly, where a colour display of album art suddenly becomes a visual focus when listening, we were inclined to close our eyes and let the music envelop us. The mono'd amplifiers never hinted at being overstretched or struggling. Dynamics seemed plentiful in the room, even though the volume was not being pushed beyond reasonable listening levels.

Available now, the Roksan Caspian 4G Streaming Pre-Amplifier is priced at £3,500 | US$4,500 | €4,000 and the Caspian 4G Power Amplifier, £3,000 | US$3,750 | €3,500 each. 

Stay tuned for a full review very soon.

For more information visit Roksan