As mentioned, the two-box design measuring 'half-width' at 215 mm, enabled Melco's engineers to separate the delicate signal-processing electronics from the power supply.
The head unit contains the processing electronics and data connectivity, while the power unit contains a high-performance, low-noise linear power supply with the toroidal transformer.
The head unit uses the same extreme-low-noise, high-precision digital music dataflow as the existing Melco series and, crucially, is designed from the ground up as an audio-specific device; Melco famously eschews standard IT components or PC parts.
Melco's time-proven software architecture provides reassuring familiarity to existing Melco customers and class-leading ease of use for newcomers.
Around the back, the head unit's rear panel offers twin Ethernet ports (LAN and PLAYER). The latter is a dedicated port designed to connect directly to network streamers without needing an intervening data switch, maintaining timing accuracy.
Twin USB 2.0 ports are also available (plus a further front panel USB port), including a dedicated USB DAC output ready for connection to USB DACs, USB DAC-equipped amplifiers or active speakers. The second USB port enables USB devices to connect and operate effortlessly, including importing or playing music from memory devices, HDD/SSD drives and CD drives (CD 'rippers'); capacity expansion with Melco's E100 (or other) storage drive; and easy back-up to HDD/SSD drives.
The N10/2 also benefits from Melco's Intelligent Music Library suite comprising MinimServer and SongKong software. The device is also Roon Ready, DSD compatible, and offers app control via DLNA/UPnP (in USB DAC mode) with support for TIDAL, Qobuz and vTuner streaming with the Melco Music HD app. Qobuz Downloader and HighResAudio.com also enable direct, error-free high-res downloads without the need for a computer.
The N10/2 can also be used as a self-contained local hi-res digital music player when connected via a USB DAC; data rates of up to 32 bit/384 kHz and Octo DSD are supported, along with gapless and Melco markerless DSD.
Control is via the Melco Music HD app, from the front panel, or from approved third-party RF remote handsets and for network playback, UPnP control point apps.
Available now in black or silver finishes, Melco's N10/2 is available in two distinct storage type variants: an HDD version (N10/2-H50 - 5TB) which sells for £6,999, and an SSD version (N10/2-S38 - 3.8TB) which sells for £8,999 RRP. The factory hand-picked the dedicated drives, which it says provide exceptional audio performance.
The HDD-based N10/2-H50 directly replaces the original N10, and the SSD-based N10/2-S38 replaces Melco's previous SSD-based flagship, the N1Z/2EX.
For more information visit Melco
Posted in: Hi-Fi
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