For the Artera Solus Play, Quad has taken its popular Artera Solus 32x32cm one-box hi-fi system and, thanks to DST Play-Fi, added network streaming to the musical multi-tasking mix. The result is a compact all-encompassing hi-fi that only needs you to feed it with tunes and add a pair of loudspeakers.

The Quad Artera Solus Play boasts hi-res streaming via Wi-Fi, Ethernet cable, and aptX Bluetooth. It can also join in as part of a wireless multi-room system, play CDs, and offers full DAC and preamp facilities to hook up other audio devices as well as 2x75W amplification. Additionally, it looks pretty good while it's doing all that, too.

What is DTS Play-Fi?

The power amp circuits' output stage utilises a combination of Complementary Feedback (CFB) and conventional emitter follower circuitry. Here you get the benefit of the CFB's thermal stability and linearity and efficiently increasing the current ability of the amplifier without compromising the advantages of the CFB circuit.

A 300VA toroidal transformer provides juice to the two mono amplifiers using separate secondary windings, followed by 2x15000uF reservoir capacity per channel (60000uF in total).

The Artera Solus Play can stream music up to 24-bit/192kHz from DLNA-compatible NAS drives, and services such as Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer and Qobuz. Doing the heavy lifting is the ES9018 Sabre32 Reference, the eminent 32-bit, eight-channel hybrid multi-bit Delta-Sigma DAC chip.

For CD replay, a slot-loading mechanism buffers data from the disc before feeding it to the asynchronous DAC section. Four digital filter options enable users to tailor the sound from both CDs and external digital sources, to suit personal taste and the nature of the source material.

Hardwiring additional sources is done via two coaxial, two optical and a USB Type B for digital which can handle files up to PCM 32-bit/384kHz and DSD/256. You also get a pair of RCA inputs. Furthermore, RCA, balanced XLR, optical and coaxial outputs are offered along with a 12V trigger output and front-mounted headphone jack.

The new Artera Solus Play is available from July, with a choice of black or silver front panels and an RRP of £1,699. The original Artera Solus, without Wi-Fi/Ethernet network streaming, continues at £1,499.

For more information, head on over to Quad.