THE MELCO AUDIO N10/2 DIGITAL MUSIC LIBRARY IS THE JAPANESE HIFI BRAND’S NEW MK2 FLAGSHIP

Japanese brand Melco has launched a new range-topping digital music library, the Melco Audio N10/2.

Melco tells us that the new two-box flagship is the best-performing Melco music library in their history.

The new Melco Audio N10/2 Digital Music Library in black

HDD AND SSD VERSIONS

The Melco Audio N10/2 is available in two distinct storage type variants: an HDD version Melco N10/2-H50, plus an SSD version Melco N10/2-S38. The HDD version is a direct replacement for the original N10 and the SSD version replaces the previous SSD flagship, the N1Z/2EX.

Melco Audio N10/2 Digital Music Library in silver

The new libraries centre around newly selected HDD and SSD drives 5 TB in the N10/2-H50 and 3.84 TB in the N10/2-S38; the dedicated drives are hand-picked by the factory. The Melco Audio N10/2 also benefits from a new high-performance PCB, first seen in the limited-edition N10 45th Anniversary Limited Edition, which is now sold out.

TWO BOX DESIGN

The Melco N10/2 is a two-box design, featuring half-width (215 mm) chassis, enabling Melco’s engineers to separate the delicate signal-processing electronics from the power supply.

The ‘head’ unit contains the processing electronics and data connectivity, and the power unit contains a high-performance, low-noise linear power supply with a 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 pride themselves on not using standard IT components or PC parts.

Melco’s software architecture provides reassuring familiarity to existing Melco customers and ease of use for newcomers.

MELCO AUDIO N10/2 CONNECTIONS

The Melco Audio N10/2 benefits from several familiar Melco USPs. The head unit’s rear panel benefits from twin Ethernet ports, LAN and PLAYER, the latter being a dedicated port designed to connect directly to network streamers without the need for an intervening data switch, ensuring timing accuracy is maintained.

Front and back of the two chassis Melco Audio N10/2 Digital Music Library

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 easily, 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 backup to HDD/SSD drives.

INTELLIGENT MUSIC LIBRARY

In addition to Melco’s software architecture, the N10/2 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 Melco Audio N10/2 comes in HDD and SSD versions

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.

MELCO AUDIO N10/2 DIGITAL MUSIC LIBRARY PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Melco Audio N10/2 is available now in HDD or SSD versions.

Melco N10/2-H50 (HDD) £6,999; Melco N10/2-S38 (SSD) £8,999

Both are available in black or silver.

HiFi Pig Says: Melco Digital Music Libraries are very popular with audiophiles having built a solid reputation over the years, well worth checking out if digital audio is your thing.

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