MELCO LAUNCHES AN ALL-NEW FLAGSHIP MUSIC LIBRARY THE N1-S38

Launched at The Bristol HiFi Show over the weekend, the Melco N1-S38 is the Japanese brand’s new flagship SSD-based digital music library.

The new ground-up design is based around a new platform, with a new chassis and casework, plus new power supplies.

You can read the HiFi Pig Bristol HiFi Show 2023 report here

In use in the Leema room at Bristol, the Melco N1-S38

MELCO N1-S38 DIGITAL MUSIC LIBRARY

A full-width design, the all-new N1-S38 benefits from a totally new set of system electronics, a new mainboard, plus a new mains transformer, supply and local regulators.

Melco N1-S38 Flagship Music Library in black

MELCO N1-S38 SSD DRIVE

An audio-specific custom 3.84 TB SSD drive, which has Melco’s proprietary layered, rigid SSD mounter, is directly connected to the data path without any intervening RAID controller; on-board memory is increased, too.

Hand-made in Japan, in line with all of Melco’s digital libraries, the N1-S38 is the first all-new Melco design since the half-width N10 and N100 series launched in 2018.

The new Melco N1-S38 from the rear

ALL-NEW CHASSIS AND CASEWORK

Key to the N1-S38’s new look is Melco’s all-new casework which has a stable chassis construction centred around a robust 3 mm stainless steel base plate to minimise unwanted vibration.

Externally, the N1-S38 is complemented by precision-machined two-tone aluminium casework on the remaining five faces, ranging in thickness from 2 mm up to 5 mm, representing a significant upgrade over the half-width N10/2 and N100 models.

SOLID ALUMINIUM

The new fascia design features a unique engraved Melco logo using a special technique, with the bold new aesthetics continuing with the substantial contrasting casework corners which are also machined from solid aluminium billet.

OLED DISPLAY

The front panel features Melco’s familiar positive-click fascia control buttons (now illuminated), a crystal-clear easy-read OLED display panel, plus a USB port. New complementary teal LED lighting provides additional aesthetic appeal.

Melco N1-S38 Flagship Music Library in silver

MELCO N1-S38 CONNECTIVITY

At the audiophile-performance level of the N1-S38, Melco says that conventional USB connections can compromise ultimate performance, so robust die-cast Amphenol USB ports are provided for the rear-mounted DAC, Expansion, Import and Backup ports, for improved performance and durability with heavier-grade premium cables and connectors.

The Melco concept of a dedicated Player port for direct connection to network players is now enhanced by precision Neutrik RJ45 connectors; the LAN port is similarly upgraded.

Following the pioneering application of SFP Fibre (Small Form Factor Pluggable) connectivity in the Melco S10 and recent S100/2 data switch, the new N1-S38 benefits from an SFP port for direct fibre connection to a suitably equipped player or network infrastructure.

In a nod to its audiophile credentials, the new N1-S38 also supports a switchable 10 MHz external clock input; a first for a Melco music library.

POWER TRANSFORMER

Further features include a large, newly developed high-capacity power transformer, which is mounted on its own sub-chassis and exceeds that of the existing flagship, the N10/2. This is complemented by a new bespoke device for the capacitor bank.

MELCO N1-S38 PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Melco N1-S38 is available now priced at £11,995/EUR 14,000 in black or silver.

HiFi Pig Says: Melco libraries are very popular with audiophiles and I am sure this new flagship will continue the trend.