Hifi Pig

SOtM today announced the worldwide release of the sMS-1000SQ Windows Edition, “the world’s first” Windows OS based server, which combines with AudiophileOptimizer and ROON.

The company’s press release says that “The sMS-1000SQ Windows Edition raises the bar for the highest sound quality and also with very convenient usage. The standard unit comes with RoonServer based on fully licensed Windows Server 2012 R2 (Essentials Edition) as well as AudiophileOptimizer and such features tell you everything”.

Key features

• Windows Server 2012 R2 with AudiophileOptimizer pre-installed, licensed and configured
• Only selected high quality audio grade Windows OS hardware
• Roonserver for multi zone internet streaming audio system
• Various audio player application support
• Video playback support
• Windows 8.1 with Fidelizer pre-installed, licensed and configured

Pricing and Availability

• The sMS-1000SQ Windows Edition with AudiophileOptimizer is available Pricing starts at US$3500.
• The unit is available in two colors, silver or black, and three different hardware variants: USB, Analog and Digital

The USB version comes with the tX-USBexp based USB output.

The digital version comes with AES/EBU, Coaxial and Optical based tX-USBexp USB output.

The analogue version comes with balanced and unbalanced outputs based tX-USBexp USB output.

• The internal storage device can be chosen up to 2TB SSD or 4TB HDD besides the originated 32GB SSD installed.
• The Ultra Low Noise Clock upgrade is available as

It is a first for the Swiss brand usually known for extreme loudspeakers like the gigantic and inaccessible Apologue Anniversary, but good things come to those who wait!

Goldmund has announced the introduction of what they are calling “a high-tech computer audio system that will dramatically transform your sound environment during the long hours you are spending in front of your screens: the Goldmund Talisman Audio System”. 

The system comprises the Nanometis Speakers and the Metis Talisman Hub, two lifestyle products holding the company’s “latest developments in nanotechnology for ultimate sound reproduction”.

The Metis Talisman is a mini wireless hub the size of a jewelry box. It is the central piece of the system that allows connecting the speakers to multiple sources with its USB port, analogue and digital RCA inputs, and toslink optical connection. In addition, it comes with a headphone plug.

It is delivered with a simplistic remote control and has push buttons for input selection and volume on the back panel. Input and volume controls are monitored by a linear led indicator running along the unit’s front panel.

Different colors are proposed for the standard version of the Talisman: Pearly White, Black, Clear Grey and Anthracite Grey, just like the Goldmund Nanometis Speakers.

Both products come with a Goldmund logo engraved gold plaque. They are built in aluminum and handcrafted.

The new Nanometis is the smallest and more versatile speaker proposed by the Swiss manufacturer. It completes an already very wide line of Goldmund high-end wireless speakers created to simplify customers’ lives thanks to models that are extremely easy to use and install, it includes the new Goldmund Leonardo 2 technology associated to Proteus and  140W of Telos amplification per pair.

The Talisman Hub and Nanometis can also be ordered separately, which gives customers the choice to:

Select different colors for the speakers and the hub.

Use the Nanometis without the Talisman directly from your computer thanks to the USB dongle emitter provided with the speaker.

Use the Nanometis with any other Goldmund Processor.

Use the Metis Talisman Hub with any other Goldmund wireless speaker.

Lastly, two luxury finishes are available on demand for the Metis Talisman Hub: Goldmund Aluminum and Matt Gold.

And for those who are only satisfied with unique products, bespoke Gold and Rhodium plated versions can be created for this model, as well as completely personalized designs with inlaid gemstones.

AURALiC is now significantly extending the potential user base for music streaming by introducing the all-in-one ARIES MINI.

The ARIES MINI offers wireless streaming, including Quad-Rate DSD/DXD, a built-in DAC, plus new connectivity to a much broader market of consumers  — the millions of music lovers with stereo & A/V receiver-based or powered speaker-based audio systems — not just Audiophiles. The highly compact unit, with its built-in DAC and analog/digital outputs, shares most software and hardware functions with the original ARIES, plus Bluetooth, at a fraction of the latter’s cost. 

Priced at only $549, the ARIES MINI also comes with a free one-year subscription to TIDAL HiFi’s^® Lossless music library of 35 million tracks — a $240 value. [U.S. and Canada sales, only]

Music may live on a computer, on the Internet or in the Cloud — even an SSD/HDD installable inside the ARIES MINI. A USB input allows playing from HDDs and thumbdrives.

“The ARIES MINI begins a new and evolutionary era for the future of the audio industry,” said Xuanqian Wang, President and CEO of AURALIC LIMITED. “We intentionally set the retail price at an extremely affordable entry point to offer everyone an opportunity to enjoy the convenience and Studio Quality music that modern technology can bring to all. 

“Digital audio is changing very fast. The digital audio component is becoming a software-driven product, rather than a static piece of hardware out of a box. Manufactures can add new features, functionalities, ease of use and improve the sound quality by software updates — and it will be almost transparent and extremely beneficial for customers. In the future, you will no longer be buying a “box” or static piece of hardware. 

“That is perhaps the most important transition or “education” that consumers have to appreciate about what is going on in the audio industry today. And I’m referring not only to ‘Audiophiles’, but anyone who loves to listen to music. It’s the latter group that will drive our industry’s growth. We want both segments of the market to benefit from our work.”

Set-up is said to be extremely easy and uncomplicated, and with its built-in ESS Sabre DAC chip, analogue and digital outputs, and optional 2.5” hard drive slot for anyone who doesn’t want to invest in a dedicated DSD DAC and/or NAS drive, it represents an extremely simple way of adding high-resolution music, or accessing one’s own music library, for the millions of existing stereo and AV receiver-based audio systems.

For those users wishing to access music stored on their PC/Mac or NAS, AURALiC’s iPad app uniquely offers simple, step-by-step setup directions. (iPhone app to come very soon.) The App also supports Songcast, a music distribution service that allows users to map computer’s sound to any Lightning-equipped system and to map sound between different Lightning systems in the house and streaming sound though AirPlay. AURALiC also added Bluetooth support to ARIES MINI, enabling it to access other streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora, and SoundCloud from mobile device or PC/Mac.

The ARIES MINI is an elegantly sleek, minimalist device, befitting its usage by the average music lover or “Lifestyle” customer, measuring a mere 5.3” W x 5.3” D and 1.1” H [13.5cm x 13.5cm x 2.8cm], and weights 1.1 lbs. [without HD]. Despite its very compact size, there is also internal space for music storage. This is user-installable, and AURALiC may also offer the ARIES MINI with a factory-installed SSD at additional cost.

It is available in both white and black finishes.

It is powered by AURALiC’s proprietary Tesla hardware platform that includes a Quad-Core ARM Coretex-A9 processor running at 1GHz, 512MB DDR3 onboard memory and 4GB internal storage. The Tesla platform has a calculation ability of 25,000 MIPS, more than enough to decode a vast spectrum of audio formats, including AAC, AIFF, ALAC, APE, DIFF, DSF, FLAC, MP3, OGG, WAV, WV and WMA.

By using OpenHome structure which is adopted by U.K.-based streaming solution manufacturer Linn, the ARIES MINI, as well as all other Lightning based products, supports advanced functions such as on-device playlist that allow control software to turn off during play and complete supporting of multi-room, multiple control points — functions that are not part of the legacy standards of the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).

The ARIES MINI is also compatible with other OpenHome and uPnP AV based control software such as Linn Kinsky and BubbleDS, although those software do not support most of Lightning DS App’s advanced functions such as the online streaming and hardware settings.

Outputs are: high quality analogue RCA jacks, Coaxial and TOSLINK, and USB 2.0 High-Speed for compatible DACs. Inputs are: RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet, High-Speed USB 2.0, and Tri-Band WiFi.

The USB and analogue outputs can deliver PCM from 44.1 to 384 KHz at 16-, 24- and 32-bit resolutions as well as the latest Quad-Rate DSD and DXD for compatible USB DACs. The other digital outputs are limited to 192 KHz at 24-bit in maximum according to S/PDIF standard.

Croatian-based newcomer “Hana-Lab” has recently announced their new audio server plus Class D amp set in a stylish and unusual design.

This versatile fanless audio server has integrated DAC which supports high-resolution playback (configurable with a 24/192 or 32/384 DAC) and a variety of streaming services (Spotify, Internet radio, UPNP/DLNA playback, Airplay, etc.).

It plays most of the usual audio formats (MP3, Flac, Aiff, WAV, etc.) via external USB, or a wide selection of Internet radio stations. It also supports network sources for audio files (NAS or a network share).

The server connects to network via Ethernet cable or wirelessly (Wi-Fi), and the network connection is very easy to set up say the company.

The server can be controlled by smartphone or tablet, using several luxurious free client interfaces available for Android and iOS (showing album covers, searchable by genre, etc.).

The other part of the product is a small and efficient amplifier, based on the well-known TI TPA3116D2 chip, which will easily handle even the more demanding speakers. Like the server, the amplifier part of the product is also customisable, so you can choose different combinations, e.g. a more powerful amp (2x100W).

Hana-Lab offers a unique blend of technology, design and craftsmanship, together with individualised approach to each customer.

They have several other optional additions to this basic product (enclosure for the external 2.5″ hard disk, or a server with front-mounted LCD screen and an additional IR remote control), and offer completely customised setups. Their manufacturing process is artisanal, and each product is  handmade in consultation with the customer (they will even go as far as to offer differently positioned power switches for left-handed users).

The prices for the server start at €350 for a simple network player without DAC: the model shown has integrated HD Audio DAC, at 24-bit, 192KHz, and costs €450. The amplifiers start at €320 for the basic 2x50W model, with a 10% discount if both are purchased at once.

Polish company, LampizatOr have launched their new DSD Komputer, a Windows 2012 R2 Server machine which they say is ‘as no-compromise and as high spec as possible. Nothing is ordinary about it. Most of the parts can’t even be bought in regular computer stores, even on-line. A machine as such can’t be bought anywhere even at a much higher price – simply speaking no-one makes such machines and especially the real IT people would tell you it is insane.’ 

LampizatOr have created the Komputer to sonically match their Golden Gate DAC and make the bold claim that ‘this machine plays both PCM and DSD and can not be upgraded or beat because it is the best that PC technology has to offer’.