Hifi Pig

sMS-200 is a new generation of mini network player with built in ‘Media Player Board’ developed by SOtM that will cost $450.

sMS-200 has a dedicated ARM processor board that has been developed for only audio. SOtM developed the product just for audio sound performance, getting rid of all unnecessary features concentrating on the high quality sound at a reasonable price.

As to the player software, ROON, MPD, DLNA, SqueezeLite and others are available. And the music files from an external USB storage device, network shared folders and streaming services

are also available. More functions can be added by software downloads.

The web GUI allows users to choose the desired audio function, setup and control playing music file through Apps on users’ smart devices.

Specifications:

OS
Linux
Audio player
Roon Ready
DLNA renderer
Music Player Daemon(MPD)
Logitech Media Server(LMS)
Squeezelite
Audio
PCM 32bit/384KHz max, DSDx64, DSDx128, DSDx256
Ultra Low Jitter Clock
Ultra Low Noise Regulator
Active Noise canceller
USB port
High-End audio grade USB port x 1
USB 2.0 port x 2
Ethernet port
RJ45 100Mbps

John Scott was entranced by the sleek, stylish beauty of Naim’s £850 all-in-one speaker system but will she sound as good as she looks?

“George Bernard Shaw said: “Beauty is all very well at first sight; but who ever looks at it when it has been in the house three days?”  George clearly wasn’t a Hifi fan; if I lost my heart to the Mu-So at first sight there was no chance of my ardour waning during the time that I had it in my possession – it truly is a lovely thing, it’s sleek, modern lines fitting in seamlessly to the traditional décor of my sitting room. ”

Read the full review of the Naim Mu-So here. 

The Wax Box is a system for storing, cataloguing and playing music.  The new Wax Box 3 has the same user interface as its predecessors but in a much more compact case.  It features 1TB of storage and 3Beez say that it is ‘Simple enough for technophobes, configurable enough for audiophiles’.

The Wax Box 3 is available now from 3Beez of Colorado and is priced at $4600.

Naim today confirmed the arrival of a new product in its core range: a performance upgradeable preamplifier including full network audio and zero S/PDIF jitter DAC.

The NAC-N 272 streaming preamplifier will be available from Naim’s specialist retailers in March at a cost of £3,300 or £3,595 including a DAB+/FM module. 

Naim envisages that many customers of the NAC-N 272 will be upgrading from SuperUniti, or NaimUniti 2 if they are already enjoying network audio or from an existing pre-amp like a NAC 202 if they are not.  In both cases the likely matching power amplifier would be the NAP 200 or NAP 250. The NAC-N 272 will also bring new customers to the Naim brand possibly initially as a front end to their existing power amplifiers or “for someone looking for an extra degree of performance over a Uniti solution without losing out on convenience and functionality”.

Inputs and music sources include: UPnP^TM hi-res streaming, Spotify^® Connect, Bluetooth^® (aptX^®), iRadio, DAB+/FM, 6 digital, 3 analogue and one USB input for iPod or USB sticks. A combination that should be ideal for music lovers.

The NAC-N 272 is the first Naim product to be DSD64 compatible.

DSD files can be played back on the 272 via the UPnP^TM, electrical S/PDIF or USB inputs. The digital header information is stripped out by the DSP leaving only the audio, which is optimised for the DAC by integer resampling the stream at 40bit/768kHz, using Naim software to maintain the high sample rate and accuracy. This adapted DSD stream then enters the 24bit DAC, bypassing the DACs internal digital filter. 

The S/PDIF inputs on the NAC-N 272 utilise Naim’s proprietary zero S/PDIF design using the SHARC processor to buffer the incoming S/PDIF signal and clocking it out of the buffer referencing a precision quartz crystal.

The SHARC runs unique Naim-authored software to create an ultra-high precision 40-bit floating-point filter. The filter over-samples by 16 times on 44.1kHz data and provides stop-band attenuation of -156dB. The analogue output includes Naim’s classic discrete five-pole Sallen Key filter.

The analogue and digital sections of the 272 are isolated to reduce noise and communicate using fast opto-isolators. Four separate secondaries from the transformer ensure the optimum power supply isolation and also the ideal voltages and regulation for the Analogue, DAC, and two digital rails. The circuit boards are float-mounted to reduce microphony.

The 272 volume control is derived from the design featured in the flagship Naim Statement NAC S1 preamplifier. It uses hand-selected, through-hole analogue components which are isolated from their digital controller using optical chips.

All the analogue inputs, outputs and mutes are relay switched and completely disconnected when not in use. The relays, in traditional Naim engineering practice, are fed from constant current sources for the lowest interaction and lowest noise.

The moment headphones are plugged in the output current drive is automatically increased by five times to give dynamic drive for all headphone impedances. The amplifier runs from a high voltage power supply so has the ability to drive high impedance headphones with the voltage swing they require for open and dynamic sound.

Specification 

Outputs Preamplifier (2 x DIN, 1 x RCA), Line (1 x RCA), Digital S/PDIF (1 x BNC), Headphones (1 x 6.3mm)

Preamp Output 775mV

Line output 275mV

Frequency Response 4Hz – 40kHz

S/N Ratio 87dB (measured at 2V in, 775mV out)

Analogue Inputs 3 ( 1 x DIN, 2 x RCA)

Analogue Input Sensitivity 275mV

Analogue Input Overload  34dB

Digital Inputs 6 (1 x BNC, 2 x RCA, 3 x TosLink)

Digital Input Sample Rate Max  Coaxial – 192kHz, Optical – 96kHz

Other Inputs DAB/FM, USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

iRadio Service vTuner 5* full service

Audio Formats WAV and AIFF (up to 32bit/192kHz), FLAC (up to 24bit/192kHz), ALAC (up to 24bit/96kHz), WMA (up to 16bit/48kHz), Ogg Vorbis (up to 16bit/48kHz), MP3, M4a (up to 320kbit/s), Playlists (m3u, PLS), DSF64 and DFF64, Gapless playback supported on MP3, M4A, AIFF, WAV, FLAC and ALAC.

Internet radio formats supported: AAC, Windows Media™ formatted content, MP3 streams, MMS, Ogg Vorbis, Spotify® Connect: Ogg Vorbis (up to 320kps) Bluetooth: SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX-LL

Upgrade Interface mini-USB

Wi-Fi Compatibility 802.11b, 802.11g

Idle power consumption  21W

Mains Supply 100V, 115V or 230V, 50/60Hz

Power Supply Options 555PS, XPS, XP5 XS

Dimensions (H x W x D)  87 x 432 x 314mm

Weight 12.5kg

Finish Black anodised aluminium with brushed and black anodised fascia

Auralic North America Inc. and its parent company, Auralic Limited, have announced that TIDAL, the first lossless music streaming service with HD music videos and curated editorial, has been integrated in their ARIES Streamer Bridge.

AURALiC’s Lightning streaming is the industry’s first whole-house, high-resolution streaming solution that supports music playback up to Double-Rate DSD and DXD formats. The ARIES, the first product in the Lightning family, serves as a “bridge” between music on TIDAL‘s lossless online streaming services, or the consumer’s network storage, and their DAC — enabling DACs to stream high-resolution music quickly and wirelessly in virtually any sampling rate — without the need for a computer.

By full integration of the TIDAL streaming service within its technology, ARIES users will be able to access TIDAL to stream its extensive library of 25 million-plus tracks of high fidelity lossless music.

According to Xuanqian Wang, AURALiC’s CEO and President, “The full integration of TIDAL on Lightning streaming & ARIES significantly expands that ease of convenience with almost limitless selection of full resolution music. And, best of all, the consumer doesn’t need to use a computer.”

“We are delighted that AURALiC has fully integrated TIDAL into its Lightning/ARIES system, especially as the results have been so impressive,” said Pål Bråtelund, Strategic Partnership Manager HiFi at TIDAL. “We are committed to making TIDAL the go-to music streaming service for those that care about quality. Working alongside companies such as AURALiC is a delight, as they understand that once experienced, lossless quality brings people closer to the music and makes for a significantly more enjoyable listening experience.

You can expect a trio of reviews of TIDAL from three very different users very soon on Hifi Pig.

Denon has announced the latest generation of its lifestyle Network Music systems. The  new  CEOL  and CEOL Piccolo systems are a pair of compact and minimalist designs that offer music playback from every audio source imaginable, all controlled by an App.

The CEOL provides access to your music collection via your home network, wherever it is stored – on a computer, network hard drive, or mobile device. With an integrated Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable connection, the CEOL supports AirPlay® and lossless streaming of high definition music files (FLAC HD/WAV/AIFF/ ALAC) from the home network. The CEOL also supports Bluetooth® streaming with NFC pairing, along with Spotify® Connect online music service, Internet radio and FM/AM radio. The CD player supports all of the usual CD formats and file types. The front panel USB port connects iPhones, iPods (with continuous battery charging even in standby mode), USB memory drive and USB-HDD. Rear panel digital optical (there  are  two)  and  analogue  audio inputs connect digital TVs and almost any other audio device.

The CEOL uses Denon’s digital amplifier design to deliver 65 watts per channel to the two-way speakers. The minimalist design features a dual layer acrylic top-panel with controls positioned for bookshelf or tabletop placement. Full control of the system is also possible from the dedicated Denon Hi-Fi Remote App for iOS and Android.

CEOL (N-9)

• Supports AirPlay® for iDevice and iTunes music streaming
• Bluetooth wireless streaming with NFC pairing for instant playback from mobile devices
• Windows 8/RT  compatibility;  the  CEOL  is  displayed  as  loudspeakers  on  the Windows desktop, for direct streaming of audio
• New Denon SC-N9 two-way speaker design
• CD player supports WMA/MP3(CD-R/RW) playback
• FM/AM Radio
• Digital optical inputs (two) for system expansion with connection of digital audio sources including flat screen TV, TV set-top box, or game console
• Rear panel  analogue  audio  input  for  system  expansion  with  connection  of analogue devices
• Headphone output
• Front panel USB port for connecting iDevices, smartphones and USB memory drives
• Continuous iPod battery charge on USB port even in standby mode
• 3 line large OLED for clear and wide view
• Multi language Quick Setup guide on OLED
• Interactive CD-Rom manual and WEB manual

The ultra compact CEOL Piccolo (N4) Network Music system has a diminutive footprint and can stream high definition music from devices including hard drives, computers, mobile devices and the internet, via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth® and USB. The CEOL Piccolo also features Spotify® Connect and Internet radio. These features are operated by top panel controls for desktop, tabletop or bookshelf positioning and like its bigger brother the new App.

CEOL Piccolo (N-4)

• Audio streaming from hard drives, computers, mobile devices and the internet, via WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth® and USB
• High definition playback of 24bit/192kHz (FLAC HD/WAV/AIFF/ ALAC), *Note: ALAC is up to 96kHz/24bit, audio formats for high quality streaming audio
• Gapless audio streaming
• Integrated diversity antennae for Wi-Fi streaming from network connected devices and drives; supports 11n
• Spotify Connect online music service support and internet radio
• Controllable with Denon Hi-Fi Remote App for iOS and Android
• Ultra-compact
• Windows 8/RT compatibility; the CEOL Piccolo is displayed as loudspeakers on the Windows desktop, for direct streaming of audio
• Digital optical input for system expansion with connection of digital audio sources for improved sound quality via the CEOL Piccolo, including flat screen TV, TV settop box, or game consoles.
• Rear panel analogue audio input for system expansion with connection of analogue devices
• High quality headphone output

Naim today announced that its Uniti range of all-in-one players will now feature Bluetooth (aptX) and Spotify Connect. “Naim’s customers are music lovers and these new features add convenience and flexibility to their ability to play music from many sources” say Naim.

Naim’s range of network players will also feature the new Spotify Connect functionality but not Bluetooth.

Naim’s Uniti range was first launched in May 2009 with the arrival of the original NaimUniti and since then the range has grown to encompass three more all-in-one players.

Existing streaming product customers can have Spotify Connect as a free software update.

TIDAL, the first high fidelity lossless music streaming service with HD music videos and curated editorial, has announced the launch and availability of its service in the UK and US. The service has an extensive library of 25 million-plus tracks, 75,000 music videos and curated editorial articles, features and interviews.  It’s ad’ free and available now for a monthly subscription of £19.99 / $19.99.

With distribution agreements signed with all of the major labels, including Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, TIDAL has also been working with many independent labels to offer a comprehensive catalogue that includes a wide range of genres to suit all musical tastes. TIDAL has also signed agreements with licensing organisations PRS for Music for UK and ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and Harry Fox Agency for U.S.

Possibly the most eagerly anticipated music streaming service by the audio industry, partnership and integration agreements have already been made with 34 of the world’s audio brands, including: Anthem, Airable by Tune In Media, Astell & Kern, Audeze, Audiovector, AudioQuest, Auralic, Aurender, Bel Canto, Bluesound & NAD, Dan D’Agostino, Definitive Technology, Denon HEOS, DTS Play-Fi, Dynaudio, Electrocompaniet, Harman Omni, HiFiAkademie, ickStream, JH Audio, Linn, McIntosh, Meridian, MartinLogan, Paradigm, Polk, Pro-ject, PS Audio, Raumfeld, Simple Audio, Sonos, Steinway Lyngdorf, Wren Sound Systems with more to come.

“We are delighted that TIDAL has launched and that music lovers can now appreciate music the way it is meant to sound,” said TIDAL CEO Andy Chen.  “But the music is just one part of the service. The expert editorial educates, entertains and enriches the music experience whilst the music videos complement the music perfectly.  We are sure that TIDAL will quickly become the music streaming service of choice for all who appreciate high quality at every level.”

McIntosh Laboratory has launched a new control app for its recently launched media streamer the MB100 Media Bridge. The McIntosh Media Bridge app allows users to fully control and operate the new MB100 Media Bridge streamer, launched in the UK in late September.

The MB100 Media Bridge music streamer combinines huge internal storage with a wide range of inputs. It has four USB inputs, plus an eSata port for the direct connection of external drives and its high-speed network port offers direct connection to online streaming services.

The new McIntosh Media Bridge app allows full control and operation of the MB100 Media Bridge and allows users to access and play locally stored digital music libraries, as well as music from favourite internet streaming services such as: Pandora®; SiriusXM®; Spotify®; Rhapsody and TuneIn (where available, subscriptions may be required).

McIntosh’s Music Stream music player app comes preloaded as a favourite, so users can instantly access 24/7 audio streams.

• Full control over the MB100 Media Bridge streamer
• Advanced queue management: simply tap the ‘+ ‘ sign in the music menu to add the selection to the queue
• Create and edit radio stations through Pandora® using TuneBridge
• Listen to custom radio stations with Pandora® Internet Radio
• Listen to thousands of radio stations around the world with TuneIn Radio
• Stream SiriusXM satellite radio subscriptions via broadband
• Listen to thousands of titles with Spotify®
• Play favourite albums through Rhapsody