14-Aug-2015, 06:48
(14-Aug-2015, 04:42)ekovalsky Wrote:(11-Aug-2015, 15:44)rwjr44 Wrote: Does anyone have an update on the N10?
My black N10 arrived yesterday. I've only had a little time to listen to it so far, and at low volume as it was night time when I finally unpacked it and the family was already asleep. My initial impression - it sounds fantastic. I'm using the AES/EBU output to an all digital system of TacT RCS2.2X & S2150 amps. The hardware and software work very smoothly together. I'll report back after more serious listening this weekend. I have the unit plugged into a PSAudio P10 regenerator and digital links are Acoustic Zen.
The Conductor app is very fast and seems quite capable, although it will take some getting used to after relying on Peng 8 with a (heavily modified) Slim Devices Transporter. I picked up a new iPad Air 2 with an iPort case/stand which makes a nice looking interactive 'remote' - it protects the iPad and enables wireless charging in landscape or portrait orientation, I have the iPad locked in landscape mode.
The N10 is expensive an unit for sure, particularly compared to the lower range models. It is very solidly built and quite heavy, uses all linear power supplies, and has a full complement of digital outputs. Compared to the much more expensive W20 it is missing the external clock output and the battery power for the output (probably needed in the W20 since it does not use all linear power supplies like the N10).
Initially I thought it was quite expensive but after pricing out a custom C.A.P.S. Pipeline v4 build and figuring in necessary profit margins for the manufacturer, distributor, and dealer, I think the purchase price I paid was very reasonable. And of course one must expect to pay a premium for a well conceived and integrated hardware/software solution and the resulting simplicity in setup and use.
Did you compare the N10 to any of it's rivals prior to purchase? Or even try against the W20 or lower priced versions?
