MELCO

[cc1]

Ashame we Devialet uses don't get to be able to use the dedicated Ethernet Player port............

[PhilP]

- Light-piped Ethernet ports - complete electrical isolation totally removing possibility of interference and noise.

Recently I found out that the above displayed part of the specs did NOT mean Melco uses some form of opto isolation (galvanically isolating the ethernet inputs by converting the input signal into light). Instead it means that they 'lead' the light from ethernet status/activity LED's (which are not inside the ethernet connector but on the PCB surrounding it) through a plastic "pipe" to the back of the device.

For their "complete electrical isolation" they still use 'conventional' pulse transformers.

See also: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl...&sandbox=1

IMO it's specs are bordering on deceiving...perhaps crossing the border but I'm not sure I'm not a lawyer.

Yes, the fact that the isolation is galvanic rather than optical was reported in an interesting thread on the Minimserver Forum some time ago. It's worth reading that thread if you're interest in Melco and you may spot some familiar names there:

http://forum.minimserver.com/showthread.php?tid=2032

[Antoine]

I read it here: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f22-ne...post409171

Been following that thread as I may try out an optical based network isolation system (using fiber media converters) myself someday.

[Confused]

There are two articles about the Melco N1A in the August edition of "hi-fi News and Record review". One is a straight forward review of the N1A. The other is an article about USB audio, that makes specific mention of the Melco being used with a D800. The conclusion? Very positive indeed!

[Umetaro]

There are two articles about the Melco N1A in the August edition of "hi-fi News and Record review".  One is a straight forward review of the N1A.  The other is an article about USB audio, that makes specific mention of the Melco being used with a D800.  The conclusion?  Very positive indeed!

Confused, can we read the article online?  If not, can you please say a little more about the article?

[Umetaro]

I ordered N1A today and expect it to arrive tomorrow. Thanks for the devialet chat members who contributed to the thread. This thread is significantly informative and I learned a lot. N1A is replacing Mac Mini. I will post my findings once I listen to it.

[Rufus McDufus]

Just read the HFN article. It's a little confusingly-worded regarding the comparison of the Melco N1A vs the reviewer's home network components. Well it is to the slightly hungover me anyway. He mentions how the Melco devices are proving popular at shows for their convenience, but compares it with his own optimised networking gear setup. One of the major selling points of the Melco being you don't need to faff around optimising bits of the network because it's all done for you in one box which benefits home users too of course.
The upshot of the review is the USB output from the Melco for feeding a DAC appears to be the major benefit with large measureable improvements. In a purely ethernet-based setup with an ethernet-fed streamer, or being used to replace a NAS to feed a separate transport, the benefits are less tangible (apparently).

I'd really like to try the Melco separated from my home network just using a wifi access point plugged into the LAN socket of the Melco. This is a common way it's used at shows for its simplicity. The problem is I like to browse the internet while listening to music on my iPad so this wouldn't work as the Melco network won't be connected to an internet-facing router. I really wish one day wifi standards will allow devices to connected to more than one SSID at a time!

[GuillaumeB]

Finally got my demo N1Z unit, and thanks to Alan at Melco for organising this! 

At the moment I have it connected to my totaldac d1 server via ethernet and I'm using my d1 server in UPnP mode.

When I get my hands on a decent USB cable I will run some comparisons between ethernet and USB connection methods and of course running the Melco directly into the Devialet Master (via USB).

First impressions are positive - very simple to import a few albums from a USB stick and yes, it sounds fabulous!

Much more to come!

Guillaume

[Mikeeo]

Finally got my demo N1Z unit, and thanks to Alan at Melco for organising this! 

At the moment I have it connected to my totaldac d1 server via ethernet and I'm using my d1 server in UPnP mode.

When I get my hands on a decent USB cable I will run some comparisons between ethernet and USB connection methods and of course running the Melco directly into the Devialet Master (via USB).

First impressions are positive - very simple to import a few albums from a USB stick and yes, it sounds fabulous!

Much more to come!

Guillaume

Sounds promising, looking forward to listening to it on Saturday!

/M

[Bob Ryan]

I'd really like to try the Melco separated from my home network just using a wifi access point plugged into the LAN socket of the Melco.

It's how I use mine.

I've owned Lumin, demo'd two Aurenders as well as Bryston's USB player. The N1A tied with Bryston for easiest to setup and operate. N1A has sound quality as good as or better than all but N1Z mentioned here (as connected w/o internet on network and variable upon DAC used). For me downside of X100/N100H was no mirrored drives, didn't appreciate (otherwise excellent app) brown background or inability to move app in both vertical and horizontal on my tablet. All these products are good, but Melco component stands out for best user experience/sound quality at/near price. Would I rather have the N1Z? You bet. If it came with twin 2TB SSD's for $2K lower price.