The Article
N10/2 DIGITAL MUSIC LIBRARY FROM MELCO
23rd February 2022
Melco Audio has launched a two-box, range-topping digital music library, the N10/2, available in two flavours
On offer here is a mechanical hard disk version called the N10/2-H50 and priced at £6,999 plus a SSD version called the N10/2-S38 and priced at £8,999.
The mechanical version is a direct replacement for the original N10 and the SSD version replaces the previous SSD flag ship, the N1Z/2EX.
The new libraries centre around newly selected drives: 5TB in the N10/2-H50 and 3.84 TB in the N10/2-S38.
The N10/2 is a two-box design, featuring a half-width (215 mm, about 8.5in) chassis, with a separate power supply to see the noise down.
The head unit’s rear panel includes twin Ethernet ports, LAN and PLAYER, the latter being a dedicated port designed to connect directly to network streamers without the need for an intervening data switch.
Twin USB 2.0 ports are also available plus a front-panel USB port including a dedicated USB DAC output, ready for connection to USB DACs, USB DAC-equipped amplifiers or active speakers.
The second USB port importing or playing music.
You also get the company’s MinimServer and SongKong software. The device is also Roon Ready, DSD compatible and offers app control for TIDAL, Qobuz and vTuner streaming with the Melco Music HD app. Qobuz Downloader and HighResAudio.com also enable direct downloads without the need for a computer.
The N10/2 can also be used as a self-contained local hi-res digital music player when connected via a USB DAC; data rates of up to 32bit/384 kHz and Octo DSD (or DSD512) are supported.
Control is via the Melco Music HD app, from the front panel, or from approved third-party RF remote handsets and for network playback, UPnP control point apps.
To learn more about this selection of Melco hardware then just click melco-audio-masters.com
Does upgrading from a 5TB mechanical hard drive down to a 3.84TB SSD really cost another £2k? Both the HD and the SSD hardware have the same interface, so presumably one is a direct replacement for the other. Really is a case of Melco extracting an additional £2k just to change the H50 on the badge to S38, with no apparent additional benefit. Both options should be offered with the same price tag. Simply it is an absolutely disgraceful ploy to extract maximum financial gain from the high-end market.
I did ask Melco about that…can’t find the reply. It’s around here somewhere. Melco talked about the unit not being akin to a PC, instead it’s a specialist thing, the hardware’s tied into the HD a lot tighter, needs more software co-ordination and it’s the software itself that is the expensive thing, etc, etc. Ultimately, on this sort of matter, you vote with your wallet. If you disagree with how a company does business then you stay away and support one of its competitors.
I’ve never reviewed a Melco anything thus far. Maybe I should grab one to see what the fuss is all about, eh? 🙂