keyword: LAN

review:-auralic-aries-g2.1-dissected-a-streaming-platform

Review: Auralic Aries G2.1 dissected a streaming platform

It is impossible to imagine life without , stream music in any form. From your own collection, from streaming services or just internet radio. If something has taken off and shrunk CD production, it’s streaming. Hardware manufacturers are reaping the benefits. The drives that are always susceptible to interference are gone, something new has to come into your home and if you don’t stream, children will look at you compassionately.

Now the hardware is still manageable, writing software for a pleasant operation is a completely different field. Not everyone is given the opportunity to write a user interface of which the user intuitively understands how things fit together. Often the control of the hardware is not always successful, which can lead to crashes. One of the positive exceptions to this is Auralic with its Lightning DS platform for software and Tesla G2 platform for hardware. Resulting in a range of digital transports and streaming server / DACs. Within the package, a key component is the Aries G2.1 streaming transport, an upgrade of the esteemed Aries G2. HIFI.NL had the honor of being able to use and listen to the Aries G2.1 down to the finest detail. Refined with the knowledge of previously reviewed Auralic products, the installation was child’s play.

Auralic Aries G2.1: Description The Auralic Aries G2. 1 streaming transporter connects optionally via a Tri-band wireless connection or via wired Ethernet with Tidal (MQA) and Qobuz, with internet radio, with USB drives, NAS systems and optional internal storage. The Aries G2.1 can be used for Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and AirPlay, is fully Roon ready. All using playlists, memory caching, gapless playback and bit-perfect multiroom support. With its high computing power, the Aries G2.1 can handle files in DSD resolution up to DSD 512 and PCM to 32 bit / 384 kHz (highest resolutions over USB only).

Updated in the Aries version G2.1 compared to the G2 the chassis is made of aluminum and with an extra reinforced bottom plate. After that, the inside of the housing is clad with copper to effectively resist RFI. The Aries G2.1 stands on spring loaded feet to avoid mechanical influences. Each foot is adjusted with six springs to suit the weight and weight distribution of the device. A 4 inch 300 ppi color display shows you key functions such as playback status, configuration and artwork. In addition to the mechanical adjustment, the Aries G2.1 delivers more power to the USB output compared to the G2 for better adaptation to various brands of DACs. The software has now been brought to version 7.2.2.

The Auralic Aries G2.1 streaming transporter offers internal space for an SSD or HDD of 2 .5 inches in any capacity available. Auralic has recently released a major firmware update, bringing the possibility to play CDs with an attached optical drive via the Lightning DS software or to rip the contents of the CD (at the same time) and store them on a USB drive. If necessary even on your NAS. During playback, all the possibilities of the Auralic models are used, such as jitter reduction and upsampling.

During the ripping process, each sector is read twice. If there is a difference between the first and second read, the same sector will be read eight more times at a slower speed to get a 100 percent accuracy. The Tesla G2 platform on which the Aries G2.1 runs is designed with the sole aim of being a high quality reproduction, upgradable and is purely focused on audio. Tesla G2 works seamlessly with its own Auralic App and is the most powerful platform available for digital music playback and streaming, according to Auralic. Tesla G2 runs on a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. With 1GB of memory cache and 8GB of data storage, multiple applications can be loaded simultaneously and network noise is reduced because circuits are open for less time.

To take the Aries G2.1 to such a high level, it internally uses two Femto clocks, digital clocks with an extreme accuracy of which à One always works for the digital technology and the other clock is assigned to the USB ports. Two linear power supplies work together, the first to power the processor circuits, the LCD display and USB connected sources. The second power supply is intended for all sensitive audio components such as the Femto clocks and the USB output. The ActiveUSB is therefore more than just an asynchronous controller due to its low jitter, precision clock and separate power supply for USB.

EMI from USB sources does not stand a chance in the Aries G2.1. The power supplies are galvanically isolated from each other to prevent EMI interference. The various electrical circuits are also galvanically separated from each other internally, such as clock, processor and data transmission. Are there wishes and comments to link to the price for the Auralic Aries G2.1 streaming transporter of € 4. 699, -? Perhaps, the Aries G2.1 is only available in black, can only be operated with Apple iOS and not with Android and â ?? ¦. I would appreciate that when music is playing the display stays on and when nothing is playing the display dims. Now the display is either always on or always off after a few seconds while playing and at rest. Difficult for the purist who never switches off his streamer and wants to save the display at rest, but wants to see what he or she is playing.

Technical details

Lossless file format: AIFF, ALAC, APE, DFF, DSF, FLAC, OGG, WAV and WV

Lossy file format: AAC, MP3 , MQA and WMA

Sampling: PCM 44. 1KHz to 384 KHz to 32 Bit, DSD 64 to DSD 512 DoP and native

Controls: Lightning DS App for iOS, BubbleUPnP, Kazoo, Roon

Inputs: USB Drive, LAN, WiFi antenna

Digital Outputs: L-Link, Toslink, S / PDIF, A ES / EBU, USB

Streaming: UPnP / DLNA Media Server, TIDAL and Qobuz, Sublime + streaming, Internet Radio, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Songcast, RoonReady, …

Options: SSD or 2.5 HDD, remote control

Network: Gigabit Ethernet, Wireless: 802. 11 b / g / n / ac Tri-Band

Housing: Black Anodized, chassis solid aluminum one piece

Dimensions: 34 cm x 32 cm x 9 , 6cm

Weight: 9.3kg

Environment The listening takes place in the familiar home environment where the power supply is built with an AudioQuest Niagara 5000 mains filter and CrystalConnect power cords. Music storage and ethernet switch are Melco N 11 and S 100, for most of the playback I make using Roon Rock on a NUC elsewhere in the home. The DAC is a Metrum Acoustics Pavane, analog coupled with a Yter XLR interconnect to an Audia Flight Strumento No.1 preamplifier and again with Yter XLR to a FLS4 power amplifier. Crystal Cable Speak Reference connects my Spendor Classic 2/3 monitors to the amplifier, the speakers have Townshend Maximum Super Tweeters, underneath Townshend Podiums and Custom Design Fish Tank stands.

The protagonist in this review is an Auralic Aries G2.1 Streaming Transporter as the thing is called in full. Just say a streamer, connected with AudioQuest Vodka on the switch and with AudioQuest Diamond AES / EBU on the DAC. The choice for these cables and method of connection stems from working with and Aries G1, where it turned out to me that the Metrum DAC performs optimally with an AES / EBU cable and a notch less with USB, Coax or Toslink. The Auralic Aries G1 is my reference in this and in daily use. The fact that my system is structured in this way says nothing about the performance of other power cords, ethernet connections and various digital cables on the Aries G2.1. Everyone has their own preferences, budget and maybe things on the shelf. By way of illustration, in my second system, the Aries G2.1 also played for a while and did so impressively via a Grimm TPR AES / EBU cable.

Auralic joins the series of streamers known to me like Lumin , Cambridge Audio, Naim, Bryston, Metrum, Bluesound, dCS and more, brands that all have their pros and cons. Sometimes being very quirky, working with an extensive own App or rather leaning on UPnP and Roon. As an enthusiastic supporter of the convenience of Roon and the extensive extra information that Roon provides, most of the players mentioned have been used as Roon Endpoint. Just like I do with the Auralic Aries G1 and G2.1. The fact that Auralic has an extensive own App gives me the opportunity to keep my own music collection, built up over the years, separate from music services such as Tidal and Qobuz. I use Roon for my music, the Auralic Lightning App for Tidal.

If I do not have Roon, the Lightning software fully meets all the requirements that can be set for a modern streamer. That’s why I played with the Aries G2.1 as Roon Endpoint and used Lightning to discover new music. A dedicated storage was not built into the Aries G2.1, also not necessary at all if a Melco N 10 music server is present. With that I am wasting one plus of the Aries G2.1 compared to the Aries G1 in which no internal storage fits, there are still plenty of pluses left, I have noticed in the past period.

From G1 to G2.1 With both my own Aries G1 in house and the Aries G2.1 that was made available, a comparison cannot be ignored. Because why would you spend a lot more money for the same functionality if you are not going to use internal storage options. The operation is the same, the software is the same, the number of connections is the same with only one exception, even the appearance is not essentially different. The only visible exception is the Lightning Link at the rear with which a Master Clock, Upsampler and / or a DAC from Auralic can be linked jitter-free. Anyone who has had the pleasure of listening to that stack (the undersigned) knows what a great result is achievable. Back to mutual comparison. The most essential, strikingly audible difference between the G1 and the G2.1 is the G2.1 adding foundation to the music. The G1 has a reputation for being light in sound and too puristic for some already clear systems, the G2.1 does not so much bring a heavier bass response, it is rather deeper, more present, more neutral and correct.

A bass response that spreads further through the listening room, ensures that an orchestra can play to the full, that a person has a chest with air and a piano sounds longer in the dark notes . Almost the difference between a loudspeaker and the same loudspeaker with a high quality sighing subwoofer. In addition, in the G2.1 more subtle is present the degree of detail, the extra calm in the reproduction, the more holographic stereo image and the ease with which man and instrument are set off against the background. Even used exclusively as a Roon Endpoint, the G2.1 proves its added value in a beautiful system that knows how to reveal the differences. However, the memory of the observations does not so much concern the points mentioned, but rather the feeling, the experience, the imagination of the artist. n, the satisfaction of listening to music. If we were talking about wine, the G2.1 has a better finish while both are excellent in taste.

Sighs and pops After the direct comparison, there is much, very listened a lot to music, varying from French sigh girls to opera singers, from rough men to wimps, from solo instrument to orchestra or band. Divides into pop, jazz and classical. For example, I enjoyed a live recording of Carla Bruni at the Olympia in Paris. With only a small line-up and her own guitar, her voice is central, complete with recording errors, so that the CD has remained authentic. Introducing Bruni on a large stage is easy, sitting on a stool, radiating pleasure, which is rewarded by applause from an audience in which individual hands can be distinguished.

The live experience is even greater as piano and bass join in. The funny â ?? La dernière minuteâ ???? closes the concert, it seems so simple, but somewhere heavy tones appear, small subtle sounds can be perceived behind her voice, the audience goes wild at the end and finally someone bumps into a microphone. The Aries G2.1 seems to enjoy uncovering everything.

Also live is â ???? Stairway to heavenâ ????, performed exclusively on guitar by Rodrigo y Gabriela from the CD â ???? Live in Japanâ? ???. A whole CD with only two guitars is a bit too much for me, this song by Led Zeppelin has so much eloquence, power, softness to the point that it is a classic. This is where that extra foundation of the G2.1 is very welcome. A blow to the body of a guitar should be echoing, strings should resound in the body of the instrument and the Aries is a master of that. It can be even wilder in â ???? Diablo Rojoâ ???? with which the concert closes. As a music chain, try to really keep separating the two guitars and still let them flow together. Combine speed with long extinction, maintain rhythm and whip up both audience and soloists in the living room.

It is â ???? Timeâ ???? Pink Floyd says in a cacophony of bells, a constant heartbeat, wavy low that rolls across the room, echoing drums and vocals. Addicted to the LP, streaming has come a long way in my home and the LP quality has since surpassed. That has cost effort and a lot of money, the result is there and the Aries G2.1 makes an extra contribution. I own the album as a CD 44. 1 / 16 and as DSD 64, where Roon works with the Auralic Aries G2.1 to move from DSD 64 to go to PCM 176. 4 / 24 which can lock my DAC. The Aries lets you hear the differences clearly, the resolution, the foundation of the heartbeat, the DSD file makes more of it.

The Aries is anyway serving when it comes to filtering and converting. While playing you can adjust the filter ring from precise to dynamic, to balanced and soft. From very detailed to pleasant on the ear. It took some headaches and hours of listening before I figured out that â ???? Smoothâ ???? I like the most. Nice and spacious and forming a nice balance between the three other positions. A few more hours were needed to figure out whether upsampling brings or removes what. My DAC is hardly sensitive to it and does nothing to up- or down-sample itself. The Aries G2.1 (and also the Aries G1) do the resampling so correctly and without frills that I have it permanently turned on to 176. 4 or 192 depending on the source resolution. It is not unique for a streamer to be able to do that, over the years I have discovered that you can do better in the Auralic than leave it to an upsampling DAC. Almost every DAC (usually excluding R2R) has a sample rate at which it is least burdened with computing and performs the best. Unfortunately, the DAC generally lacks pure computing power and an Auralic does bring it.

To the North Almost classical music is â ???? Myopiaâ ???? from Agnes Obel. Her latest album that can project a bubble of sound in the listening room. A bell in which the sounds of acoustic instruments and the strangest electronic sounds can be heard. In this case, it is important that the chain, and the streamer as part of it, is able to separate all sounds from the reproducers. Nothing is more disturbing than listening to speakers that cannot. You can even point out the exact location with your eyes closed.

The Aries G2.1 largely helps to prevent that annoyance. This gives Obel’s polyphonic singing an added value, here and there a voice pops up, differing in placement of height, depth and width. It makes “broken sleep” to an experience where the tendency arises to turn the head in the direction of the voices. The frequent use of the cello keeps the rhythm, while long tones have the chance to fade into nothingness. What emerges is a painting of sounds and timbres, which can be distinguished from each other to a high degree, whereby the coherence is not lost.

What I can’t get enough of lately is â ???? Quiet winter night: An acoustic jazz projectâ? ??? of the Hoff Ensemble. Jazz, vocals, beautifully recorded and full of minute details as well as a powerful bass and full piano. The fact that I don’t understand a word of what is being sung is irrelevant. The extent to which the Aries G2.1 manages to deliver the stream to the DAC and the rest of the system. Perhaps this is an exceptional recording that reveals that the streamer part does have its own sound and is certainly not a conduit of ones and zeros as some think. I would love to get rid of that prejudice, unfortunately that still doesn’t work. It is going too far again to explain exhaustively that ones and zeros do not exist, that they are indications of a voltage difference that unfortunately is affected in many ways before it reaches our ears as audible sound. Just listen to an Auralic Aries G2.1 compared to other brands or types of streamers and discover the results for yourself. Even mutual results, because it is not without reason that the urge arose to upgrade my second system with my Aries G1 and to continue to feed the main system from the Aries G2.1 for good. A win-win situation for everyone, except for my bank account. Money in the bank does not make you happy, a good music reproduction all the more as an excuse I tell my environment.

Shine on Lightning DS Auralic can be praised for its excellent software under the name Lightning DS, the consistent quality of the products and the well thought-out equipment. The higher in the segment, the more Auralic sees the basic principles faithfully refining equipment in order to achieve an ever better display. Not because you have to, not because more money will flow into the till, but to give more pleasure to experiencing music. It has long been known in serious audio that an enclosure affects playback, that disconnecting equipment from the substrate can help, and that equipment must be able to â € œseeâ € each other electrically. but should not influence. Combating RFI / EMI and galvanically separating all inputs and outputs is expensive if you want to do that properly, the gain by hearing is greater than is often thought. Exactly the things that Auralic has paid attention to with the upgrade from the Aries G2 to the G2.1. The extra budget available compared to the Aries G1 also ended up well. All this makes the Auralic Aries G2.1 an attractive asset for those who stream their music rather than play it via CD or LP.

The operation is clear and straightforward. The options are widely adjustable in the software and the installation of an internal storage is obvious. Expansions in the form of a master clock, upsampler or DAC can be purchased from the same brand. Competition is fierce in the streamer world and every brand tries to differentiate itself. Because it is such a busy market, I therefore have some hesitation in rewarding the device with 5 stars and I would rather give it the designation â € œ Recommended!  € with full conviction. along. Because Auralic has succeeded in linking many consumer wishes, modern requirements, flexibility, design and seamless functioning with sound quality in order to win over the potential customer. Which â ???? sure enoughâ ???? will work with the Aries G2.1.

Auralic Aries G2 .1

â ?? ¬ 4. 699, – | Dynaudio Benelux

review-gold-note-ds-10-and-pa-10:-warm-blooded-and-well-working-couple-from-tuscany

Review Gold Note DS 10 and PA 10: warm-blooded and well-working couple from Tuscany

The Italian audio company Gold Note designs and builds its products in Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region. The company claims to be influenced by the culture and (art) history of this region on the one hand, but at the same time incorporates modern and digital insights and technology into its products. In our test room are the DS – 12, a DA converter also streamer also headphone amplifier and PA – 10, a two-channel power amplifier. The devices have the same shape and dimensions and are relatively compact. How do these Tuscan products sound? We’re going the DS – 12 and PA – 10 View and Investigate. Â

Gold Note: Italian audio equipment manufacturer

The Italian audio company Gold Note was founded by Maurizio Aterini and is based in Florence. In their own words, the onset is already about 32 years ago due to the fact that founder Aterini, as a technical student, was dissatisfied with the performance level of the then turntables. After gaining the necessary design experience and work experience in the audio industry, Aterini established 2012 together with his wife Elena and his partner Alessio Gold Note op.

According to the company’s website, audio equipment often has a dual focus. On the one hand, this is a longing for the past, which can sometimes be found in the design. On the other hand, new developments and technology are often eagerly embraced. In the case of Gold Note, the appearance of the products is, according to them, inspired by the (art) history of the Italian region of Tuscany. In particular, the Gold Note turntables and speakers show smooth lines and a traditional construction method that looks artistic. We see that more often with Italian loudspeaker manufacturers. At the same time, Gold Note looks emphatically at modern technology and the company has a number of digital products. All products are designed and built in Italy.

Ease of use also plays a role. After all, Gold Note also has (pre) amplifiers with analog and digital inputs and streaming functions on board. In our test room is the DS – 12, a DA converter also streamer and headphone amplifier. This is a good example of many and easy to operate (modern) functions housed in a small housing. We’re going the DS – 12 in a moment, together with the PA – 10 a compact power amplifier.

Gold Note: portfolio of sources, amplifiers and speakers Gold Note’s portfolio covers everything today’s music lover needs. Well come on, Gold Note doesn’t build reel recorders, cassette decks and tuners, but it does build speakers, amplifiers (front, end and integrated), turntables, tonearms, cartridges, DA converters and streamers. The portfolio is not very large and does not change very frequently. Gold Note is not the kind of manufacturer that is constantly releasing new models. That is positive because a manufacturer that has models followed in quick succession gives the impression that it is not doing its homework properly. After all, barring one exception, a well-built device cannot be greatly improved a short time later.

Gold Note currently offers four speakers. A vinyl enthusiast can choose from five turntables, five pickups, two tone arms and two phono amps. Gold Note also offers one CD player, three DA converters as well as streamers, one integrated amplifier and a streamer that also has a phono stage on board, one preamplifier and two power amplifiers. . Gold Note also provides the ability to power the DS – 12, DS – 10 Plus, PH – 10, PH-1, CD – 1000, DS – 1000 upgradeable by external power supply. Recently the PSU 12 EVO announced, the external power supply for the DS – 10 and DS – 12 Plus, whose delivery should start soon. A customer can choose to immediately purchase an external power supply with his Gold Note device, but a customer can also do so later.

One of these power amplifiers is the compact model PA – 10 which is in our test room. The dad-10 is eight inches wide. Also in our test room is the DS – 10, a DA converter, streamer and headphone amplifier with volume control. Both devices have the same dimensions and can be supplied in the same color. Gold Note claims to have made two flexible and easy to operate devices. We look at the technology of both devices and then listen to music.

Gold Note PA – 12: power amplifier

The 2-channel PA – 10 works in class AB and can be used twice 125 Deliver watts into eight ohms. At four ohms, the power doubles to 150 Watt. If the impedance is halved again, ie to two ohms, the PA – 10 as stated by Gold Note 300 Deliver watts per channel. There is a small fan on the inside, which starts if the temperature exceeds a certain threshold value by playing at a high volume for a longer period of time. During the test period, we did not hear the fan.

The dad-10 also has the option to bridge the output stages (this is called by Gold Note Bridge-Tied-Load (BTL mode)), causing the PA – 10 becomes a mono amplifier by combining the output stages. The small box can then 384 Deliver watts to eight ohms and 850 Watts at four ohms. BTL mode also allows the user to connect with one PA – 10 and a second PA later – 10 next to it.

The user has the choice of a cinch input and an XLR input, both with an input sensitivity of 1.4 Volt and an impedance of 13 kOhm.

Furthermore, the user can choose a high or low damping factor with a button on the back. The default is a high damping factor, but according to Gold Note, a sensitive or small speaker can benefit from a low damping factor. The explanation of this in the manual is rather brief and we have not investigated this aspect further. We have the PA – 12 used with a high damping factor.

With the supplied trigger cable (called GN Link by Gold Note) the PA – 10 on / off with other devices, such as the DS – 10.

The heavy-duty speaker terminals accept banana plugs, forks and bare wire.

Gold Note DS – 10: DA converter, streamer and headphone amplifier

The DS – 10 has the same shape and aluminum housing as the PA – 12. Gold Note has the DS – 10 packed with modern contemporary features but at the same time trying to keep operation simple. Only one button can be found on the front. By pressing the button functions can be selected by then turning the button. If the button is not pressed, the button works as a volume control. Gold Note delivers a nice IR system remote control with the DS – 10. Let’s walk through the functions of the DS – 10.

The DS – 10, which is therefore equipped with a volume control (which can be bypassed and locked in the highest position), has only digital inputs, for connecting a CD- running gear or a streamer. Connecting a streamer is not very obvious because the DS – 10 is already a very complete streamer, but it is possible. Gold Note allows the user to adjust the sound by setting three parameters as desired. These are 1. the Low Pass filter, 2. High-frequency De-emphasis, and 3. Power line to the DAC chip. Gold Note therefore speaks of a Chameleon Dac. The user can save three profiles in addition to the default setting of the DA converter.

The DS – 10 is quite a complete streamer. The user can connect music to the DS with a computer via UPnP via wired or wireless LAN – 10 or via bluetooth 5.0, or via Apple’s AirPlay. Also, the user can connect a USB HDD or SSD formatted in FAT 32 or NTFS. The DS – 12 easily recognized a Western Digital 1TB USB HDD. The USB-HDD switches on / off with the DS – 10. The usual streaming services such as Spotify, Qobuz, Deezer and Tidal are supported, as well as internet radio via vTuner. The streamer is operated with the MConnect app. More about operation with the MConnect app later.

The DS – 10 supports MQA and is Roon-ready. Music signal may be supplied via the USB-B input in a resolution up to 32-bit/384 kHz. DSD can also be used via this entrance / 128 are delivered and processed. The other inputs (S / PDIF coax, optical and AES / EBU) allow PCM signal up to a maximum of 24-bit/192 kHz are played.

Note: who would need an analog input for the DS – 10 Plus can choose. This device has exactly the same shape and functions as the DS – 10 with addition of an analog line input designed as a 3.5 millimeter jack plug.

As befits a serious streamer, the DS – 10 an RJ 45 LAN terminal. In addition, the DS – 10 also Wi-Fi on board, but we strongly prefer a wired connection because of its inherently better stutter resistance.

The connection to an amplifier is made via the cinch output or the XLR output. On the front panel is a 6, 45 millimeter jack plug headphone connection.

Finally, a few more numbers: Gold Note specifies a signal to noise ratio of 125 dB. The total harmonic distortion is maximum 0, 06 per cent. These are excellent figures, but not exceptional because most modern DA converters have comparable figures. Basically noise and distortion are below the perceptible limit.

Enough talk about technique. Time to connect Gold Note devices and start listening to music.

review-sonoro-prestige:-ambitious-table-radio-with-a-number-of-functions-like-a-swiss-army-knife

Review Sonoro Prestige: ambitious table radio with a number of functions like a Swiss army knife


MORE FROM THIS BRAND RESUME The Sonoro Prestige has the functionality of a Swiss Army knife but is at the same time a minimalist thing. Build quality and handling are exemplary. More than one power cord is not needed to listen to music. The sound has a splash of warmth and is balanced with a surprisingly good reproduction of low tones. The stereo image is wider than the Prestige’s appearance would suggest.

PLUS POINTS Solid and minimalist design Very good build quality Too many functions to list Balanced light warm sound Exceptional bass response Stutter Free Display Pleasant operation MINUSES Woofer lacks protection grille Only supports USB sticks with FAT 16 and FAT 32 file system, not support large storage media The German audio company Sonoro builds table radios and has a portfolio that consists of mono and stereo models, with or without a CD drive and all kinds of modern streaming functions. Sonoro proposes to combine old-fashioned German engineering skills with modern engineering. Some Sonoro models rise above the level of a table radio / clock radio. In our test room is one such model, the Sonoro Prestige, an all-in-one stereo device that only needs a power outlet to make music. How does the Sonoro Prestige work and sound and how far do the Prestige’s hi-fi ambitions reach? We investigate.

Sonoro: German audio and design

Sonoro has been around since 2006 and is located in Neuss, Germany. Founder and CEO Marcell Faller: “Music is life, the great energy surrounding music has not left me personally and the Sonoro team for years. We are music-inspired audio developers and we design music systems to make the wonderful world of sound even more fascinating. ”

Sonoro says it embraces the quality promise “German Audio & Design” and thus indicates how the company develops its passion for sound and design: with a methodical working method and with a lot of dedication and attention to detail. Sonoro considers itself part of the German engineering tradition. Presumably the company thereby refers to the expression “Deutsche Gründlichkeit” which more or less stands for something like perfection and solidity.

The company declares that one of the key ingredients for the unique sound of Sonoro’s products are the carefully hand-crafted wooden enclosures. This is not only important for the appearance, but also benefits an authentic, detailed and voluminous sound image. The smart placement of the high-quality speakers, precisely tuned crossover frequencies and subtly tuned sound processors contribute to this, as do the careful assembly and checks carried out at various stages, according to the manufacturer.

Sonoro: portfolio of table radios Sonoro’s portfolio is divided into two product lines:

The Classic product line has three members. The Qubo and Easy are mono systems. The Lounge is a stereo system. All three feature built-in speakers, radio functions (FM, DAB +) and bluetooth connectivity. The Lounge and the Qubo have a CD drive on board. The Easy, the smallest model, has a leather carrying strap and batteries, so it can be used outdoors.

The Smart product line has six members. The difference with the members of the Classic line is the addition of internet radio and support for the common streaming services. The Maestro, Meisterstück and Prestige models (our test model) are stereo models. The Elite, Stream and Relax are mono models. The smallest models Stream and Relax are not equipped with a CD drive. The other four are. The Maestro, the most expensive model (1. 299 euro), is the only Sonoro model that does not have speakers on board. All other models do. Incidentally, Sonoro has now also added a passive two-way loudspeaker called Orchestra to the portfolio. The Orchestra is intended to be the perfect companion for the Maestro.

In front of us it is 799 Euro costing Prestige model available comes in a high-gloss white, black or silver finish. There is also a walnut wood version and this is 108 euros more expensive. We will walk through the technique and functions of the Prestige, after which we will discuss operation and sound.

Sonoro Prestige: amount of functions like a Swiss army knife

The Prestige’s cabinet is rectangular with a central 2.8 inch dimmable TFT screen at the front. The screen shows the date and time when the Prestige is not being used for listening to music. On either side of the screen is a speaker grille behind which is a 0, 75 – inch tweeter and a 3-inch midrange located. At the bottom is a four inch downward firing single woofer. There is also a bass reflex port at the bottom.

The woofer is placed quite close to the edge. Anyone who lifts the Prestige can accidentally touch, press and possibly damage the cone of the woofer. Of course, the Prestige will not be moved very often because it has no battery and is not suitable for mobile use. Nevertheless, in our opinion it would be obvious to protect the woofer with a grille so that the cone is well protected against accidental pressing. Perhaps something for the next version? For the rest, we do not criticize the construction and housing. The Sonoro Prestige radiates Deutsche Gründlichkeit.

The Prestige is therefore a complete three-way stereo system. In total, the Prestige has five amplifiers on board. The tweeters and the midrange each have their own amplifier of 24 Watts (RMS). The single woofer is driven with a maximum of 40 Watts (RMS). The power is specified at 1% distortion. In anticipation of operation and sound, we can already reveal that this rectangular box, which weighs 7.2 kilograms, can build up a considerable sound pressure. The Prestige features the latest generation of digital sound processor (DSP).

The radio enthusiast can choose from three types of radio. First of all, the classic analog FM radio (96, 5 MHz – 108 MHz). An extendable antenna is of course included. Then there is digital radio in the form of DAB / DAB + (Band III, 174. 928 MHz – 299. 200 MHz) and Internet radio with thousands of channels can be listened to worldwide. The user can search automatically or manually. Ten stations per type of radio can be stored for quick access.

Access to the internet is via RJ – 45 LAN connection or via Wi-Fi (with support for WEP, WPA, WPA2 (PSK) and WPS). A setup wizard links the Prestige to wireless LAN.

The Prestige supports streaming services Spotify, Tidal, Napster, Deezer, Qobuz and Amazon Music but the user can also send music to the Prestige using DLNA, UPnP or bluetooth (supporting aptX, A2DP and AVRCP). Incidentally, Bluetooth works bi-directional. This means that music signal can be sent from a smartphone to the Prestige and at the same time music signal from the Prestige to wireless headphones can be sent. Preferences can also be saved with regard to streaming services.

Of course, the Prestige is also equipped with extensive alarm and snooze functions. The automatic sleep timer can be set between 5 and 120 minutes. The user can choose to be woken by a buzzer or a radio station.

An equalizer for bass and treble adjustment is also built in. The 3D option makes the stereo image wider, according to Sonoro. There is also a loudness function for those who want it.

Below the screen is a slot-in CD drive that reads common pressed CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs . According to Sonoro, the legibility of the latter two depends on the quality, but that is normal for home-burned CDs. The drive is not suitable for loading and playing mini-CDs (which are a rarity, by the way).

Sonoro Prestige: connections

The following connections can be found on the back of the Prestige:

A cinch line input with a sensitivity of 500 mVolt A 3.5 millimeter jack plug input with a sensitivity of 300 mVolt An optical input (Toslink) that accepts PCM signal up to a resolution of 24-bit/96 kHz A USB input that supports FAT 20 and FAT 32 storage media can play. According to the manual, the Prestige can only read USB sticks, not USB HDDs. Many modern streamers can read the folder structure of large USB storage media such as 1 TB HDDs. The Prestige cannot do that. One cinch line out On the front is a 3.5 millimeter jack plug connection for headphones.

BRAND

reader's-test-for-the-tenda-nova-mw12:-these-are-the-participants!

Reader's test for the Tenda Nova MW12: These are the participants!

In cooperation with Tenda Technology, we started a reader test on a brand new mesh system at the end of October. In it, four Hardwareluxx community members should put the Tenda Nova MW 12 to the test and after an extensive test report keep it for our forum allowed to. We have now started selecting the participants.

Four packages of the Tenda Nova MW are available 12. This is a tri-band mesh system from the high-end range, the fast AC 2100 – WiFi speed with three additional stations at a price of around 240 Euro and should enable a stable and fast WLAN connection even over long distances. The package includes a total of three mesh stations, which are preconfigured at the factory so that they only have to be connected to the power supply. With the help of the Tenda WiFi app, the optimal position can be found, but important settings such as setting up a guest network or activating child safety locks can also be made.

Each of the three mesh stations has its own three Gigabit LAN ports and also allows the integration of wired devices. Wireless is radio in three frequency bands with 2.4 and 5.0 GHz, which are individually marked with 300 to 867 Mbit / s can communicate. The devices automatically decide which station they want to connect to and enable a seamless transition in the apartment.

Under the hood of the 100 x 100 mm large square cube there is a 900 MHz fast processor with 256 MB DDR3 memory, which can hold up to 100 devices can process simultaneously in the network. Modern technologies such as MU-MIMO, QoS, IPv6 or Beamforming + are of course also supported. If the network continues to grow in the future or the range is insufficient, up to twelve MW 12 stations can be configured with each other, which, according to the manufacturer, can be configured an area of ​​up to 2. 000 square meters can be covered.

In terms of price, the three-piece set of the Tenda Nova MW 12 at Amazon currently costs around 240 Euro. Four of our readers and community members can now put such a set to the test at their own home for free.

These are the participants

We started selecting testers this morning. We are happy to announce that the four forum users “Chakka 89”, “Gojira”, “LyC 66 “and” Erdi_ref “are among the lucky ones. You will be notified shortly via private forum conversation and informed about the further progress. After receiving the test packages, they have four weeks to independently publish their reviews for the community in the network sub-forum.

We hope you enjoy testing and look forward to detailed reviews!

Under the hood of the 100 x 100 mm large square cube there is a 900 MHz fast processor with 256 MB DDR3 main memory, which can process up to 100 devices simultaneously in the network without any problems. Modern technologies such as MU-MIMO, QoS, IPv6 or Beamforming + are of course also supported. If the network continues to grow in the future or the range is insufficient, up to twelve MW 12 stations can be configured with each other, which, according to the manufacturer, can be configured an area of ​​up to 2. 000 square meters can be covered.

In terms of price, the three-piece set of the Tenda Nova MW 12 at Amazon currently costs around 240 Euro. Four of our readers and community members can now put such a set to the test at their own home for free.