New Japanese-crafted Melco N50-S38 offers SSD quality, Melco’s legendary ease of use, plus dedicated USB connectivity.
Melco Audio has launched its first mid-range SSD-based digital music library, the N50-S38. Handcrafted in Japan, the N50-S38 offers best-ever Melco solid-state affordability, the latest digital technologies, plus Melco’s legendary ease of use.
The N50-S38 boasts a heavy, 1.7 mm-thick full-width chassis, an IEC power inlet with noise filter, and classic Melco styling. Improvements include an enhanced mainboard with a specially selected 3.84 TB SSD drive in a new rigid, layered SSD cradle. In addition, a new dynamic PSU provides 25 % more output. Re-engineered isolation feet top the list off.
As with all Melco digital music libraries, the N50-S38 is remarkably easy to use. Crucially, the rear panel includes four specific USB ports: USB 3.0; Expansion and Backup, plus a dedicated USB DAC output for connection to USB DACs, USB DAC-equipped amplifiers or active speakers.
The ports enable USB devices to connect and operate effortlessly without any configuration. This includes importing or playing music from memory devices, HDD/SSD drives and CD drives (CD ‘rippers’); capacity expansion with Melco’s E100 (or other) storage drive; and easy back-up to HDD/SSD drives.
Audiophile connectivity
In line with the N50-S38’s audiophile credentials, the back also panel includes Melco’s dedicated dual Ethernet ports, which provide a dedicated ‘Player’ port in addition to the LAN port, to minimise the unwanted effects of noise on the music signal and present network audio players with a direct, high data-integrity connection. The N50-S38 can be connected to a streamer (via Ethernet) using the Player port, or used as a local player with the dedicated USB DAC output.
The N50-S38 benefits from a high-quality OLED display with push-button control, plus Melco’s Intelligent Music Library suite comprising MinimServer and SongKong software.
Like its EX-series range stablemates, the N50-S38 is Roon Ready, DSD compatible and offers app control via DLNA/UPnP (in USB DAC mode) with support for TIDAL, Qobuz and vTuner streaming. Qobuz Downloader and HighResAudio.com also enable direct, error-free high-res downloads without the need for a computer.
Melco Audio’s UK General Manager, Dan Raggett said, “I am really pleased to be able to announce the N50-S to the world. Melco is always striving to improve its product offering and with the way HDD and SSD technology is constantly changing and evolving, this is a perfect time to be able to bring a second SSD storage product to our range.”
“We have developed N50 with dedicated internal components including PSU. All this has resulted in a fantastic-sounding, high-quality product that sits directly in the middle of the Melco line up.”
The N50-S38 (silver) and N50-S38B (black) are available now.