Melco N1 - S38/ N10 - H50B/ Innuos Statement

A while back at Audio show east Melco had the new N1-S38 reference server in-hand, and in the Kudos speakers room, they were using the Innuos Statement with upgraded Sean Jacobs power supply. But there was no way to compare them.
A few days after the dust had settled on Audio show east……Signals contacted me to say they had kept the Innuos demo unit for me to try. Well we had some things going on and vacation……so after a few weeks I eventually turned up with my wife for a listen to both Innuos and Melco.
Listened through a Naim 500 system and some high end Dynaudio speakers in the main demo room. I listened to a few albums, on both players. It was quickly apparent that they are both superb servers, and should be at the price. For me the Innuos gave a little more delicate approach with more air around instruments and finely detailed. The Melco on the other hand had a more Naim like muscular delivery, but still with a nicely detailed sound. I like both. In the end my wife preferred the Innuos and myself the Melco. The Melco being £6k cheaper was the clincher, and the fact I already had the Melco ripper.
I then took the Melco N1 back home for a longer demo versus my 5Tb Hard drive version of the Melco N10.
Being lazy i just put the N1 on a free level of Fraim and plugged into the nearest socket with the Melco lead and AQ vodka into a Phoenixnet switch. It was immediately obviously better at retrieving detail, notes easier to follow, and nicely musical for an evening of listening. I eventually after a few days did some rearranging so that both the new S1 and my old N10 were both powered with a Naim Powerline from the direct spur. The S1 really appreciated this change and gives a clean pair of heels to the N10 imo. A lovely detailed textured and musical delivery. A lot of money, but worth it imo.
Sitting here at the moment ripping cd’s, and they seem to rip quicker, perhaps its the ssd and new architecture of the S1?
@MichaelF @Michaelb you might be interested in these comments.

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Interesting, i know at this level it’s all good, but still interesting nevertheless.
I have found that i use my melco hardly at all these days, as the streaming quality i now get beats it, this wasn’t the case before.
But i do still need my melco as i have a few items that’s not on qobuz.
But it could well be interesting to see if the new N1 can over take the streaming side once again in my system, may have to try at some point, but for now i am saving for a vivaldi clock.

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We all know that the most expensive , the best it will be. Hahaha :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Antipodes Oladra . 27 k.

IMG_2295

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The Melco can take a “clock” input……the manual has details how to connect. Just guessing, a Melco clock would be in the region of their other add ons like their switches. I did look at Aurender….they have “clocks at £15 and £30k……count me out😂

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Glad to hear it has all worked out for you. Your findings match mine exactly. Enjoy!!

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Some use the DCS clocks to connect simultaneously to the DCS dac and Aurender server. The Aurender N30 is even more expensive than the Antipodes above.
No ends.

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I’d have one of those £15 clocks though!

Have you decided on the posh N1 Melco yet, or still evaluating?

Bought and in the system……started a separate thread

Still burning in……but you were spot on, this is a great step up👍

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€27.495 Mad price

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