No, to be honest, none introductory words will not be. To make it immediately clear where this whole article is heading, I’ll immediately formulate its main conclusion: there is no point in distributing music in 24-bit and 192 kHz format, because its quality is rarely better than 16/44.1 or 16/48, and it takes up 6 times more space.

Something about human psychology

Last year Neil Young * and Steve Jobs discussed creating a service for downloading audio in “uncompromising studio quality”, and after some time, which would be used to play this audio. In general, investors like this idea, and they just recently allocated $500,000 to popularize this format. Essentially, what is this money allocated for? To deceptive marketing. Why this marketing works? Well it works because of existence a couple of factors.

Firstly, when people consume such news, they often base their understanding of how digital audio works rather than how it actually works: they assume that increasing the sample rate is the same as increasing the number of frames per second in video. In fact, such an increase is similar to the addition of infrared and ultraviolet colors, which we will never see and cannot see in principle. (This is the central part of the article, but it will be a little further.)

Secondly, people may think they hear a difference in sound when in fact there is none. It is normal for humans to make such thinking errors. These errors are called cognitive distortions. Confirmation bias, herd instinct, the placebo effect, and trusting authority are just some of the cognitive biases that can lead a person to believe they hear a difference. Confirmation of prejudice: “There is more information in 24/192, which means I should hear it; oh, I hear you!” The herd instinct in general somehow magically makes people believe in something that does not and cannot exist. Trust in authority either forces you to be completely uncritical of information, or, when compared with your honest opinion, to give preference to someone else’s opinion. The Soviet popular science film “Me and Others” clearly shows some social cognitive distortions. For example, the film shows the following experiment: a group of students are shown several portraits of people, and they have to say which of the two portraits shows the same person. All students, except one, are fake and point to two portraits of completely different people, and the subject, although he initially did not think about this option, often agrees with the opinion of the majority. You will say: “No, well, I’m not like that.” Actually, it's unlikely. We are all people, we just differ in that we are aware of something to varying degrees. In any case, if people were not subject to such cognitive distortions, then marketing would no longer work. Look around: people buy unreasonably expensive goods and are happy about it.

So, 24/192 usually doesn't improve quality and that sounds like bad news. The good news is that it's easy to improve your sound quality - you just need to buy good headphones ** . In the end, the improvement in sound quality from them is immediately noticeable; it is not illusory and pleases. At least if you buy headphones in the price range from $100 to $200, you will be happy and thank me for my advice to buy good headphones, unless, of course, you buy beautiful and expensive fashion headphones that are not intended for high-quality audio playback. Now let's get to the fun part.

* Yes, I had no idea who Neil Young was either. It turns out that this is a famous Canadian musician... he's been famous for 50 years.
** This is my personal opinion, I am not a representative of any stores and do not pursue any commercial purpose.

Nyquist-Shannon theorem

In order not to fall into a thinking trap, let's try to understand from the very basics why digital audio works.

First, let's clearly understand the terms (we will formulate them as if they are used only in the analysis of sounds).
Signal is a time-dependent function. For example, how can a signal be expressed electrical voltage in the wires of audio equipment or, say, sound pressure on the eardrum (depending on the moment in time).

Range— representation of a signal depending on frequency rather than time. This means that the function is expressed not as a "loudness" recorded over time, but as a set of loudnesses of an infinite number of harmonics (cosine waves) included at the same point in time. That is, the original signal can be represented as a set of harmonic signals of different frequencies and amplitudes (“loudness”). Yes, physical quantities can often (in fact, almost always) be represented in such a “strange” way (by performing a Fourier transform on the original function). ( Displaying the spectrum value at an arbitrary point in time is one of the most visual ways to visually represent music in an audio player. Let me note that the spectrum I’m talking about contains information about the entire period of time, and not about some instantaneous value, because Using a set of harmonics (spectrum), you can recreate the entire sound passage.)

The Nyquist-Shannon theorem states that if a signal has a limited spectrum, then it can be reconstructed from its samples taken with a frequency strictly greater than twice the upper frequency f c: f > 2 f c. If we increase the sampling frequency, this will only affect the fact that the digital audio format will begin to allow us to record higher frequencies - those that we do not perceive in any way. By the way, this theorem speaks of a signal consisting not of a finite set of frequencies, but of an infinite one, as in real sound. If we talk in simple language, then the meaning of the theorem is that if we take some sound signal containing only frequencies less than f c , and write (to a file) its values ​​every 1/f seconds, then we can then recreate the original sound signal from these values. Yes, yes, recreate it completely, without losing any quality at all. But the wording doesn't explain how to recreate that sound. In general, this is a theorem from Nyquist’s work “Certain topics in telegraph transmission theory” for 1928; this work does not say anything about how to recreate sound. But Kotelnikov’s theorem, proposed and proven by V.A. Kotelnikov in 1933, explains this quite clearly.

What does this mean? First, let's pay attention to the function sinc(t) = sin(t)/t. Visually, this is just a Mexican hat:

Subtraction k/(2f 1 ) from t means moving the hat in Right place(in the very place where the count was recorded), and multiplication by Dk means stretching this hat vertically so that its crown coincides with the reference point. That is, the theorem states that to recreate the sound, it is enough to collect the hats at points corresponding to the references, and in such a way that the tops of the hats coincide with the measurements in the references. We will leave the theorem without proof - it can be found in almost any literature on signal processing. However, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that recreating a function using Kotelnikov’s theorem is not just smoothing. Yes, the hat does not affect the values ​​in adjacent samples, but it does affect the values ​​between them. And when we have a low frequency signal, it can look like smoothing, But if we have, say, a high-frequency cosine, then when it is depicted in the form of steps, we will not even understand that it is a cosine - it will seem like just a chaotic set of samples, however, when restored, we will get a real and perfectly smooth cosine.

Well, mathematically it is clear that it is possible to restore sound. Purely theoretically. And this does not mean that digital audio playback devices recreate the sound indistinguishable from the original, it only means that the audio format allows this to be done. But how to correctly throw Mexican hats at the output of a digital-to-analog converter and how to convey the resulting sound to the ear with minimal distortion is a completely different magic that has nothing to do with this article. Fortunately for us, good engineers have already thought a thousand times about how they can solve this problem for us.

What do 24 bits provide?

When discussing the application of Kotelnikov's theorem to digital audio, for simplicity we forgot that when quantizing (digitizing) numbers Dk- these are numbers recorded on a computer, which means that these are numbers not of any accuracy, but of some specific one - the one that we choose for our audio format. This means that the values ​​of the original signal are not recorded accurately, resulting in the general inability to recreate the original signal. But how does this actually affect the sound perceived by a person when comparing 16 and 24 bit signals fairly? Studies were conducted on which is better, 24/44 or 16/88 (yes, that’s right!), doubling the frequency did not improve the quality, but the subjects determined the increase in bit depth without problems. No one is looking towards 32 and 64 bits yet; there are no devices in nature that could realize the potential of 64-bit audio. But when internal processing Sound in music editors uses a high bit depth of 64 bits and higher.

Let's talk about sound volume. Sound volume is a subjective quantity that increases very slowly with increasing sound pressure and depends on it, the amplitude and frequency of the sound. The sound volume level is a relative quantity that is expressed in backgrounds and is numerically equal to sound pressure level, produced by a 1 kHz sine wave of the same volume as the sound being measured. Sound pressure level(sound pressure level, SPL) is measured in dB relative to the threshold of audibility of a sine wave of 1 kHz for the human ear, and as sound pressure increases V 2 times, sound pressure level increases on 6 dB. Here are a few sound pressure values:

• 20-30 dB SPL is a very quiet room (yes, a room in which nothing happens).
• 40-50 dB SPL - normal conversation.
• 75 dB SPL - screaming, laughing at a distance of 1 meter.
• 85 dB SPL - Hearing Damage - Long-term exposure damage for 8 hours a day, for some people this value may be less [Hearing damage]. This is about the same volume on the freeway during rush hour [Sound pressure levels]. I don’t know about you, but I never listen to music at this volume - this becomes clear when I walk past the highway with closed-on over-ear/over-ear headphones and try to listen to music.
• 91 dB SPL - hearing damage with exposure 2 hours per day.
• 100 dB SPL is the maximum permissible sound pressure for headphones according to European Union standards.
• 120 dB SPL - almost unbearable - pain threshold.
• 140 dB SPL and above - rupture of the eardrum, barotrauma or even death.

This volume summary table is designed for playback from loudspeaker systems where high sound pressure affects the entire body.

With headphones, many people listen at 130-140 dB without any problems and no membrane rupture occurs. It is certainly possible to ruin your hearing. The main data on pain thresholds were obtained from speakers, where the greatest harm is caused by low frequencies, which act not so much on the ear, but on the whole body, introducing resonance internal organs and destroying them. It is simply not realistic to damage the chest from low frequencies from headphones. But in a car, a subwoofer is just right. But more importantly, the table was originally created for production noise in factories. Headphones can damage your ear at high volumes only in the upper midrange, where the ear has its own resonance.

The effective dynamic range of 16-bit audio is 96 dB. Comparing 130 and 96 dB, it becomes clear that we can hear the difference in sound. But purely theoretically. First, 96 dB is the signal-to-noise ratio of typical sound sources. Secondly, to popularize high-resolution formats, studios often mix sound for CD and DVD-Audio with slightly different diligence, and as a result, the buyer can hear mediocre mixed material in the first case and well mixed material in the second.

Recently, it has become fashionable to release remasters of various artist albums. But at the same time, most of these remasters made on newer equipment and in heavy formats sound significantly worse than old recordings... Here the suspicion arises that instead of high-quality mixing by a talented sound engineer, everything is simply replaced with high-quality equipment and the confidence that this will give the best result, and if not, then everything will be sold out anyway.

It turns out that from the position technical parameters 24 bits will always be better than 16, but you can hear this on well-made recordings; if you make a recording from the radio, it will be very difficult to distinguish between 16 and 24 bits. Thus, it is worth pursuing not high formats, but high-quality recorded and mixed recordings and strives to improve the quality of the equipment.

The race towards heavyweight formats is comparable to the race for megapixels in cameras, where any professional knows that the final quality depends rather little on this.

In expensive systems, they sometimes use separate processing in the form of SRC as in, which, when converting 44.1/16>192/24, allows you to switch the DAC to another operating mode and replace its digital signal filtering unit (from aliasing) with a more advanced external SRC converter. Also, separately converted files from 44.1/16 to 192/24 can sometimes sound better, but it is precisely because of the features of the DAC used that this gives reason to think about upgrading the system as a whole.

It should be noted that testing various DVD-Audio discs sometimes produced disappointing results, because The original source for the heavyweight format was taken from standard CD-Audio.

Additionally

Well, if our goal is to enjoy the sound, then it remains to understand that the news about the meaninglessness of 24/192 is not even bad at all - it actually says that the sound quality can be improved, but for this no need to chase heavy formats.

But since there are at least two opinions about “16/44.1 versus 24/192,” then maybe there are some other and interesting opinions? Yes, I have. There are at least two more interesting articles with unexpected conclusions: “Coding High Quality Digital Audio" from J. Robert Stuart (article in English) and "24/192 Music Downloads... and why they make no sense" from Monty, the format developer OGG (this article is also in English, it claims that 24 bits are also meaningless).

Summary

• There is no point in storing audio in 24/192 as it will not improve the audio quality for nothing.
• 192 kHz is meaningless because it allows us to record sounds with frequencies that we cannot hear, and all audible sounds are at 44.1 kHz.
• By the way, if these frequencies contained any information, and if it were reproduced by a digital-to-analog converter, then it would introduce additional distortion (noise) in the audible frequency range. Do you know the reasons for this behavior of the audio system?
• 24 bits allows us to record sounds at a volume that we cannot hear on conventional equipment (or allows us to record the volume of audible sounds with such precision that is indistinguishable from 16 bits).
• Due to cognitive biases, we may believe that the difference between 16/44.1 and 24/192 exists and is noticeable.
• Many marketing moves and strategies are based on cognitive biases and ignorance.
• The sound quality can be improved, but in other ways.

Found a typo in the text? Highlight and click Ctrl+Enter. This does not require registration. Thank you.

Korean company The Bit has released a new digital portable player OPUS#3.

Burr-Brown 24-bit/192 kHz DAC and X-MOS sound processor

The Opus#3 player supports output up to 24-bit/192kHz and uses a dedicated X-MOS chip to play high-resolution files such as DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256. The Opus#3 player supports playback of DSD files as is, without any conversion.

RealUSB-DAC

Full USB Audio Class 2.0 audio support provides support for native DSD file format as well as PCM output.
The Opus#3 player allows users to connect a variety of devices that support the UAC 2.0 standard, such as a PC or smartphone, and enjoy high-quality sound sources in a variety of conditions.

Sleeping mode"

Allows you to save energy for overall quality. Sleep mode allows the device to remain in sleep mode for up to approximately 4 weeks.

ModeBluetooth

Thanks to support for the Bluetooth 4.0 standard, it is possible to comfortably listen to music by connecting various on-ear and in-ear Bluetooth headphones.

Custom equalizer

Allows you to save custom settings based on the frequencies of the 10-band equalizer.

Wi- Fi

Opus#3 player supports functionality Wi-Fi, which allows you to connect to a variety of devices in a wireless environment to enjoy your favorite music in more enjoyable and varied ways.

Support for third party streaming applications

Support for streaming apps such as Spotify makes it easy and comfortable to listen to audio from various sources signal. Depending on the selected application, some features may not be supported.

Opus #3 supports DLNA functionality, allowing you to share high-quality audio sources across a wide variety of devices that support the DLNA suite of network standards.
We hope you'll enjoy a richer environment with publicly available, high-quality audio sources across a wide variety of devices that support DLNA.

Sound of on-ear/ear-ear headphones
The output on the Ø3.5 mm connector also supports the ability to connect audio equipment using an optical cable to the SPDIF-IN output.

Balanced cable output at Ø2.5mm jack for an even deeper and more enjoyable experience.

Use a custom balanced output kit to connect to audio equipment that has balanced outputs using a Ø3.5mm audio ground jack and a Ø2.5mm balanced output.

The 64GB built-in storage can be expanded up to 320GB by installing external micro SD cards (max. 256GB). SDXC card support ( file systems exFAT and NTFS).

Switch button has an ideal position for turning the device on and off with one finger.
In addition, the switch button is designed to turn on the player from sleep mode.

Control buttons designed with ergonomics in mind and positioned in such a way as to ensure full control of the device when holding it with one hand.

Volume control
Very nice and easy to handle, and extremely detailed to achieve the required volume level. You can adjust the volume within 1...150 steps without turning on the screen.

The pyramidal projections on the front and rear panels are obtained by machining using sophisticated CNC equipment. They give the product the ability to create a variety of impressions and form different textures depending on the lighting.

The Bit company has created the most optimized solution for all music lovers, which allows you to actually feel what musicians feel and hear when listening sound formats Hi-fi and Hi-Res. The Opus#3 player allows you to enjoy your favorite music in the best sound quality - up to 24-bit / 192 kHz, providing an unforgettable experience and a unique sensation of original sound.

They will make even a mediocre MP3 track sound different. And together with FLAC or APE you will get sound without distortion, overload and unnecessary embellishments. They will surprise even the most experienced listener.

If you live for music, waking up to the gentle sound of a rattling Twitter, turning the knob of your home receiver before a light breakfast, and the 5-dollar speakers in the office have long been replaced by a futuristic speaker system, there is only one step left to complete harmony and the status of an admirer of high-quality sound. It's time to pick up a portable hi-fi player.

1. Colorfly C10

Specifications:

Memory: 32 GB (support microSD cards up to 64 GB);
Display: 2,35”;
Supported formats: DSD, APE, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, WMA, MP3, AAC, CUE;
Harmonic distortion: 0,003%;
32 bit, 192 kHz;
Crosstalk: 112 dB;
Battery: 3400 mAh.

This year famous manufacturer computer components and video cards, company Colorful(China), celebrates its 20th anniversary. In 2010, in order to expand the range of products, the administration decided to create a separate division whose task was to produce Hi-Fi players. Coming mid-current model year Colorfly C10 was built, as they say, on a reliable basis. His predecessors were the legendary Colorfly C4 Pro And Colorfly C3.

Who is it suitable for: In addition to supporting nine popular audio formats, excellent sound quality and the ability to play music in studio quality, the Colorfly C10 is ideal for people for whom design is a determining factor. The durable aluminum body is complemented by a prim sandalwood finish. Style and technology in one bottle.

2. COWON Plenue 1

Specifications:

Memory: 128 GB (microSD card support);
Display: 3.7” (touch);
Supported formats: DXD, DSD, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, APE, MP3, WMA, OGG;
Harmonic distortion: 0,0006%;
Sampling rate (max): 24 bit, 192 kHz;
Crosstalk: 120 dB;
Battery: 3000 mAh (up to 8.5 hours playback).

Arsenal digital players The South Korean manufacturer has over three dozen models. The company has a number of awards behind it, the first portable mp3 player iAUDIO CW100, which opened real freedom to fans of an active lifestyle, and dozens of patents in the field of multimedia gadgets. Line of players COWON is divided into several price categories: from inexpensive and practical models “for every day” and up to portable players with an individual sound character. Released 2014 Cowon Plenue 1 became the company's first child in the world of Hi-Fi players.

Housed in an anodized aluminum housing, the player covers protective glass Gorilla Glass 3. Strict appearance justified by the filling of Cowon Plenue 1: chip Burr-Brown PCM1792A used in expensive DACs and external sound cards, the price tag of which goes beyond several thousand dollars. The player sounds as expensive as it looks: the presence of built-in presets allows you to adjust the sound to almost any headphones.

Who is it suitable for: If you like to experiment with genres, alternating classic Italian opera with brain-crushing power metal, Cowon Plenue 1 will meet your expectations. It easily adapts to any conditions. In a word - a flagship.

3. COWON Plenue M

Specifications:

Memory: 64 GB (microSD card support – up to 128 GB);
Display: 3.7” (touch);
Supported formats: DXD,DFF,DSF,FLAC,WAV,AIFF,ALAC,APE,MP3,WMA,OGG,WV, TTA,DCF;
Harmonic distortion: 0,0007%;
Sampling rate (max): 24 bit, 192 kHz;
Crosstalk: 120 dB;
Battery: 3000 mAh (up to 10 hours playback).

The basis of the model Cowon Plenue M last year's flagship of the company, Cowon Plenue 1, was laid down. The engineers were given the task: to make a more affordable Hi-Fi player, but at the same time not deprive it of individual sound and clarity of playback. Chip Burr-Brown PCM 1795 provides a minimum level of harmonic distortion of around 0.0007%, which expensive models from competing brands cannot always boast of.

Who is it suitable for: Cowon Plenue M is something of a universal soldier, capable of playing almost any audio format. For lovers of an active lifestyle, this particular model can be an excellent companion for any training or jogging: seamless diamond processing of the edges and anodizing of the body will help avoid scratches, and intuitive controls provide the ability to operate blindly.

4. COWON IAUDIO X9 M

Specifications:

Memory: 8, 16, 32 GB (microSD card support – up to 32 GB);
Display: 4.3” (touch);
Supported formats: MP3/2, WMA, FLAC, OGG, APE, WAV;
Supported video formats: AVI, WMV, ASF;
Harmonic distortion: 0,0007%;
Sampling rate (max): 24 bit, 192 kHz;
Crosstalk: 95 dB;
Battery: up to 110 hours of music playback; until 13 – video.

Wanting to reduce the need to use the multimedia component of a smartphone to a minimum, COWON thought about releasing a player capable of playing not only music, but also video. No sooner said than done. And as a nice addition to such a multimedia combine, the engineers installed a long-lasting battery that can delight its owner with music for a whole week (110 hours).

Who is it suitable for: Do you need a “long-lasting horse” with an impressive number of features? COWON IAUDO X9- your choice. If you prioritize audiophile-level sound, get ready to thoroughly study the settings and software ecosystem of the device.

5. HIFIMAN HM-603 4Gb

Specifications:

Memory: 4 GB (microSD card support – up to 32 GB);
Supported formats: MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, FLAC, APE, WAV, PCM, ADPCM;
Harmonic distortion: 0,09%;
Sampling frequency: 20 Hz – 20 kHz;
Crosstalk: 92 dB;
Battery: 10 hours of playback.

Young American company HIFIMAN was founded just eight years ago. The brand name was not chosen by chance: the priority direction of production was the production of portable Hi-Fi players. In 2009, the market exploded with a new product HIFIMAN HM-801, which in just a few months received the title of the best player in the Hi-End class. The company's product line includes only a few devices, including players and magnetic planar headphones. But to talk about any of the presented HIFIMAN models, you first need to press the PLAY button.

HIFIMAN HM-603 appeared on the market not by accident. There was a certain price gap between the entire portable player industry and the buyer was forced to choose: either purchase an expensive Hi-Fi representative that would justify the investment, or opt for inexpensive model with very mediocre sound quality. HIFIMAN HM-603 4Gb has become a definite conductor of two worlds: philistine and high-quality sound. Multibit DAC Philips TDA1543, enclosed in a weighty 200-gram box, provides neutral sound without characteristic rises in certain frequency ranges.

Who is it suitable for: The HIFIMAN HM-603 4Gb model can be called the choice of a person who reveres the old school. Discarding the design, bulkiness and insignificant amount of built-in memory, the buyer will receive a rare bird - the number of players based on multibit DAC, on modern market negligible.

6. HIFIMAN HM-802

Specifications:

Memory: 64 GB (support SDXC cards– up to 128 GB);
Display: 3,7”;
Supported formats: MP3, FLAC, APE, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF;
Harmonic distortion: 0,0031%;
Sampling rate (max): 24 bit, 192 kHz;
Crosstalk: 110 dB;
Battery: up to 12 hours of playback.

Individual sound character is not the only thing the buyer will get HIFIMAN HM-802. Unique design, vaguely reminiscent of a bulky series of smartphones from Nokia in the mid-2000s, and the ability to change amplifier modules - this is what awaits an audiophile who is accustomed to changing amplification stages depending on his mood. By default, HIFIMAN HM-802 has dual DAC Wolfson WM8740.

Who is it suitable for: HIFIMAN HM-802 is a confident middle ground in the company’s line. Given the ability to change amplifiers, you get a modular device that can change the character of the sound depending on your preferences. Good level autonomy and the presence of a separate amplifier for each channel will help reveal the sound of your favorite music.

7. HIFIMAN HM-901s

Specifications:

Memory: 64 GB (microSD card support – up to 256 GB);
Display: 3.7” (touch);
Supported formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, APE, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC (M4A), DSD;
Harmonic distortion: 0,008%;
Sampling rate (max): 24 bit, 192 kHz;
Crosstalk: 106 dB;
Battery: up to 9 hours of playback.

HIFIMAN is not even thinking about abandoning the seemingly obsolete design. Instead, engineers are working on filling the player and the flagship HIFIMAN HM-901s received the most advanced “internals”, capable of surprising even an experienced audiophile in terms of sound level. Detail, attack, balanced frequency range and minimal level of harmonic distortion - two DACs are responsible for this entire list of advantages ESS9018.

Who is it suitable for: If you feel that your old Hi-Fi player is gradually becoming obsolete, and your ears flatly refuse cheap sound, it's time to listen to the HIFIMAN HM-901s.

8. Astell&Kern AK380

Specifications:

Memory: 256 GB (microSD card support);
Display: 4” (touch);
Supported formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE(Normal, High, Fast), AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF;
Sampling rate (max): 32 bit, 384 kHz;
Harmonic distortion: 0,0007%;
Crosstalk: 117 dB.

Company players Astell&Kern can be compared with luxury cars. No, this is not just a weighty gadget with unique design and a stunning price tag. Astell&Kern AK380 is the company’s flagship, setting quality standards new level sounds with a sampling frequency that not all leading record companies can boast of: 32 bit, 384 kHz. Minimal harmonic distortion, support for a range of audio formats, two high-quality DACs AKM AK4490, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless communications and connectivity additional accessories: external amplifier, docking station or CD drive.

(4.00 out of 5, rated: 1 )

website They will make even a mediocre MP3 track sound different. And together with FLAC or APE you will get sound without distortion, overload and unnecessary embellishments. They will surprise even the most experienced listener. If you live for music, waking up to the gentle sound of rattling Twitter, turning the knob of your home receiver before a light breakfast, and the 5-dollar speakers in the office have long been replaced by a futuristic speaker system, to the fullest...

DescriptionNAD D1050:

External DAC 24-bit/192 kHz with headphone amplifier, USB 2.0, 2 digital optical and 2 coaxial inputs, analog balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) stereo output, 3.5 mm headphone jack, external power supply

DAC InformationNADD 1050:

The D1050 USB DAC is ideal for playing music files from a computer via a Hi-Fi system. All digital sources get powerful support when the D1050 takes on the tasks of weaker digital circuitry in everything from Blu-ray, DVD or CD players to music streamers and TV receivers. The development of both digital and analog circuits built on a rich 40-year history
NAD's experience. For the sake of convenience, it is absolutely not necessary to sacrifice quality, and the D1050 is a clear proof of this.
The D1050's digital inputs allow you to connect a wide variety of digital sources. The SPDIF interface provides both coaxial and optical inputs. The USB input is unusual: it supports data transfer in asynchronous mode and (thanks to the D1050's high-precision clock generator) allows for minimal jitter in the output of the connected USB device. It fully complies with the USB standard
Audio Class 2.0 and allows you to work with data with a resolution of up to 24 bits / 192 kHz.
The D1050 USB DAC is assembled from a large number of high quality parts. But one High Quality not enough; To fully realize the capabilities of these parts, their thoughtful installation in the device body is also necessary. This is where the invaluable knowledge and years of experience of NAD engineers come to the fore. Application of multilayer circuit boards, micro components and surface mounting using lead-free materials allows for the smallest possible contact surface and reduced noise levels. Usage external unit power supply minimizes electromagnetic interference. The result is incredible performance quality.
The D1050 digital-to-analog converter chip is based on the Delta/Sigma architecture and has active digital oversampling filters. This allows you to maintain a linear phase response and suppress narrowband interference and ringing. In this way, it is possible to achieve full-quality playback of recordings with sampling frequencies of 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 172.4 kHz and 192 kHz. A separate clock generator, powered by a pure DC source, keeps timing errors to a minimum. The entire digital path is bit-precise; The sampling rate is not up-sampled or down-sampled. The sampling rate of the incoming signal is shown on the front panel display.
The DAC is equipped with fixed analog outputs: both traditional RCA and balanced XLR. In addition, the D1050 is equipped with a high-quality headphone amplifier made on a discrete element base. The output impedance is very low, and therefore reduces interference and the influence of connected cables to negligible values.
When developing the D1050, NAD sought to find new technologies to achieve high-quality sound reproduction with low energy consumption, and also use as little non-renewable materials as possible. The D1050 is a DAC you'll be proud of!

NAD D1050 DAC Specifications:

Name	Meaning
Specifications
Signal to noise ratio
Frequency response	20 Hz - 96 kHz
DAC architecture	24 bit/192 kHz Delta-Sigma
Nutrition
Power consumption
Are common
Weight with packaging
dimensions(WxHxD)	58 x 186 x 208 mm

Network players or streamers are one of the most promising devices for playing high-resolution audio. They are capable of working with a variety of virtual and physical sources of information and offer listeners first-class sound quality. In our previous article we have already looked at “” and what are the advantages of using them, now it’s time to get acquainted with specific models. The range of such music players is still quite small, and they are produced almost exclusively by manufacturers of Hi-Fi components. That is why only a few products are presented in the budget segment, which we will introduce you to. The main criteria when choosing suitable candidates were the best sound quality at the lowest affordable price and the presence of a built-in DAC, in the absence of which one would have to purchase an additional external converter, which would significantly increase the cost of the finished audio system. So, let's begin.

Denon DNP-F109

One of the most inexpensive network players available on the market today was recently introduced by the Japanese company Denon as part of its D-F109 mini-system, which also includes a stereo receiver, CD player and acoustics set. The device is made in a compact vibration-proof case with a slightly curved front panel made of aluminum, on which there is a three-line OELD display, power and source selection keys, as well as a push-button navigator for working with the menu. Behind you will find USB port, analog output on RCA connectors, digital coaxial output, allowing you to use the device with an external DAC, an Ethernet port for connecting to a network and two 3.5 mm jacks for coordinating operation as part of the system. Remote control carried out using the included remote control or a mobile gadget with the Denon Remote App pre-installed.

The player supports both wired and wireless connections, the first of which uses a LAN interface, and the second a Wi-Fi module. The device is compatible with the DLNA 1.5 protocol, allowing you to play content from a computer, NAS server, music services or listen to Internet radio. In addition, there is AirPlay, which provides wireless connection with Apple gadgets and access to iTunes libraries. The available USB port allows you to connect not only flash drives and hard drives, but also an iPod or iPhone. The maximum resolution for WAV and FLAC HD formats is 24 bit / 192 kHz. The device is available in black or silver. Despite the very budget price, starting from 26,000 rubles, the sound quality of the DNP-F109 is very good.

Pioneer N-P01

Another compact model, this time made by Pioneer. With an average price of 35,000 rubles, the device boasts not only a LAN interface, AirPlay and a Wi-Fi module, but also Bluetooth with support for the aptX codec and even the ability to play files in DSD format, but only with a cable connection. The player operates with a resolution of up to 24 bit / 192 kHz, and for converting sound from digital form The Asahi Kase AK4480EF DAC, belonging to the Audio4pro line, corresponds to the analogue one. The signal level is boosted by dual JCR NJM4580 operational amplifiers, which differ low level noise. Lite-On Technology Corp. is used as the network adapter. CX870-3AB.  Switching power supply.

The device is implemented in an attractive metal case, which can be made in black or silver. A significant part of the front panel is occupied by a large color LCD display, to the right of which are the transport and input selection buttons, and to the left is the power key and USB port.  On the back there is a pair of analog outputs on RCA, digital optical S/PDIF, designed for connection to an external DAC, Ethernet port and 3.5 mm jack for integration into unified system with other devices. In addition, there are a pair of antennas that improve the quality of the wireless connection. Control is carried out using the remote control or the Pioneer Control App. The sound transmission and dynamics of the N-P01 are quite good, especially when playing hi-res audio.

Marantz M-CR511

The third representative of the class of network players also comes from the Land of the Rising Sun. With its price, which has recently dropped to 31,000 rubles, it, like the previous two, can be classified as a budget segment. The device has classic dimensions, and the body with rounded edges elegantly complements acrylic insert on the front panel. From interesting features It should be noted that there is a built-in amplifier that produces 60 W per channel at a load of 6 Ohms, which turns it into a full-fledged receiver. There is also a jack for connecting a subwoofer, a headphone amplifier, an equalizer, panorama control and a shutdown timer. There are already two USB ports: one in the front and the second in the back, and it is possible to connect not only external drives, but also an iPod or iPhone, which can charge even in Standby mode.

M-CR511 supports DLNA 1.5 protocol, wired LAN and wireless connectivity represented by Wi-Fi, AirPlay and Bluetooth with NFC technology.  The maximum resolution is 24 bit / 192 kHz. On the front panel there is a large three-line OLED display with the ability to select the backlight color, a power button, a USB port, a 3.5 mm headphone output, as well as a pair of circular keys for controlling playback and amplification volume. The switching connectors are represented by two pairs of screw terminals for connecting speakers, an RCA output for a subwoofer, an analog stereo input that allows you to use the device as a DAC or amplifier, a digital optical output for connecting to an external DAC, and LAN and USB ports.  Control is standard: remote control or Marantz Remote App. The model is distinguished by good detail, transmission of dynamics and space.

ONKYO C-N7050

We couldn’t ignore such an interesting model as the ONKYO C-N7050, which, along with the capabilities of a network player, also contains a classic CD transport with an anti-resonance chassis. The DAC used here is a high-quality 32-bit Texas Instruments PCM1795 chip, which allows you to work with a PCM stream of 24 bit / 192 kHz or DSD 2.8 / 5.6 MHz. DLNA support makes it possible to listen to files from a computer, NAS, music services and Internet radio stations. In addition, there are two USB ports, the front of which can play music from Apple gadgets and charge them, and the rear is designed to work exclusively with external drives. Of the minuses, it should be noted that there is only a wired Ethernet connection; there are no wireless modules here. The player does not have the ability to play SACD, although it works with DSD without problems.

The device is made in an aluminum case with a massive front panel on which there is a large single-line display and controls. On the rear panel there is an analog stereo output on RCA, a pair of digital ones, represented by optical and coaxial, as well as LAN and USB ports.  Remote control is carried out from the remote control or the Onkyo Remote App. The average price of the device is 43,000 rubles, which, considering the presence of a CD drive, is quite budget-friendly. The sound of the player is lively and dynamic with good detail and low-frequency range.

Cambridge Audio Minx Xi

Our review is completed by another hybrid network player with an amplifier, produced by the well-established English company Cambridge Audio. The device is a completely complete device for playing digital sound, requiring only connection to acoustics. Both wired and wireless data transmission is allowed, for which there is an integrated Wi-Fi module and an external Bluetooth adapter with aptX included in the kit.  Supports audio up to 24bit/96kHz and UPnP technology designed to work with PCs and NADs.  There are two USB ports for connecting external drives.  Signal conversion is carried out by the Wolfson WM8728 chip.

The built-in amplifier operates in class AB and, with an eight-ohm load, is capable of delivering up to 40 W per channel. The power supply is organized on the basis of a toroidal transformer with high-capacity filter capacitors. Switching is carried out using two pairs of analog inputs on RCA connectors, an additional 3.5 mm input on the front panel, two digital: optical and coaxial, as well as 4 terminals for connection speaker system and RCA output for subwoofer. The device is implemented in a compact case, which can be black or white. The front features a large four-character display, control buttons, an input selector, a USB port and a headphone jack. The second USB and Ethernet are located at the back, there is also an antenna that improves the quality of communication and an additional USB port for a Bluetooth adapter. Remote control - remote control or mobile app. The sound of the Minx Xi is clear and balanced, with excellent detail and energetic presentation, definitely superior to previous models, but the cost of the device already starts from 50,000 rubles.

Conclusion

When thinking about purchasing a network player, you should first decide what data sources it will have to work with and which connection is most preferable for you. Almost all models on the market are equipped with a wired LAN interface, but wireless Wi-Fi modules and more specific Bluetooth and AirPlay may not be included. In addition, the choice may be influenced by the availability of certain components. If you are just assembling an audio system and want to save money, a reasonable option might be to purchase a device with a built-in amplifier, which, although it costs a little more, does not require anything other than acoustics for full operation. Owners of high-quality DACs or amplifiers equipped with them may be more suitable for a pure streamer, devoid of its own converter, the need for which is eliminated.