Yesterday, Slimdevices indroduced a rack-sized network music player that includes professional quality connectors and front-panel controls, aimed at the high-end audio community.
Feel Your Music—The new TransNav™ controller uses dynamic tactile feedback to provide fast access to any song even in the largest music collection. The sleek, backlit, infrared remote and dual fluorescent displays make it easy to use from anywhere in the room.
Quality Connectors—Transporter’s back panel features a complete set of professional-grade connectors, including both balanced and unbalanced signals for its analog and digital interfaces.
Astounding Analog—The AK4396 “Miracle DAC” was chosen for its high dynamic range and low distortion. Its low out-of-band noise allows for the use of low-order output filters with higher cutoffs, resulting in preservation of phase and reduced distortion in the audible band. This extraordinary accuracy at higher frequencies allows Transporter to resolve the exact staging of instruments and the finest details of any recording. In addition, Transporter’s digital inputs allow its built-in DAC to be used with other sources.
Accurate Digital—Transporter’s digital path is not only “bit perfect”, but also extremely accurate in timing precision. Clock signals in Transporter are handled not as ones and zeroes, but as precision analog signals. Specialized crystal oscillators, careful clock management, and linear-regulated logic supplies ensure the lowest possible jitter throughout the system.
Clean Power—Transporter’s DAC and output amplifiers are powered by Super Regulators, based on the legendary design by Walt Jung. These regulators offer lower output impedance, faster response, and better noise rejection than standard three-terminal regulators. The result is an incredibly natural sound, with a pitch-black background and a shocking level of detail.
Full specs
The price of $1999.00 includes a regular 3rd generation Squeezebox.
For years I have been using a Squeezebox (1st and 2nd generation) at home and I am pleased to see this new device from Slimdevices. There are now many cheap network music players on the market and Slimdevices as a small company won’t be able to compete with large manufacturers like Linksys, so it looks like a clever move to target this new player at the high end market.
