Posts with tag "network player"

Silent Angel has introduced the H1 Pure Music Hub, an all-in-one network audio component combining a streamer, DAC, and local music library management system. The new model is the company’s first device to feature a large front-panel display and also marks the debut of the Lifestyle Hub series. Housed in a compact aluminum chassis, the H1 is designed for both desktop audio systems and living-room setups.

Japan’s Esoteric has launched the N-01XE, a network player with the functionality of an external digital-to-analog converter, developed using technologies derived from the company’s flagship Grandioso series. The new model builds on the concepts introduced with the Esoteric N-01XD SE but features substantially redesigned digital and network sections. At its core are Esoteric’s proprietary Master Sound Discrete DAC G2 and Network Engine G4, both conceptually inherited from the flagship Grandioso N1. Esoteric has deliberately avoided off-the-shelf DAC chips from third-party manufacturers, implementing digital-to-analog conversion instead with an FPGA and carefully selected discrete components.

French company Métronome Technologie has expanded its Kalista DreamPlay lineup with two network components – the DreamPlay S and DreamPlay SC. The official presentation of the models took place in Vienna at Hifideluxe 2026, held simultaneously with High End Vienna 2026. Both new products are aimed at the upper end of the market and show how the Kalista brand sees modern streaming in an audiophile system.

The company Matrix Audio has released the MS-1c network player – a new model in its flagship M-Series. This lineup brings together the brand’s most advanced developments and reflects its current design philosophy: a restrained form, high build quality, and a strong focus on user convenience.

Shanling has introduced the SM90 network player, a compact device designed not only for music playback over a network, but also to serve as the central hub of a home stereo system. One of the key features of the new model is its HDMI ARC input, which makes it possible to connect a TV directly to a two-channel audio setup, without the need for an AV receiver or soundbar.

The legendary British audio brand Leak has introduced its first music streamer, the Leak TruStream. Following the brand’s return to the audio world in 2020 with models such as the Leak Stereo 130 integrated amplifier and the Leak CDT CD transport, the company has now turned its attention to modern music streaming, without which virtually no contemporary stereo system can do today.

Audio Technology Switzerland, the company behind the Nagra brand, introduced the Nagra Compact Streamer network transport in December 2025. Now the Swiss manufacturer has announced a similar device, but this time with a built-in DAC section – the Nagra Compact Player. At the same time, the company has removed the digital outputs. According to the developers, the Nagra Compact Player is a complete High End digital source that combines advanced streaming functionality with a high-quality DAC and an analog output stage built in a dual-mono configuration. The new network player supports PCM playback up to 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD up to DSD256, and was developed with special attention to clock architecture, power supply design, and the implementation of the analog stage.

British audio brand ONIX (a sub-brand of China’s Shanling) has unveiled the third and final component of the ONIX Zenith audio system – the ONIX Zenith XMT20 network transport. The new model joins the previously introduced components in the lineup: the Zenith XST20 SACD/CD transport and the Zenith XDA20 DAC. The ONIX Zenith XMT20 streamer is based on an in-house developed Linux networking platform.

The legendary British brand Mission continues to thoughtfully develop its compact 778 series of audio components. After the successful debut of the Mission 778X integrated amplifier, the lineup has taken a logical next step: the Mission 778S network player has joined the amplifier, turning the series into a complete two-piece system – compact, and rational in a distinctly British way.

Our new buyer's guide and equipment rating is visited by full (with a digital-to-analog converter) streamers or network players. The number of these components is growing day by day, which is why the selection turned out to be interesting - from inexpensive models to High-End class mastodons.

Choosing a top network player is now complicated by high competition in this market – the digital audio industry is developing at a very fast pace and new models of equipment are released very often. We have compiled a compact rating of the best and proven High-End network streamers for you – which will offer you stunning sound quality and impeccable technical characteristics.

When it comes to a modern Hi-Fi audio system based on a digital sound source, you can’t do without a network player or audio streamer, usually with a built-in digital-to-analog converter. These devices offer amazing flexibility of connection (both streaming clients of well-known services and wireless signal transmission options are “on board”), and their sound quality has advanced greatly in recent years. So much so that even relatively budget devices paired with an integrated Hi-Fi amplifier and acoustics can provide excellent sound quality. Our new rating or hit parade contains just such modern audio streamers.

FiiO presented a new DAC with a built-in streamer and headphone amplifier FiiO K17 at CES 2025. The device's arsenal includes a parametric 31-band equalizer inherited from the K19 model and a precision digital-to-analog converter based on an assembly of AKM AK4191 + AK4499EX x 2 chips.

The second generation of the Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2 network audio streamer offers the user a built-in digital-to-analog converter on two audiophile ES9038Q2M DAC chips from ESS Technologies, a proprietary EOS audio engine that further optimizes sound quality and expanded HDMI commutation capabilities (ARC support and multi-channel audio streaming, including DSD Native).

FiiO has introduced the S15 model - a digital music streamer (network player) and DAC with a high-quality analog section and a balanced XLR output. FiiO S15 can also be used as a preamplifier, which allows you to connect the player directly to a power amplifier or active loudspeakers.