Прочие устройства — DELA Audio S5 Network Switch

The S5 is an audio network switch from DELA, the Japanese brand formerly known as Melco, which was founded in 1975 and belongs to Buffalo Inc. of Tokyo. It follows the Melco S100 and the DELA S1 and is described as the first product developed entirely under the DELA name. The unit is built at the Nagoya factory in Japan, and launch prices were GBP 7,499, EUR 8,999 and USD 9,999.

Key specs that matter

Seven RJ45 ports use Neutrik 8-pin connectors and can run at 10 or 100 Mbps or at 1 Gbps, set by the user. Four SFP+ cages accept 10 Gbps modules as well as the DELA C1 direct attach cable, and each can be switched between 1 and 10 Gbps with a button on the front. A USB 2.0 socket delivers power only, up to 0.9 A at 5 V DC, for accessories. The SFP+ cages share a supply of up to 1.8 A at 3.3 V DC. Mains input covers 100 to 240 V at 50 or 60 Hz. The case measures 440 x 77 x 353 mm and weighs about 9.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

DELA calls the construction its Highly Stable Chassis Construction. Top and side panels are aluminium, the rear panel is stainless steel and the base is a 3 mm steel plate, while the corner cheeks and isolation feet are CNC machined. Timing comes from an ultra-low jitter clock made by NDK, and power passes through what DELA names the Super Clear Dynamic Power Supply, designed to combine low noise with enough capacity. The fibre-capable SFP+ ports make optical links possible, including ADOT systems, so the streaming end of the network can be separated electrically from the router. Unused ports can be shut down completely to free system resources. Colour LEDs show the link speed of each port, with light blue marking 1 Gbps, and the front display can be dimmed while the rear status lights can be turned off altogether.

Pairing

The S5 sits between a home router and the network players, servers and storage in a hi-fi rack. Its full-width case suits a shelf alongside other 44 cm components. A DELA or Melco music library, a streamer with an optical SFP input or a pair of fibre media converters can all connect through the SFP+ side, while conventional copper links handle the remaining devices. The powered USB socket can feed a small accessory such as a media converter without an extra plug-in adapter.

Alternatives

The DELA S1 is the other audio network switch in the same DELA range.