Melco Audio has launched its first mid-range SSD-based digital music library, the N50-S38.

The new N50-S38 benefits from a heavy, 1.7 mm-thick full-width chassis, an IEC power inlet with noise filter, and classic Melco styling. Improvements include an enhanced main board with a specially selected 3.84 TB SSD drive coupled to the new rigid, layered SSD cradle, plus a new dynamic PSU with 25 % more output. Re-engineered isolation feet are also included.

As with all Melco digital music libraries, the N50-S38 is remarkably easy to use. Crucially, the rear panel includes four specific USB ports: USB 3.0; Expansion and Back up, plus a dedicated USB DAC output ready for connection to USB DACs, USB DAC-equipped amplifiers or active speakers. 20/10/2021 HiFi Collective Page 1 of 3

The ports enable USB devices to connect operate effortlessly without any configuration, including: importing or playing music from memory devices, HDD/SSD drives and CD drives (CD ‘rippers’); capacity expansion with Melco’s E100 (or other) storage drive; and easy back-up to HDD/SSD drives.

In line with the N50-S38’s audiophile credentials, the back also panel includes Melco’s dedicated dual Ethernet ports, which provide a dedicated ‘Player’ port in addition to the LAN port, to minimise the unwanted effects of noise on the music signal and present network audio players with a direct, high data integrity connection. The N50-S38 can be connected to a streamer (via Ethernet) using the PLAYER port, or used as a local player with the dedicated USB DAC output.

The N50-S38 has a high-quality OLED display with push-button control, plus Melco’s Intelligent Music Library suite comprising MinimServer and SongKong software.

Like its EX-series range stablemates, the N50-S38 is Roon Ready, DSD compatible and offers app control via DLNA/UPnP (in USB DAC mode) with support for TIDAL, Qobuz and vTuner streaming. Qobuz Downloader and HighResAudio.com also enable direct, error-free high-res downloads without the need for a computer.