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Melco N100-H50 – 5 TByte storage capacity

Up to now, Melco Audio offered the Melco N100-H20 as a starting point, but now the Melco N-H50 is available, which offers a significantly larger storage capacity. Instead of 2 TByte, an impressive 5 TByte are available for audio data.

Melco Audio is convinced that the new Melco N100-H50 is nothing less than the best entry-level solution ever offered. Although it does not replace the Melco N100-H20, it is offered above it in the Melco N100 Series.

The most important innovation here is that it comes with a very generously dimensioned hard disk that offers 5 TByte of storage capacity.

Melco N100-H20 and Melco N100-H50

The two systems, which are Melco Audio’s entry-level systems, differ only in the hard disk. The previous system has a storage capacity of 2 TByte, the new Melco N100-H50 has a storage capacity of 5 TByte. This is a massive increase, but one that offers much more room for your own media library.

No ordinary hard disk

Melco Audio explicitly points out that the hard disk is not a model commonly used in PC systems. Rather, it is a model specially specified for audio applications, which the manufacturer also uses in the Melco N10 45th Anniversary Limited Edition Digital Music Library system, which is clearly above the Melco N100-H50.

They even state that the relevant drives have been hand-picked by the factory to offer exceptional audio performance.

“The 2TB N100-H20 digital music library has been a fantastic addition to Melco’s entry-level audio product family over its two and a half years of existence. It has given many new customers access to the fantastic sound quality for which Melco Audio is renowned.

The option of a higher capacity version allows customers with larger music collections to take advantage of Melco Audio’s uncompromising sound quality and unique approach to audio technology.”

Dan Raggett, General Manager UK Melco Audio

Details about the Melco N100-H50

The compact Melco N100-H50 half-width chassis builds on the world-class Melco N1Z Series, offering excellent sound quality, versatility and ease of use at an affordable entry-level price.

The Melco N100-H50 is based on a 215mm wide chassis, making it half the width of most full-size hi-fi components. It uses the same ultra-low noise, high precision digital music data flow of Melco’s existing range and is designed from the ground up as an audio specific device. Melco says it does not use standard IT components or PC parts.

The so-called low-profile mainboard uses exactly the same RISC processor and architecture as the flagship Melco N1Z Series models, ensuring very low noise with precise data management, the manufacturer says.

Music server…

The unit also benefits from two Ethernet ports. A dedicated Ethernet player port connects directly to network streamers without the need for a data switch in between, which is said to ensure perfect timing.

Hi-res Audio Digital Music Player

The Melco N100-H50 can also be used as a stand-alone local Hi-res Audio Digital Music Player when connected to a USB DAC. Data rates of up to 32 bit and 384 kHz and DSD up to DSD256 are supported, as well as gapless playback and the so-called Melco Markerless DSD.

Simple control

Control is via the Melco Music HD app, the control panel or suitable third-party RF remote controls. Both the Melco N100-H20 and Melco N100-H50 work with USB DACs and Ethernet-connected players, even when not connected to a data network in standalone isolation mode. When connected to a network, popular UPnP control apps can also be used, as can Roon from Roon Labs LLC. after a recent firmware upgrade.

Despite the generous new 5 TB internal hard drive, storage can be easily expanded, either with a standard IT USB hard drive or the Melco Audio E100 2 TB hard drive to maintain sound quality.

Melco N100 H50 04Melco N100 H50 05

Importing audio CDs and audio data

Importing CDs is also easy, either with the Melco D100 external CD drive or an IT-quality optical drive.

Another essential feature is that you can also back up your own audio content; this is done simply by connecting a USB hard disk and pressing a button.

Direct hi-res downloads from HIGHRESAUDIO and other providers – more are to follow in 2021 – are of course supported.

A front USB port allows convenient import of USB sources as well as direct playback from USB drives without import.

The new Melco N100-H50 will be available from the end of July at a price of €2,999. It replaces the Melco N1A , which is no longer in production. The previous model Melco N100-H20 will remain available at the previous price of €2,299.

Getting to the point

Melco Audio is convinced that the new Melco N100-H50 is nothing less than the best entry-level solution ever offered. In fact, this solution essentially offers everything that distinguishes Melco Audio systems, plus a very generously dimensioned hard disk with 5 TByte. There is plenty of room even for a very extensive media library.

Manufacturer:Melco Audio
Distribution:DREI H Vertriebs GmbH
Price:Melco N100-H20 € 2.299,-
Melco N100-H50 € 2.999,-

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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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