Margules MAGENTA MUSIC SERVER MS-01
The MAGENTA MUSIC SERVER MS-01 delivers stunning dynamics, a spacious soundstage and vividly communicative vocals from a streamlined network DAC platform. Audiophile Style also found its fine-detail retrieval deeply engaging, while the custom Volumio setup, NAS support and integrated analog output make high-resolution listening remarkably uncluttered.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
87/100
Build Quality
82/100
Features Usability
84/100
Value for Money
93/100
Pros
Expressive dynamics, expansive soundstage and exceptional vocal reproduction.
Reveals dense musical detail while retaining an engaging, room-filling presentation.
Straightforward Volumio-based setup with improving NAS indexing and strong streaming-DAC value.
Cons
Volumio retains some usability frustrations despite its generally effective performance.
Plastic front and rear panels temper the otherwise neat internal execution.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 87/100
The review finds the MS-01 an unusually engaging and accomplished digital source, with especially strong dynamics, spatial scale, vocal presence and retrieval of fine detail. There is no direct listening assessment of its clocking, jitter rejection or output-stage digital precision, however.
Overall Sound
94/100
Audiophile Style calls the MS-01's dynamics, soundstage and vocal reproduction “stunning,” describing the Dune soundtrack as leaping from the speakers and its presentation as full of aplomb. The reviewer also praises its ability to expose the dense detail in Tool while making Amy Lee's vocal delivery especially communicative.
Digital Signal Integrity
76/100
The review does not directly examine jitter, clock performance, galvanic isolation or the quality of the MS-01's digital data delivery. It notes separate supplies for the Pi-based digital section and analog board, but does not connect this engineering to a specific digital-signal-performance finding.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 84/100
The MS-01 offers capable network and USB-file playback, while its customized Volumio platform is straightforward to set up and has improved in responsiveness. Some familiar Volumio usability frustrations remain, and the available connections are practical rather than unusually expansive.
Streaming Software
85/100
The custom Volumio implementation is easy to set up through the smartphone app, and the reviewer finds that it works well despite some frustrations. Recent updates are said to have improved the interface and made NAS indexing faster.
Features Connectivity
82/100
Wireless and Ethernet networking, NAS playback and USB 3.0 storage support make the MS-01 flexible for a file-based library. Its two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 inputs are useful, though the supplied information identifies only a stereo RCA analog output rather than a wide range of digital outputs.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
82/100
Internal execution is described as neat, with separate power supplies for the computer section and analog board. The reviewer also notes that both front and rear panels are plastic, which tempers the otherwise orderly and purpose-built internal presentation.
Value for Money
93/100
The reviewer explicitly characterizes the MS-01 as one of the best-value streaming DACs, while also judging its sound quality and simplicity worthwhile despite Volumio's occasional quirks. No price is supplied, but the published assessment is clearly enthusiastic about its competitiveness.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTER
- DAC based on the ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M chip, capable of handling lossless decoding of PCM files up to 768KHz and DSD512. Wireless or ethernet connectivity, as well as playback of digital files via network-attached storage (NAS) or USB 3.0 devices
- INPUTS
- Two 3.0 and two 2.0 USB inputs
- INDEPENDENT POWER SUPPLIES
- Independent power supplies for analog and digital circuits Shunt power supply for the analog filter
- ANALOG FILTER
- Totally discrete analog filter with no negative feedback
- Display
- OLED display
- OUTPUTS
- 2CH RCA output: 2.2Vrms/-0dB, THD+N: 0.0005% at 1KHz
- Specification
- CERTIFICATED COMPLIAN COMPONENTS
- OS
- Lifetime licensed software designed and finely tuned exclusively for bit-perfect music playback, controlled via your mobile phone, computer or tablet.
Manufacturer's Description — Margules
The Magenta Music Server MS-01 is designed for music lovers who require the versatility and convenience of digital formats, but who are not willing to sacrifice the virtues of organic, engaging and accurate music reproduction.
The Magenta Music Server MS-01 is a network music server that combines our renowned analog technology with a precise digital circuit based on the ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M chip, capable of handling lossless decoding of PCM files up to 768KHz and DSD512.
The MS01’s analog circuitry complies with our ANA® design philosophy, allowing organic and engaging music reproduction, with wide frequency response, low distortion and accurate harmonic reproduction.
Other features of the MS-01 that make it the best choice for music lovers who want to explore the convenience of digital formats without sacrificing the recreation of crisp and clear sound images capable of conveying the intentions of the artist’s work, are its independent power supplies for the digital and analog circuits, the use of a Shunt-type power supply for the analog filter, which is completely discrete and without the use of negative feedback, wireless or ethernet connectivity, as well as playback of digital files via network-attached storage (NAS) or USB 3.0 devices.
All this, accompanied by the operating system -with a lifetime license-, designed and finely tuned for “bit-perfect” music playback, controlled by cell phones, tablets or computers, which gives access to virtually all streaming platforms such as Tidal, Qobuz, High Res Audio, HD radio stations and many more.
ALIGNED NEURO-ACOUSTICS (ANA®) COMPLIANT:
The ANA® technology (Aligned Neuro-Acoustics) is one of Margules’ technological innovations developed from a fundamental principle: the human brain perceives sound by prioritizing the harmonic structure above fundamental tone; that is, it focuses on how humans perceive sound and not on how we measure it.
This technological advance originates from the engaging sound theory and is based on the way in which our brain decodes the information from the sound waves through the ears: when sounds are closer, they keep us focused due to the relation between perception and sound, the distance at which we perceive them and their intelligibility, whereas distant sounds, even when intelligible, do not catch our attention and are easily ignored.
Our ANA® technology is designed to achieve a realistic sound, with a wide frequency response, low distortion and precise harmonic reproduction, optimizing to the utmost the relationship between the source and the receiver, so that you can enjoy your music in a way you have never experienced before
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Authorized dealers for Margules MAGENTA MUSIC SERVER MS-01
- Audio Vision San Francisco — online and in-store — San Francisco, California, United States (website)
- AV Luxury Group — online and in-store — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (website)
- Deep Dive Audio — in-store — Palm Bay, Florida, United States (website)
- Holm Audio — in-store — Chicago, Illinois, United States (website)
- Northern Audio — online and in-store — Pennsylvania, United States (website)
- Salon One Audio — in-store — Ormond Beach, Florida, United States (website)