Melco Audio N1
The Melco N1 makes local digital music feel vividly alive, pairing exceptional transparency with open, spacious detail and authoritative low-end weight. Its carefully engineered, low-noise SSD platform, dedicated USB-DAC output and direct network connection reveal timing, texture and recording depth with rare ease. The Ear and StereoNET United Kingdom found the N1 platform a seriously revealing source for ambitious DAC-based systems.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
96/100
Build Quality
91/100
Features Usability
89/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Exceptionally transparent, detailed and immediate sound exposes subtle musical information, convincing timing and recording depth.
Dedicated USB-DAC and direct Ethernet outputs provide flexible, high-performance routes for DACs and network players.
Thoughtful noise-control engineering and robust internal construction support a clean, neutral digital signal.
Cons
Control can depend on third-party apps, and the reviewed Melco HD/Mconnect options had device-orientation and compatibility limitations.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 96/100
Across the reviewed N1 variants, Melco is praised for an unusually open, detailed and neutral presentation that lets recording quality and musical texture come through clearly. USB connection to a capable DAC is repeatedly singled out as especially revealing, with strong timing, refinement and musical presence.
Overall Sound
96/100
The Ear found the N1 highly resolved and immediate, with new details emerging from familiar music, open digital sound, even timing and unusually convincing instrumental timbre. StereoNET likewise heard greater detail and weight than competing playback approaches, calling the Melco the best-sounding server it had heard at or near its price.
Digital Signal Integrity
95/100
The Ear attributes the server's exceptionally rich and detailed delivery to reducing sources of distortion that can corrupt digital data. Its direct Ethernet route can also avoid an intervening network switch, while the dedicated USB output was reported to produce revelatory results with resolving DAC systems.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
The N1 platform combines local music storage with direct USB-DAC and network-player operation, giving it unusual flexibility in a high-end digital system. Software feedback is positive for stability and simple library handling, although the control experience depends on the chosen server and third-party controller.
Streaming Software
88/100
The reviewed platform is described as stable and reliable with Twonky, while also allowing MinimServer; later MIML implementations add MinimServer and SongKong metadata tools. Reviewers appreciated that Melco does not force heavy-handed library organisation, and Mconnect can provide Tidal and Qobuz access, though its portrait-only interface was noted.
Features Connectivity
91/100
The N1 offers dedicated USB-DAC output and direct Ethernet delivery to a network player, alongside expansion, backup and file-import USB connections. Its current specification further includes a dedicated Player network port, SFP networking, external 10MHz clock input, broad PCM/DSD support and 3.84TB of SSD storage.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
Reviewers describe thoughtful internal execution rather than merely premium cosmetics. Reported measures include a heavy non-magnetic brass drive foundation, stainless shielding, dedicated power provision and extensive noise-reduction work with medical-grade supplies and film capacitors.
Value for Money
85/100
At approximately 13,999 to 15,999, this is an expensive music-server proposition, but StereoNET considered its performance exceptional at or near that level. The reviews do not offer sustained value comparisons; The Ear notes that a 2TB SSD configuration may require expansion for very large libraries.
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Specifications
- Music storage
- 1 x specially selected 3.84 TB SSD
- Network connectivity
- LAN Port-Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T), Dedicated PLAYER port – Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T), SFP Port (1000 mbps MAX)
- USB connectivity
- USB 2.0 port USB DAC-dedicated USB 3.0 port USB DAC-dedicated/USB file import USB 3.0 backup port USB 3.0 expansion port 1 x front panel USB 3.0 port USB player file support: DSF, DFF, FLAC, WAV, ALAC, AIFF and AAC
- USB player sample rate support
- 16-32 bit (PCM) to 384 kHz:- auto downsample to suit connected DACs Gapless PCM support 1 bit (DSD) to 11.3 MHz Quad DSD Markerless DSD support DSD to 32 bit PCM conversion selectable Gapless DSD support OLED displays player sample rate
- External Clock Input
- BNC, 10MHz, 50Ω, 0.5-5Vpp
- Power supply
- Pre-set 230 V AC or 120 V AC dependent on locality
- Size
- 440 x 82 x 353mm
- Weight
- 14kg
Manufacturer's Description — Melco Audio
The flagship Melco N1 has been researched and developed from the ground up, incorporating a brand new aluminium chassis up to 5mm thick, a new mainboard, high grade low noise internal linear power supply and extensive pro-grade connectivity. These aspects add up to increased performance whilst retaining the most important goal: unrivalled sound quality.
The N1 improves on the fantastic N1ZS and N10 Melco music library products, incorporating the technologies learnt and developed to the next level.
- Specially selected 3.84 TB SSD drive for audio performance
- High-quality positive-click front panel buttons
- Crystal-clear, easy-read, low-noise OLED display
- 4x USB 3.0 ports for easy back up, expansion and DAC connectivity
- Easy music importing from flash, CD or HDD drives
- IEC mains inlet with true electrical ground to define the source component as ground point
- External 10MHz clock connection (BNC)
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Melco Audio N1
- Acoustic Streams — in-store — Lower Drift, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Art et son — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Atelier 13 Audio — in-store — Forest Hills, Tennessee, United States (website)
- Audio Affair — online and in-store — Deritend, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Freak — Germany (website)
- Audio Influence — online and in-store — Fitzroy North, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Audio Sanctuary — in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 56 more verified dealers