Melco Audio N50
Built around a noise-conscious SSD architecture, the Melco N50 serves up clean, natural digital sound with striking low-level detail, articulate bass and a precise three-dimensional soundstage. hi-fi+ praised its revealing yet unforced presentation, while StereoNET United Kingdom found its internal SSD more dynamic, textured and insightful than streaming alternatives. Extensive USB, Ethernet and Roon-ready flexibility completes a seriously capable music-library hub.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
87/100
Features Usability
87/100
Value for Money
89/100
Pros
Exceptionally low-noise, revealing presentation with precise imaging, articulate bass and natural musical flow.
Internal SSD playback delivers richer texture, stronger dynamics, deeper bass and more exposed detail than streamed or NAS-based comparisons.
Superb connectivity: dedicated USB DAC output, separate Player Ethernet port, expansion and backup USB ports, plus high-resolution PCM and Quad DSD support.
Roon Ready operation, MinimServer and SongKong make it a powerful platform for organising substantial music collections.
Cons
The button-led display and menu system feel old-fashioned and clunky compared with modern app-first interfaces.
Roon library setup can require manual network-path configuration, and the native app is less polished than Roon.
Its premium price makes it a specialist investment for listeners who will fully exploit local high-resolution storage and its low-noise design.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
Reviewers consistently hear the N50 as a notably cleaner, more revealing digital source, especially when playing from its internal SSD or using its wired player connection. Its strengths are low-level detail, spatial separation, natural musical flow and a quieter backdrop rather than an artificially sharpened presentation.
Overall Sound
96/100
hi-fi+ called the N50 an excellent digital source, praising its articulate bass, precise three-dimensional imaging, speed and clean-but-not-clinical character. StereoNET and The Audiophile Man likewise found internal-SSD playback richer, more dynamic and more spacious than streaming or a laptop, while Stereophile reported an exceptionally convincing classical-music presentation.
Digital Signal Integrity
94/100
Multiple reviewers attribute the gains to a markedly quieter signal path: hi-fi+ heard a very low noise floor, and The Ear found quieter backgrounds and clearer low-level information. The isolated Player Ethernet port, dedicated USB DAC output and SSD-based storage are repeatedly associated with cleaner delivery, though one reviewer preferred the Ethernet connection to the N50's USB output in a particular system.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 87/100
This is an unusually flexible music-library server, with extensive local-storage, backup, ripping and DAC/player connection options. Its software ecosystem is capable and mature, but the onboard interface and Melco app are less polished than the best contemporary control experiences.
Streaming Software
84/100
Roon Ready operation, MinimServer, SongKong metadata tools, UPnP/DLNA control and access to Tidal, Qobuz and internet radio make the N50 capable for library-led playback. Reviewers describe the button-led menus as old-fashioned and stodgy, the Melco app as less than slick, and Roon library setup can require some manual intervention.
Features Connectivity
94/100
Reviewers describe the N50 as exceptionally well connected, with dedicated USB DAC output, expansion and backup USB ports, front-panel import, and separate LAN and Player Ethernet ports. It supports high-resolution PCM and Quad DSD, gapless playback, external storage, CD ripping via a compatible drive, and operation as a Roon endpoint or network-library source.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
87/100
The N50 has a substantial, slim full-width enclosure, a rigid SSD cradle, revised isolation feet and a serious Neutrik USB housing. However, Twittering Machines found the 1.7mm aluminium chassis rang somewhat hollow when tapped, and StereoNET considered its presentation more utilitarian than luxurious.
Value for Money
89/100
At roughly £4,999/$5,499, reviewers acknowledge that the N50 is expensive, but several regard its sound and functionality as persuasive at that level. The Ear considers it among the best-sounding servers for sensible money, while StereoNET says the price brings extensive functionality, strong build and a top-notch SSD library.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Music storage
- 1 x specially selected 6TB HDD 1 x specially selected 3.84 TB SSD
- Network connectivity
- LAN Port-Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T), Dedicated PLAYER port Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T), DHCP server in isolated mode
- USB connectivity
- USB 2.0 port USB DAC-dedicated USB 3.0 backup port USB 3.0 expansion port USB 3.0 port for music importing and CD drives USB 3.0 front panel port for importing and DACs 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
- Power supply
- 100-120 VAC, 220-240 VAC
- Size
- 436 x 62 x 352mm
- Weight
- 7 kg
Manufacturer's Description — Melco Audio
Full-width design, solid-state benefits
Stepping up from the half-width entry-level N100, the N50-H60 (6TB HDD) bridges the gap with exceptional performance and pricing. The next step is to the N50-S38 (3.84 TB SSD) which is Melco’s first full-width library to benefit from an advanced SSD (solid state) hard drive.
The 3.84 TB SSD drive at the N50’s heart, brings the benefits of solid state storage and playback to discerning music lovers wanting a full-width (43 cm) solution to complement existing audio devices.
Based on the original N1A library, the new N50 brings contemporary features and the latest Melco expertise to a classic design aesthetic
- Specially selected HDD and SSD drive for audio performance
- High-quality positive-click front panel buttons
- Crystal-clear easy-read low-noise OLED display
- 3x 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
- Internal power-line noise filter
- New PCB, layered rigid SSD mounter and feet
- Made in Japan
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Melco Audio N50
- 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