Deutschland 4,80 Ausland 5,00 HiFi - CAAS · PDF file23 Heard: – Pink Floyd The Endless River (Deluxe) (FLAC, 96 kHz, 24 Bit) – Queen Innuendo (FLAC, 44,1 kHz, 16 Bit) –...

HiFi

6/2014 · Januar/Februar Deutschland 4,80 ! · Schweiz CHF 9,50 · DKK 40 · Ausland 5,00 !

Mag

azin

für d

igita

les

HiFi

www.hifi einsnull.deHiFiMagazin für digitales HiFi

Teufel Raumfeld Stereo M

S.48

Micromega MyAmp

S.62

Musikserver-Offensive

X-Odos xolone

S.14

einsnull

Teufl isch clever

Powerwürfel

SERVICE: So einfach kommen Sie an digitale Musik

La Rosita Die Loreley

S.36

Perfekter iPad-Partner

S.40

S.14

Einsteiger-ServerElectrocompaniet ECM 2

S.26

Musik fürs Auge

Der große Musikformate-Check

Neue Modelle von Weiss, CAAS und CAD im Test S.43

Lyravox Stereomaster II 170

S.10

Die Musiktruhe des 21. Jahrunderts

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Test: Music server CAAS DAS

DAS CanSay It Out Loud!

Peripherals:

– Sources: Audio Data Music Server MS1INTEGRITA Audiophile Music ServeriPad Mini, WiMP HiFiUSB Mass Storage

– Amplifier: Cambridge Audio One– Speakers: KLANG + TON Albatros

KLANG + TON Nada

The name server invokes an image of a massive machine with many cables and switches. In audio, this is not always true, here it implies: Small but perfectly formed.

England is home to many manufacturers of high-end audio equipment and also the company CAAS comes from the royal island nation. CAAS Audio is based in North Yorkshire and is under the leadership of Neil and Carl Broomfield. The Elysian series consists of the 100 mono amplifiers and the Elysian music server with integrated pre-amplifier, as well as the currently tested by us DAS.

and general networking of the home, so this may cause a bit of fear in some.Nevertheless, the term always sounds very technical and complicated but it really does not have to be, especially with the DAS. Instead of a huge device you get a small box in which complex technology is concealed. From the outside there is rather little to suggest the idea that the DAS conceals a computer with audio DAC in the subtly designed Metal housing.The fear of a complicated computer system disappears with the DAS and the demand for the user to have a lot of expertise is not necessary. There is no need to even touch a keyboard as the Digital Audio Server can be controlled using a tablet or Smartphone or alternatively, it is even possible to control the DAS using the Remote Control from your TV, as

Streamer

DAC

The solid machined front panel hides the discreet proportions and small size. The DAS look is beautiful and uncomplicated with no unnecessary controls, only a single button to select the input is visible. When pressed either the LED for the server illuminates or the LED for the DAC mode illuminates, this mode if for connection of coaxial source devices though the S / PDIF input on the back panel. In addition to the coaxial input the DAS offers two other ways of playing music. Two USB A sockets for connecting external hard drives and mass storage drives and a network connection for streaming. This Streamer, DAC and again, the name "server." which is really an expression from the data processing world and digitization has moved into the HiFi world and also in to our living room

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Heard:– Pink Floyd

The Endless River (Deluxe)(FLAC, 96 kHz, 24 Bit)

– QueenInnuendo(FLAC, 44,1 kHz, 16 Bit)

– Natalie MerchantNatalie Merchant(FLAC, 88,2 kHz, 24 Bit)

– Ennio MorriconeThe Good, The Badand the Ugly(WiMP HiFi Stream, 44,1 kHz, 16 Bit)

– This Wild LifeClouded(FLAC, 96 kHz, 24 Bit)

– Caroll VanweldenShakespeare Sonnets 2(FLAC, 96 kHz, 24 Bit)

you do not necessarily expect in an audio device, such as: An HDMI socket. This in fact has been used at least once because the DAS has a visual interface that can be shown on a suitable TV which in turn allows the system to be set up.The DAS used a media player program called XBMC, a name many probably already know, because it is the favoured system for the popular Raspberry Pi computer. There is a specific reason for this, because in the interior of the DAS there is indeed one of these tiny computers. Not a bad solution, because the micro computer has for years had an excellent reputation for use in the computer audio area and since we were already on the technical side of music playback and the idea of a keyboard in the living room, triggers little enthusiasm with many.Virtually all known digital music formats can be processed by the CAAS DAS computer. Regardless of whether they are common, such as ALAC or FLAC, compressed MP3s and OGG or exotic formats such as APE, the Raspberry Pi knows no mercy. Those who like something familiar, the ideas that the Pi actually can also play videos and since the DAS can be connected to a TV you may think you could also spice up your home cinema. The DAS however does not allow this, because CAAS have limited the DAS to pure audio capabilities. Also because a lot of work has gone into the customized I²S interface and the data transfer to the DAC ICs. Particular attention has been paid to the signal timing and buffering to produce as close as possible, a jitter-free signal. Because of this special software, XBMC cannot simply be updated manually by the user, without endangering the operation. Only the manufacturer can update XBMC

long as it has CEC support. Depending on the manufacturer, this function could also be called something else, for example Sony Bravia or Panasonic Vieralink. For this to work, the TV must however remain connected to the DAS. When operating withthe Tablet control you first need to download an XBMC-compatible App, for Android devices CAAS use Yatse and for iOS tablets you should download XBMC Remote. When in remote control mode you can navigate the menu on the TV screen either using the app or using the TV remote. However, once a music library has been built, all the titles can be browsed directly on the tablet / Smartphone app. Building a music library can take time and it is best not to use any other functionality while a library is being built. Once a library has been built the titles are comprehensive stored in the app, and it has been designed to operation without problems. Clear lists initially dominate the panel before playing and on request, the cover art and additional information about the albums can be displayed both on the app and on the TV. Care needs to be taken not to overload the DAS by using USB powered hard drive storage. External 3.5 inch hard drives that have their own power supply represent no problem as well as USB storage sticks, which have become more popular in the last few years. However 2.5-inch hard drives that do not have their own power supply but draw more power from the USB port than is available can overload the DAS and force the unit to reboot. Of course, it is also possible to connect a LAN cable to the DAS and therefore access content that is stored on a network storage device. Furthermore, there is of course a connection to the Internet to allow the use of online radio, streaming services and the download of additional library information. There is still a degree of something that

The CAAS XBMC remote app can even be used without a connected monitor and works well.

Background information on the album or artist can be downloaded from the internet and displayed. Band members are now on the background images of the menus.

Test: Music server CAAS DAS

24

through a specialised software update else the sound will suffer. Finally, the customised system allows the best possible audio results to be achieved from the components. This is commendable, as well as the decision to find a D/A converter that uses a ladder DAC. Because of the way they work, they produce the purest, neutral, natural sound.

In the DAS you'd bet on there being two parallel Burr-Brown DACs converting all music data into audible signals. Music from USB or LAN can arrive with resolutions of up to 192 kHz at 24 bits. While if you use the DAC mode, signals via the COAXIAL input are received, with up to 96 kHz at 16-bit. There is also a further option for the D/A-converter in the DAS can accept: Apple devices with AirPlay, your music can be streamed over the network to the server, so the laptop or smartphone can also be involved in the Hi-fi system. So you are then also able to connect to internet streaming services and send the music to the CAAS DAS for the internal DACs to process and play.One should note, however, that the analogue connections of the DAS are only to be connected to a pre-amplifier, as the server outputs are connected directly to the output signals of the converter. Once connected to an amplifier, the DAS can finally show what it can do. As might be expected, the server reproduces all signals smoothly and very neutrally without any special emphasis on certain frequency ranges. The Ladder DAC converts, without Interfering with the sound, a fact that perhaps may not make everyone happy because the end result now very much depends on the quality of the recording.

CAAS DAS

· Price: 3.700 Euro· Distribution: Hörgenuss für Audiophile,

Frankfurt· Telephone: 069 40326292· Internet: www.hgfa.de

· W x H x D: 220 x 65 x 260 mm· Inputs: 1 x Ethernet

1 x S/PDIF koaxial, 2 x USB-A· Supported formats: All common

PCM-Formats inc. ALAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, WMA ...

· Supported sampling rates:Ethernet/ USB: up to 192 kHz, 24 Bit

S/PDIF: up to 96 kHz, 16 Bit · Outputs: 1 x RCA Stereo, 1 x HDMI

<checksum> "CAAS Audio, with the Digital Audio Server, have created a system that even allows beginners to move to computer based audio. Mainly because the integrated computer plays just a small part and therefore allows the actual audio the become the greater part."

HiFi

The Raspberry Pi is connected to the DAC board to produce a full audio system

Only analogue signals come out from the DAS. Music can be played from either mass storage devices or from the network connection.

Test: Music server CAAS DAS

The work that CAAS have undertaken while customizing their I²S protocol has really paid off because jitter is no longer apparent and even the dynamic range is refined. Here the advantages that the Raspberry Pi provide are apparent, while the disadvantages have been addressed and with excellent techniques and good looks to complement, one does not have to be a programmer to be able to use the Digital Audio Server.

Full House: The two Toroidal transformers provide energy, which is then regulated. Under the small cooling fins on the right hand side, the two DAC chips are situated.

Philipp Schneckenburger