Cocktail audio x30 test
Music Server/ Network Steamer / CD Storage
- Equipped with a 700MHz MIPS host CPU (Processor)
High-speed, silent slide front loading conpact disc drive for playing & ripping
Cocktail Audio X30 uses an optical disc drive (ODD) with a 24x high speed. The operation is silent, which means you can listen to music while ripping. Compatible with CD, CD-DA, CD-R, CD-RW and DVD-R/RW.
High-quality sound through Burr-Brown HD DAC and isolated power source design For high-quality sound output
Fast CD ripping with CD meta-data standard album cover art & various file formats
Cocktail Audio X30 can rip a one hour playing time CD in less than 10 minutes. It will catalogue your collection by album, artist, genre and year - all ripped CDs will be stored into the music database. X30 provides four ripping options (encoding): WAV, FLAC, MP3 or OGG.
Please Note: These figures may vary slightly according to the number of tracks on a CD
Connect to a monitor to view a slideshow of Images / Album Covers while listening to music
Cocktail Audio X30 provides HDMI OUT connector for external display, such as a TV (or a compatible monitor) as its GUI screen.
Multiple inputs and outputs for versatile connectivity
Cocktail Audio X30 offers various audio inputs and outputs for connecting other audio devices including a monitor (only HDMI). Three digital outputs, two analogue outputs, two digital inputs and two analogue inputs, allows high connectivity with multiple devices. The dual digital inputs means the CA X30 can be used as a DAC with other digital audio sources.
High performance stereo digital amplifier with dynamic 100W (50W per channel)
A TI high-performance stereo digital amplifier chip, isolated power source circuit design and TCXO oscillator – with low noise and low distortion – makes CA X30 an ideal hi-fi component for an existing bookshelf or high quality floor standing (power load) speakers.
FM tuner, iRadio & online music streaming services
Cocktail Audio X30 features an FM tuner (tuning range FM87.5 - 108MHz) with RDS support. (NB RDS support is only available in Europe). Equipped with Gigafast Ethernet (10/100/1000Mbps) and wireless network (Wi-Fi USB dongle optional) you can connect the X30 to your home network to access tens of thousands of radio stations (Reciva) and online music services such as Simfy.
High res recording function (24bit/192Khz)
With the X30 you can record from the internet radio, FM radio and line-in as well as cassette tapes and vinyl. The 24bit/192Khz ADC chip allows for high resolution recording for better sound quality.
Cocktail Audio X30 supports 3.5” SATA hard disk, 2.5” SATA hard disk or solid state drive (SSD) as storages. A customised storage drive bay (drawer/caddy) allows for quick and easy installation. Using SSD storage means the X30 will operation noiselessly as the device is fanless. CA X30 currently supports up to 4TB of 3.5” hard disk, 1TB of 2.5” hard disk and 500GB of SSD. Increased capacity will be supported by impending firmware updates.
Versatile network functions through various network protocol support
As the X30 supports DNLA, Samba client/server/media renderer, FTP server and web server customised Web UI is provided, it offers;
- Hi-resolution 24bit/192Khz network streaming playback
- File management (copy, delete, rename, importing or exporting etc.) between X30 storage and NAS or PC
- Remote control with mobile devices like smartphones (iPhone or Android phone), iPad and tablet PC
- Remote control and Music DB editing with the customised Web UI
A free app is available to control X30 using a smartphone, tablet or PC. We recommend вЂ˜Eyecon’ for Android and Kinsky’ for iOS. Some music programs that enable streaming via computers can also be used.
The CA X30 front panel is 8mm thick aluminum with CNC cutting and metal chassis. The die-cast aluminum feet provide rigidity along with additional resistance from external vibrations. CA X30 dimensions: 435mm(W) x 325mm(D) x 88mm(H) without feet. Height with feet is 98.5mm .
The Web Interface (Web UI) for various browsers, including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Crome and Safari. With the Web UI you can manage the music database and edit CD metadata, such as adding or changing an album cover art.
Front panel intuitive control scheme
With the control panel you have quick access to basic functions such as power, volume/mute, OK/pause/scroll, and four menu keys forGUI of LCD screen. The input selector key allows you to seemlessly switch between input devices, and also features a mute mode that can be toggled at the push of the volume knob.
152-178 Kingston Road
New Malden, Surrey KT3 3ST
Sales : +44 (0)208 942 7575
Tel: +44 (0)208 942 01 11
Secure online shopping - accepted payments:
Cocktail Audioв„ў is a Registered Trademark
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Cocktail audio x30 test
Cocktail Audio X30 Customer Reviews
A good balanced review - good to see the X30 getting some good media attention in the specialist press.
1) I have run my X30 originally through my QUAD 33/303 amps to my QUAD ESL57 speakers - and latterly driving the ESLs direct from the X30 (my 33 has to go back to QUAD hospital for a new on-off gain control - the darn thing wore out after 40 years constant use . ). With both setups I'm not sure I can agree with the reviewer about is I don't find graininess or a "lack of grip" on the sound at higher volumes at the lower end.
2) I really do agree with the reviewer about the remote "festooned with buttons and a somewhat illogical layout" - even after four months of living with the X30 I still find myself struggling to locate the principal buttons I nedd - especially without my reading glasses.
3) I'm not bothered at all by the screen not being a touchscreen - but then I don't have an iPad or one of those click-swoopy-GUI phones.
4) Interesting to see the innards of the X30 - looks very tidy (almost as tidy as my old QUAD 33/303 - but then Peter Walker set very high standards).
Musiclascala . Jan 2014
Silver is definitely nicer.
Got my X30 delivered by cocktail audio uk or AV10 Ltd.
Was formatted in Linux & 4TB Database installed full new database.
Testing FW 0042 & Unit X30:
Sound quality is awesome direct and with an amp/dac too.
Like the KB shortcuts
Button for Art/text switch - can be done at any display mode
Create folder option, great for network
Balancing on volume & custom EQ
Copy and move function
Remote solid & chunky
Lyrics option good for a party or karaoke
HDMI display is good.
re-convert is simple at recordin hdd1
Linux file system
I have also kept my collection clean, well sorted & unique - (making use of the 'HELP' option on x10 and tag my collection very well)
So I didn't have any problems importing to the X30, recovery was smooth without any delays.
Prefer internet radio than FM, but it's good to have both.
Recordings are created in separate folders depending on the input type - very useful & clean.
Album art issue is fine & software seems stable & smooth too, I know my way around the X10, so X30 is easy for me, especially the tag matters, virtual pls & streaming, network etc.
I am not very fussy but hope they start adding the streaming services soon.
Regarding the software, no complaints - just click & play, stream, rip, connect, access - all straight forward.
My music will never give my problems, as X10/X30 response well to my collection.
Most of the problems users have with crushing & white screens are based on the data/music and how the ripping was done.
Off course the HDD could also be awkward.
It is all Garbage in, garbage out (GIGO)
Just realised that X10 also supports linux, so i reformatted my X10 HDD in X30 & exported some music onto my X10.
Overall = 4/5 (Awaiting updates for new services), as i said the unit is quite simple to operate as im used to X10.
RossMan . Nov 2013
I will be getting an X30, it is now on order. I have gone for the 2TB HDD version.
From my personal experience I can buy the X30 with HDD which I feel will give me improved quality of music from my similarly priced separates system (and possibly more expensive if my memory of the auditioned CD players is correct) with the added bonus that I don’t have to worry about adding in the cost of interconnects and being concerned with synergy issues. That, for me, is enough to justify the cost of this player. The internet radio and future streaming options just make this more of a bargain as far as I am concerned. It’s just a shame that I wasn’t aware of Cocktail Audio when I was looking for an upgrade earlier in the year. I might have held off to listen to this music player.
My audio journey started with a “music centre” in the 70s,I never thought that I would be returning to what is essentially the modern version after moving over to separates over 20 years ago but with sound quality this good I’d be mad not to.
Been using my X30, since it got delivered on Thurs/Fri by Av10 Cocktail auodio UK
1. Like the easy toggle from ART to text with a single button on the remote works in genre/album/artist.
2. Formatted a 4TB in Linux, takes some a while but not too long (10 minutes) - created the index node on the HDD (didn't chose NTFS)
3. Like the new input menu for the stream recording, folders are created depending on the input eg using phono or jack
4. Also like the folders created in browser to separate recordings eg FM or My recording.
5. You can MOVE or COPY to DB (Import to DB)
6. FM RDS not bad, not really into RDS prefer internet radio
7. Online streaming services only SIMFY (Called AV10 Ltd, they said it will be implemented via an update as they need to integrate API with X30 . )
8. SORT displays A-Z, Z-A or Original
9. HDMI display is clean on bigger screen
10. Like the APE format addon, will test others later.
11.Custom & preset Eq is good over 20+ presets i think.
12. HDD sleep control time & the option to turn OFF
13. Sound quality is awesome with high quality speakers or can be used with a Dac or an amplifier.
15. Playlist works fine "AD MY PL" & "MY PL" - work fine, no overwriting
16. Volume balancing button not bad.
Over all HDD caddy is ok, unit big buttons are smooth & SILVER (beautiful, not like pictures) looks way better than BLACK for sure!
Back connections are of good quality & a good buy for me.
Waiting for the update on DLNA, online streaming service.
Will be streaming bother my X10 & X30 with joy. will report more later.
Yousuf Ebrahim . Qatar
I am updating my rating above because CocktailAudio has released a new firmware update version R0042. After updating and testing my X30 for almost a week, all issues appear to be resolved. Now my X30 is working perfectly, no more hanging and FM radio is working great. The problem with my digital out audio also was resolved by changing my DAC to a newrer unit. I am realy happy and excited about this great gadget. It got everything that a music lover wants for listenning to all sources of music perfectly. Ron . March 2014
The cocktail Audio shows remarkable agility, with different features & effects as well as conversion & ripping speed.
I would have preferred to dump my collection without the need to ‘import’ for the .DB to understand.
However I could have used a network to also import directly too.
I suppose it's like itunes, where you import/link a directory & then the software scans to pick up the metadata.
The interface is a good standard but could easily confuse people the first time. especially the "BROWSER" (not showing the content of the ripped cds).
Overall it is a good purchase & support is great. AV10 showed me everything & more.
Nicely combines all features in a neat box
Sound quality is good with floor standing speakers.
Cheaper than others
Many options to achieve tasks
regular firmware updates
Keyboard shortcuts just like a remote.
HDMI & slide show
Ability to edit on the device as well as on a computer
Web remote & App support
Remote too many bits/buttons
Web-interface could be much better & lighter
Digital IN ports record function is not clear
Prefer a better database service or the option to choose
Could do better than RECIVA. what about other nicer radio & streaming services.
FM/RDS not stable (will stick to internet radio LOL)
152-178 Kingston Road
New Malden, Surrey KT3 3ST
Sales : +44 (0)208 942 7575
Tel: +44 (0)208 942 01 11
Secure online shopping - accepted payments:
Cocktail Audioв„ў is a Registered Trademark
Cocktail Audio X10 (500GB) review
It’s hard to argue with a long feature list, and that’s what the Cocktail Audio X10 has; it’s a mini-jack-of-all-trades.
You can play CDs or rip them to its 500GB hard drive (a 1TB version is available for £20 more), stream and copy files from networked devices and listen to internet radio, too.
Two USB inputs allow you to play and copy music to and from other devices, while there are 3.5mm input and outputs, an optical digital out and headphone connection. You can also add an optional wireless dongle or connect via Ethernet.A doddle to set up and useThe X10 is a compact, lightweight chunk of kit and looks smart enough. A bright colour (non-touchscreen) display offers quick access to the device’s key areas.
It’s simple, clear and easy to read, but the remote is less so, cramming in a wealth of buttons and text. It does the job, though.
Once hooked up, we could instantly see folders, files, track names and file formats on our XiVA musicm8 NAS drive, and a couple of button presses later they were on the X10. Flexible format supportApple Lossless, AAC, FLAC, MP3 and WAV files are supported for playback, as well as 24-bit high-resolution audio. You can rip tracks in a choice of formats and bitrates, too, with FLAC, MP3, OGG and WAV all on the menu, although it's worth noting that the X10 won't rip in Apple Lossless, but it will play any files in that format.
More after the break
The hard disk does make a fair amount of noise when ripping – we had our fingers in our ears for around four minutes for a whole album ripped as WAV files – and you can feel it vibrating throughout, which can’t be too good for sound quality.
Add a pair of £180 Dali Zensors (we didn’t think much of the budget, optional speakers) and a WAV file of Friendly Fires’ Hurting sounded clear, fast and reasonably detailed.
Bass notes were a little soft and treble notes sometimes took on a harsh edge, however – the best micro/dock systems about will sound better.
But then a regular micro or dock system won’t do anywhere as much as the X10. Incredibly versatile and convenient, and a doddle to use, it’s just a shame it’s not a little more able sonically.
Cocktail Audio X30 - £999
All-in-one systems may not be the usual route to hi-fi nirvana, but Lee Dunkley discovers a potent mix with the X30
With the world of audio moving towards streaming and downloads, we’re told that the desire for physical digital media (CDs) is falling rapidly. So, what to do with that sizeable CD collection and how best to migrate to streaming are regular questions being asked by music fans looking to move with the times to a less tangible music playback system. Enter Cocktail Audio’s X30.
The X30 is probably best described as a ‘music hub’ and brings together CD ripper, HD music server, network streaming, internet radio, FM radio receiver and amplification duties in a single hi-fi separates-sized box – a modern day version of the seventies music centre, if you like. However, unlike the X10 – its half-sized older sibling (reviewed, HFC 353) – the X30 is a full-size unit that measures a fairly standard 435mm wide. Nevertheless it is a remarkably compact and well-formed unit that is considerably less bulky than you might imagine given all the duties it performs. Available in a choice of black or silver finishes, it feels rather nicely put together and sports a well finished 8mm-thick aluminium front panel. There is a minimal amount of controls on the front face except for two rotary dials – one at either end – and four buttons for basic operation, meaning you can at least control the system without the need to use the remote. A disc-loading slot and a 5in screen are pretty much all that remain to catch the eye.
At first glance the LCD panel looks as though it is touch sensitive, and I instinctively go to prod one of the colourful icons to begin navigating the system. I’m not alone here and several family members attempt to operate the X30 in the same manner, but like me they quickly discover that finding your way around the X30’s menu is performed using the rotary control and four buttons beneath to scroll through the system options.
There is a large remote control supplied, but it is festooned with buttons and has a somewhat illogical layout that takes some familiarisation and an occasional thumb through the manual to get to grips with the numerous facilities before operation can become anything like second nature. Alternatively you can dispense with the cumbersome remote and front-panel screen by using one of the downloadable apps that’s freely available for tablet and smartphone devices to link the X30 to your networked music. Cocktail Audio recommends using Eyecon for Android and Kinsky for iOS devices. I also try Sitecom, which is just as easy to install and operate, and instantly sees my networked music for streaming as well as the contents of the ripped CDs in the X30’s music library. None of the apps are able to control the internal amplifier volume level, but Cocktail Audio says that a dedicated app offering full control of the X30 is planned in the future along with the inclusion of streaming services like Spotify.
Front panel connections run to a 6.35mm headphone jack, USB port and 3.5mm stereo input jack. Around the back you’ll find a RCA input and output, optical and coaxial digital inputs, and optical, coaxial and balanced AES/EBU XLR digital output connections – allowing users to upgrade the signal path to an external DAC or amplifier should they wish. Ethernet for wired network connectivity and two USB ports for memory stick or a wireless dongle – available as an optional extra – are also on hand. There’s no USB type-B input to link direct from your laptop, unlike on the X10 – see Q&A overleaf. Additionally there is an HDMI output to display menus on a TV screen, as well as an antenna input for FM radio reception while a pair of binding posts allow the X30 to drive a pair of speakers via the internal amplifier.
HDD storage options range from 500GB up to a considerable 4TB, and a customised draw at the back provides an easy expansion slot with support for 2.5in and 3.5in SATA HDDs or 2.5in SSDs – solid state drives – offering silent operation for those audiophiles that are put off by the X30’s low-level cooling fan whirr. It’s not a particularly intrusive noise, but it is good to have the option of a silent drive, and helps to bolster its hi-fi credentials.
The X30 version supplied for this test comes fitted with a 2TB HDD, which Cocktail Audio says is enough space to accommodate 5,200 CDs ripped in FLAC or up to 12,000 CDs ripped in MP3 format at 320kbps quality. A greater number of discs can be stored with increased compression levels, but I wouldn’t recommend going below 320kbps when ripping in MP3 quality.
Setting up the X30 is simple. I find the front panel controls and menu prompts to be intuitive enough to get through the initial installation and rip a selection of CDs without the help of the extensive instruction manual, and only require the remote control for its alphanumeric buttons when it comes to inputting the password to enable access to my home network.
The first icon on the left of the front panel display is Music DB, which contains the music library of ripped CDs contained on the hard drive. Pop a CD into the slot-loading mechanism and scroll to select the CD Play/Rip icon. With the track names on the screen sourced from the X30’s internal database, hit the menu button and select whether to rip all or only selected tracks. Discs can be ripped as WAV, FLAC, OGG or MP3 and are preset as the Audio Rip Format in the Setup menu.
Despite an overwhelming desire to transfer my entire CD collection onto the X30, I don’t have the days to spare that are necessary for such a massive undertaking. Not that it is anything less than an easy and speedy process – with the discs ripped for this test taking under five minutes each. CD artwork can be quickly downloaded too, and there are several alternative links to album cover databases should the correct artwork not be found in the first search.
There’s something rather satisfying about having a handful of discs loaded and organised in one central location. It’s almost a cathartic process going through the routine of ripping CD tracks, and the quality of the home-stored versions shows very promising results indeed.
With a pair of JBL Studio 270 floorstanders connected to the amplifier’s speaker outputs there’s barely any discernible difference between playback of the original CDs and the WAV or FLAC-ripped versions stored on the HDD. Music comes across in an effortless way, and the claimed 50W amplifier into 8ohms drives a pair of JBL floorstanders with surprising ease. The X30 perhaps doesn’t have the strongest grip at the floorstander’s bottom end, and a more powerful amp may help to tighten the slightly uncontrolled bass at higher volume levels, but it’s an enjoyable performance all the same.
Hanz Zimmer’s Like a Dog Chasing Cars is handled with remarkable dexterity, filling my medium-sized listening room with an enjoyable energy even if it’s not the last word in vice-like grip with this particular speaker partnership. Volume levels are respectable and push a decent amount of energy into the room, and it’s only as I crank the volume control up towards its upper limit that things begin to get uncomfortable with a more noticeable lack of control.
Trying out a MP3 recording at 320kbps immediately shows itself to be of noticeably inferior quality in audio terms with some considerable graininess on a rip of Radiohead’s Exit Music (For Film) demonstrating a lack of definition and a lesser sense of the track’s haunting sweep.
Radio quality is respectable over FM and the built-in tuner has decent sensitivity. Streamed radio broadcasts do a respectable job with the format, and the X30 manages to successfully mask the low data rates. A record facility places both FM and internet radio recordings in a folder on the HDD for playback later. There’s no discernible degradation in audio quality terms, and timer recordings can be made of your favourite radio programmes too.
A 10-band graphic equaliser is provided should you feel the desire to tailor the X30’s tonal output or compensate for any speaker or room deficiencies. There is even a handful of preset EQ settings to choose from – most of which sound truly ghastly.
The headphone jack on the front panel is a little on the noisy side, with some low-level background hum when hooking up a pair of headphones. It’s a slight glitch in the X30’s otherwise smoothly performing package, and headphone listeners should consider adding a dedicated amp for solo listening.
The X30 is a flexible one-box solution. There are some operational glitches and idiosyncrasies that will no doubt be tackled in later firmware updates, and a dedicated remote interface is planned for iDevices. It plays hi-res music files up to 24/192kHz from a network and has plentiful storage options, making the X30 one of the most versatile hubs around.
LIKE: Capacious storage options; flexibility; musically engaging
DISLIKE: Clunky interface; poor remote; needs time to master
WE SAY: Impressive storage, ripping and networking, but let down by interface
PRODUCT Cocktail Audio X30
TYPE 2TB music server system
DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 435 x 99 x 325mm
• Storage: 2TB (256GB, 500GB, 1TB, 4TB options)
• Formats: FLAC, MP3, WAV, OGG
• Display: 5in TFT LCD panel
• 50W quoted power output
DISTRIBUTOR Sygnifi Ltd
TELEPHONE 01732 765157
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Cocktail audio x30 test
Premium DSD DXD Audio DAC featuring native DSD file direct playback,
Music Server with database, CD Ripper, Network Streamer
• Playback of DSD64 (2.8224MHz), DSD128 (5.6448MHz), DXD (24bit/352.8KHz), PCM signal up to 32bit/384KHz including
24bit/192KHz WAV/FLAC and full range of hi-res audio file formats
• ES9018K2M Sabre³² Reference DAC built-in
• XMOS 32Bit/500MIPS digital signal processing unit
• Phono INPUT (Moving Magnet) for turntable
• Load your vinyl and cassette tape collections to the X40 in 192kHz sample rate
• Music Streaming Services like Qobuz, Simfy and Internet Radio.
• UPnP Media Server & Renderer for streaming playback and control remotely via network.
• 5 inch full color TFT LCD for intuitive GUI
• HDMI Out connector for using an external screen like TV as its GUI screen
• Supports up to 3.5" SATA hard disk 4TB, 2.5" hard disk and SSD
• Toroidal transformer minimizing idle noise
• FM Radio Tuner built-in
• Recording with hi-res 24bit/192KHz sample rate
• Provides the customized Web Interface(WebUI) for remote control and MusicDB management
• Works with various free apps available at app stores
• Rugged chassis construction with 12mm thickness aluminum front
• Versatile software functionalities
Store DSD files in the X40 storage and just play it with the X40 directly.
The power supply features toroidal transformer minimazing idle noise.
The high quality analog out terminal guarantees lossless singal transmission.
Enjoy ultra high quality sound via Analog Out and Headphone Out of the X40
· Unbalanced RCA, L/R, Pre-Out, Dynamic Range: -120dB THD+N (Max 2Vrms, Stereo), 127dB DNR
· Balanced AES/EBU XLR, L/R, Pre-Out, Dynamic Range:-120dB THD+N (Max 4.5Vrms, Stereo), 127dB DNR
in Hi-Res digital audio file
Load your vinyl and cassette tape collections to the X40 in 192KHz
sample rate and even edit them after recording
Connect turntable to the X40 Phono IN directly to play or record. Load your vinyl collections to the X40 in 192KHz, 96KHz or 48KHz sample rate and even edit them after recording
external screen as GUI screen
Connect to your TV to view bigger GUI or a slideshow of photos while listening to your tracks
Connect external big screen through HDMI out
Front panel is based on 12mm thickness aluminum by CNC cutting. Volume knob and button are all aluminum by CNC cutting
Cocktail audio x30 test
It’s a revolutionary HiFi component, and all-in-one smart HD Music Server/Network Streamer/CD Storage (Ripper)/powerful Amplifier:
в—Џ Equipped with a 700MHz MIPS host CPU (Processor)
в—Џ Burr-Brown PCM1792a DAC(digital-to-analogue converter) chip
в—Џ Powerful TI stereo digital amplifier
в—Џ Isolated power source circuit design for digital parts and analogue parts
в—Џ High speed optical disk drive for quick ripping
в—Џ 5 inch full colour screen for intuitive graphical user interface
в—Џ FM radio tuner
в—Џ Internet Radio and online music service like Simfy(it depends on country)
в—Џ Recording with max 192Khz sampling rate
● Max capacity storage installation for 3.5” & 2.5” SATA hard disk and SSD
в—Џ Versatile network solution for 24bit/192Khz hi-res streaming playback and file management
в—Џ Customized Web Interface and free UPnP apps for remote controlling
в—Џ Rugged chassis construction with 8mm thick aluminium front with a metal chassis
в—Џ Various software functionalities
в—Џ Hi-resolution 24bit/192Khz network streaming playback
в—Џ File management (copy, delete, rename, importing or exporting etc) between X30 storage and NAS or PC.
в—Џ Remote control with mobile devices like smartphones (iPhone or Android phone), iPad and tablet PC.
в—Џ Remote control and Music DB editing with the customised Web UI.
Cocktail Audio X40 HiFi Music Streamer and CD Ripper
Network Player, CD Ripper with DSD/DXD Support and Built-in Phono Preamp
If you thought that Cocktail Audio’s X30 gave you the whole cocktail of audio entertainment, wait until you take a taste of the X40’s features. The X40 is a revolutionary hi-fi component consisting of an all-in-one smart HD music server, network streamer, CD ripper, and more. It comes with 4GB of built-in memory, and you can add your own internal hard drive for other storage options.
The X40 also provides a built-in ES9018K2M Sabre32 Reference DAC with support for high-resolution DSD/DXD files, a MM moving magnet phono stage, and even an FM radio tuner. Unlike the X30, it does not include an onboard integrated amplifier section, which makes it the ideal source component for audiophiles to connect into their existing power amp, receiver, or powered speakers. Easy-peasy!
High-quality Audio Performance
The X40 offers 32-bit, 384 kHz resolution using an extremely powerful ES9018K2M Sabre32 Reference DAC with XMOS 32Bit/500MIPS Digital Signal Processor. It the X40 supports a wide range of digital file formats. It plays DSD64 (2.8224MHz), DSD128 (5.6448MHz), DXD (24Bit/352.8KHz), up to 32Bit/384KHz PCM signal including HD FLAC (24Bit/192KHz), HD WAV (24Bit/192KHz), APE/CUE, WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, AIF, AAC, M4A, MP3, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, PCM, M3U, PLS, and more.
The CA X40 can play back multiple tracks with no gap between them. This is a useful function for fans of operatic or classical music, which is composed of multiple tracks.
The CA X40 includes a recording function for analog sources via its line-in RCA input and MM moving magnet phono input. The built-in phono preamp sounds great and allow you to record your LPs at 192 kHz, 96 kHz or 48 kHz sample rates and even edit them after recording. Using the RCA analog inputs, you can record other analog material such as your favorite cassette tapes up to 24-bit/192 kHz sound quality.
High-speed Optical Drive for Ripping CDs
For fast CD ripping, the CA X40 uses a front-loading optical disc drive (ODD) with 24x high speed. It can rip a CD with a 60-minute playing time CD in less than 10 minutes. Once it's done ripping, the X40 will catalog your CD collection by album, artist, genre, and year, and will also store all ripped CDs into the music database. The X40 provides various encoding options for ripping. Choose FLAC, ALAC, WAV, MP3 or Ogg.
Balanced and Unbalanced Analog Pre-Outs
In addition to its digital connections, the X40 gives you high quality analog pre-outs for playback through your AV gear. The unbalanced RCA outputs offer a dynamic range of -120 dB and THD+N (Max 2Vrms, Stereo) of 127 dB DNR. The balanced AES/EBU XLR outputs provide a dynamic range of -120 dB and THD+N (Max 4.5Vrms, Stereo) of 127 dB DNR.
For an intimate listening experience, the high quality headphone out with 1/4” jack provides 500mW+500mW at 1KHz, 32 ohm, 0.1% THD.
Multiple Digital Inputs and Outputs
The CA X40 offers a variety of digital audio inputs and outputs for connection to other audio devices. The three digital outputs consist of Toslink optical, coaxial, and AES/EBU XLR, which support up to 24-bit/192 kHz. This means the X40 can be used as an audio server and source device if you wish to use an existing external amplifier and/or DAC. The dual digital inputs (Toslink optical and coaxial) mean the CA X40 can be used as a DAC with other digital audio sources. It also has three USB Host ports for use with external drives.
Connect to Your Network
The CA X40 features GigaFast Ethernet LAN for a wired network connection and USB host ports (one on the front, two on the rear) for the optional 801.11b/g/n WiFi USB dongle or other external USB devices.
A built-in Web Interface (Web UI) for various web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari allows the management and controlling of the music collection on the X40, such as adding album covers, creating playlists, playing internet radio, editing metadata, displaying the collection, and much more.
Using the Ethernet connection or the optional WiFi dongle allows you to connect the CA X40 to your home network to access tens of thousands of internet radio stations (Reciva). Online music streaming services like Spotify and Rhapsody will be added at a later date.
Intuitive Front Panel Controls and LCD Screen
Intuitive front panel controls provide quick access to basic functions such as power, volume/mute, OK/Pause/Scroll, and four menu keys for the GUI of the full-color 5" LCD screen. The input selector key allows you to seamlessly switch between input devices and also features a mute mode that can be toggled at the push of the volume knob.
Using its HDMI output, you can use an external big screen, such as a monitor or TV, as its GUI screen. You can also view a photo slideshow while you're listening to music. The CA X40 supports various picture file formats like JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF and BMP.
App for iOS and Android
With the help of a free app, you can control the CA X40 using a smartphone or tablet PC. Cocktail Audio recommends ‘Eyecon’ for Android and ‘Sitecom media controller' for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod).
Add Your Own Hard Drive for Digital File Storage
For storing digital music files, the CA X30 supports a 3.5” SATA hard disk or a 2.5” SATA hard disk or solid state drive (SSD) as storage. A customized storage drive bay drawer allows quick and easy installation. If you install an SSD as storage, the X40 will offer noiseless operation, as it has no cooling fan.
Currently, the CA X40 supports up to 4TB with a 3.5" hard disk, up to 4TB with a 2.5" hard disk and up to 4TB of SSD.
Rugged and Durable Casework
The CA X40 front panel is 8mm thick aluminum with CNC cutting and metal chassis. The die-cast aluminum feet provide rigidity along with additional resistance from external vibrations.
Overview
- Versatile network solution for hi-res streaming playback and file management
- Playback of DSD64 (2.8224MHz), DSD128 (5.6448MHz), DXD (24Bit/352.8KHz), up to 32Bit/384KHz PCM signal including HD FLAC (24Bit/192KHz), HD WAV (24Bit/192KHz), APE/CUE, WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, AIF, AAC, M4A, MP3, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, PCM, M3U, PLS
- 24-bit/192 kHz WAV/FLAC and full range of hi-res audio file formats
- ES9018K2M Sabre32 Reference DAC built-in
- XMOS 32Bit/500MIPS digital signal processing unit
- High-speed optical disk drive for quick CD ripping
- Phono INPUT (Moving Magnet) for turntable
- Load your vinyl and cassette tape collections to the X40 in 192kHz sample rate
- Music Streaming Services like Qobuz, Simfy and Internet Radio.
- UPnP Media Server & Renderer for streaming playback and control remotely via network.
- 5 inch full color TFT LCD for intuitive GUI
- HDMI Out connector for using an external screen like TV as its GUI screen
- Supports up to 3.5" SATA hard disk 4TB, 2.5" hard disk and SSD
- Toroidal transformer minimizing idle noise
- FM Radio Tuner built-in
- Recording with hi-res 24bit/192KHz sample rate
- Provides the customized Web Interface (WebUI) for remote control and MusicDB management
- Works with various free apps available at app stores
- Rugged chassis construction with 12mm thickness aluminum front
- Versatile software functionalities
- Embedded: 700Mhz MIPS
- Main Memory: (4Gbit, DDR2 800Mhz)
- Type: Front Loading
- Supported media: CD, CD-DA, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R/RW
- 5" TFT LCD(800x480 pixel) on the front
- External screen like TV may connected through HDMI connector
- Remote Control
- Customized Web Interface (Web UI) for Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari
- Free UPnP app available in app store or market for iOS and Android
- Balanced Line Out x 1: L & R XLR
- Unbalanced Line Out x 1: L & R RCA
- Headphone Out: 6.35mm jack on the front
- Line In x 1: L & R RCA
- Aux In x 1: 3.5mm Phone Jack on the front
- Toslink Out x 1: Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Coaxial Out x 1: Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- AES/EBU XLR Out x 1: Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Toslink In x 1: Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Coaxial In x 1: Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- MM phono input
- HDMI out (video only) x 1: for GUI or for photo slide shows
- 3 x USB host ports
- Wired: Giga Fast Ethernet(10/100/1000Mbps) LAN
- Wireless (optional): 801.11b/g/n WiFi using optional USB dongle
- Audio Power Supply: Toroidal transformer, 75W
- Removable storage tray drawer is provided for adding optional HD storage
- Hard disk, 2.5” SATA, up to 4TB
- Hard disk, 3.5” SATA, up to 4TB
- SD, 2.5” SATA, up to 4TB
Analog Connections
- Line Out (L & R RCA): Dynamic Range : 127 dB(2 V rms, Stereo) THD+N : 0.0004%
- Line Out (L & R XLR): Dynamic Range : -120dB THD+N (Max 4.5Vrms, Stereo), 127dB DNR
- Headphone Out: 500mW+500mW@1Khz, 32 ohm, 0.1% THD
- Line In x 1: 2V rms
- Aux In x 1: 800mV rms
- MM phono in: 7.5mV sensitivity
- Toslink Out x 1: Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Coaxial Out x 1: SPDIF 75 ohm RCA, Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- AES/EBU XLR Out x 1: 110 ohm, Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Toslink In x 1: Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Coaxial In x 1: Sample Rate up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Dimensions (without feet): 17.1" wide, 12.8" deep, 3.5" high
- Dimensions (with feet): 17.1" wide, 12.8" deep, 3.9" high
Does everything I needed and more: streaming, ripping, storing, etc. Backup is simple as is downloading artwork. Sound is excellent. The only negatives are no built-in bluetooth, the remote is poorly laid out, and smartphone app isn't here yet --they say soon.
For what this little gem can do. there isnt anything out there you can compare it to until you triple the price. I find that the Sabre DAC is the star here as it does bring the sound up to audiophile quality. Silky smooth and detailed while never appearing forward or etched. Although it had some minor bugs, the firmware update addressed most of them, The learning curve is quick and easy while the feature set is top notch. Spotify was added recently to services which was a needed boost. Tidal anyone? It may not be the best, but it is the best at this price level. Listen and see for yourself. Highly recommended. Enjoy.
This is a great piece of technology that offers tremendous versatility, good sound quality, at a decent price point. On it, I have ripped some 700 titles from my collections of Vinyl, CDs, and SACDs, and am very pleased with the how easy it is to use, as well as its sound quality. There were three other piece of gear I considered before deciding on the x40. The Sooloos Music Server System, NAD M50 with M52 vault, and Sony HAPZ1ES. All of these are easy to run and sound great, but with an extensive record collection containing many titles that are not available on CD. The x40s ability to rip vinyl directly to it, is what sold me. The second consideration was space in my rack is limited, so trying to place a two piece solutions would have been too much a hassle. I was looking for a one box solution that could do it all, and with x40 I got it. Sound quality of the x40 is very similar to HAPZ1ES and M50, its presentation is not as crisp and punchy as these two, but very accurate and velvety smooth, with not a trace of grain or tininess. It especially excels at intimate acoustic and vocal recordings. giving them a depth and richness that is wonderful to listen to. Nonetheless, I make no allusions, it is not capable of the same degrees of inner detail, separation, nor slam that an Ultra-High End Digital Player is capable of. Bass from it is tight and has weight, but it just does not deliver the same amount of punch that my Compact Digital Player is capable of. That being said, the x40 is less than half the CDPs price. So obviously, my comparisons here are far from scientific and in a true double blind listening test, I wonder if I would really be able to pick out the x40 from my CDP. So take my nitpicking with a grain of salt. There are some considerations about the x40 I do feel worth mentioning. The first being. unlike, the other products mentioned here, with x40 you have to purchase a hard drive and install the music DB software yourself. This is not hard to do. However finding a suitable drive that works well with it took some experimentation. Even the highest end platter drives. are noisy, vibrate like hell, and generate lots of heat. Thus the ideal choice is a Solid State one, right? However, there is no ability to run a 3rd party trim command with the x40; Which you need to do frequently in order to maintain a SSDs performance, so I had concerns about a $500.00 plus SSD turning into a dog. Thus I installed a number of different platter drives, Which as mention earlier, either ran too hot, or too noisy I finally settled on a hard drive that is specifically designed for Digital Video Recording/Surveillance Systems. For about $150.00, I wound up with a drive that has large storage capacity, low vibration/noise, and designed to run in an environment like the x40s. where there is no internal cooling. The one I settled on works wonderfully, with no noticeable lag, and plus more storage than what is currently available on a SSD. The last concern, is the x40s entry into the US is new, so out of the box it is more compatible with services that are based in the Europe. Currenly, there is no access to Spotify or other US based streaming services. That is supposed to change with some future firmware update, but with no date announced on the factory website, who knows when that will be?
Cocktail Audio X30 review
The Cocktail Audio X30 is a great idea: a high-res streamer, server, CD player and digital amplifier all wrapped up in one box.
It can also stream songs from your smartphone or tablet, play internet and FM radio, and record tunes at the press of a button. Just add speakers.
Ripping CDs
Cocktail Audio X30
The first thing you’re going to do with the Cocktail Audio (after turning it on and admiring that bright blue cocktail logo on the display screen) is rip all your CDs.
The X30’s main aim is to store your CD collection in one place, and it does so seamlessly. Ripping a CD is fast and quiet (unlike on the smaller X10), plus you can listen to stored music while ripping.
You can also select individual tracks to rip, instead of the entire CD, rename tracks and create playlists. It's swift and easy to customise each album or track with the bulky but useful remote control at hand.
You’ll also need to be connected to the internet to get all the metadata on a CD, so make sure the X30 is always online.
It’s worth noting that you can’t play the CD itself while ripping it, and you can’t change tracks or start playing a track (if you aren’t already) when in the ripping status screen.
You can’t return to the menus, either, but you can at least change the volume. It’s an irritation, but you can solve the problem by having an album or playlist queued up when ripping CDs in bulk.
Cocktail Audio X30
Connect the X30 to your home network, via either wired ethernet or the supplied wireless dongle, and the X30 turns into a streaming machine.
If you already have music files stored on a NAS device you’re in luck. The X30 will stream from connected NAS devices (via the Browser folder), as well as from any other DLNA-compatible smartphone or tablet.
It sounds like a wonderfully versatile system (and it is), but it’s tricky to actually get streaming. There’s no dedicated app, so Cocktail Audio suggests a variety of generic third-party apps, none of which worked well enough for us.
It requires much patience and many false starts, and can be a frustrating experience.
We hope Cocktail Audio develops its own app, but in the meantime, we’re sticking with hard-wiring our smart devices to the unit’s 3.5mm input for convenience.
The network connection is also crucial for streaming the X30’s internet radio service, which offers a multitude of stations you can scroll through according to country or genre.
Sound quality takes a predictable dip in quality compared with ripped CD tracks, but it retains the same tonal characteristics.
Format support
Cocktail Audio X30
The Cocktail Audio X30 supports most popular audio formats, from compressed MP3s to high-resolution WAV and FLAC files up to 24-bit/192kHz. Other formats include AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WMA; DSD support is still pending.
Also, before you start ripping CDs, you can choose the type and quality of file you want them stored as, as well as the bitrate for the MP3s and also a ripping speed.
A rule of thumb, fast ripping speed equals lower-quality resolution. Since the X30 is pretty swift at ripping CDs no matter what the speed set, we’d always aim for the highest quality setting with WAV.
We wouldn’t compress files into MP3s, as not only does the audio quality suffer, but the X30’s storage options are large enough anyway to store hundreds of CDs.
From a 500GB to 2TB hard drive, or up to a 500GB solid-state drive, there’s a huge amount of storage on offer.
Our review sample’s 2TB hard drive can reportedly store around 2600 CDs, or 5200 FLAC files, or 20,000 MP3 files in 320k. That’s a lot.
More after the break
Recording feature and user interface
Cocktail Audio X30
One nifty feature of the X30 that’s rarely seen on other streamers or servers is the recording feature.
You can record from internet radio, your smartphone-stored tracks and even from your vinyl records to fully digitise your entire collection.
It records instantly at the press of a button on the remote, and is automatically saved in the Browser menu.
With all its features and options, the Cocktail Audio X30 could easily be the most convoluted and frustrating piece of equipment to operate.
But we were relieved and surprised to find that it is fairly straightforward – after a quick perusal of the manual, of course.
The menus and controls are responsive and easy to navigate, with only minor hiccups such as lag in operation.
We like the large 5in colour interface on the front panel. While it’s not as sophisticated as some, the display is nevertheless easy to read from a distance.
It’s not a particularly high-res screen (800 x 480 pixels) but the writing and artwork are displayed clearly.
The remote control is a big and bulky affair that has a button for nearly every feature of the X30. Instead of fiddling with the control knob and buttons on the front panel, the remote lets you rip CDs or record songs with a single button press.
It may look dated, but it gets the job done.
Cocktail Audio X30
The X30 houses a 50W per channel amplifier under its sturdy metal chassis, with a decent spread of digital and analogue connections.
The coaxial and digital connections (input and output) all support files up to 24-bit/192kHz, as does the AES/EBU output.
A pair of line-level outputs is available if you want to connect an existing amplifier to the streamer, while three USB ports (two at the back, one in front) are there for playing high-resolution files or for attaching the included wireless dongle.
Speaker terminals, line-level inputs, an FM radio tuner (the antenna is included), and an ethernet port can also be found on the back panel.
On the front panel, there’s a 3.5mm input for hard-wiring your smart device, and a 6.3mm headphone port.
Cocktail Audio X30
Now that all the features are dealt with, it’s time to tackle the Cocktail Audio X30’s most crucial function: sound.
And this is where its major flaw is exposed because, despite all its fancy features, the X30 isn’t really that interesting a listen.
There’s nothing unpleasant about the sound by any means – a decent amount of detail, punch and the ability to go loud is all on the cards here.
But there’s no real engagement beyond the surface detail; the X30 doesn’t seem able to dig out the subtleties of a song, and is content to deliver a superficial summary.
There’s impact and decent clarity, but the dynamics aren’t fluid, and the overall sound is rather one-dimensional.
Cocktail Audio X30
The Dead Weather’s intricately arranged 60 Feet Tall sounds flat and emotionless, with no build-up of tension in this brooding song. The X30 doesn’t time particularly well, either.
Eminem’s The Way I Am has a good amount of bite and attack, but we’d like a touch more precision and agility to get the full impact of that punchy rhythm.
High-res performance
High-res files have a touch more detail and openness to them. You can hear the rough edges of Lorde’s vocals on Royals (on a 24-bit/48kHz file), but there’s still a lack of dynamic subtlety to the track.
You’ll also need to turn up the volume quite high to get any real sense of punch and excitement.
If this review were based on the X30’s features set alone, then it would get a solid four stars.
Despite some operational hiccups, the sheer versatility of the X30 is impressive and clearly its biggest attraction.
Nothing else we’ve reviewed so far has come close to the combination of amp, streamer and server here offered by Cocktail Audio.
We’d be worried, though, about recommending this as your sole music system, as it simply doesn’t sound good enough. You’d be buying the X30 for its features, not for its sound quality
And for £1000, we could easily point you in the direction of far more exciting, involving and interesting hi-fi set ups.
Media Server Reviews
Cocktail Audio X30
Input: Ethernet, 1x Coax S/PDIF, 1x Toslink, analog RCA, analog 3.5mm, 3x USB for USSB storage, WiFI through optional USB dongle
Output: analog RCA line out, 1x Coax S/PDIF, AES/EBU, HDMI (video only), 2 pair speaker binding posts, 6.35mm headphone out
Dimensions: 435mm(W) x 325mm(D) x 98.5mm(H)
Availability: Online and through Authorized Dealers
Cocktail Audio is, to the best of my knowledge, a division of Novatron a Korean company specializing in the manufacture of "Multimedia Devices". I first came across the Cocktail Audio X30 at CES 2014 and I was intrigued by its all in oneness. The X30 incorporates a 50W digital amp, DAC, server, UPnP network player, and CD ripper all in one package. Just add speakers.
The computer inside the X30 sports an embedded 700Mhz MIPS processor, 4Gbit/DDR2/800Mhz Main Memory, and 4Gbit of Firmware Memory. The disk drive is a high speed optical disk drive capable of ripping an hour-long CD's worth of music in less than 10 minutes according to Cocktail Audio. The DAC and 50W digital amp are both from Texas Instruments, the former being the fairly ubiquitous Burr Brown TI PCM1792a capable of handling up to 24/192 data. The X30 supports APE/CUE, HD FLAC, HD WAV, MP3, FLAC, WAV, WMA, M4A, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, AIF, Ogg Vorbis, PCM, PLS, M3U, etc. file formats as well as gapless playback and Playlists. Internet Radio is provided via the free Reciva i-Radio service and the X30 also supports the Simfy streaming service. Additional streaming services are planned for the future.
The X30 can accept a single 2.5” SATA (up to 1TB), 3.5” SATA (up to 4TB), or SSD (2.5” SATA, up to 500GB) and buyers can opt to roll their own. The review unit came preloaded with a 500GB Seagate drive as well as boatload of music. Installation is simple and accomplished through a rear-mounted removable storage tray. Literally plug in and play. Also around back are most of the inputs and outputs as well as input for an FM antennae and IEC inlet for the included removable power cord.
The front of the X30 sports a nice big 5" TFT LCD (800x480 pixel), volume control, function control knob, four function buttons, headphone input, a single USB input, a 3.5mm analog input, and the slot load CD drive. The font panel consists of an 8mm thick slab of aluminum while the rest of body is your basic metal. That front panel comes in your choice of silver or black.
There's also an included remote which allows for a dizzying array of functions. Cocktail Audio also recommends ‘Eyecon’ for Android and ‘Sitecom media controller' for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod) for remote control which allows playback of internally stored media. I preferred the Creation 5 Pro app or Linn's Kinsky player since they allowed me to play back from both internal storage and my NAS.
You can rip your CDs to a number of formats including MP3 (yuck), Ogg, WAV (default), FLAC, and ALAC. I chose WAV and ripped a CD, Don Cherry's Art Deco (55:44) which took all of 9 minutes. You can elect to install the FreeDB database for metadata on your internal drive through the included CD or let the X30 use the internet-based service which obviously requires a network connection. There's a simple backup program included for backing up your internal storage to an external USB drive. Nice.
Playing back files from my NAS was simply a matter of going to the "Browser" menu on the font display using the function control knob, then selecting UPnP, and then my NAS. My NAS-based music library appeared pretty much immediately and played without a problem. Nice. Playing back music from internal storage was simply a matter of going to the "Music DB" menu and browsing away. There are three views for the TFT display when playing music; Cover and (Track) List (default), Music Info which show just the album info, and List Only which displays just the tracks. You can also scroll through these views by hitting the "Info" button on the remote.
There's also a built-in equalizer with various presets including Normal, Classical, Club, Concert Hall, Dance, Live, Party, and many more and you can also create your own eq. I went with Normal. The X30 is really chock full of features including the ability to record from Internet radio, set the recoding sample rate, play a CD directly without ripping, a Dynamic Range Compression Mode (default is "On" I turned it "Off"), and much more. For anyone interested in the full story, check out the X30 Manual.
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
The Cocktail Audio X30 falls on the slightly dark and relaxed side of the sonic coin, similar to the recently reviewed Pro-Ject Stream Box RS (see review). You could point to the fact that they both employ the TI Burr-Brown PCM1792a DAC and I wouldn't argue the point but let's keep in mind we're also listening to a 50W integrated digital amp with the X30 as well. The amp drove my DeVore The Nines with no problem.
To reach further into that relaxed descriptor, I'm really talking about a sense of resolution and dynamics both of which I've heard better reproduced with other combinations albeit more costly than the X30 since they include my Pass INT-30A ($7,150). But even pairing the Pass with the relatively inexpensive iFi micro iDSD DAC ($499) delivers more resolution and greater dynamic slam. In comparison, the X30 sounds, well, more relaxed. Tone colors are also shelved down a bit from other combo's including the Pass/iFi but there's a nice sense of differentiation nonetheless. Bass response is a tad loose but hefty enough to deliver. There's certainly no sense of glare in the upper frequencies and if anything the overall sonic picture seems to be weighted toward the midrange.
The recently reviewed Sony UDA-1 integrated amp/DAC (see review) offered a more exciting sound but of course you're not getting a lot of the functionality of the X30 with the Sony including the network player/server piece, which is a big piece for those looking for an all-in-one piece of kit. But the Sony lit things up, upping the ante in terms of both dynamics and resolution.
I heard no sonic difference with the X30 playing music from internal storage or NAS to speak of and both methods were a breeze to navigate with Creation 5 and in a pinch through the front controls of the X30. The screen is a nice size, nearly readable from my listening seat. The included remote came in handy mainly for adjusting volume. Internet radio sounded its usual self, a bit muted, compressed, and gray but just fine for casual listening and music discovery.
Using the NAD VISO HP50 headphones, I took the X30's 'phone jack for spin and was pleased with what I heard. The relaxed quality I've been talking about did not seem to travel to the headphone output and music sounded resolute, relatively rich and full.
If you're looking for an integrated amp, network player, music server, and DAC all in one box the Cocktail Audio X30 delivers a goodly amount of what you'd expect from such a device. While I've heard better sonic performance from more costly separates and less well endowed players in terms of features, the X30 errs on the side of what I consider to be an easy to listen to sound.
Also on hand and in use during the X30 review: Pro-Ject Stream Box RS, iFi micro iDSD, Sony UDA-1
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I've been interested in the Sony HAP Z1ES but I don't like how Sony 'colonizes' the external drive and forces the user to use their proprietary software to move the music onto the internal drive. I love the fact that the owner of this unit can install their own drive. Seems like Sony could take some lessons here.
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as a budding 'young' audiophile who is looking for an all-in-one device like this, should I really consider this unit. It seems like more of a general-consumer level product, which is fine and it has great functionality. But will it scratch my audiophile itch? I suspect it really won't.
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I actually really like this all in one approach from a transport perspective. I could do without the Dac and amp honestly but as someone who is looking to ditch their laptop from the chain, this is a pretty attractive transport solution with ripping storage and playback all rolled into one.
I think the value in their lineup is in their X12 model which includes ripping, storage, streaming and playback but is less than half the price at $699. Dual drive storage for RAID support and It also has a converter and 60 watt speaker taps and it has a touch screen. It strikes me as a Squeezebox Touch with ripping and built in storage. The DAC and amp are nice to have in a pinch but still probably bypass those and use it exclusively as a ripper/ transport.
I know this is a long forgotten review but I'd be curious to know if you did any listening with the X30 from its digital outs as transport? Was it the source feeding your ifi iDSD or was the iDSD tethered to another source? Sorry for the review necromancy
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