Melco S100 Data Switch

Improved Sound Quality

In developing the new S100, Melco was able to draw on the design team expertise of (giant) parent company Buffalo Technology to create a complete audiophile data switch solution. The resulting S100 has been designed to not only complement Melco’s digital music libraries, but also to offer a clear and easy upgrade path for any systems using Ethernet for audio, especially those using Roon devices and streaming services such as TIDAL and Qobuz. The S100 features advanced architecture, unlike any other data switch. It features an audio-specific mainboard with a 1.5MB packet buffer, a powerful processor, plus an audio-grade capacitor bank. Its low-noise design, coupled with highly precise data-handling, gives the S100 uncompromising sound quality when used with Ethernet audio devices. The S100’s internal packet-traffic settings have been optimised for use with IT NAS drives, IT routers (for streaming services), Roon Core processor devices, Roon Bridges, and, of course, Melco’s N1, N10, N100 digital music libraries. The S100 features the same vibration-isolating aluminium-chassis construction and form factor as seen in Melco’s N10 series.

S100 background

Digital music relies on perfectly timed data in a low-noise environment. Therefore, the limitation for sound quality on an Ethernet network is the network itself, plus the components used. Standard IT parts are designed to be low cost and effective for PC data and gaming etc. ─ they are simply inadequate for high-quality digital music. High-end managed enterprise switches can, with some expert knowledge, be optimised for audio data, but even with the addition of separate power supplies, there are serious limitations. Melco’s S100 has been designed and manufactured purely for audio by an expert engineering team, led by Mr. Hayashi. Alan Ainslie, Melco Audio’s General Manager said, “With the acclaimed Melco N1 series, we eliminated the data switch from the data path (server to player) and lifted sound quality hugely. But it was still clear that the rest of the network was having an effect. It was, perhaps, less obvious on lesser systems, but as soon as we fixed everything else, it remained a nagging problem. “Work started to analyse exactly what was going on and the resulting S100 resolves those final nagging sound quality issues. Crucially, while the S100 is clearly befit for Melco owners who use the PLAYER Ethernet port, the difference an S100 can bring to non-Melco systems is quite surprising, especially for the heavy traffic created in a Roon environment, as well as for streaming services such as TIDAL and Qobuz, where the data has been seriously compromised on its journey from the distant servers into the user’s home. The S100 restores the magic of the source stream as no IT device can possibly do.’’

Technical

Digital Music relies on perfectly timed data in a low noise environment to achieve maximum performance. The limitation to the ultimate sound quality of digital music on an Ethernet network is the network itself and the components used. IT components are low cost commodity items and are effective for PC data and gaming etc. But they are simply inadequate for high quality digital music. One critical component is all digital music systems is the dataswitch which handles both the music data and control. The Melco S100 is designed and configured as an audiophile component without any IT compromises..

S100 Technology

The Melco S100 is quite an unusual architecture compared to an IT dataswitch. There are four 100Mb RJ45 ports – these provide the best audio quality. There are four 1Gb ports – these are ideal for PC connectivity, and are ideal for the Roon Core processor which generates high traffic flow. Two additional SFP ports allow for connection of optical fibre for components such as Lumin that support it. Key to creating a stable and resilient data stream for extreme Hi-Res streaming is the Packet Buffer and S100 has 1.5MB of buffer capability to deal with erratic external connectivity. Audiophile techniques are used in the power supply implementation with a bank of audio-grade capacitors to ensure the lowest noise environment. Mechanical stability contributes to system performance and the S100 is built on a rigid steel chassis with total screening provided by the totally metal enclosure which matches Melco Audiophile NAS components. Power supplies are external to the S100 giving good isolation and allowing for future upgrade to external linear power supplies.

Network Digital Music Players – Streamers.

The Ethernet network is the signal connectivity to every network Player or Streamer from the data-store or NAS. Similarly Streaming Services such as TIDAL and Qobuz originate in remote servers and connect to the network Player through the dataswitch. Any damage to packet data, timing, packet order, noise, or intrusive data, damages the overall musical performance. IT switches are optimised for speed and throughput – not data integrity. Melco S100, using the 100Mb ports achieves the best possible performance from every brand of network Player or Streamer regardless of the source.

Computer Audio

Computers used for playing Audio all connect to the network for access to servers or streaming services. This connectivity is not optimised for sound quality and Melco S100 removes this restriction to performance allowing the full benefit of optimised player software and other tweaks to be enjoyed.

ROON

Roon systems have both music storage and the Roon Core connected to the network which can generate a lot of traffic. The Melco S100 has both ports optimised for sound quality, as well as ports optimised for both sound quality and throughput. This creates an ideal Roon infrastructure without any compromise

Lumin

Lumin high performance network players offer the opportunity to isolate the player from the network using fibre Optic SFP connectors. Melco S100 is equipped as standard with two SFP/LC connectors to allow the full befits to be enjoyed

Melco N1, N10 and N100

Melco owners have long realised the benefits of using Melco NAS without any network connection at all – but this is often not practical. Now with the S100 all Melco users can enjoy the benefits of a permanent network connection – access to streaming services, internet radio and other networked sources – without any sound quality compromises.

Melco S100 Specifications

Connectivity

Ports

• 4 x 100Mb/E RJ45
• 4 x 1000Mb/E RJ45
• 2 x Fibre SFP/LC

Power

• 12V 1 amp 5.7mm coax

Size

• 215 x 61 x 269mm (W H L)

Weight

• 2.5kG

Melco History

Melco, (Maki Electronic Laboratory Company), was established in Japan in 1975 by Makoto Maki, a passionate audiophile determined to create the finest, high-end components. His undoubted masterpiece was the groundbreaking modular Melco turntable that set new standards in music reproduction.

From those early beginnings, Melco developed into the largest computer peripherals manufacturer in Japan (Buffalo Inc.), offering advanced products based on rigorous R&D. These included wireless routers, ethernet data switches and storage devices such as NAS drives. Now, the company is proud to revive the highly respected Melco brand, offering discerning audiophiles high technology network audio components in the spirit of those much-revered early Melco products, while incorporating the very latest research into reliable, high performance networked devices and storage.