To complement the Z10 DAC in its product lineup, the Shenzhen-based manufacturer unveiled a T10 network transport and a C10 external clock in Vienna.
Having unveiled no fewer than six new products at the High End show in May (download our free special edition here), EverSolo is rolling out its official launches one by one, starting with the T10 network transport.
To ensure compatibility with the upcoming C10 clock, this new top-of-the-line streamer—like the Z10 DAC—features two BNC clock ports operating at 10 MHz and 25 MHz under 50 Ω and 75 Ω. However, its internal clock is already very powerful, as it consists of a 3.3 V OXCO operating at 10 MHz, combined with a PLL synchronization system designed to reduce noise and jitter.
Surrounding it, a massive O-type toroidal transformer was developed specifically to deliver the purest possible current to all the T10’s circuits, including that of the 64-bit ARM 8-core processor. Integration with the network module can be achieved via a 2.5 G Ethernet RJ45 connection, fiber optic via an SFP port, or through two USB 3.0 ports (surprisingly, there is no USB-C).
For output (digital, since it’s worth noting that a network transport—unlike a network player—does not include a DAC and therefore performs no digital-to-analog conversion), the T10 offers the very best: the classic optical, AES/EBU, and coaxial outputs, as well as an I2S port and an isolated USB port.
The huge 8.6-inch touchscreen on the front panel makes it easy to control all settings—a feature also found in the manufacturer’s smartphone app—allowing you to effortlessly manage any streaming service (even Apple Music and Deezer are built-in). And if you prefer the reliability of playback from an internal drive, two slots are available to accommodate up to two 8 TB SSDs.
Despite the high quality of the components inside the aluminum alloy chassis, the price—as always with EverSolo—remains very competitive compared to the competition, in this case at 2 190 € or $2 180. We’re looking forward to the clock’s launch so we can test the complete system and tell you more about the sound!
When you visit the website www.dual.de, you can see that the German brand clearly offers a choice between automatic and manual models for its turntables. In reality, even the manufacturer’s “manual” models are semi-automatic—that is, if you leave this function enabled, the tonearm lifts automatically at the end of playback and the platter stops, which is not the case with a purely manual turntable.
Because in the audiophile world, high-end turntables are inevitably manual. So, while Dual’s automatic lineup starts with the “3” series—beginning with the CS 329 (399 €) and extending through the CS 429 (699 €) and the CS 529 Bluetooth (999 €) to the CS 629 Q—the manual lineup begins directly with the number “4” and the CS 418 (549 €). It then expands to the CS 518 (699 €), followed by the CS 618 Q with its Direct Drive control (1 199 €). And since the last Vienna show, a new CS 718 Q has been added to the lineup.
A worthy successor to the 1973 CS 701—the first direct-drive turntable manufactured in Europe—the CS 718 Q is now one of three models in the lineup, alongside the CS 618 Q (see our review in VU#52) and the CS 629 Q, to feature Direct Drive technology. And like the models in the 6 Series, Dual’s new flagship turntable adds a “Q” to its model number to indicate that it incorporates a highly precise quartz speed control, ensuring a speed variation (more technically measured as wobble and flicker) of less than 0.05% (DIN), whether playing at 33, 45, or 78 rpm.
Its 1.9 kg aluminum platter, with a diameter of 305 mm, is topped with a 4 mm-thick rubber mat. It is mounted on a hardened steel spindle with a brass bushing, which is in turn inserted into an MDF chassis that brings the turntable’s total weight to 10 kg. To support this weight and minimize vibrations, four 68-mm-diameter feet with elastomer are positioned underneath and are height-adjustable to ensure perfect levelness.
Designed exclusively for the CS 718 Q, the tonearm’s tube consists of a carbon-aluminum sandwich that is both highly rigid and very lightweight, finished with a machined shell equipped with an azimuth locking mechanism. Its ball bearing, connected to the end of the machined rotation shaft, is paired with a high-precision double-gimbal spindle mount.
Available in walnut or satin black finishes, with a transparent cover included but without a cartridge, this top-tier turntable from Dual also stands out for its connectivity options—it can be connected to the phono preamp via either a pair of RCA or XLR terminals—and for its more exclusive price tag of 2 490 €.
The Vienna show was an opportunity for Acoustic Signature to celebrate its 30th anniversary with two new models. The first of these is a new entry-level turntable, the Merlin NEO, the only one in the lineup to be sold exclusively as a bundle with the TA-500 NEO tonearm.
While we go into detail about the Double X in VUmètre No. 66 FR, this article is an opportunity to discuss the brand’s new entry-level model. As soon as it arrives in France, we’ll give it a listen to determine whether we’ll approve it for a second review on Acoustic Signature, or if we’d rather start by telling you about a more established turntable like the Hurricane or the Typhoon -from which the Merlin borrows some of its technologies.
While the Merlin NEO is designed to make the German brand more affordable, it incorporates the key technologies found on all the brand’s other turntables, including the DTD (Duraturn Diamond Bearing) bearing and the CLD (Constrained Layer Damping) aluminum anti-resonance damping system, complemented by AVC vibration control.
The externally mounted, digitally controlled motor operates at 33.33 and 45 rpm; its decoupling prevents any transmission of mechanical vibration from the motor to the main chassis -except, of course, to the platter via the thin belt connecting it to the platter. And while the platter doesn’t weigh the 10 kg (20 Ils) of a Double X, it does weigh 5.8 kg (12.8 Ibs) -the same as the Maximus’s- and is also made of anodized aluminum with a layer of bitumen on the underside.
For this first Acoustic Signature model sold exclusively as a package, the Merlin NEO is paired with the excellent TA-500 NEO tonearm -the top model in the line- which is already perfectly suited to minimizing vibrations thanks to the ultra-rigid structure of its tube. The cable connected to it is an Audioquest Golden Gate, featuring RCA connectors so it can be plugged into any phono preamp.
Available for order now, the Merlin NEO is sold with the tonearm but without a cartridge, in a silver or black finish, for 3 998 €.
Following its all-in-one living room systems, the German company Sonoro is entering the connected speaker market with the VIBES.
Designed exclusively for Bluetooth to simplify use, the VIBES features the latest-generation Qualcomm aptX™ HD 5.4 chip, as well as the Auracast protocol, allowing it to be paired with a large number of devices from a single terminal.
Controlled via the VIBES Remote app (iOS or Android) or directly through a music app to stream audio via Bluetooth, this new speaker is designed to be moved quickly thanks to its handle on top—though its weight (7.5 kilos for the L version and 12.3 kilos for the XL) means it’s best suited for use within the same general area, such as between a sunroom and a garden, for example.
Its IPX 4 rating ensures splash resistance, so it can also be placed around a pool (you can even set up about ten of them all around it) or safely withstand brief exposure to the elements. However, it is not “weatherproof,” and as you can see from its finish, the idea is to bring it indoors after use.
Its battery offers a claimed runtime of approximately 16 hours, but it can also be plugged in, and a switch is provided to bypass the battery in this case. The VIBES XL delivers 360° sound thanks to four 3“ full-range speakers and an 8” subwoofer. The VIBES L features two 3-inch full-range speakers and a 6.5-inch subwoofer. Both models utilize the EQ Boost spatial sound reproduction feature.
Priced at 699 € and 999 €, respectively, the Sonoro VIBES are available now in black, white, or beige to keep you company during the summer heat.
With audiophile subwoofers gaining popularity in both home cinema and hi-fi, they have been developing in recent years and are now featured in the catalogues of speaker brands such as the Swiss benchmark Stenheim.
Whilst North American manufacturers have never been shy about subwoofers – which have been available for decades from virtually every speaker brand in the US and Canada – their European counterparts, particularly those specializing in high-fidelity, have often been slower to embrace them.
It was therefore with some surprise, but also an understanding of the value in offering such a product, that we discovered Stenheim’s Alumine S10 in Vienna. Designed primarily to complement the speakers in the range – notably as an ideal addition to the compact Alumine Two and Two SE models (review VU#57 FR) – or to enhance the bass response of the Alumine Three and Five floorstanding speakers, this new subwoofer has also been developed to work with other brands.
The S10 fits perfectly within the Alumine series, being made entirely of aluminium and having undergone extensive testing of its internal structure, which comprises three independent chambers. Featuring an isobaric design, it incorporates not one, but two 10-inch (26 cm) cones aligned with the acoustic suspension system. Its frequency response is limited to the sub-bass range, from 20 to 100 Hz, driven by a 1,200 W internal amplifier.
When installing it, its weight of 44.5 kg (98.1 Ib) must be considered, but its dimensions – 32 cm wide, 34.2 cm high and 43 cm deep – make it a relatively unobtrusive piece of kit, fairly easy to position even in stylish living rooms. With connectivity options including XLR, RCA, Toslink optical, SPDIF coaxial, AES and RJ45, the Alumine S10 also offers direct XLR, RCA and Toslink outputs.
It is initially being launched in two colors – light grey or dark grey – with a black front panel, but will soon be available in optional all-black, ivory or mocha finishes, with prices starting from 18 500 €.
