APL-HiFi

[Alex Peychev]

Hello all,

I am very proud to announce our new wireless computer audio solution that will be soon available for installing in the NWO players and our upcoming DAC box as an option.

Until now, all of the Slim Devices products (SB and Transporter) had the visual interface (display and buttons) built-in the actual box so all upgrades must be done inside that same unit which called for an external digital connection to a better DAC solution. The Transporter has a bigger box that can accommodate more upgrade parts inside, but there are few problems with it:

1. High initial cost.

2. The box is made of very thin Aluminum that can not accommodate heavy power supplies.

3. It still has switching power supplies (charge pumps) for the Wi-Fi module and processor resulting in hard, unnatural sound. It will be uneconomical replacing these with all-linear ones, not to talk about the heat that the linear power will produce.

4. Lastly, even if all of the above upgrades are installed for use as a digital source to the NWO player or our new DAC box, an external connection is still required.

The solution is the new Squeezebox Duet. The elegant handheld wireless remote controller with a nice screen allows you to browse your music very easily. See it here:

Squeezebox Duet image gallery link

The actual network player is the cute little black box. Since there is no user interface involved with this box, the PCB in it can be removed, upgraded and installed in the NWO and the DAC as a built-in option. All you will see are two 5dBi antennas on the back, similar to those on the Transporter.

The benefits of the Built-in Wi-Fi computer audio solution:

1. 100% isolation from your PC, a.k.a. "The Noise Ball".

2. Asynchronous, memory buffered data transfer eliminating incoming jitter.

3. Completely removed switching power supplies. All-linear, low noise R-Core power.

4. Super low jitter, low phase noise clocks not only for the audio, but also for the Wi-Fi processing.

5. Direct-to-DAC internal connection eliminating external digital interfaces.

6. Unbeatable convenience thanks to the independent remote control with LCD screen allowing you to access your music quickly and easily from the palm of your hand, anywhere in the house.

7. Uncompromised sound quality.

8. Reasonable cost (to be announced).


It does not get any better than this.


Regards,
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[drubin]

Holy crap, Alex, that is brilliant! I want it in my on-order unit, please.

[neoisone]

Alex,

Great! You have finally achieved your goal of integrating a Wi-Fi solution into your products. So the Squeezebox Duet doesn't draw too much current?

I sent you an e-mail.

Stanley

[HiFiPassion]

Hi Alex,

Nice to read about your new Wi-Fi breakthrough product.

You mention your new modified Sqeezebox Duet will be offered as a built-in option for the NWO and your new DAC.

How about all the APL Denon 3910 owners? Will we be blessed with your new technology as a built-in option for the 3910?

Best Regards,

Dana

[smilin]

Wow, very cool, didya put it in mine????I will finally get it tomorrow

Alex, Your da BOMB

Watson

[stefan]

Hi Alex,

Very interesting indeed. This could be something for my NWO unit also.

I'll send you a pm.

Cheers,

Stefan

[Alex Peychev]

Thank you for your support and comments! We will privately answer your questions soon.

Here are some pictures:







Some "golden ears" are going to visit this weekend, so I will let them determine how it sounds on a blind test....

Regards,
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[JW]

Absolutely Friggin' Brilliant - and NO NO NO, you cannot use this as a name for any of your gear

Jw

[zemtex]

I'm considering a Duet as we speak, so this is good news. I think the Duet has a great UI... Will be looking out 4 updates on this Hoping to see some pics of the dac soon
Keep up the xelent work!

Regards Kai

[jbirren]

Chaucer records that in April people in medieval England went on Pilgrimage to Canterbury to worship at the shrine of St. Thomas a Beckett. Today I went on pilgrimage to Dixon to hear the new APL/Duet. I did not worship there but it certainly was everything Alex claimed it to be. Toggling back and forth between the Duet and NWO and trying to tell the difference was ultimately and exercise in splitting hairs. The APL/Duet smoked every non NWO digital front end that I have ever heard. Of course, the set up came with the NWO, his amp, his speakers, his cables and his power cords so it is not a fair comparison to other systems. The Duet was so easy to use, at least for anyone that can read the remote since that is where the artists and titles appear. This is also a big improvement over the Transporter where it appears on the front of the Transporter so good luck if the Transporter is across the room.
The APL Transporter was very good but this is vastly better. It was musical and captivating and was never fatiguing. Gone was the slightly brittle edge that the Transporter had over time.
Alex is so far ahead of everyone else that he is lapping the field. There is no question that the Duet is an incredible add-on to the NWO, so much so that I will buy a server just for music in order to make the APL/Duet work in my house. Alex--count me in!

[zemtex]

sound great jbirre!! The APL DAC1 / NWO DAC with det DUET option will surely kick az

[drubin]

I'm curious about the outside antennae. You rarely see them on wi-fi enabled devices -- why here?

[Alex Peychev]

[herb]

Jane and I both agree with Jeff, microscopically close to the NWO, so it's difficult to identify a difference. But there must be one because Alex says there is. OK, listening very carefully, even I can hear that there is.

The REALLY exciting thing is that we will now be able to listen to high bit rate streaming audio from commercial free classical stations across the country, like WFMT Chicago and around the world, like BBC3 radio (listening schedule in the monthly BBC Music magazine). Looking forward to The Proms! A fine way to be introduced to new pieces of music for addition to one's collection, and the music will have good resolution with 64, 96, 128, 192k, depending on the station, not MP3.
"Classical FM Bulgarian" from Sophia will now be accessible.

Thanks Alex. We're glad we waited until you were there to do it right with accurate clocks, linear power supply, no wires, and no additional box.

The remote and wifi add great convenience to armchair listening, no need to cross the room, fumble for a CD, etc.

Herb
_________________
herb

[KWM]

WiFi HiFi @ AP Labs 04-06-08

Wireless "High Fidelity"(1) does in fact exist and presented itself as an on-board upgrade to the NWO 3.0 GO digital player this past weekend. In this integrated format, the WiFi network device is modified and introduced to the player but continues to be controlled by the Slim Devices hand-held Squeezebox remote. The WiFi can communicate with various wireless information sources, including radio. The "information" in this case was digital format music retrieved from a remote computer and played back through the NWO 3.0 GO in a presentation that was stunning. The quality of the output was very close to that of the NWO 3.0 GO when playing RedBook CDs. Not usually being a fan of computer-based music systems I was floored. Now I will be forced to rethink my philosophy on this topic.


While the NWO 3.0 GO sounds fantastic when paired with myriad downstream component combinations (as indicated by owners who have systems ranging from B&W and Krell to the most exotic of horn speakers and tubed amps, all of whom state is the best digital source available regardless of price) I am quite certain that the presence of the other APL components in the system, (UA-S1 amplifier, Gravitas speakers No Boundaries model 1 (NB-1), with f112 JL Audio subwoofer) helped to enhance the speed, resolution and relaxed nature of the musical presentation with the WiFi. It was an almost unbelievable combination of resolution and detail with organic energy that left me with a smile.

1. A misnomer, see WiFi isn't short for "Wireless Fidelity"

KWM