Melco Audio debuts second gen audiophile data switch

Japanese digital music specialist Melco Audio has revealed a second generation ‘audiophile’ network switch, for use with its high-end Hi-Fi music servers.

The made-in-Japan S100/2 data switch has been upgraded in two key areas and now includes higher-bandwidth connectivity, plus an improved internal Melco power supply.

The development of the new model included trickle-down technology and design ideas from the flagship S10 switch, a two-box design with an audiophile-grade external power supply.

The upgraded S100/2 offers six one-gigabit Ethernet ports, coupled with two 100 megabit Ethernet ports for audio. The configuration retains the speed-mix advantages of the original S100, says the brand, and now offers greater speeds to TVs, set-top boxes and games consoles while retaining dedicated audio ports.

The S100/2 also gains an improved power circuit board with a high grade AC adapter.

The S100/2 retains the SFP (small form factor pluggable) connections seen in the original model, which allow upgrades to optical fibre connections with compatible devices, for even greater noise isolation and sonic performance.

An LED indicator on/off button is also included, allowing users to switch off the ‘flash’ effect as data is being transferred. Available in silver or black, the S100/2 retails for £2,099.