Cocktail Audio X50 Tidal Streamer/CD/DAC/FM/Web Tuner 100-240v (Silver)

This is great find among many digital transports/stramers/storage players I have researched to complement my USB-Audio capable HiRes DACs. The X50D combines set of functions that some surprised me after I received it, these include:* Digitally music files streamer/player, supporting SSD, HDD storage.* Recorder - One Click Record from any source, external digital source via Toslink, Coax, and internal iRadio, Spotify, etc.* CD/DVD music ripper, player* internet Radio, FM and DAB* PCM up to 384kHz/24, DSD up to 11.2MHz, HiRes* HiRes FLAC, DXD, DSD support.* USB-Audio, I2S, HDMI, Toslink, Coaxial digital audio outputs to external DAC* up to 6TB storage support* Raid modes support for SSD/HDD for data storage protection.* Full size stereo component 17" wide* Large clear user screen and multifunction dial* Separate Volume dial allowing connection to headphones DAC not equipped with volume control.I was looking for a DXD PCM 352.8/384k and DSD256 (11.2MHz) capable streamer and found handful of players with much higher price tag of $4k and above up to $15k for some exotic brands.X50D turned to be a bullseye find, not only surpassing all competitors with latest chipset but also functionality.I hooked up this player to both Maranz SA10 USB-Audio DAC equipped SACD player as well as Accuphase E-370 amplifier equipped with DAC-50 option card. In both cases I found X50D performs to expectations reading and playing back highest HiRes files listed in product specification, DSD256 and PCM 192, 352.8, 384k including DXD masters.Installation of two 1TB SSD was super easy thanks for two sliding drawers, one for each hard drive.Navigation menu is very straightforward and readable thanks for large font and logical menu system. Supplied remote control complement panel functions with many usable shortcuts I started to appreciate after getting acustomized with multiple player functions.I finally have a player with storage where I can store all my music files, LoRes mp3 and HiRes FLAC, DSD and DXD and play these whenever I want. No more looking for files scattered among many laptops, phones, clouds, etc. All music in one place, available quick and easy across the house.Player powers up quite long, about 30 sec so be patient, shutting down is fast. There's no lag when navigating menus, although player goes into "thinking mode" after CD is inserted without a message (panel becomes unreapnsive for about 10 sec until disk info is pulled from DB database). But with "autorip" function activated it's not a problem really. I just insert next CD disk and walk away and come back when disk is ejected automatically.There's one feature I miss and that's the one from my other player Sony HAP-S1 and it's ability to select search by Album, Artist, Genre, Folder right from root menu. On X50DIn order to change search type you need to go through a couple of additional steps. In Sony player it's one step operation. But with all other X50D features and most of all impressive HiRes files playback capabilities, it's not a problem for me.The mechanical build is solid. This player is built like a tank using thick 3/8 and 1/4 inch CNC aluminum sheets. It simply look amazing and beautiful, you don't get this kind of build quality often nowadays. Even both knobs are aluminum. The player is heavy and supported by four solid aluminum and rubber feet. Solid build.The Hires playback capability, CD/DVD-R ripping and occasionally listening to my fav Internet radio stations capability are amazing and most used by me all the time. It was great find and I highly recommended it.

It sounds quite good when it works, and the features sound good on paper, but it is not reliable ( an understatement) and the support basically is non-existent. The new firmware update will not run, but you're on your own buddy because the company couldn't care less. Buy at your own risk.