I Put a Spell on You: EMM Labs NS1 Streamer and Unicorn Single Driver, Horn-loaded Omni Speakers

"I Put a Spell on You," Justin Johnson from the album DRIVIN' IT DOWN. THE SOUND IS BETTER EXPERIENCED WITH HEADPHONES.

This is a beautiful version from Justin Johnson, excellent display of musical skills and arrangements. We get carried away and play it very loudly most of the time with 95+ db at the listening position. Is the room overloaded? Maybe, but do we care? Just enjoy the musical performance!

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT:
Digital Streamer: EMM Labs NS1
DAC: Ypsilon Electronics DAC-100
Amplifier: Ypsilon Electronics Phaethon
Speakers: German Physiks PQS-302 Omnidirectional;
Software: Audirvana

About the EMM Labs NS1 Streamer:
The NS1 Streamer acts as a powerful and versatile bridge between the internet, your network and your music system. It enables you to access the vast libraries of music available via the many internet streaming services. It also provides playback of audio files attached via USB stick and network attached storage.

"Let me be perfectly short and sweet—the EMM Labs NS1 is among the finest network player/streamers I’ve had the pleasure to live with. If you’re looking for a hardware streaming solution that does its job without adding a voice of its own, allowing digital music to breathe, bloom, and blossom to its full communicative and emotive potential, take a serious look at and listen to the EMM Labs NS1 Streamer." Michael Lavorgna HiFi Reviews, Digital Reviews, October 27, 2022

Game changer?
At Locrian Audio we have used the NS1 Streamer extensively. While technical capabilities and functionality may be the “gate” for consideration, it is its music reproduction abilities where it excels. Utilizing mainly Qobuz for streaming with high resolution files, the listener will be surprised with the wide and deep 3D rendering from NS1 as well the timbre accuracy and music dynamics. For example, playing Three Blind Mice recordings, where the location of each instrument in space is provided, we were very clearly able to validate the record diagrams provided. The same with live recordings for which we had video archives of the event. Similar impressions with files stored in external drives or PC which are directly attached via its USB port. The bass is solid and fast and voices natural with the “in room” feeling. The set-up and use of its provided app is easy and intuitive (we use mainly iOS). Network connection and access to music servers was equally fast and painless.
For more information you may reach us at www.locrian-audio.com

Thank you, Basile