Pioneer NC-50DAB Network Receiver
Stereo receiver was very popular in the second half of the last century, combined tuner and integrated amplifier. In the result there was quite self-sufficient component, to which you could add only a pair of speakers in order to listen to music. If desired, vinyl player and tape deck were added, covering all audio record mediums, used at that time. It's clear that now stereo components should meet modern requirements and be able to work with actual recording formats of audio content.
Pioneer offers exactly such receiver under the index of NC-50DAB. Much connects it with network player - Pioneer N-50A: the receiver derived exactly from it a digital filling, which defines its vast network functionality. In the receiver this functionality is expanded with CD drive, hybrid DAB/FM tuner, phono amp for work with turntable player, equipped with a cartridge with moving magnet (MM), and two-channel branded Direct Energy HD amplifier, working in D class and distinguishing by high energy efficiency.
You can connect Pioneer NC-50DAB to home network either through Ethernet or wirelessly (a double-band (2,4 and 5 GHz) Wi-Fi adapter, which supports protocol 802.11n, is built-in into the receiver - you should only connect a pair of attached small antennas to connectors on the back wall. Integration into computer network activates the whole fairly extensive network functionality of the receiver. First of all, if home network has the access to the Internet, it will be possible to use musical services like Spotify, Deezer and TIDAL. The latter, of course, is of special interest as it streams music in lossless format. In addition, the receiver can play the role of network player for playing tracks from your sound library, located on DLNA servers in network. To navigate through the library and make settings through system's menu, the receiver is equipped with color display with the diagonal of 3.5 inches. For wireless stream of audio from mobile gadgets you can use not only Wi-Fi, but also Bluetooth that significantly expands the list of compatible devices and discards the requirement to have Wi-Fi in the place of receiver's installation.
Digital-to-analog conversion is released in Pioneer NC-50DAB on SABRE32 Ultra DAC ES 9016 chip by ESS. Each channel of the receiver is served by four DAC channels, working in parallel. It's interesting, that the same chip works in older network player - Pioneer N-70A, and simpler microcircuit, ES 9011, is used in the closest to the receiver model - N-50A. Pioneer NC-50DAB is equipped with high-quality amplifier for headphones and is able to play the material of high resolution in PCM format with the parameters up to 24 bit/192 kHz and DSD with the frequency up to 11,2 MHz. All popular formats of files are supported, including FLAC and Apple Lossless. Such files can be played from external USB (for their connection there are ports on the fa?ade of Pioneer NC-50DAB and also on the back wall of the body) and from DLNA servers in home network.
Useful feature of Pioneer NC-50DAB is the presence of digital inputs - optical and coaxial, which support signals of high resolution with the parameters up to 24 bit/192 kHz. These ports can be used to connect game console or TV. In the latter case a compact speaker system would be a perfect alternative to speakers of TV during movies and TV shows.
A standard linear input on RCA connectors and phono amp inputs, allowing you to connect vinyl players with MM cartridges, are provided for switching with analog sources. Taking the renaissance of vinyl into account, presence of the latter is important. Two pairs of high-quality spring speaker terminals on the back wall are provided for connection of speaker systems. Also there is a connector for external subwoofer on the switchboard.
The sound of Pioneer NC-50DAB was appraised on the material of standard resolution from CDs and at the playing of high resolution files - PCM with the parameters of 24 bit/192 kHz and DSD 2,8 MHz. As it was expected, the receiver by character of sound reminded the network player Pioneer N-50A. First, you pay attention to amazing detailing, airiness and accuracy of sound. Generally speaking, the upper part of the sound range is reproduced with a special preciseness that mainly appears in recordings of high resolution. Dense and well-articulated bass doesn't reach tectonic depths, but becomes a reliable foundation for carefully built in all three dimensions stage. Pioneer NC-50DAB perfectly keeps the rhythm, brings drive of groovy rock songs to a listener, and forms large-scale multilayered sound canvas on classical material of symphonic orchestra. We will refer some brightness of presentation and a bit cool detachment to the features of branded Direct Energy HD amps. We won't consider such character of sound as disadvantage - the question is rather in preferences of a listener.
