Cocktail Audio X45: the Swiss army knife for streaming
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- Опубліковано 18 лис 2024
- December 2017 I reviewed the Cocktail Audio X35 and loved it. I also announced a version without amps and with a higher quality DAC, the X45, which is finally on review here.
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About Questions: • About questions
What DAC is the best: • What DAC is the best?
Love the fact that these have HDMI out so you can see on a big screen, I have made comments on the Roon community that the ROCK should have a display output so that you can see on big screen but get shot down.
Nice job. Thanks for sharing. Will you be reviewing the new N25 anytime soon?
That's the plan! Waiting for the multirooom software.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel that’s terrific! Based on what you know thus far, can the N25 or any other DAC provide full MQA decoding using Tidal Connect? Everything I’ve research so far requires a laptop or tablet for the first stage - then it needs to hardwired to the DAC for the next two stages of unfolding. Vielen dank!!
Don’t know yet...
Thls for the review. SQ wise, how does it compare against the Cambridge Audio CXN v2 you reviewed earlier this year?
I'd be curious about this also.
great review and very informative!! Dank u wel!!
Hello Hans. Can you please tell me if there is a more convenient way that using teh remote to enter titles or artiste or any meta data to recordings I am doing on the 45. Like can one hook up a keyboard? Thank you
If I remember well. you can connect a keyboard to the X45. Just try to connect your computer keyboard to the USB socket.
thanks for the great review Hans. I have been looking at the Cocktail Audio products for a few years but wanted to wait to see how reliable the products were. they are quite expensive so I would hope to get maybe 10 years out of whichever one I bought. I was wondering if it is difficult to set up? Do you need to know much about computers?
If I record vinyl will I have to tell the X45 when each song ends? Can I record the whole vinyl album then split it into the separate songs afterwards?
thanks
The X45 has a provision to split up a music file into tracks. I did not test this, but it is mentioned in the manual.
Great review im considering x 45 vs ca 851n. I have 851n on test at the moment and this is good sounding good looking machine but as a minus a bit old. After this review I’m pretty sure to buy x45 and in the future I will add mytek dac! I wonder how good is novatron,s support ?
In my country it's perfect, but I don't know how it is in other countries.
This video is three years old now . Has anything come out to replace this unit by cocktail or someone else?
There now is an X50. I have not reviewed that yet.
Hans could you maybe ask to due a review of the Cocktail Audio X50D or the latest streamer only ? Wondering how their latest streamer sound quality competes against other streamers at the $2k price point. Personally I would go with the new Blue Sound Node and just buy a DDC which has an I2S output to my dac. But something like the X50D has an AIO streamer, internal hard drive, a nice screen, and a CD player for the occasional spin.
With all due respect the Node is no match for the Cocktail Audio. And it's better practice to have the streamer put out a clean signal than trying to repair a less cleaner signal using a DDC. BTW I²S might have a separate clock line, all things being equal USB or SPDIF can perform equal.
Hello
Can I control this unit from my iPhone as I find it cumbersome to use the remote to do the search as entering text on the remote is very painful? Thanks
The answer is in the video, did you watch it?
Another wonderful presentation! :) Do you have any knowledge about the Cocktail Audio N-15D and - if so - would you recommend this unit as a streamer for headphone listening in its price range? I like it since I use later upgrade with a better DAC, and headphone pre-amp. Thanks!
I have reviewed the N-15D: ua-cam.com/video/23C1wcfvrA0/v-deo.html
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you! I actually found it shortly after asking, and I just watched it!
Thanks for the great reviews Hans! Would you ever consider reviewing a Linn streamer?
If Linn would lend me one, which they don’t.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Good to know and thanks for the reply! Well I hope they wake up and send you something! I think I will send them an email suggesting it. Thanks again for your great channel!!!
Hello Hans
Thank you for the great review I am about to make a decision to buy and would appreciate answers to a few questions as I could not find good answers
1- I have CDs of multiple languages and from all over the world . If a CD being ripped is not recognized by the data base, can I enter the meta data manually?
2- If I connect it to my router (wirelessly) and I place it in the basement, Can I use it to play music files that I store on my DROBO (Raid storage unit from DROBO) and will they be displayed on the TV screen if I connect the X45 to a TV via HDMI?
3-Is there only one drawer for an external HD and is the max 8TB?
4- If I run out of space with the 8TB HD (Hi Res files take lots of space) can I connect one or 2 external HD via the USB ports of the X45 and will I have the same functionality of their content as the HD i will place in the drawer?
5- What SSHD or HD brands are recommended
Appreciate your help with answers if you can
1) yes you can add and edit metadata.
2) If you use the optional wifi dongle you can.
3) 8 TB seems to be the max, I have not tried bigger drives. The manual though says that bigger drives will be supported by firmware update.
4) You can add up to 3 USB drives, two on the back and one on the front
5) I can't say for I haven't tested all brands. Cocktail Audio does not mention preferred drives in the manual.
Hi Hans
I’ve purchased the x45 based on your excellent review. Problem I have is following the ripping of a cd various tracks are not ripped. Message appears on screen saying ‘tracks 7,8,9 is failed’. This has happened on several cds. Any idea?
No, but it must be a faulty product. Have it changed for another or have it repaired.
Pat Kearney Hi, I own the x45. I found it very slow to rip CD’s and so, I used my pc (with two drives ripping simultaneously ) and the x45 to rip my large CD collection.
Both, PC and X45 reported errors every now and then when the ripping was set to higher accuracy. Cleaning the CD helped in most situations but, with scratched CD’s (even tiny scratches) the only think that helped was to reduce accuracy in the setup menu. Severely scratched xCD’s won’t rip no matter what you try.
Man Cave
Thanks for that update. I have been requested to send several cds to Korea as they would like to test them. It’s happening to a lot of my cd’s which in fairness are in good condition. I will take your advice though and try different settings. Many thanks
Pat Kearney New firmware for the X45 available today. With luck, It may fix the issues.
Hi. Great video. As the X45 supports Air Play, when Apple implements higher res, is it logical that the X45 can take advantage of such files? You also mentioned support of Bluesound. I have a Bluesound Vault 2 to which I've ripped 400 CD's. Is there a way to move those files to the X45 or would I need to feed the X45 a digital connection from the Vault to play from the Vault's library?
I really can't say.
Great vid Hans. Could you please confirm how loud or quiet the unit was in operation (fans, drives etc)? This is important for me, as I will have mine in my rack on side wall located between my listening position and the speakers. Thanks and kind regards. Alex
I had the review sample in my stereo rack in-between the speakers and did only hear the hard disk when it spinned up but not while playing music. It is a rather solid chassis. But please convince yourself if possible. Your conditions and your auditory system might differ.
Thank you for the review. One question: is it possible and conveniant to operate Roon directly with the Coctail Audio or do I need an extra Tablet as remote for it?
You do need a tablet, smartphone or computer
Hans, there is an X45Pro with the better DAC chip set from Sabre. do you expect to analyze it? Thanks for the excellent reports.
I have limited myself to equipment under € 2000, so not for now.
Will you be reviewing the X50 ?
Have you considered reviewing the chord mojo poly? I think it's a good product but a little lacking in some areas.
A review sample has been promised but has not arrived yet.
The Hans Beekhuyzen Channel thank you. I hope one comes.
How would I rename the entire album , I found out how to do it song by song , but when I try to edit the whole album ,there is no option for the entire album/genre.
I really can't say. It's been a while since I reviewed it.
It can be done as I have the X40 model (now discontinued) If you highlight the album (but don't go into it) and press the menu button on the remote, one of the options allows the album to be renamed
Thanks for the review, it is very helpful. I have a question, can I output dsd 256 digitally to different DAC? When i trying through usb B output it plays dsd 128 nicely but cutting jitters dsd256.
I have not tried so I can’t say. Sorry.
Hi hans, can i connect mc turntable to x45 knowing that it only supports MM? If can, is there difference in sonic output?
The output voltage is too low. You would need a step-up transformer or a MC pre-pre-amp.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel oh so fast response, thanks hans'
Hi. Thanks for a great review. I can't decide between the Cocktail Audio X45 and The NAD C 658 regarding Best Audio quality when using their internal Doc and Tidal Master as a Source. Any advice will be appreciated.
Sorry but the only good way to go is to evaluate them yourself....
I am interested in what your choise is going to be, the NAD C658 or the X45. Can’t decide also.
What about the X45Pro? Could you look at the spec and evaluate what difference it would make? - Thanks
There is no way of telling how good a device is based on the specs alone
Ok - Perhaps they will loan you a review example and thus provide an interesting comparison - However it is always understood that often the more you pay the smaller the difference - thanks
@@Andyuk911 I'm late to the party but am also curious about the X45Pro as a replacement for my Cambridge Audio 851N.
Hello Hans, as always an informative and concise video. Hans, is it possible to transfer the high resolution files directly to the hard drive or ssd drive from my computer and then insert the drive in the X45. Would the X45 recognize the files? Thanks!
Jose Garcia
No, you need to copy your music files over the network to the X45.
Thank you Hans!@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
Yes, you can. I have had a few Cocktail Audio products. I use a standard SSD drives mounted in an external case connected to my computer. Format the drive NTSF, copy over your music directories, then take the drive out of the case and mount it in the X45 or other models. The X45 will see all the music and you can search via the Browser or index via the DBA.
Hello. Great video! Does this X45 need to be connected to a pre-amp? Or directly into an AMP? Thanks!
You can do either, just as you like.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel no recommendation? :)
Depends on the amp
Thanks for your review Hans. I purchased an X35 based on your excellent review of that product. Unfortunately, for my speakers the internal amp is too lightweight so I don't use it. The X45 would be a better solution. After listening to both do you think the SQ is better enough on the X45 to justify trading in the X35?
Hard to say since I don't know your stereo, your sound preferences and so on. Sorry
Fair Answer , so let me phrase my question differently. If it were you, after listening to them both would you upgrade?
FYI: My system consists of the X35, Indy Labs Aragon 8008 Amp and Magnepan 3.7i speakers. all with Synergistic Research Reference Active ICs. I mention the ICs specifically because I was initially using a $500 pair of Audioquest RCAs to connect the X35 to the amp. I found the upper end and midrange resolution to be less than what I would consider listenable. I figured the X35 being only a $2K USD device did not require anything more than that. One day, on a whim I pulled out a pair of the above mentioned ICs that I had previously stored away and the highs became crisper, the mids more refined and the lows tighter and deeper. It appears I too had been mislead by the low price. The Cocktail units are really fine devices an the low price is serendipitous.
I read a lot that the software is not stable. How is the software in 2023, is it stable and working as it should be?
For now I really like the system compleet and lots of options.
Or is there in 2023 a better option to buy?
Regards.
There always is a better option to buy. But if you are happy with your current system, just enjoy the music.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel It will be my first one, so still investigating the best option for 2023?!
Dear Hans, being also as pre-amp, does it comes with bass and treble control? or an equalizer?
As far as I remember it has no tone control.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel that mean we need an integrated amplifier instead of just bare amplifier?
Great review. Where is the best place to buy at lowest price?
I wonder if the best place is also the cheapest....
I wonder the same
What is the competition of this X45? I mean is there another manufacturer that has a unit with similar functions? If so what is it and have you reviewed it?
Thank you
NAD M10 vs Cocktail audio x45, any comments? Thanks.
I have not yet reviewed the M10 but soon will.
I am between sony hdd music player or the x45.which one its better??thnxs
I haven't reviewed the Sony, so I can't say.
Any ideas when they will do new model?
I was told the DAVE will remain in production for a couple of years.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel ok thx for the answer:)
What is the best option in this price at the moment?
Great review as always. Have you ever considered reviewing the Cyrus Stream X Signature? It seems to get good reviews in hifi mags but would welcome your professional review. It claims to have galvanic isolation on the spdif output and hi quality power transformer for very low jitter.
Previous experiences with the Cyrus Stream XP doesn't make me put the Stream X on my 'want-to-review-list'. Sorry. It might be a miss on my part, I don't know.
Thanks. That’s both interesting and worrying as I was considering buying the Cyrus (I use a Chord 2qute dac) so was just looking for something to link my NAS to my amp and allow me to control my music.
Again, I have not reviewed the Stream XP. In my playlists you will find the devices I have reviewed, I would watch those if I were you and also consider Roon on a intel Nuc and a network audio interface since you already have a fine DAC. If you can set yourself to spend money on software, that is.....
The Hans Beekhuyzen Channel . Thanks. Having watched quite a number of your videos, I am begging to lean that way and maybe build a Nuc/Roon system.
Welcome to the 21st century😁😉