MBL Launches New C41 Network Player
German audio brand MBL is adding the new C41 network player to its Cadenza lineup, designed to reproduce music with naturalness and fidelity.
The player can be an independent pre-amplifier in a digital system, or it can be paired with a conventional pre-amplifier in existing hi-fi systems. While the brand doesn’t disclose which ESS Sabre DAC chip is used, opting instead to just call it a “state-of-the-art digital-to-analogue converter”, we do know that the player supports sampling rates up to 24-bit /192kHz as well as DSD64.
There is a good variety of inputs including S/PDIF coaxial, a TOSLINK snap-in, XLR and USB type-B. As for outputs, there are options ranging from balanced XLR to unbalanced RCA and S/PDIF digital coaxial ports.
The C41 comes with the brand’s proprietary True Peak technology, which uses a converter design with stop-gaps built into the digital filters to create an additional modulation reserve of three decibels, resulting in the correction and elimination of sound-degrading overloads from CDs or music files even at peak volume levels. Thanks to that, music that has been encoded to the maximum level won’t be distorted or “clipped”.
As a network player, the C41 also supports different streaming platforms such as Roon, UPnP/DLNA and ShairPort. Compatibility for Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect and Qobuz Connect will be coming in a future software update later in 2024.
Thanks to the built-in volume control, the C41 can also act as the control centre in a hi-fi chain that uses purely digital sources, which means there’s no longer a need for a separate pre-amplifier. MBL’s Core Volume Control technology is also implemented in the player, allowing for volume adjustment without losing information in the music signal for a better listening experience.
The MBL C41 network player is priced at US$11,100, and it is now available for purchase.
Visit MBL for more information
Cheryl Tan
After diving down the custom IEMs rabbit hole since she was 18, Cheryl has embarked on a long journey trying out as many audio products as possible ever since. She’s still waiting for the day a company can create a pair of true wireless earbuds that sound just as good as wired earphones.
Posted in: Hi-Fi
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