Cocktail Audio X45Pro – Reference Music Server and DAC
The Cocktail Audio X45Pro is the highest performing all-in-one music server of our X-series models, featuring DAC, CD Ripper, Network Streamer, Music Recorder and more. X45Pro was created for the most demanding audiophiles, because it is equipped with the reference DAC chip SABER PRO ES9038PRO capable of supporting resolutions up to 32bit/768Khz in PCM and native DSD512 and able to offer an unprecedented dynamic range, thanks also to the use of a refined analog output stage based on the very fast OPA627BP operational amplifiers. The latter feature a Texas Instruments Burr-Brown high-performance FET input . These devices consist of an input stage that uses dielectrically isolated FETs (Difet®), capable of significantly reducing the input bias currents, by eliminating the dispersion between the insulation and the junction. Furthermore, to reduce electrical noise to a minimum, we have adopted a special power supply circuit with separate sections and high insulation, which independently feeds the digital and analog components, through a generous toroidal transformer and a SMPS digital transformer , both completely shielded by special aluminum caps. The entire structure of the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro is made entirely of beautiful brushed aluminum, manufactured using precision CNC numerical control machines. The many functions of the advanced software developed by our in-house Novatron research and development team, make the X45Pro a truly unique and extraordinary device for audiophiles.
- The CocktailAudio X45Pro is equipped with a powerful 1.0 GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex A9 processor.
- SABER PRO Flagship ES9038PRO DAC chip supports PCM frequencies up to 32bit/768Khz and native DSD512
- OPA627BP Precision High-Speed Operational Amplifier
- 16 core microcontroller with advanced RISC architecture for USB DAC function
- USB Audio Class 2.0 output for connecting external USB DACs
- Separate power supplies for digital and analog sections
- The toroidal transformer and SMPS are fully shielded with aluminum armor to minimize background noise and electrical noise.
- High-speed drive for fast CD ripping and reading
- Phono input (MM) for turntables
- 7 inch TFT LCD display (1024 x 600 pixels)
- DAB, DAB+ and FM tuner
- Integrated Giga Fast Ethernet (10/100/1000Mbps).
- Supports up to 8 TB (Terabyte) 3.5″/2.5″ internal hard drives or SSD drives
- The chassis is made entirely of anodized aluminum and milled with precision CNC.
- HDMI output for use with an external monitor, such as a television.
THE MUSIC SERVER FOR LIQUID MUSIC The Cocktail Audio X45Pro is the flagship among the Novatron Music Servers, world leader in the design of music servers dedicated to listening to liquid music. For all audiophile enthusiasts who are looking for a definitive audio source, with advanced music server functionality, our new Reference range product, the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro, represents the state of the art for those who want to obtain maximum audio performance. The adoption of uncompromising design solutions, such as the presence of a dual power supply consisting of a toroidal, intended for the analog section, and SMPS digital power supply, intended for the computer and digital component, the use of the best converter produced by ESS, i.e. the Sabre ES9038Pro, the equally profound care of the analog output stages, make X45Pro an absolute reference Music Server. A very rich set of connections makes it easy and immediate to connect all the components of your Hi-Fi system to the Cocktail Audio X45Pro, which therefore becomes the central element of your system, a real centralized music management system at 360°. When X45Pro was designed, the aim was to create a complete audio source, perfect for listening to liquid music, for Ripping, for digitizing analog sources such as tapes, vinyl, even recording them in very high resolution, thanks to the integrated ADC. The High-End vocation of the Cocktail Audio X45Pro, what makes it a Reference class device, is its highly advanced integrated conversion system, of undisputed audiophile quality: the ESS Saber 9038PRO D/A converter , capable of natively managing encoded audio streams in the most popular audio formats available, both in standard resolution and in high and very high resolution. This particular design allows you to reproduce native audio streams in high resolution with PCM , MQA and DSD encodings with the maximum possible performance. In any case, X45Pro is a machine with outstanding versatility, which also allows you to connect any of your external DAC converters, using one of the four digital outputs:
- Toslink optics (up to 24bit/192KHz)
- Coaxial RCA (75 Ohm) (up to 32bit/384KHz)
- XLR AES/EBU (110 Ohms) (up to 32bit/384KHz)
- USB Audio Class 2.0 (up to 32bit/384KHz and DSD)
Through the digital outputs it is possible to convey digital audio signals up to the maximum resolution of 32bit/384 Khz, therefore without any bit depth or sampling frequency limit. Through the Audio Class 2.0 USB port, it is possible to connect a DAC converter and also reproduce DSD encoding natively, as well as MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) and PCM.
|
SLOT-IN CD READING MECHANICS
The new high-precision reading mechanism performs bit-perfect extraction of Audio CD tracks, to guarantee the most complete fidelity of the result. It is not necessary to use any computer software, because the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro is able to carry out the CD-Ripping operation in an even more accurate, simpler and faster way. You can store your entire Compact Disc music library in the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro. The CocktailAUDIO X45Pro already automatically adds all the metadata of the album, with the titles of the tracks, the author, the musical genre, and offers you the choice of the cover. When reading a disc, Silent Play technology automatically controls the read speed for optimal noise reduction. This special mechanism fitted in the CocktailAudio X45Pro is also capable of burning Compact Disc Audio , allowing you to create your own song compilations. Thanks to the Active OPC technology (Running OPC) "Optimum Power Controller" more reliable burnings are ensured. Active OPC continuously monitors the signal level during recording and adjusts the laser to compensate for the intensity of the beam in the event of a dirty record, thus ensuring an always constant signal flow.
|
 |
ESS SABER ES9038PRO 32BIT/768KHZ CONVERTER
Pro 32bit precision, natively plays DSD, MQA, PCM and DXD formats
HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO 32BIT/768KHZ – DSD512 – MQA
X45Pro is able to read and reproduce, with direct reading or streaming via network, all the main lossless audio formats (in PCM, MQA and DSD standards) even in high resolution (up to 32bit/768kHz, such as files FLAC HD, WAV HD, DSD and DXD). The presence of the powerful 1000Mips 64Bit XMOS digital signal processor combined with the ESS Saber ES9038Pro Audio DAC Converter , allows the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro to natively reproduce DSD64 (2.8224MHz), DSD128 (5.6448MHz), DSD256 (11.2896MHz), DSD512 files (22.5792MHz), DXD (24Bit/352.8KHz), MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) and PCM up to the frequency of 32Bit/768KHz. This versatility of reading the encoding formats and the highest resolutions existing today gives access to an unprecedented world of music, and allows you to listen to music with an audio quality that is up to 18 times better than that obtainable from a normal CD Traditional audio!
Some Insights on X45Pro
The importance of correct Clocking of the Audio DAC The patented system called Time Domain Jitter Eliminator , adopted in the AUDIO X45Pro Cocktail , uses an internal very low Jitter reference clock to correctly drive the Digital/Analog stage. The Asynchronous Sampling Converter (ASRC) constantly analyzes the input clock data and algorithmically corrects the data bistream, in order to ensure perfect transmission of the signal destined for the Digital/Analog stage, without having to resort to the phase-system. locked loop (PLL) which instead is commonly used in a traditional digital to analog converter less valuable.Delta-Sigma Modulation Noise: how X45Pro solves it Other delta-sigma converters suffer from annoying artifacts, due to design based on oversampling and noise shaping. The CocktailAUDIO X45Pro instead, thanks to the use of the ESS Saber ES9038Pro converter and the patented HyperStream modulator, effectively removes these annoying artifacts.32-bit Computing: What Benefits Can You Get? All conventional delta sigma converters include a digital interpolation filter, to convert incoming PCM data (for example a 24bit/96kHz stream) into a delta sigma bitstream. Unlike the old 24-bit DAC converters, the ESS Saber converter used by the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro performs these DSP-type operations at a 32-bit resolution, allowing to obtain noise and distortion levels significantly lower than the previous generation of 24-bit converters. bit. 
LISTENING AND TIMBRICA
 |
Thanks to the seamless integration of the Saber ES9038Pro converter , the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro has unprecedented musicality and can compete and outperform even the best dedicated external DAC converters.
|
The Cocktail Audio X45Pro recreates an incredibly wide and true soundstage, in which each single instrumentalist is placed in his correct position, where all the sound planes are well spaced in width and height and perfectly delineated, and in which the instruments acquire their strength and their natural dimension, restoring all their material physicality. The execution of the musical event therefore becomes truthful, realistic, immanent and profound. Each listening will be a new and very pleasant experience, capable of capturing the attention and the senses, giving the listener always vivid and satisfying emotions.
The Technical Solutions Adopted
-
SABER ES9038PRO DAC converter
-
The ES9038PRO SABER DAC is the flagship of the ESS PRO series. It sets a new benchmark in audio excellence with the industry's highest dynamic range (DNR), up to 140dB, in a 32-bit 8-channel DAC.
-
Patented Hyperstream 32-bit Audio DAC architecture, capable of handling data streams up to 32-bit, PCM, MQA and DXD data up to 768KHz via I 2 S and DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz and 22.4MHz
-
Patented jitter elimination system, called Time Domain Jitter Eliminator
-
64-bit data accumulator and 32-bit processing: for smooth signal processing
|
|
-
of distortions
-
Integrated DSP functions: clickless volume and mute controls, programmable zero detection, de-emphasis for 32KHz, 44.1KHz and 48KHz samples
-
I 2 C control, for direct access to the DAC's internal registers
-
Supports SPDIF , PCM (I 2 S, LJ 16-32-bit), MQA or DSD signals
-
DNR 140dB with THD+N -122dB
FULL CONNECTIONS – FULL DIGITAL SOURCE
XLR AND RCA ANALOG OUTPUTS
The CocktailAUDIO X45Pro has RCA unbalanced outputs and XLR balanced outputs. From the configuration menu you can set the outputs in two distinct operating modes:
- Fixed : in this case the output signal level is fixed
- Variable : in this case the level of the output signal is variable
In case you choose the variable mode, you can easily adjust the output level of the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro from the remote control. The CocktailAUDIO X45Pro therefore transforms into a full-fledged preamplifier , with the absolute precision of attenuation that is typical of the double Saber ES9038Pro converter at 32Bit (practically indistinguishable, in audio performance, from an analog volume control).
|
  ESS, manufacturer of the Saber 9038Pro converter, adopted in two units in the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro, demonstrated how a volume control with direct access to the internal data path of the DAC behaves exactly like an analog volume control, up to reaching the noise of background generated by analog components. X45Pro XLR & RCA Analog Output Specifications
-
Balanced XLR Outputs (6.5V rms max)
-
RCA Unbalanced Outputs (2V rms max)
-
Dynamic Range: 137dB (2V rms, Stereo)
-
THD+N: < 0.0003%
-
User settable outputs as Fixed or Variable
|
 
|
HIGH RESOLUTION DIGITAL OUTPUTS
X45Pro is also a perfect digital source for audiophiles, as it allows you to connect external audio DAC converters. X45Pro manages audio streams up to 24bit/192Khz both via the TosLink optical digital output, via the 75 Ohm RCA coaxial digital output, and via the 110 Ohm XLR AES/EBU digital output. specific on the digital signal path, allow the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro to communicate with the external converters with a very high precision: you will realize how much better your digital to analog converter (DAC) can sound! All thanks to the absolute quality of the X45Pro digital outputs, which make it a digital transport of absolute reference. Furthermore, for the most demanding, the advanced asynchronous USB Audio Class 2.0 connection is also available which allows you to connect external D/A converters and also send DSD encoding, MQA, in addition to PCM (note: external USB DAC converter must be native DSD playback or DoP enabled for handling DSD streams. DSD512 stream is supported by analog line out only).
|
|
DIGITAL INPUTS TOSLINK, COAXIAL RCA, AES/EBU XLR AND USB IN
With X45Pro you can also connect your external digital playback devices and digitize them on hard disk or pendrive. For example MiniDISC, DAT, CD transport, DVD, can be connected and recorded with the utmost simplicity. You have three distinct digital inputs available, all how many in high resolution:
-
Optical Toslink
-
Coaxial RCA 75 Ohms
-
AES/EBU XLR
-
USB AUDIO IN
In all cases, the digital input signal accepted by the CocktailAUDIO X45Pro is up to 24bit/192KHz. The recognition of the signal, of the native frequency and of the bit depth, takes place completely automatically: X45Pro configures itself without the need of any manual intervention. NOT only that! The new CocktailAUDIO X45Pro can also work as a DAC to be connected to a third-party device (for example to a Windows, MacOS or Linux computer), through the USB AUDIO IN input. In this connection mode, for example, you could connect X45Pro to an external computer and use it as a DAC converter capable of playing any audio format among those supported by X45Pro, such as PCM, DSD, MQA.
|
|
|
The CocktailAUDIO X45Pro features a professional ADC analog-to-digital conversion chip capable of maintaining unaltered all the audio quality and bandwidth of the digitized analog source. You can select a recording resolution and frequency up to 24bit/192Khz (i.e. you can produce alone your liquid HD music in high definition). The analog audio signal can be fine-tuned before recording, to keep all the original information and dynamic range totally unaltered (which will be free of any compression). Digitized recordings can be easily cut, even through a very convenient multi-cut graphic editing tool that allows you to divide the tracks automatically or manually, by displaying the waveform of the digitally recorded audio. In this way, after having carried out the recording, for example of an entire side of an LP, you can decide to "extrapolate" the individual tracks that make up the songs, letting the CocktailAudio X45Pro identify the cutting points of the songs for you, or by making a fine manual selection You can adjust the sensitivity of the inputs via a special configuration menu, so you can perform a perfect and clipping-free recording. Many independent WAV tracks will be created, which you can later rename as you like, assigning complete metadata, adding cover and thus recreating the structure of the tracks identical to that of the original LP album. All this is really convenient and the result is simply excellent!
|
|
PASSIVE COOLING SYSTEM, NO FANS, ABSOLUTELY SILENT
Discover the absolute silence of the new CocktailAUDIO X45Pro! Every possible source of disturbance has been eliminated, to ensure the best musical experience. The new Cocktail AUDIO X45Pro is an entirely fanless reference music server, i.e. without fans . The cooling system is totally passive, for total silence of the internal components. You can listen to your music in optimal conditions, without background noise: if you then decide to also install a solid state disk (SSD), then the optimization will be really perfect.
SIMPLE AND IMMEDIATE TO CONFIGURE
You are ready in just 5 minutes on the clock
Configuring the CocktailAudio X45Pro is really simple and intuitive thanks to a large 7″ color TFT LCD display . The screen resolution is very high (1024×600 pixels with 65,536 colours) and is perfectly readable even from a distance. Interacting with the new graphic interface is really gratifying and immediate, also due to the vivid colors and optimal contrast. The icons are easy to understand and make the X45Pro user interface easy to use. All the elements shown on the screen, both textual and graphic, including album covers, are drawn in high resolution with a full range of colors. Through a very pleasant function, you can also show on the X45Pro display (or on an external screen , via HDMI connection) a carousel of images and photographs of your choice .
FAST CD-RIPPING, WITH METADATA AND COVERS
Ultra-precise reading and writing mechanics
The Cocktail Audio X45Pro rips Audio CDs quickly and precisely, with bit-by-bit reading for perfect extraction of the digital data contained on the optical medium. The X45Pro Audio Cocktail will catalog your CD collection by album, artist, music genre, year of production, mood, tempo and store all this information in X45Pro's MusicDB music database. The metadata and artwork are taken directly from the Gracenote professional service. The encoding options offered during ripping are: WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, MP3 or OGG. You can rip the Audio CDs completely, or choose to extract only the tracks of your interest. The music files stored inside of the CocktailAudio systems are absolutely standard files and are freely accessible and reproducible also by other music reproduction devices capable of reading the same audio formats. We care about the fact that all your music tracks are always easily usable and accessible even through other devices, and for this reason the data is NEVER encrypted in any way by the CocktailAudio. Think of the inconvenience you would have if a proprietary system for encrypting the music tracks was used! In fact, in case of need, you would no longer be able to access your precious Albums from an external device, and this would be really frustrating…Unfortunately, there are also products that adopt this bizarre method of proprietary data management, but in our case, don't worry: this DOESN'T HAPPEN with CocktailAudio systems! On the rear panel of X45Pro there is also an HDMI video output for connection to an external screen. In this way, you can manage the CocktailAudio X45Pro as you prefer:
- With the native graphical interface shown on the integrated 7″ TFT display
- With the WEB interface (WebGUI) viewable on a PC (Windows, MacOS, Linux) or on an iOS or Android Smartphone or Tablet
- With the dedicated Novatron Music-X App compatible with iOS or Android systems
- Via the supplied remote control
- Through the commands on the front panel of the CocktailAudio
This means that, unlike other similar devices, with the CocktailAudio X45Pro, you are not obliged to buy other control devices! You are NOT obliged to buy even a tablet... You are immediately operational, and the money you save can be invested to buy CDs and vinyls!
