Audiophilepure

https://www.hifinews.com/content/roon-nucleus-titan-music-libraryserver

The Titan’s processing power is one area where it differs from the step-down Nucleus One, supporting a greater number of tracks and albums (over 100,000 and 10,000, respectively) and more simultaneous playback zones. Additionally, the Nucleus One does not support all the DSP options available via the Titan, while it uses an internal cooling fan, features far more prosaic casework, and has a reduced number of USB and HDMI connections.

As advertised, Roon’s new server is supremely easy to engage with. The power button around the rear lights up blue once pressed, which is useful or you’d otherwise have no way of knowing if the device was switched on. It runs silently, and those heatsinks are very effective at keeping the casework cool to barely warm.

The elephant in the room is that there’s nothing about the internal workings of the Nucleus Titan that a computer-savvy audiophile couldn’t assemble themselves. What this model offers, on the other hand, is a true plug-and-play solution. Yes, you could achieve the same for less if you did it yourself, but it wouldn’t be anywhere near as pretty, would most likely have a noisy fan… and you probably wouldn’t want it anywhere near your hallowed hi-fi rack.

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1224/Hegel_Music_Systems_H400_Streamliner_Review.htm

So what are my overall impressions of the sound? I normally don’t review solid-state amps, so first off I was impressed with the tonality of the H400. I listened to Vaughn Williams’ Third Symphony by Richard Hickox and the London Symphony Orchestra [Chandos], and I was surprised by the richness of the orchestra. The strings had an amazing amount of air and the horns had a warm burned glow. While the Hegel H400 did an excellent job retrieving detail from the music, it never sounded etched or hard. Dynamically, the H400 is a little reserved compared to the SET amps I’m used to. It’s extremely quiet, which lets a lot of inner detail through. With the Super Pensil 12 speakers, the H400 projected an impressive soundstage.

I enjoyed the time the H400 was in my system. It is a beautifully designed integrated amplifier with a superb DAC. Everything about it is of the highest quality. If you want to make your first step into high-end audio, or yearning to go back to a simpler time in your life, the H400 Streamliner might be the integrated amplifier for you.

https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2021/3/17/mzy0wu8mmo7yvt9zw7eak7f3heyba5

As a confirmed vinylphile, I sometimes have difficulty placing myself in the mainstream of digital life. Yet, I can see the writing on the wall. Sure, there are cheaper ways of playing your digital files and streaming, but I was pondering a system reviewed from products reviewed in Audiophilia over the past few weeks. Buy a Denafrips Ares II DAC so enjoyed by Michael Johnson, and along with streaming and Roon subs, use the Nucleus Plus ($2559) as the star traffic cop to direct things. In HiFi terms, a digital front end of somewhat modest investment but one that will stand the test of time.