While it does offer a few "legacy" analog inputs, it is for the most part all-digital, input to output, including network connections on both ends. Consequently, it is less likely to leave sonic fingerprints on the music than devices that convert digital to/from analog or modulate their signals with active amplification or attenuation.
It is notable that, despite its audio function, the Storm completely lacks traditional audio specifications-distortion, dynamic range, and so on.
Yes, that aspect of the product was appealing, but the real trigger for me was that when I began this review, the StormAudio ISP Evo was the only consumer device to fully incorporate the latest version of Dirac Live Active Room Treatment (ART). An earlier, more primitive version of ART, called DLBC Full Bass Optimisation, was tantalizing² but ran only on Windows or Mac computers and seemed never to get out of beta status. My expectation for the ISP Evo is that the installation and calibration procedures of this integrated version, which is now fully commercial and public, will be more coherent and smoother and that the results will be even better than before.
That's quite an attractive package, but it comes at the cost of easy integration. The ISP Evo cannot just be plunked down into any audio or home-theater system because its primary output is via network. Since it is "AoIP (AES67/Ravenna) Dante Compatible," it can communicate directly to network-enabled loudspeakers, DACs, amplifiers, and other devices-but not to those that don't speak one of those network dialects. In my setup, I needed to connect it to my PC Server by running the appropriate drivers in order to play files from my library or to stream music from the internet; Merging's MAD ASIO driver package installed on my PC server enabled bidirectional flow of multichannel audio between it and the ISP Evo.
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RABBIT HOLES
The best Christmas gift in history was George Bailey being shown what the world would be like without his being born, courtesy of Angel Second Class Clarence, in the classic 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.
REVINYLIZATION
As one of the first live albums to be recorded in the hallowed space that is New York City's Village Vanguard, Sonny Rollins's A Night at the Village Vanguard (recorded November 3, 1957, released in 1958) set the template, proving that recording in the odd, triangular club could not only work but could also produce distinctive, satisfying sound.
AURAL ROBERT
Recording music is complicated, and without the crucial assistance of producers and engineers, a lot of great records-not to mention successful musical careers would not happen.
Linear Tube Audio Aero
This paragraph from Linear Tube Audio's website description of their new Aero DAC sets the tone for the story I'm about to tell.
PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid
Hybrid\" technology-specifically, mixing tubed and solid state in the same amplification device-stirs a deep desire for many enthusiasts.
SPIN DOCTOR
There once was an ugly duckling
BRILLIANT CORNERS
Stereo is the most successful audio gimmick of all time. While dashboard record players, quadraphonic LPs, and MQA have gone the way of Ron Popeil's hair-in-aspray-can infomercials, stereo remains king. And I am guilty of loving it.
Franco Serblin Accordo Goldberg
As founder and chief designer of Sonus Faber, Franco Serblin designed and manufactured many loudspeakers of acclaimed high quality, mainly in box form.
Grimm Audio MU2
For several months, my wife and I had been living in a cozy studio apartment in New York's Financial District while our apartment underwent substantial renovations.'
GoldenEar Technology T66
Loudspeaker company GoldenEar Technology was founded in 2010 by audio industry veteran Sandy Gross¹ after he left Definitive Technology.