Ask an audiophile about digital audio and find a good place to sit. You'll definitely get an earful. Most digital audio systems don't sound bad, but they certainly don't deliver what most audiophiles would consider to be appropriate. However, just because digital formats are taking over, it doesn't mean that discerning listeners will have to suck it up and sacrifice quality.
A few manufacturers are looking to improve some of that digital sound quality. AudioControl is the latest to get into the digital audio ring, with its newly announced Rialto 400.
However, this isn't just another streaming box for your mix; this unit combines an amplifier with a built-in audiophile-grade DAC (digital to analog converter). The end result boasts better sound quality for analog and digital systems, as well as something like Sonos.
The Rialto 400 works with iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, and more. It can crank over 100 watts of power per channel into 8 ohms (or 200 watts into 4-ohm loads). It can even be bridged to act as a mono-block amp, but also has the built-in Wolfson DAC.
Other features include an integrated headphone jack and AudioControl's SMART Signal Sensing for prioritizing which input to use based on the listener's preference. There's also a host of digital and analog inputs, including PCM, a 12V trigger, Toslink, coaxial, line level RCA, 1/8-inch audio and speaker level inputs.
AudioControl will start selling the Rialto 400 next month, with an MSRP of $799.
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