432 Hz tuning
432 Hz is one of the ways to tune musical instruments, and is also known as the Tuning Note “A” and A = 432. Music tuned to 432 Hz sounds better than contemporary music which is tuned at A = 440. The famous Stradivarius for example was tuned to 432 Hz according to the Verdi tuning
During historical periods when instrumental music rose in prominence (relative to the voice), there was a continuous tendency for pitch levels to rise, also known as the pitch inflation. A higher pitch such as our current A = 440 standard sounds sharper, louder and more “fresh”, but also more aggressive, which is not a quality audiophiles are looking for.
The 432 EVO offer you the possibility to convert your existing music on the fly into the better sounding 432 Hz, without any resolution loss. Several best of show awards we have won are the ultimate proof, and recent research by Maria Renold and a group of 2000 people showed that 90% preferred 432 Hz.
For purists we still offer bit perfect mode on par with the best CD transports, or upsample only mode for those who want to tune the sound. All these modes are live switchable.
Dedicated Core
The 432 EVO Master incorporates a modern power efficient quad core CPU updated in Q4 2020 with 8 GB of RAM, and now twice as fast as N4200 based competitors. We implement techniques from the supercomputing world inside the Master to guarantee a stellar audio performance: the audio decoders and 432 Hz processing run on a dedicated core, and will never run out of CPU cycles or have to fight with other processes.The dedicated audio core runs a custom clock scheduler which doesn’t interrupt the critical audio processes 1000 times per second, greatly improving software jitter, as process switching is minimized.
The Master also eliminates typical “chaos” found inside the OS of other servers by using advanced kernel & process tuning configurations not found in any competing product, further lowering software jitter by reducing entropy. This is a remarkable achievement and key to it’s stellar performance.
Using custom BIOS and kernel tuning, the EVO actually shuts down chip functionality on the motherboard, so it acts like a software defined custom motherboard. The big advantage of this approach is that the Master is future proof. If faster and/or better sounding main boards become available, the customer will be able to upgrade unlike may of our competitors. We already offer this to existing customers.
We use a custom realtime Linux OS, refined and tuned by 432 EVO’s owner Frederic Vanden Poel, who is also a senior Linux consultant building on 20+ years of IT experience. The EVO can be on 24/7 and will never run hot, always running cool while sounding analog and very refined.
Linux
432 EVO uses a custom realtime Linux OS tuned for ultra low software jitter and reduced entropy.
Solidstate Drive
The 432 EVO MASTER comes with 2 TB of full SSD storage, but can also be ordered with 4 or 8 TB full SSD.
Bit Perfect Ripper
The bit perfect Teac rip drive is hand tested and compared against test CD’s for perfect operation.
Modern CPU
The 432 EVO uses a modern CPU introduced in Q4 2020, twice as fast as competitors still using N4200 chips from 2016.
USB DAC output
Our ultra low noise USB DAC output is a dedicated audiophile output board independent of the main board’s USB ports.
Super Clock
Our MASTER does not reclock the ultra low noise USB output, but clocks it directly with a dedicated super clock board.
USB Tuning
The audiophile USB output is controlled in Linux and custom tuned to get the highest realtime priority.
Linear Power Supply
The importance of a pure and clean power supply for digital audio cannot be stressed enough. Digital audio’s enemy is noise, and much of that comes from poorly designed power supplies or cheap SMPS (switched mode power supplies). In fact a dirty power supply can not only ruin the sonic performance of a server, it can also inject noise down the mains to infect the rest of your system!
We thus take the design of our power supplies extremely seriously. The Master has a true triple independent power supply. Instead of offering masses of dependent DC rails from one transformer, every output rail in the Master has a separate AC filter, medical grade shielded custom transformer and dual stage DC buffering.
The second part of the DC buffer is inside each of the three bundled color coded silver DC cables, leading to a very short current paths towards the dedicated USB output board and superclock board, which is just a few centimeters. The “IT” parts inside the server also have their own dedicated power supply, with DC filtering between storage and main board, acting as a noise firewall for PWM converters in SSD’s.
Using a triple design with 3 transformers leads to much faster transients compared to a shared transformer. The power supply is also free of any transformer noise.
Roon
Comes pre-installed with a recent full Roon Core (not just endpoint). A separate Roon license is required.
Tidal streaming
Compatible with Tidal subscription-based music streaming service that combines lossless audio and high-definition music.
Qobuz streaming
Compatible with Qobuz streaming service with more than 40 million tracks available, and also offers true 24 bit streaming.
Internet Radio
Supports thousands of internet radio stations, and common formats including AAC, AACv2, MP3 and lossless FLAC stations.
Logitech Media Server
LMS is a very stable music server with two decades of software improvements, and is still supported.
Spotify
Compatible with Spotify, currently the biggest digital music service that gives you access to millions of songs.
iPeng controller
LMS users can use several control apps, including iPeng or the LMS web interface.
SqueezePad controller
Squeezepad is another controller, and like iPeng can control the LMS library manager.
| AUDIO OUTPUTS | ||
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Digital output
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Superclock based dedicated USB 3.0 output supporting USB Audio Class 2.0 to connect to your USB DAC | |
| Network streaming with realtime scheduling to any Roon endpoint and Logitech / Squeezebox based players | ||
| CONNECTIVITY | ||
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Ethernet
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1x RJ45 for realtime clocked gigabit supporting true gigabit ethernet ISPs | |
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USB
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1x ultra high-end low jitter superclock based USB DAC output | |
| 2x USB 3.0 ports for backup or connecting additional USB dacs | ||
| 2x USB 2.0 ports for connecting additional USB dacs | ||
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KVM
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VGA, DVI, HDMI and keyboard/mouse service ports normally never needed as the EVO is VPN supported | |
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Grounding terminal
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Optional grounding terminal supporting bare wire, banana and spades can be purchased when ordering your 432 EVO, to connect grounding cables and grounding boxes, or to create a direct grounding path between your EVO and DAC | |
| OPEN FILE FORMATS | ||
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Logitech Media Server
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All common formats including DSD, WAV, flac, MP3, ogg vorbis, aac, Passthrough of MQA | |
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Roon
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MP3, WAV, WAV64, AIFF, FLAC, Apple Lossless, OGG, and AAC at resolutions up to 32 bit 768kHz. Roon also supports DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, and DSD512 in the DSF and DFF formats. | |
| DRM FILE FORMAT | ||
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Logitech Media Server
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Ogg Vorbis as supported by Spotify Passthrough of MQA towards MQA DAC when using bitperfect mode | |
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Roon
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MQA first unfold supported & any MQA feature in Roon As MQA does not recover any new audio data in the second unfold, second unfold can be replaced by 432 EVOs own upsample which also can support minimum phase rendering with one cycle of post-ringing, or the superior sounding Archimago minimum phase filter. |
| AUDIO TRANSFORMATIONS | ||
| Bitperfect mode | No audio transformations occur, unless DAC does not support sample rate or bit depth of format, otherwise true bitperfect matching or even beating the most exclusive CD transports | |
| Upsampling-only | Output most DSD & PCM formats in any input samplerate as 24 bit or 32 bit output in one of the following output samplerate: 44.1K, 88.2K, 176.4K, 352.8K and DXD, 706.6K 48K, 96K, 192K, 384K, 768K |
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| 432 Hz mode | Same as upsampling mode, but with 432 Hz processing without resolution loss. 432 Hz and upsampling are a combined one step algorithm, therefore no additional load is caused on the CPU when using 432 Hz mode compared to upsampling | |
| SUPPORTED TUNING TRANSFORMATIONS USING 432 Hz MODE | ||
| Input pitch | 440 Hz up to 445 Hz in one step increments Other pitches can be added by special request |
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| Output pitch | 415 Hz 426 Hz 430.5 Hz (Equal Tone Temperament) 432 Hz (Verdi’s A, Pythagorean Temperament) 440 Hz (today’s Concert Pitch) → used for upsample-only mode 444 Hz |
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| Supported input formats | Any audio and file format from local files on the internal storage on the EVO or a NAS, internet radio, on demand streaming services such. 444 Hz mode not compatible with live internet radio |
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| UPSAMPLING RECIPES For Upsampling-only and 432 Hz modes |
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| Linear phase | User tunable linear phase filter, including tuning of processing buffer size and several precision options. All frequencies have the same delay through the filter. | |
| Minimum phase | User tunable minimum phase filter, including tuning of processing buffer size and several precision options. No pre-ringing. Post-ringing can be regular long tail “minimum-phase” without aliasing, or reduced MQA / Ayre inspired one cycle of post-ringing with free bonus aliasing, create pseudo ultrasonics. |
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| Intermediate phase | The only server on the market supporting Archimago’s Intermedia Phase upsampling, the most ideal filter with mainly post-ringing and no phase issues within the audible range. 432 EVO implements his original recipe, and two improved variants of this filter |
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| AUDIO SAMPLE RATES | ||
| Sample rates | All common multiples of 44.1 and 48K All common DSD formats |
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| Bit depths | 16, 24 and 32 bit |
| CONTROL APPS | ||
| Roon | Official Roon remote running on Apple or Android tablets & phones. Desktop version of Roon for PC or MAC acting as a Roon remote control. |
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| Logitech Media Server | Any web browser for web based version of GUI SqueezePad (iPad) iPeng (iPhone/iPad) Orange Squeeze (Android) Squeezer (Android) Squeeze Remote (Windows) |
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| CONFIGURATION INTERFACE | ||
| Web Gui | Web interface usable on any phone, tablet, laptop or desktop: 1. Configure the 432 Hz enabled player 2. Check the riplogs 3. Switch between Roon & Logitech Media Server 4. Several other system configuration parameters not often changed |
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| HARDWARE | ||
| Ripdrive | Hand tested Teac slot-loading, tested with at least 5 retail CD’s which are known to cause rip issues on some drives. All CD’s must past our extreme test. | |
| Default storage | 2 TB SDD on spring suspension system, with sata noise filtering and sata protocol tuning for lower EMI. |
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| Storage upgrades | Optional 4 or 8 TB full SSD. Please ask your reseller for pricing. | |
| CPU | J5040 tuned to a more constant power draw for lower software jitter. More modern and twice as fast than some competitors who use the outdated N4200. |
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| Memory | 8 GB, plenty enough for Roon even when importing larger collections. | |
| SUPPORTED STREAMING SERVICES | ||
| Roon | Internet radio, Qobuz and Tidal. | |
| Logitech Media Server | Internet radio, Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify and any service for which an LMS plugin is available. | |
| REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Mains supply | 230V or 115V AC True triple linear power supply with triple transformers Versions for 110 / 220 / 120 / 240 Volt countries on special order. |
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| Internet | Internet connection required for updates, VPN support & metadata retrieval. Can work standalone (e.g. hifi shows, shows on location) with just a Wi-Fi router attached via ethernet and no active internet connection. |
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| DAC USB | To use the superclock based USB output, you’ll need a USB dac conforming to USB Class Audio 2.0 standard (most DAC’s follow this standard). | |
| Network endpoint | To stream to endpoints, you’ll need Roon RAAT or Squeezebox compatible endpoints. |
| PHYSICAL | ||
| Colour | Black or silver | |
| Weight | PSU 8.2 KG Server 5 KG |
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| Dimensions | PSU 435 x 325 x 60mm (W x D x H, 69mm including feet) Server 435 x 325 x 60mm (W x D x H, 69mm including feet) |
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| What’s in the box | DC cables Server PSU Manuals & Quickguide |
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| Cabling | Triple set of red/green/yellow color coded high-end DC cables 3x DC high-end cables included, each approx 80cm Server & PSU can be placed top down,or even on different rack shelves, or side by side – bundled cables are long enough for all these variations. |
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| Chassis | Modular chassis which will support future hardware updates such as new mainboards as they come to market | |
| WARRANTY & REMOTE SUPPORT | ||
| 2 years limited warranty 2 years VPN support included with the 432 EVO |
