French audio streaming specialist Micromega has launched its AirStream WM-10 ‘wireless DAC’ in the UK.
Based around Apple’s AirPort Express wireless system, the device is designed to stream music from a PC or Mac, as well as other wireless devices such as the iPod Touch, iPhone and the new iPad.
It uses the IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi implementation which Micromega is confusingly referring to as WHiFI to distinguish it from other Wi-Fi specifications which can transmit multiple forms of data – WhiFI is audio only.
It uses a sophisticated linear power supply with a low-bandwidth R-CORE transformer to act as a natural line filter, which Micromega claims improves sound quality over standard AirPort Express modules.
The AirPort Express’s standard master clock has also been upgraded to a 25,000MHz clock with its own low-noise power supply and secondary winding on the transformer to further reduce jitter.
It’s 24-bit/192kHz-capable, and Micromega claims that CDs ripped on a computer to a lossless format, then streamed to the WM-10, will actually sound better than playing the disc back directly. Hmm.
Format-wise it can handle AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, MP3, WMA and WAV files, and has both analogue stereo and electrical digital outputs.
The Micromega AirStream WM-10 is available now in black or silver for £99 from distributor Absolute Sounds.