Novel-Tech CocktailAudio X10

Zitat: Der Cocktail Audio X10 ist ziemlich vielseitig. Die Bedienung des Gerät ist jedoch recht kompliziert und nicht intuitiv.

Zitat: The Cocktail Audio X10 manages to keep its potentially complex mix of features fairly intuitive and easy to use. Its audio performance using attached speakers or digital and analogue outputs is about equal to a midrange mini hi-fi, for which this makes a convenient replacement.

Zitat: Pro: + Two-way relationship with connected PC + choice of bittrate rips + small size + versatility. Contra: - Sound quality - file support isn´t total - no touchscreen operation. Those new to digital music, and those with a PC after somewhere to back-up a music collection could do worse than Cocktail Audio´s networkable X10. Also available with a 1TB HDD, it´s easy to use and spits out decent audio, though it will suit those after maximum flexibility rather than audiophiles, as it isn´t the last word in sound quality.

Zitat: Der kompakte X10 von Cocktail Audio ist sehr gut ausgestattet und ein echter Multimedia-Spezialist. CDs auszulesen und zu archivieren gelingt spielend einfach, genau wie das Navigieren durch die Menüs über das hochwertige Farbdisplay. Sehr schön, dass auch die Klangqualität des integrierten 60 Watt Verstärkers überzeugen kann.

Zitat: The good: + The Cocktail Audio X10 has a simple but classy design. The gun metal grey box has a 3.5-inch TFT screen with an easy-to-read interface and a row of eight buttons on the top of the box that allow you to access, setup and manage files with ease. Connections on the back are fully comprehensive, with USB 2.0, Ethernet, Audio in, Audio Out, optical out and headphone ports all covered, as well as speaker sockets so you can feed it directly to a set of speakers. We found the audio quality to be more than satisfactory. The Cocktail Audio X10 comes with a 60 Watt amp built-in, so you’ll find that once you rig it up to speakers there is plenty of sound to be had from the unit. What really makes the Cocktail Audio X10 a pleasure to use, is how simple it is. Sure, the remote control looks a little daunting but music playback is simple, anyone in the family will be able to make the most of it. It’s not just music of your own you can have access to, as the built-in internet radio means you can listen to hundreds of stations online. However, you’re limited to the non-HD versions with the current firmware model. The bad: - Being built around a mechanical hard drive, you will find that things take a little time to boot-up and run initially. There is also the issue of ambient noise from the hard drive, which thankfully isn’t too noticeable in the modern living room. The Cocktail Audio X10 lacks a touchscreen display, even though the six-box user-interface looks as though bit was initially designed with touchscreen in mind. This means you need to rely on the buttons on the top of the unit, which slows things down but isn’t too problematic. One of the niggles we found when using the unit was album art tended to be a little hit and miss. Sure, when importing files from the laptop or even from iTunes, you’ll find they appear but when you rip the disc from the player itself, you may find it a different matter. It’s a minor complaint but one that some users may well find distracting. Audiophiles will adore the Cocktail Audio X10, as it offers everything you need in one convenient box. Given that there is also easy access to the hard drive itself, it may well be possible to upgrade without too much hassle in the future. Overall, it’s a great device that works incredibly well and, most importantly, is easy to set up and use!