Melco S100 MK2 Audiophile Network Data Switch

Melco S100 Mk2 audiophile network data switch is the latest version of this model and has been optimised for networking with audio distribution in mind. It provides a low noise environment and has better clock control and accuracy than general purpose switches, which should result in less chance of packet errors and jitter which can ultimately affect the sound of the digital files reaching your streamer.

Unlike lesser switches, this is also a managed switch and in addition to Ethernet also features Fibre Optic Ethernet connections. The latter is only compatible with the top-end Melco Music servers and players at present - however, you can utilise this connection by using an ADOT fibre optic gigabit network upgrade kit (available separately).

Built from the ground up

S100 Mk2 has been designed from the ground up as an audio switch. It uses no off the shelf components. Normally, network switches focus on throughput and speed. The S100 Mk2 will offer a dramatic improvement in performance for audio distribution on a network. It is compatible with Gigabit Ethernet as well as Fibre Optic Ethernet.

Another aspect of careful design relates to the packet buffer. Hi-res data streaming generates a lot of data. This can overload the buffer of a network switch, resulting in drop outs and buffering. The S100 Mk2 has a large 1.5MB buffer to mitigate this.

Data traffic through the switch

An Ethernet network carries a lot of audio data. This comes from remote servers feeding streaming services. For example Tidal or Qobuz. There is also NAS or network attached storage. This all passes through the network switch. Computers also connect to the switch and can have compromised audio on standard switches. Another big source of traffic is Roon. This can have both music storage and the Roon core connected to the network. Higher end Melco music libraries also feature Fibre Optic connection for full isolation and S100 Mk2 has optical inputs for this as well.

What is NAS?

Network attached storage (or ‘NAS’) refers to an external hard drive. These are usually connected to an Ethernet network via a network switch. Being attached to a network means that the audio can be shared by any device on the network. Each NAS will have a unique IP address and this will show on a PC as a separate device. Nowadays they can be mechanical drives or SSDs. Very large Solid State Drives are available on some of the Melco music libraries as an option.

What is a network data switch?

Most home networks use Ethernet, and your Wi-Fi router will usually have a set of ethernet ports that can be used to connect external devices, such as PCs and smart TVs. Larger networks will have many more devices connected to each other. This necessitates the use of a network switch. This is a device with many ethernet connections. In the case of the S100 Mk2 there are eight. This is also complicated by the fact that there are two speeds of Ethernet 100m or gigabit. The S100 Mk2 has connections for both. You may be wondering what this has to do with audio – please see below.

Audio streaming on a home network.

Modern streaming music systems use ethernet as a means of distributing the signal. This is not ideal as digital music is not just 1s and 0s – ideally it will be perfectly timed data in a low noise environment. That is the opposite of most home networks. Hence the need for an audio optimised network switch.

Who are Melco?

Melco specialises in Network audio. They build high performance networked audio components that provide the best possible audio quality. Melco began in 1975 making the finest possible audio components of the time. In 1980 they released a turntable that set new standards in the industry. They later moved into computer peripherals and were at one point the largest peripherals manufacturer in Japan. Today they meld their love of audio with technology to provide the best possible audio networking components for digitally stored music.