T+A Caruso R

T+A Caruso R

By any requirements, the Caruso system was at all times one thing of an outlier within the T+A spread. Yes, the corporate already had the compact Cala streaming receiver, however most of its lineup contains hefty and fantastically engineered separates with monikers similar to MP 2000 R MkII and SD 3100 HV – in different phrases, simply what you anticipate from a really German model whose title is all about Theory and Application.

Launched again in 2008, the unique Caruso, nevertheless, was completely different: right here was T+A doing way of life, with a considerably proportioned ‘nothing so as to add’ one-box community audio possibility, full with an all-new working system, a complete of 200W of amplification plus DSP for lively drive of channels for the onboard speaker models, and even user-selectable ambient lighting – and all for £3,000. The vary later developed with the addition of the up to date Caruso Blu, which added Blu-ray playback to the occasion.

Now there’s a brand new Caruso, and it’s not solely extra compact than the unique, but in addition relatively completely different in idea: the £3,000 Caruso R we’ve earlier than us should still have amplification onboard, however now the inner audio system of the unique are lacking, and the unit has been designed to drive standard exterior audio system. Launched alongside it are two speaker selections – the floorstanding S10 towers, at £2,500 a pair and the £1,300 cube-shaped R10, designed as a visible match for the Caruso R for these swish loft house way of life photos – however after all it’s additionally completely attainable to pair the brand new fashions with audio system of your alternative.

It’s a tribute to the unique design that the newest model nonetheless appears very modern, its all-black foremost physique – right here with gloss side-panels changing the speaker grilles – sandwiched between anodised aluminium prime and backside plates. It creates a putting impression within the room even on this smaller iteration, which is simply 21cm tall and 29cm vast and deep. What’s extra, the corporate’s Navigator working system, which is on the coronary heart of Caruso, serves the brand new mannequin extraordinarily nicely, albeit in a type closely tailored to the modified proportions and up-to-date necessities, to not point out the adoption of a 7in panorama format display instead of the unique’s upright orientation.

The specification right here is fairly complete: in addition to a slot-loading CD participant on the prime of the entrance panel and inner FM/DAB+/web radio functionality, the final of these utilizing the Airable platform, the Caruso R has intensive community functionality, courtesy of a brand new streaming module bringing with it compatibility with Amazon Music HD, Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify Connect and Tidal. The community streaming part can deal with PCM content material at as much as 24-bit/192kHz – there’s none of that chasing ever-higher bit-rates or DSD variations right here. There’s additionally a USB port to permit music to be performed from storage units and the Bluetooth implementation can each obtain audio from transportable units and play out, for instance to wi-fi headphones in what’s referred to as ‘sink and supply’ working. Apple AirPlay 2 rounds out the wi-fi functionality, whereas community connection is through Ethernet or wi-fi.

What’s extra, the Caruso R affords management through the unit’s massive touchscreen, the provided distant handset, T+A’s Caruso app or Alexa voice controls, with a ‘button’ on the display do you have to want to flip off the Alexa microphones on the top-plate should you’re involved about privateness.

Rather like that picture of a swan gliding serenely whereas its legs are going just like the clappers beneath the water, the cool, easy appears of the entrance of the Caruso R belies a really busy rear panel. No fewer than three antennae are provided, for instance: compact ones for wi-fi and Bluetooth and a superb old school telescopic one for radio, although you could possibly use an exterior aerial as an alternative – for the perfect reception and to maintain the look cleaner. There are additionally two Ethernet ports to permit the unit to connect with a house community and supply an output to feed different units.

Two units of analogue inputs are available, together with optical and coaxial digital inputs and that USB Type A for storage units, whereas – along with terminals to attach the audio system – there are variable-level preouts for hooking as much as an exterior amplifier or lively audio system, a mono subwoofer output and in addition a headphone socket.

And right here we come to my solely quibbles concerning the ergonomics of the Caruso R: I get the necessity to maintain the entrance panel tidy, however each the headphone socket and the USB port could be extra conveniently positioned there, permitting simpler entry. Yes, there’s that Bluetooth headphone implementation and all of the streaming functionality, however placing these sockets on the entrance would save a great deal of fumbling round behind the unit. Also a bit of shocking nowadays is the dearth of any USB Type B port to which a pc could possibly be linked, however I suppose once more T+A reckons it’s acquired all that lined off with the wi-fi choices.

The Caruso R additionally has a spread of changes and options in its menu system: apart from 12 presets apiece for each FM and DAB, plus 5 programmable alarms, there’s additionally selectable enter sensitivity; tone and steadiness controls, a loudness setting to spice up low frequencies when enjoying at low ranges and a alternative of two ‘contour’ modes to regulate readability and heat; and variable subwoofer crossover and stage settings. The loudspeaker outputs and the preouts may also be switched on and off independently – which could possibly be helpful should you have been utilizing the preouts to drive an amplifier and audio system in a second ‘zone’ – and the person can designate favorite sources for fast entry or certainly mark unused sources to be skipped.

Sound high quality
For all of the wide-ranging flexibility right here, the Caruso R is fairly simple to put in and setup, the app making it easy to attach it to the house community and hyperlink it to native storage and streaming companies – although you may also do all this from the front-panel touchscreen – and the audio connections holding no worry for anybody who’s ever plugged in a standard amplifier. As is seemingly inevitable nowadays, the overview unit instantly launches right into a barely prolonged computerized firmware replace process as quickly because it’s in contact with the web, however past that every one is obvious crusing – helped no finish by that giant, clear touchscreen show, which is mirrored on the exemplary app.

The matching audio system haven’t been provided for this overview, however the unit has sufficient energy to drive a variety of third-party selections: the onboard amplification delivers 50W into 8ohm, doubling right into a 4ohm load, with peak output at 50 p.c extra. That proves to be greater than ample for the audio system with which I strive the T+A, together with the Scansonic M20 reviewed within the final situation and my very own Neat Iota Xplorer (HFC 435), each of that are pushed and managed with authority, whether or not from community or on-line sources, or the superb onboard CD participant.

The steadiness right here is extra refined and mature than pink in tooth and claw, which means that the Caruso R places up a fantastic displaying with First Aid Kit’s dwell Who By Fire set of Leonard Cohen covers. A small tweak of the contour controls brings out extra of the presence of the set, however that aside the speedy impression is of weight and richness allied to fantastic ranges of element, immediately involving the listener within the performances. There’s not fairly the pace and drive you’d get from the equally priced fashions within the Naim Uniti vary, for instance, or from NAD’s M-series all-in-one streaming amplifiers, however the generosity of the T+A sound mixed with the benefit of listening it affords is tough to miss.

While meaning the Caruso R isn’t fully crisp with the rhythms of some classic Bob Marley or much more aged John Coltrane, there’s no denying the bass weight it delivers with the reggae or the way in which a jazz bass and drums combo is stuffed out to underpin a soloist. And the identical goes with Eric Clapton’s Just One Night album, by which the stellar solid of backing musicians guarantee one of many guitarist’s higher dwell recordings, even when doesn’t fairly seize him on the prime of his sport – sure, the T+A stays heat and just a bit protected, however then that fits this set relatively nicely.

Conclusion
Move again into the Caruso R’s consolation zone, with high-quality recordings from Justin Beiber’s Justice set to the highly effective vocals of Loretta Lynn on her Still Woman Enough album, taking in some demo-quality jazz alongside the way in which, and the sound right here is bewitching sufficient to command loads of listening time – not simply because it’s really easy to get pleasure from, but in addition as a result of it attracts the listener in. Yes, it might be simple to accuse the Caruso R’s steadiness of being ‘way of life hi-fi’ and even being designed for these historically left unmoved by audiophile methods, however as an alternative it displays a sonic method that’s obvious throughout the T+A spread, proper as much as its huge amplification parts: from their operation to their presentation, the corporate’s merchandise appear decided to show that musical enjoyment needn’t be tough and the Caruso R merely affords that pondering in miniature, and with supreme model. AE    

DETAILS
Product: T+A Caruso R
Type: Network receiver

FEATURES
● Quoted energy output: 2x 50W (8ohm)
● Bluetooth/AirPlay 2
● Compatible with recordsdata as much as 24-bit/192kHz

Read the total overview in  Issue 475

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March 4, 2024 at 05:38PM