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Introducing Melco EX Series

19/11/2019

21 Comments

 

Introducing Melco EX Series

Alan Ainslie, Melco Europe GM ​​
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Melco recently announced the Melco EX series platform – this finally solves the problems caused by trying to Browse and Search music collections which have incomplete or inconstant metadata and permits browsing by any tag in any order, rather than the conventional (and very restrictive) ‘browse by Artist, Album, Song’.

We have created other documents highlighting the benefits of this advanced and unique technology (including the blog post here), but the purpose of this short post is to clarify the EX situation for existing Melco owners.

Melco EX on N10/ N100
Melco N10 and N100 have in fact already been designed based on the new EX platform. This means that the next major firmware update V4.xx – expected early December – will give full EX functionality to all existing N10 and N100 at no cost to our users.
Melco EX upgrade on existing N1 Mk1 & Mk2
The current Melco N1 platform must be upgraded to the EX platform in order to accept the EX firmware.  This is not a hardware change and can be applied to both Mk1 and Mk2 N1 machines. It is all software, but because the HDDs will need a total rebuild, the update can only be carried out by Melco or approved service points.

We will issue full details shortly, but the plan is to be able to offer upgrades from March 2020 - possibly sooner, dependant on the availability of some software tools.

All Melco dealers and distributors will have full details of how the service will be offered in each market in December, at the time of the EX hardware launch, so please speak to your dealer at that time.

Melco N1 EX machines released in December will be a higher price than current Mk2 machines, because of all the extra software licenses etc. So the EX upgrade will also carry a charge - this will be nominal for machines purchased after the EX announcement at Munich this year (May 2019) and for older Mk2 will be comparable to the price difference between Mk2 and EX. 

Mk1 machines can also be upgraded - the costs will be confirmed in December and all Melco dealers will be aware of these. 
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VTuner
The new Melco EX Platform includes both Melco Intelligent Music Library (MIML) and VTuner for Internet Radio when using USB-DAC and Melco Music HD app. The Melco Music HD app has recently been updated to include the VTuner capability when used with EX platform machines and this is visible to all users - but any Melco not running firmware V4.xx cannot use VTuner.

Melco N1 Mk1 and Mk2 without EX upgrade
N1 Mk1 and Mk2 that are not updated to EX platform V4.xx will continue to receive support updates to FW V3.xx.

For example, there will be a firmware release V3.92 which will include an Installer for MinimServer2 Starter Edition and SongKong Lite. Although these two installations do not match the functionality of EX, both can be upgraded by payment of license fees to the full versions. (You can purchase the MinimServer upgrade here.  The SongKong full license can be purchased from here).

​V3.92 will therefore allow for SongKong Lite and MinimServer Lite to be installed, but EX upgrade is necessary to give full EX functionality including front panel OLED control and Internet Radio.

We hope this helps clarify how to benefit from the EX platform – please do contact your dealer with further questions and as noted above, they can help with upgrades when the time comes.

21 Comments
Meni Sosna
15/12/2019 03:25:51 pm

Hello.... I’m still waiting for your new update for my n10 as you mention to have in early December,but I didn’t get yet, maybe you can tell me now when will it be?... thanks Melco guys

Reply
Melco Audio
16/12/2019 08:23:39 pm

Hello Meni, the firmware went live today so your N10 can be directly updated over the Internet. Many thanks

Reply
Owen Powell
16/12/2019 06:36:06 pm

I have a MK1 N1 machine. If I upgrade to the EX platform, will I notice any sound quality improvements, or is it just extra functionality?

Reply
Melco Audio
16/12/2019 08:20:34 pm

Hello Owen,

The main reason for EX is to greatly improve the Browse and search experience compared to previous.

Part of the engineering strategy is to change the UPnP server from Twonky to MinimServer, and this does give a significant sound quality lift.

We will shortly offer V3.92 – this is NOT EX but will allow you to make an easy install of basic MinimServer and enjoy the sound quality benefit. This is a no cost support update – expected within a couple of weeks.

Hope this helps, many thanks

Reply
dany
9/1/2020 10:49:07 am

i have a n1 mk2, after i install the v3.92 can i also install minimservr 2 or only the first version?
and what about songkong, will it work well togethr with
the basic minimserver version?
thanks

Reply
DANY
9/1/2020 11:41:25 am

ooops sorry,
l raed again and understood.
but can you elaborate on the differenes between
the v3.92 with fool versions of minimserver and songkong
to the ex models?
thanks

Reply
Melco Audio
15/1/2020 02:36:35 pm

Hello Dany,

Melco EX series details are available on the 'Range' section of the website.

The EX series will install SongKong for Melco Lite and MinimServer 2 Starter edition. Both can be upgraded with full licenses very easily. MinimServer also have a basic free version of MinimServer which can be installed easily on FW V3.93. It is a full performance MinimServer installation, but is relatively light on features, and is no-cost and installation is simple. But to be honest, the real benefits of MinimServer 2 that are available on EX machines are a huge step forward.

The obvious example is the profiles.

You can view detailed comparisons here: http://www.minimserver.com/minimserver2/melco http://www.jthink.net/songkongformelco/serverlicensematrix.jsp

Hope this helps, many thanks

GreenMtnGringo
26/2/2020 04:58:19 pm

Hi, I have a Melco HA-N1ZH60 Mk1 running MinimServer 2. It runs well and sounds great. Are there any reasons -- a sonics benefit or otherwise -- that I should do the EX upgrade? My USA Melco dealer is not nearby, so the upgrade would require shipping both ways. Thanks very much.

Reply
GREENMTNGRINGO
14/4/2020 01:14:15 pm

Hi, I have not yet received a response to my February 26th question, above. Should I assume the answer to my question is NO? Thanks.

Reply
Melco Audio
14/4/2020 07:50:18 pm

Hi there, I'm very sorry - we must have missed this one at the time. It's a longer answer, so we'll email the reply now for you. Apologies again for missing this the first time around. Many thanks

George A
14/4/2020 07:20:11 am

Hi Alan,
I have a N1 - I installed software V3.92B (waiting for for 3.92), I am happy with this so far.... but my question is this....I would like to upgrade to EX - but there is no dealer nearby (Athens GR). I would like to benefit of the VTuner software too. Any suggestions? Is there a plan for the VTuner on legacy N1 series, even with a paid software upgrade? - Thanks -

Reply
Melco Audio
14/4/2020 09:21:16 am

Hello George, thanks for your comment. Alan will send you an email. Many thanks

Reply
Tim
10/6/2020 12:28:21 pm

Hi,
I've got an N1a/2 and am in Ireland. How do I go about an EX upgrade?
Tim

Reply
Melco Audio
11/6/2020 09:54:35 am

Hello Tim, thanks for the message. Where abouts in Ireland are you? We'll drop you an email with more details. Many thanks

Reply
Tim
11/6/2020 02:04:24 pm

Hi,
I'm in County Tipperary,
Tim

Craig
8/8/2020 09:55:52 pm

I am interested in getting the EX upgrade for my n1/a mk2 and am based in Suffolk, UK. Please can you email details of how I can go about this. Thank you.

Reply
Craig
9/8/2020 12:24:58 pm

Just to clarify, the dealer I purchased my Melco from is no longer a dealer so cannot do the update for me.

Reply
Melco Audio
10/8/2020 09:22:54 am

Hello Craig, many thanks for your message. Our Melco Master Dealer Signals are close by in Ipswich and would be able to help with the upgrade - https://signals.uk.com/. Many thanks

Craig
10/8/2020 11:40:50 am

Thank you, I will contact them.

Reply
Stuart Naylor
19/1/2021 04:57:42 pm

Hi I'm in London Ontario Canada, I have an N1a original version and I'm interested in getting the EX upgrade, where can I get this done?

Reply
Melco Audio
20/1/2021 03:20:48 pm

Hello Stuart, many thanks for your message. Bryan Taylor at The Gramophone can help with this - https://gramophone.ca/contact-us/. Many thanks

Reply



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