Edition 5 - April 2020
Welcome![]()
Welcome to Sound Matters – Melco Audio’s newsletter, designed to keep you updated on Melco news and industry insights.
I am delighted to have taken on the role of General Manager at Melco, whilst Alan Ainslie moves to manage distribution of Melco in the UK, North America and parts of Europe. Melco offers the world's first audiophile-grade source components to access, store, deliver and play Hi-Res digital music without the use of computer hardware and peripherals. Our uncompromising digital music libraries are the talk of industry awards and are regularly used by leading audio manufacturers to showcase their devices. We want to make sure this newsletter continues to be a valuable read for you, so please send ideas and suggestions for future content you’d like to see to: hello@melco-audio-masters.com Happy reading and stay safe, Daniel Raggett Melco Europe General Manager Trial Melco in your home via our UK retail network![]()
We’ve unveiled a new initiative to help locked-down music lovers get the most from their collections. Melco dealers are currently not able to adequately support customers new and old due to government restrictions, so our UK distributor, Audiophile Digital Music Masters (ADMM), will be working closely with retailers to offer its own demo stock to anyone who wishes to evaluate products in the comfort of their own homes, with their own systems.
With shows, exhibitions and events currently on hold due to nationwide restrictions, we have a pool of demonstration units available for audition and with retailers’ physical stores closed for a period, our retail network has both the time and capacity to help arrange logistics. We have most models available on a first come, first served basis and will endeavour to cater to all requests for home demonstration samples. Our dealer network will also be able to advise on part-exchange opportunities and for existing Melco users, updating libraries to the new EX specification. Please contact your local Melco Master Dealer to discuss options. If you’re unable to get hold of your dealer, please contact Daniel Raggett - Melco Europe General Manager, at draggett@buffalo-technology.com Enjoy the music! Meet the Melco Master Dealer
In each edition of Sound Matters, we’ll be focussing on one of our Melco Master Dealers. Melco has a training program dedicated to creating a network of skilled Master Dealers who have been assessed in respect to Melco features, installation and support, as well as advanced Hi-Res Audio techniques and network infrastructure for hi-fi devices.
Our high streets are of course closed with the Covid-19 pandemic, but our dealers are available via phone and email for support.
In this edition, we speak to Paul Bird -
Sales Manager at Hi-Fi Corner Which brands do you sell?
We sell everything from lifestyle Bluetooth speakers and systems, to high-end systems and A/V products, including the best quality solidstate and valve-based systems - Naim, Linn, Ayon Audio and Quad, amongst others, utilising all sources, including vinyl from Linn and Avid, plus streaming to hard drive-based sources, such as Melco and dCS.
We also have a considered range of the bestknown speakers, something for all - we have ported and non-ported cone-based speakers from Wilson Audio, Harbeth, DALI, KEF, Spendor, PMC and Bowers and Wilkins, horns from Klipsch and electrostatics by MartinLogan and Quad, plus active systems from Linn and ATC. Why do you do what you do?
If there is one thing we all share at Hi-Fi Corner, it’s passion. We all have a passion for music, whether live or recorded and, of course, we all share a passion for making sure our customers are delighted with the service and advice they receive, and ultimately, that the system allows them to enjoy their chosen music for many years.
We pride ourselves on treating all customers equally and offering the best advice - it doesn’t matter what customers are looking for, it could be an inexpensive stylus, a pair of headphones, or full systems and component upgrades. Our customers comprise the full gamut, some with limited budgets, others limitless, but each one is made to feel we are working to get them the very best, because we feel we have the same passion as our customers. They keep coming back for many years and are considered as much as friends as clients. What do you enjoy about Melco?
We decided to stock Melco as it really is all things to all men when it comes to managing your online and offline digital music files - whether streaming via your favourite streaming service, or ripping and managing a large database of files stored locally on the Melco itself, or your wider network and all seamlessly.
Given Melco is part of Buffalo, with their industry-leading hard-disc systems, this means that you know the Melco units utilise the best hard disc drives to optimise sound quality and you can hear it in the performance. Even if you don’t own a Melco hard disc-based system, you can still benefit from Melco’s products - their new S100 network data switch is an audiophile’s dream. Adding it into your network will result in improvements across the board, no matter what your brand of streamer is. But, don’t take my word for it, pop along and we will happily demonstrate this and let you try the product at home in your own system – something we’re seeing a lot more requests for in the current climate Do you have a recent customer success story?
We have many customers who heave raved about what their Melco has done for their listening. We have one client, who now has all his music in one place, over 3 TB on his Melco N10 and his music files are now not mixed up with his data files, and he no longer needs his computer to listen to his music. And, as a bonus, he can stream music directly via the Melco.
We are also currently installing another Melco N10 for a customer with files on his Naim NDX2 (now full) and another off-board hard drive. We will be transferring the files on his Naim onto the Melco N10 digital library, leaving him plenty of space on both. Once that is done, we will be attaching his standalone hard drive with many more terrabytes, into the Melco N10 via USB, meaning all his music will be easily accessible and all available from one remote UPnP client. As a retailer, having a range of products that can be adapted to suit customer needs is a dream come true and makes us look like superstars in the eyes of the customers. Guest Blog:
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