14 DAY TRIAL // "Yes, there is!" this is the answer to the question you're thinking about. The Japanese company Onkyo have prepared the new device built to quench your thirst for extreme audio quality. The HDC 1.0 is a PC entirely dedicated to media and to those who are constantly chasing the "most perfect" tool for their audio media.
Well, looks like the Onkyo HDC 1.0 HD comes with a Vista pre-load, but don't expect the utmost in operating systems. What matters is the Onkyo's SE-90PCI PCI (obviously) sound card pumping a 120dB SNR signal at 24bit/192kHz: this means better-than-CD quality so you'd better have some more-than-very-good speakers if you want to hear what the HDC 1.0 can deliver. Altogether with the Onkyo's own music download service working on 24bit/96kHz the Onkyo HD is an already very promising piece of gear.
The HDC 1.0 HD is no laughing matter: a 1.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor runs it from the inside with 1 GB of RAM; a 2.5" 120GB SATA HDD does the storage service while a gigabit Ethernet plus DVI and optical output set of connections enforce the communication with the "exterior". 6 USB slots (of which 2 are in front), 2 Firewire and a "super multi-drive" DVD unit fill the rest of the features.
The power source is external, so no additional fans are required besides the 8cm on inside. This means the HDC 1.0 runs a lot quieter than most devices of its size; of course, the solid rubber damping panels inside the box also help, but the choice of putting things the way sound rack devices were back in the 80's and 90's was a no-compromise solution.
The price for the HDC 1.0 HD only is almost a fair one (in the audiophile range, that is): about $1750 does not qualify the Onkyo "tool" for the "those unreachable things" category; nevertheless, it doesn't go for everyone. Especially if we think of the HDC together with the Onkyo matching amplifier things are a bit different: having to pay $2050 IS a "bit" of a pocket-reaper. If you're ready to exchange 2000 bucks for a nice piece of audiophile technology, go for it, because from what was to be seen so far, things are really serious with this Japanese brand.
Photos by Impress Watch.
