D’Agostino LLC launches MLife integrated amp with built-in streaming, AirPlay, Bluetooth and Tidal
Advanced integrated amplifier will be shown at shown at CES Venetian Suite 29-224, January 6 to 9, 2015
CAVE CREEK, AZ, DECEMBER 30, 2014 — D’Agostino LLC, the company founded by famed audio designer Dan D’Agostino, is launching MLife, a new integrated amplifier that adds the convenience of mainstream wireless audio products to D’Agostino’s acclaimed Momentum amplifier design.
MLife uses the same amplifier circuits as the Momentum integrated amp, but replaces the tone controls with a 5-inch color LCD display. This display and an accompanying iOS and Android app allow consumers to stream music losslessly through Apple AirPlay; browse thousands of online radio stations through built-in vTuner Internet radio capability; access Tidal high-fidelity music streaming; and connect to smartphones, tablets and computers wireless through Airplay and aptX Bluetooth 4.0.
“In the high-end audio industry, we often say if you want something that’s convenient and easy to use, get a mainstream product. With MLife, we’re delivering all the convenience and user-friendliness of those products, with sound quality that is unmatched by anything else on the market,” D’Agostino founder and chief engineer Dan D’Agostino said.
MLife uses the exact same amplifier and preamplifier circuits as the Momentum integrated amp, except that the integrated amp’s tone controls have been replaced with a wired/wireless network interface. The network capability allows access to a practically unlimited amount of music and other audio content:
Apple AirPlay: MLife can access any music and Internet radio programs available through iTunes, and control the streaming through iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads, and through Mac and Windows computers running iTunes.
aptX Bluetooth 4.0: Anything you can listen to through a smartphone, tablet or computer can be streamed directly to MLife through Bluetooth wireless. Because MLife features aptX and Bluetooth 4.0, it delivers the best Bluetooth sound possible.
Tidal: MLife can stream music directly from Tidal, the new Internet streaming service that uses lossless audio compression to deliver uncompromised sound quality.
UPnP: For those who wish to stream directly from networked servers and computers, MLife offers UPnP compatibility.
USB drives and sticks: MLife can play music from USB drives and sticks connected to its USB input. The 5-inch LCD screen shows album/artist/genre/song title information, making it easy to find the music you want in seconds.
USB/optical/coaxial digital inputs: These inputs feed MLife’s 24-bit/192-kilohertz digital-to-analog converter, allowing playback directly from computers, CD drives and other digital audio sources.
vTuner Internet radio: Through MLife’s app and 5-inch LCD screen, you can access tens of thousands of different Internet radio stations from all around the world.
XLR analog input: An analog XLR input allows connection of phono stages, tape decks and other analog sources.
More services coming: After the initial launch of MLife, D’Agostino plans to add additional streaming services such as Spotify, Deezer and Sirius XM.
All of these services can be controlled through a custom app for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. Metadata is displayed on the 5-inch front LCD screen, along with other operating parameters such as volume and selected input. Supported file formats include DSD; WAV, FLAC and PCM up to 24/192 resolution; AAC, AIFF, MP3, Ogg Vorbis and WMA.
The MLife amplifier section is identical to the one found in the Momentum integrated amplifier, delivering 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 400 watts into 4 ohms and 800 watts into 2 ohms. As in the integrated amp, a chassis machined from solid aluminum billet isolates the audio circuitry from electromagnetic interference. For maximum audio performance, the power supply resides in its own separate machined aluminum enclosure. All analog audio circuit boards are built using through-hole construction to ensure reliable operation and the best possible sound quality.
MLife will be priced at $48,000 and will be available March 2015. It will be demonstrated with other D’Agostino products, including the new Cinema Standard multichannel amplifier, at CES Venetian Suite 29-224 in Las Vegas, January 6 to 9, 2015
