Sporting model names that share three of the same characters, when considering investing in a new X45 all-in-one music streamer many Novafidelity fans may quite fairly pose the question: Is it worth springing for the Pro?
Asides from the change in price, the X45 and X45 Pro feature a number of key differences which sets them apart in terms of performance and in this article we run through these specifics along with the real difference they'll make to your Novafidelity listening experience.
Upgraded Components
Starting our journey from within, the Novafidelity X45 is powered by a dual-core Cortex A9 processor manufactured by ARM and taking advantage of their advanced ARMv7-A architecture. Jump to the X45 Pro model, and the same brand of chip is used, only this time with double the core-count.
The upgraded Quad Core ARM Cortex A9 processor's talents stretch beyond simple audio processing and a noticeable improvement can also be experienced when navigating the X45 Pro's user interface. Faster library queries mean faster operational speeds which makes for a more fluid and instantaneous browsing experience.
For completeness, the Novafidelity X45 Pro also includes an upgrade to its DAC chip from the Dual ESS ES9018K2M Sabre to an ES9038Pro furnished with OPA627BP op-amps for even higher speeds.
Solid Glass-Sanded Enclosures
Improved enclosures not only look great, but also have a tangible impact on the performance of Novafidelity's higher spec products.
While the X45's chassis is built from sheet-steel housing and a machined aluminium front, it's Pro sibling features solid glass-sanded aluminium across both structural parts.
This seemingly small change offers a considerable improvement to the X45 Pro's operating vibration control as well as its isolation, lowering the noise floor from an already impressively low value.
Both X45 and X45 Pro models include CNC machined aluminium knobs for volume control, but just behind the scenes the X45 Pro also features a high-quality Grayhill optical encoder which offers far superior performance to the X45's mechanical increment version.
Similarly while both streamers also feature Toroidal transformers, the X45 Pro has the benefit of dedicated aluminium shielding for even better isolation.
Improved Performance Specs
Finally getting down to the numbers – thanks to its selected superior components, the X45 Pro boasts several performance specifications which measure in higher than those of the X45.
Dynamic range sees an improvement via preamp output, increasing from 130 to 137dB, while total harmonic distortion is reduced from 0.004% on the X45 to just 0.0003% on the X45 Pro, a true testament to the power of solid enclosures. This effect can also be seen with the harmonic distortion value of the headphone output, measuring in at 0.1% for the X45 versus 0.0003% for the X45 Pro.
Both models include DXD, MQA, PCM and DSD support with slight differences to available resolution values. The X45 Pro is capable of up to 768kHz compared to the X45's 384kHz, while DSD is supported all the way up to 512 rather than 256.
In Conclusion
Considering each incremental improvement individually, some may be tempted to think that the X45 and X45 Pro are still running a close race. However when experiencing the two models side by side the combination of every upgrade results in a far more sophisticated product delivering a more detailed soundstage and a more musical and engaging performance overall.
Find your nearest Novafidelity dealer and hear the difference for yourself! Check out our product pages for further info or contact our consumer audio sales team.