Description

The most innovative streamer / music rendering engine today

• The Αbsolute Stream is an audiophile music server/streamer which renders music files.
• It is a high-performance device which will play all your musical libraries whether they are on an external hard-disk or NAS. Just as importantly, the absolute Stream will play audio from internet sources, i.e. radio and web services such as Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, etc.

The meta edition (2024)

Whenever groundbreaking technologies, advanced electronics, or software innovations emerge, our goal is to offer these upgrades to our customers when they provide substantial value. The Meta edition is a testament to this commitment, as rigorous experimentation and testing have enabled us to introduce meaningful improvements in musical fidelity and enjoyment.

The 2024 Meta upgrade introduces significant technology and performance enhancements to the already acclaimed Absolute Stream, including:

• 4TB SSD Internal Storage: Offering ample space for your digital music collection.
• Faster, Enhanced Memory: Doubling the previous capacity for faster and smoother operations.
• Embedded Roon Core: Eliminating the need for an external server running ROON, resulting in improved dynamics, soundstage, and tonal quality due to the superior hardware and ultra-low noise power supplies, already deployed internally.
• Streamlined User Interface: A revamped, simplified interface for Ideon Audio’s native playback software application.
• Qobuz Integration: Seamless integration within Ideon Audio’s native playback software allows users to stream Qobuz music service without requiring additional applications or subscriptions.

Design principles

• Design Objective: When we set out to design the Absolute Stream, we aimed at achieving extraordinary sound to complement the Absolute DAC.
• Audio Priority Principle: This quality target led us to conceive the Absolute Stream as an audio device dedicated to music playback, rather than as a computer tweaked to play music.
• No Compromises: We applied our design principles with no-compromise to the Absolute Stream: massively over-engineered power supply, abundant ultra-low noise power, discreet power lines to critical points of the circuit, circuit stability and isolation, constant phase / timing correction.
• Playback Versatility: You can use your Absolute Stream with Ideon Audio’s player application for best sound results, or with any of the popular thrird-party players such as Roon, JRiver, Audiorva, etc. In general, you can connect your Absolute Stream directly with any software supporting UPNP.  The Absolute Stream is a Roon-ready device, meaning you can use it as a Roon endpoint (Roon bridge), but it also features ROON core embedded within the device,  eliminating the need for an external ROON server.

Real-Time core playback

Core CPU highly prioritized for audio playback only, ensuring optimized performance and sound quality

Realize the potential of your music

The Absolute-Stream will play your private libraries from HDs or NAS, it works as a Roon bridge rendering your music into the device’s CPU, and of course, it renders Internet streaming services with maximum possible integration (Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Web radios, etc)

Future-proof phase correction

For jitter elimination, a specially designed re-clocking circuit, comprising of an no-compromise femto clock architecture, embedded in Absolute Stream as standard and not as an option with extra charge. This is an upgradable platform to protect our customers’ investment.

Over spec’d Power Supply

Huge, linear, power supplies have become an Ideon Audio trademark. The Absolute Stream has a very large main power bank composed of audiophile, low esr, silk caps; we also included a high-wattage, hand-made, audiophile transformer.

Zero-noise power

Electrical noise in a source component can deteriorate the sound for the duration of signal processing procedure… It will come as no surprise, therefore, that the Absolute Stream has our proprietary, upgradable, zero-noise rectification active bridging technology, eliminating diode-rectification noise.

Independent power lines, special power for the rendering CPU

There are four (4) separate, discrete, power lines with ultra-low noise linear power within the Absolute Stream circuit, providing the different voltage levels the device requires.Going the extra experimentation mile, however, we discovered that the quality of transient current going to the CPU affected sound—and the sonic result was astonishing. To improve transient current quality, accordingly, we implemented a proprietary, ultra-low esr, bypass power filter with superlative results in the sound.

A unique advantage of the Absolute Stream circuit is the total absence of switching power supplies – not even intermediate ones within the CPU power rails.

Internal noise elimination

Keeping in mind that sound quality is the foremost consideration, we avoided internal noise-inducing peripheral circuits as much as possible. Thereby, the Absolute Stream’s simplified, bare-bones operation provides superlative sound quality to the user—which is the music-lover’s target in the first place.

Massive, single-block aluminium chassis

The 22kg (~49 lbs) CNC milled chassis takes 15 hours to complete.

The result is a solid mechanical base housing the most intricate and expensive electronics available currently. Various finishes are available to order.

 

KEY FEATURES

• Real-time core playback. Rendering CPU highly prioritized for audio playback only, for highly optimized sound quality.
• Works both as Roon Core and Roon bridge, rendering your music from NAS or HDs into the Absolute Stream’s core CPU.
• Internet streaming services ready with maximum allowed integration or via UPNP (Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, internet radio, etc).
• Qobuz seamless integration within Ideon Audio’s native playback software.
• Proprietary, femto clock re-clocking circuit on an upgradable platform.
• Very large main capacitors power bank (low esr, audiophile silk caps), and hand-made audiophile transformer.
• Proprietary, zero-noise rectification bridge eliminates diode-rectification noise.
• Ultra-low-noise, linear power supplies, across all board voltage points.
• Proprietary, ultra-low esr special bypass power filter improving the transient current for the CPU (spectacular sound improvement!).
• Short signal paths without wiring.
• Simplified, bare-bones operation avoids internal noise-inducing circuits.
• Audiophile design & solid aluminium construction.

 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

SUPPORTED FORMATS (INPUT DEPENDENT)	44.1kHz to 384kHz PCM up to 32 bits, any DSD (up to 8xDSD)
SYSTEM SSD	240GB allocated for OS system
INTERNAL STORAGE	4TB Standard for Music Libraries. Can be increased optionally.
DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUT	2 X USB with proprietary Re-Clocking (one with 5v rail, one without)
INPUT	Ethernet & USB
EXTERNAL CONNECTIVITY	2 X USB 3.0 for external HD Music Libraries
POWER SUPPLY	3 X ultra-low noise full Linear power supplies (for all different voltage needs). No Switching power supply at any point of the device
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D)	490 x 90 x 350 mm ( (19.2 x 3.5 x 13.8 in)
WEIGHT	22kg (~ 48.5 lbs)