Audiostore Prestige 2 MX – 2nd user

Description

Best selling, ultra flexible streamer, server, player, inc 2025 updates. MX was mid-range, quad-core, i5 version between Standard and XL

Sonicorbiter v2.8 based. Nova software offers many advanced features (V2.9 available at additional cost)

• The most flexible store/stream/play system available
• Connect to DAC directly via USB, or to a network endpoint such as ultraRendu
• SSD for programme/library database + SSD storage
• Exceeds Roon recommendations (many other manufacturers products do not)
• ‘Roonify’ NAIM/Linn/Moon/Melco (inbuilt Sonore DLNA Bridge
• Integrate NAIM wav music library with onboard SongKong option
• Onboard metadata editing via BLISS or SongKong Apps (Paid options)
• System and library database on SSD
• High power versions for Roon/HQ Player upscaling, multi-zone etc (Roon includes local playback option)
• No fans. No noise. All aluminium, low resonance chassis, heatpipe cooling
• Flac, wav, alac, aiff, mp3 etc including PCM 768K, DSD 512 and streaming services
• CD ripper drive fitted (Rip lossless to regular flac or uncompressed)

Switch between: LMS, Roon Server, MPD, DLNA, SONOS, HQ Server embedded, HQ Player, Minimserver, PLEX, Bubble, Airplay Input. Or run multi-apps on same music library to different playback devices. (For Roon server you need a Roon licence or free trial)

Play to USB, network or NAA (microRendu etc) from internal drive, NAS or external USB drive inc playback to ALL NAIM/Linn network streamers from Roon (even old ones, see below) (Also Melco, Moon etc)

This unit has Bridged Ethernet. (2nd network port allowing NAA device such as microRendu, ultraRendu, network DAC, SOtM etc to be attached directly)

– Power: 15-20w, ~60w peak
– Ports: USB x 2 (DAC and back-up) Gigabit network
– Size: W240mm x D220mm, H75mm (+ 8 mm, feet)
– EMF treatment to data SSD

Need optical networking? Please see: Audiostore Premium Optical server

Roonify older devices: With the Prestige Sonore Bridge SW you can connect old NAIM/Linn non-Roon ready units. With NAIM you can stream to other devices in-sync by starting your playback on the NDS, opening the Naim application, and accessing the ‘now playing’ screen. Click on multi-room icon and select the other devices you wish to stream to. (You also Roon core at the same time on this device)

Roon certify specific models but as we offer many variants Prestige is not certified. It is similar to certified products based on Sonicorbiter SW. (SonicTransporter and Antipodes Servers) If using Roon use the ‘Enable Local Playback’ option on Settings/Roon Server, or use Roonready on an external renderer, such as microrendu, ultrarendu etc as on-board Roonready is no longer supported

HQPlayer Server – this software can enhance sound quality with some DACs. It can be used by itself but more often it is enabled concurrent with Roon. It’s performance is very dependent on the single-core performance of the server. Prestige Ultra and Ultra+ will perform best with this software. HQPlayer NAA software (playback of HQServer) is also on our servers although we recommend Sonore ultraRendu and opticalRendu endpoints if budget allows. You should check CPU utilisation in Nova performance manager App and keep well below 50%. https://www.signalyst.com/index.html

How do I use this? – Connect to your router. Add a USB DAC, or, for best results add a Sonore ultraRendu on the network as endpoint for Roon, Squeezebox, etc. Most versions of Prestige allow use of HQPlayer which may also improve quality in some systems

Note: Hardware shortages mean that product specifications are subject to change

Review(s) posted

Prestige MX – Gavin
Works faultlessly as a music store and Roon server. In-built Sonore bridge Roonifys my old Naim network players too. There are plenty of other features and the flexibility the Prestige offers will probably see me through many music player upgrades. As an added bonus I also use this as a NAS drive for my work documents, photo’s etc. Martin is also extremely helpful, and when Microsoft disabled SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support affecting many network storage systems, he helped me identify a fix.

Audiostore Prestige 3 MX – Russell Carter
Without wishing to sound like a broken record (or whatever the streaming equivalent is) I fully endorse the previous reviews in respect of both Martin at Audiostore and the Prestige 3. My requirement was to improve upon the streaming performance of a NAS, obtain the optimum performance from Roon, and enable Roon support for an older generation Naim streamer. Martin explained the options available to me in a thorough and professional manner and I decided upon the Prestige 3 MX using the pre-installed Sonore Bridge software. The build quality of the unit is first class and setting the system into use was straightforward, although if required support is just a phone call away. A number of software apps can be installed on the Prestige via a few clicks in simple web-based interface, as easy as installing apps on a mobile phone. This allowed the unit to be configured to fully meet my specific needs today and act as a base should I wish to upgrade in the future. I have certainly noticed an improvement in audio quality and operation has been faultless from the outset. Highly recommended.

Audiostore Prestige 3 MX – Andrew H
I chanced upon Vortexbox when looking at alternative ripper/NAS/Streamer solutions to the main brands’ products which strike me as very expensive for what they are. After several discussions with Martin I eventually settled on a Prestige MX with 1.2TB of SSD storage which I purchased together with the Chord Qutest and ISO Regen. The Prestige has excellent build quality, operates silently, rips CDs quickly and has easily enough processing power to support upsclaing in Roon to the Qutest’s 768khz PCM/DSD512 limit. Martin was incredibly patient with me and generous with his time by phone, email and in person in Tunbridge Wells, where I was able to hear the Prestige/Qutest/ISORegen combination alone and in combination with various other NAA devices. I am very pleased with the sound quality of the Prestige/Qutest/ISORegen and believe this provides a strong platform for future upgrades such as linear power supplies and/or NAA device, for which I will have no hesitation in returning to Martin for expert guidance. Martin’s knowledge and enthusiasm are matched only by his commitment to customer service all of which make Vortexbox an absolute pleasure to deal with.

Replacement NAS – Stephen Pritchard
I run a Naim HiFi system which has relied on a music library based in a Qnap NAS. The NAS serves various purposes and was getting a bit long in the tooth, rather than replace it I thought I would look at getting dedicated music server. I discussed the options on the Naim forum and listened to some Melco and Innuous examples at my dealers, but I was not impressed. Thus I decided to look at bespoke computers instead and was directed to the Audiostore. I have now had the Prestige 3 for a month or so and am impressed. First, as a music server using minimserver I noticed a marked improvement in sound quality; music was crisper, somehow cleaner. Second, searching for music was faster, and third I was able to use Roon to enhance my listening experience. Finally, Martin provided exceptional technical support; not only when I setup Roon, but also when talking through the various options for the Prestige. I can not recommend Audiostore highly enough. I am now enjoying my music again

Great product and brilliant service – Dave
I bought the Prestige 2 about a year ago in order to store all my music and run Roon. It was less expensive and more versatile than Roon’s own Nucleus product, offering a wide range of other facilities in addition to Roon. Since I bought it, it has performed flawlessly, and transformed the way I listen to music as I hoped it would. Network streaming can bring its own challenges, and Martin has been unfailingly generous with his time and help in resolving mine, despite them having nothing to do with his excellent product. If you are into Roon, or streaming generally, this range of products and level of support deserve to be very high on your shortlist.

Sound Quality is Everything – Steve F
For my first venture into servers and streaming I bought the Prestige, microrendu into the Quetest dac from Audiostore. I was not expecting sound quality coming close to my Naim CDX2/XPS2 but I was wrong. Convenience does not come at the expense of sound imaging, depth and transparency. An excellent source and storage combination into my Naim amplification. Excellent service and advice from Martin, who’s enthusiasm is truly infectious. Steve

Thoroughly recommended – Adrian M
This is a remarkable product combining state of the art access to streaming, internet radio, Squeezebox, ROON, album cataloguing etc. It makes proprietary HiFi products seem primitive in comparison. Product support is quite simply amazing. I am so pleased to have bought the Prestige. It has opened up a whole world to me that I could not have accessed in any other way. Thoroughly recommended – not least because of the expertise accessed and the very high sound quality achieved. It is an eye-opener

As good or better than the high-end brands – Mike
I am really flabbergasted about the sound quality! I heard quite a lot of so called high end streamer/servers but this little machine is just as good or even better. I use a HDplex linear PSU which improves the sound quality to an even higher level than the standard PSU, and I expect the system will sound even better after some time burning in. Thanx for a great system at a reasonable price. Regards, Mike

Audiostore server with ripping – Magnus Karlsson
A very fine and good sounding server. A good or even better Roon server than sonic transporter. I use it with a microRendu end. The ripped cds I’ve ripped so far sounds especially good in uncompressed flac. Easy job and bliss finds my covers. I got the version with more power good for upsampling to DSD in Roon, remains to be tested though. Thanks Martin for good support. Regards Magnus