Gadget: Cocktail Audio X10 Network CD Recorder & Music Player

Josh Welensky

With the knowledge that your sanity can only withstand one shot at converting all those hundreds of silver discs, the vast array of formats, bitrates and conversion software can be bewildering. The Cocktail Audio X10 promises to simplify the entire process, while offering to wirelessly play the converted classics in any room of your house.

If your desktop PC is akin to a GP, the Cocktail Audio X10 can be likened to a chiropractor – a specialist in sorting out your dilapidated music collection. About the size of a toaster, the X10 contains either a 500GB hard drive (fits about 7,500 albums) or a 1TB one (15,000 albums). I slid my Now 46 CD into its slot loader, and after a few seconds it had automatically found the album and track data via its internal database. I’d chosen FLAC as my recording format as it has zero loss in fidelity, but takes up less room than the WAV format. I’d quickly assembled a conversion factory line, with the two to three-minute swap for another CD becoming embedded in my left arm’s muscle memory. The X10 also doubles as a wireless music streamer – hook up some speakers and it’ll play music stored on your PC upstairs or as internet radio. There’s even a Line In socket for converting vinyl. The optical connections will please hi-fi buffs, making the X10 a worthy extension to any existing music system.

At £419, the X10 is a considerable investment. It’s a quality piece of equipment and although a touchscreen would be nice, to have your entire CD collection a mere remote press away is a tempting luxury.

Cocktail Audio X10 Network CD Recorder & Music Player

Cocktail Audio 500GB version £419, 1TB version £459. Available from www.amp3.co.uk and www.amazon.co.uk, for more information see www.cocktailaudio.com