A streaming transport, not a streaming client
It should be emphasised right away that the new KECES Ebravo Streamer is not a streaming client, but rather a streaming bridge. This means that KECES Audio has omitted an integrated D/A converter, equipping the new KECES Ebravo Streamer exclusively with digital outputs and leaving the difficult task of converting signals from digital to analogue to external specialists.
By analogy to CD players, where products without integrated D/A converters are often referred to as CD transports, the new KECES Ebravo Streamer can also be described as a streaming transport.
In the proven compact form of the KECES Essential Series
As a worthy addition to the KECES Essential Series, the new KECES Ebravo Streamer relies on the tried-and-tested solid metal housing, which is used in a discreet matt black finish for all solutions in this product line.
Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth and USB
The new KECES Ebravo streamer offers four options for making contact with the outside world, in the simplest case directly via Bluetooth 5.1, so that smartphones and tablets can be used as a source without any network infrastructure.
Incidentally, a USB port is also available here so that corresponding storage media can be directly integrated as a source; this should be mentioned here for the sake of completeness.
However, using the new KECES Ebravo streamer as a streaming solution is of course much more flexible if it is integrated into the network via the RJ45 Ethernet interface or the integrated WiFi module in accordance with IEEE 802.11ac.
UPnP, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect
In your network, the KECES Ebravo streamer initially functions as a dlna-certified UPnP streaming transport, whereby the manufacturer expressly emphasises that any corresponding app can be used for control. The market offers countless fine solutions for both Apple iOS and Google Android for the only real industry standard. The KECES Ebravo streamer is able to play back audio data in MP3, AAC, ALAC, APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA, Ogg Vorbis and AIFF formats up to 24 bit and 192 kHz.
Users who use TIDAL or Spotify can rely solely on the corresponding apps for Apple iOS and Google Android, as the new KECES Ebravo streamer supports both TIDAL Connect and Spotify Connect.
Nevertheless, KECES Audio also offers a suitable app for the new KECES Ebravo streamer itself, namely the 4STREAM app for Apple iOS and Google Android. This app also provides the Qobuz and iHeartRadio services and allows you to access content directly from your smartphone or from a central storage solution and various cloud services.
All relevant digital interfaces
The new KECES Ebravo streamer is equipped with all relevant digital interfaces so that it can be used as a streaming transport with different D/A converters in the best possible way. In addition to an optical and coaxial S/PDIF interface, the KECES Ebravo Streamer also offers AES/EBU.
The front is adorned with a display which, however, is not graphics-capable, meaning that information is displayed briefly and crisply as text alone. There are also three buttons here.
KECES P6 Low Noise Linear Power Supplier as an optional upgrade
It should be mentioned that power is provided by an external 12 V DC and 1 A (switch mode) power supply unit. It will probably come as no surprise that KECES Audio offers upgrades in this respect, especially in the form of a KECES P6 Low Noise Linear Power Suppy (200 Euro bundle discount!). A match made in heaven!
Getting to the point
As a worthy offspring of the KECES Essential Series, the new KECES Ebravo Streamer presents itself as an attractively priced, flexible streaming solution, whereby it is not a streaming client, but rather a so-called streaming bridge or streaming transport. For the signal conversion of content streamed from USB media, directly via Bluetooth from a smartphone or from the network, KECES Audio relies on an external high quality DA converter.
Reviews:
Keces Audio Ebravo Essential Streamer “this digital transport actually makes a difference” @ Audiophile Heaven
“… I feel Keces Ebravo deserves a spot in the Audiophile-Heaven Hall Of Fame for its exceptional sonic performance, outstanding resolution and clarity, and for the kind of superb voicing it gives to all songs played through it, and also for the ease of usage with Tidal and Spotify Connect.”
Keces Ebravo audiophile transport by Wojceich Pacuta @ highfidelity.pl
“it is a solidly built device that sounds great. It is saturated, smooth sound with very well arranged timbres, planes and dynamics.”
Keces Ebravo Streamer Transport by Dean Seislove @ posi+ive feedback
“Things just sounded more coherent, tuneful, and generally more satisfying…”
“I kept thinking that, based on the improved sound and solid build quality, the Ebravo actually makes a difference…and is seriously under priced.”
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