XACT S1. The music server you've been waiting for

JCAT WILL LAUNCH ITS OWN HIGH-END MUSIC SERVER AT AVS 2022 - XACT S1 – FEATURING WORLD’S 1ST 100% LINEAR POWERED MOTHERBOARD.



Designed from scratch, XACT S1, is a purist’s dream for those in the know. Based on JCAT’s ZeNA (Zero-Noise-Architecture) motherboard, the S1 does not rely on switching DC-DC converters. Instead, super-low-noise linear regulators are used exclusively making XACT S1 the world’s first music server running on linear power alone.



The market lacked a genuine audiophile-grade motherboard. Most of the available streaming products are assembled using general-purpose PC motherboards. According to Marcin Ostapowicz, JPLAY & JCAT Founder, such motherboards with noisy switching converters all over the place should not be used in a high-end audio system.



XACT S1’s proprietary motherboard, apart from linear regulation, features extremely low-jitter OCXO clock with ±5 ppb frequency stability. The extensive power supply section based on JCAT’s renowned OPTIMO linear PSU delivers 140 000 uF of capacitance provided by Nichicon’s flagship Muse and Fine Gold capacitors series.



Software is custom made and finetuned personally by JPLAY’s Founder, Marcin Ostapowicz, who promises superb sound quality and ease of use via included brand new JPLAY iOS app which combines Qobuz, Tidal and local content in a single beautiful interface.



According to Wojciech Pacu?a, chief editor of High Fidelity, the sound of XACT S1 is 'insanely difficult to distinguish from an analog source'. Come and hear it yourself.


When: 28-30th October


Where: Warsaw, Poland. Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel, Room 718

 

May I offer a suggestion?
Why don't you try a "tourbox", a.k.a. a server that will go around a few prominent audiophiles with good systems, that'll offer their insight and comparisons for all the community to witness.
For every product I've seen that happen, it has always been beneficial in more than one ways.

Of course, but I will leave that for distributors. UK will be the first market where XACT will be presented to customers. Auden Distribution gets first units next week.

Best regards,
Marcin

 

Does the interface on the back have a clock input? Is there an AES/EBU digital output interface? Thanks a lot?

 

Does the interface on the back have a clock input? Is there an AES/EBU digital output interface? Thanks a lot?

Hi @optiman

Only USB output is available.

Sales will launch along with new website at the end of November.

I'm pleased to inform that we received Best Sound award at the Audio Video Show in Warsaw where the product was presented for the first time.



Best regards,
Marcin

 

XACT S1 is now available:

https://jcat.eu/featured/xact-s1/

 

Ouch. It has a real price tag.

 

XACT S1 is now available:

https://jcat.eu/featured/xact-s1/

Hi Marcin

I hope you are well.

I am a customer of all your products which I find excellent.

Is it possible to run ROON with JPLAY on your new server?

 

Hi Marcin

I hope you are well.

I am a customer of all your products which I find excellent.

Is it possible to run ROON with JPLAY on your new server?

Hello,

Thanks for asking. No, it does not run ROON.

Instead it runs a complete plug & play architecture controlled by JPLAY app which is a real alternative to Roon.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Best regards,
Marcin

 

Hello,

Thanks for asking. No, it does not run ROON.

Instead it runs a complete plug & play architecture controlled by JPLAY app which is a real alternative to Roon.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Best regards,
Marcin

Hi Thanks,

I use JPLAY FEMTO with Roon in ASIO output.

Is it possible to connect it in remote?

 

Hi Thanks,

I use JPLAY FEMTO with Roon in ASIO output.

Is it possible to connect it in remote?

It will not work this way. If it did, I would not recommend this as part of the equation (PC) would have a profound impact on sound quality.

XACT S1 does not rely on external players / servers. Everything is integrated in the product.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,
Marcin

 

Hi Marcin,

It's perfectly clear now. I'm going to think about switching over from my DIY server fully equipped with JPLAY +JCAT USB/Network EX + OPTIMO but running under Roon.

I am a fan of Roon and Jplay. I had both before and your approach dictates that I have to choose my father or mother ;-) it's so hard...

Thanks again Marcin.

 

@Marcin_gps

Is it possible to listen to XACT S1 at HE Munich in May?
Thx

Matt

 

@Marcin_gps

Does no answer means "No"?
Thx

Matt

 

@Marcin_gps

Does no answer means "No"?
Thx

Matt

I will inform about this.

I‘d recommend a presentation through a dealer. Contact me via e-mail if you are interested in XACT S1.

Best regards,
Marcin

 

I will inform about this.

Thx, looking forward. Would prefer a first listen at HE Munich.

Matt

 

• Yesterday at 8:24 AM
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• #1

Hello Everyone. This is my first post here. I have found a place in my listening room for the JCAT Xact S1 Server/Player. I have only had for 2 days. In that short amount of time, I have discovered nuances in the music I love. If I have to descibe what I am hearing in a few words, I would say Open, Rich, Dynamic, Revealing. Previosly using ROON, I am somewhat unfamiliar with the operation of JPALY and still on a learning curve. I am a limited user of PC and a new user to the world of Apple iPad. Suffice to say user interface is surprisingly simple. Marcin included a few tracks and albums on the 4TB SSD and music SQ I am hearing is revelatory and astounding. I just subscribed to to Qobuz yesterday. While not a big fan of streaming, I must say that the sound is superb. Not quite the level of what I am hearing on the local storage, but better than my previos streaming encounters and deemed worthy enough to be considered.

To those of you who have explored JPLAY, and JCAT through their NET Card, various Optimo linear supplies, and server upgrades, the XACT S1 is everything Marcin says he has learned in more than a decade. I beleive him. I must say upfront, other than being a client in the USA, I have no other affiliation with JCAT, JPLAY or Marcin.

While not inexpensive, neither is TAIKO or Aurender. and many others. I am not familar with TAIKO, but I am with Aurender. For me it is is all about SQ. Let me say now that Xact S1 more than holds its own to any server/player I have encountered. It deserves to be considered when looking at this high level of digital playback. Bit are Bits, but how they get to your ears is where the science & Art truly resides.

As I get more familiar, I hope to give you more information but now I have to figure out how to move my music files to the Xact. Thank you for reading. I hope you find it helpful.

 

Let me say now that Xact S1 more than holds its own to any server/player I have encountered.

May I ask which servers you have encountered before or compared to the XACT S1 and what the S1 does better than these?
Thx

Matt

 

Hi Matt
As I said, I really do not stream much at all. Mostly limited to my car. There is some YouTube concerts etc.

I previously used a MusicVault server/computer which I really liked. It is more than 7 years, old used a SOTM USB card I installed. That is where all my music files reside (about 15TB) and I played direct fom there. It is a good server, but the Xact S1 is in another league. I am actually good friends with Neal Van Berg of Sound Scence, maker of the MusicVault.

I evaluated the Aurender at home and performance was simular to the MV. Crazy money for the same performance ,so I did not purchase. I also have a Bricasti M3 DAC with streamer card and that is very good as well. I would serve files from the MusicVault and stream (again rarely) from the Bricasti.

Back to the Jcat Xact S1. Since I don't have my music loaded into it yet (Marcin said that would be best SQ) this past Saturday, I just subscribed to Qobuz so I would have my tastes in music available. The sound from streaming with the Xact actually sounds superior to either the MusicVault or the Bricasti. That blew me away. The music from the few files loaded on the Xact is actually was superior to the streaming by a very wide margin. Regardless of format.

This guy Marcin is really onto something. He designed the actual motherboard in the Xact. The entire unit utilizes a linear power supply from motherboard to his USB Card and his FemtoServer card. The music comes out of a dark invisible background. More Dynamic, Richer tonality and Clean. Bass is deep and articulate. Imaging seem more 3d in space. I have 2 GR research open baffle subwoofers (which I love dearly); I had to adjust output down a bit to compensate. The Xact sounds like analog, is how I can best describe it, but without the analogue limitations. For me it is an expensive purchase, but I do beleive it adds to my listening pleasre. That is what it is all about.

I am working on getting files into the Xact. I'll say more when I do and the unit is full broken in. Thanks

 

Welcome to WBF, celebrat!

 

Thank you for the Welcome, Ron. You inspired me to add my equipment and reference tracks. Your system looks amazing and must sound stunning.

 

The music from the few files loaded on the Xact is actually was superior to the streaming by a very wide margin. Regardless of format.

I must confess that I did not expect this.
Isn't it the case that the best servers close as far as possible the SQ gap between local stored files and streaming?

Matt