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Full Noise Testing/Statistics for the Assassin AR-1

Frequently Asked Questions

Independent Review of the Assassin AR-1



Summary: AR-1 is virtually silent with only minimal noise contributed to environment during CD ripping. In comparisons with totally passive systems, the AR-1 shows no difference in noise contribution, and actually is quieter due to not having to load CD/Media each time because it is able to store content electronically. This directly disproves the claim that an audiophile machine has to be fan-less, with no spinning hard drives to be silent.

Benefits: Greater User flexibility as well as protection from hardware burn-out commonplace in passive systems. Importantly, the audio bit-streaming is perfect, using the JRiver software, allowing error-free testing of alternative external DACs. Also, the more powerful components and drivers allow the user to listen to highest-quality audio from blu-ray files and hi-def streaming websites, in addition to hi-def audio.

What exactly is an Audiophile System?
      Audiophile Systems are high end audio systems designed to send the purest audio from the media itself (CD/DVD/Blu-ray) to your individual audio components (DAC, Pre-AMP, etc) and eventually to your ears through your speakers.  They are systems designed to produce the highest level of audio possible.  In other words; really really clear audio!  Imagine sitting in the front row middle seat of the Philharmonic Orchestra  (that type of audio clarity!).

What are important specifications when consider which Audiophile System I should purchase?
      We think of audiophile systems in 3 categories:

• Quality of Audio - The Assassin Audiophile AR-1 with its built in onboard HD audio ensures zero latency, lossless, bitstreaming audio.  In other words it ensures you receive the highest level of audio possible.  It also has 3 different types of audio outputs; HDMI, Fiber Optic, and Coaxial Digital SPDIF outs.
• Accessibility of Media - Some high end audiophile systems keep you locked out of your own system and incapable of altering your own media.  You literally have to call and have them network in and delete songs from your hard drive or some won't even let you delete media but insist you must purchase additional drive space from them.  The Assassin AR-1 is designed to give you complete control, all the time to manipulate your data anyway you chose.
• Ease of Use - Many high end systems arrive with limited functionality.  This always isn't a bad thing as some systems do what they are designed to do very well.  However, that is the only thing they will ever or can ever do.  The Assassin AR-1 is designed to be the total opposite.  While it make take some extra effort from the user to set up the system.  There is no limiting its abilities making it future-proof as well.  Whatever the next greatest piece of audiophile software is available to download, the Assassin AR-1 is an open source machine.  We give you all the suggestions and guides one would need to configuring the machine, but ultimately the decision on how to use it is yours!

How are Assassin Audiophile systems different than the other units offered?
      Aside from being thousands of dollars less expensive because of our low overhead, aggressive business strategy and small marketing budget, Assassin Audiophile systems are the first and only audiophile systems that can compete on audio quality with the $10,000+ units while at the same time providing you the capabilities of running full 1080p video!  Our Bitstreaming lossless zero latency Assassin audio system is the highest quality (yes you read that correctly – it is the highest quality audio possible – better than the $10,000 units you’ve seen in hi-def magazine) audio possible.  All while remaining complete silent and adding 0.0dba to the ambient noise of the room.  No other system can compete in both the audiophile world and the videophile world.  The Assassin AR-1 can.

I thought high end audiophile systems had to be fanless with no spinning drives?
Large Manufacturers of today (such as Sooloos and Naim) have developed systems that rely on remote servers, managed by the manufacturers themselves to house audio files.  The audiophile himself loses control of the process and in some cases even the deletion of an individual audio file must involve the company’s intervention and costs money.  Even worse, the fan-less computer designs have led to the use of CPUs and motherboards that do not permit the media server to take advantage of the latest high-definition forms of audiophile-quality music.  That is, these chips must be less powerful than current technology so as not to produce much heat because they are limited by their fanless design.  The less powerful chips, in turn, do not permit the audiophile to listen to audio from blu-ray files, or from the few web sites that stream hi-def audio (such as certain sites available only through a fully functioning browser – e.g., the Berlin Philharmonic Digital Music Hall).

How are Assassin Audiophile Systems able to do all these things without making any sound?
      Assassin Audiophile Systems are engineered with the “Assassin Proprietary Cooling System” that includes a fanless power supply, special imported fans from overseas specifically designed for silent operation, as well as the quietest individual components (HD, Blu-ray drive, etc) hand selected by 3rd party audio testers.  The result is a unit that is fully capable of playing the highest definition 1080p video and pushing 7.1 channels of audio (if you want) and still not adding any noise to the surrounding atmosphere (as recorded from 1 meter away by a professional sound measuring device - see testing data here)

So is the Assassin Audiophile AR-1 better at Audio or Video?
      That’s the beauty of the Assassin Audiophile AR-1!  No longer do Audiophiles or Videophiles have to choose.  Our systems do both to the highest degree of audio and video performance!  Now your same system can power your 2 channel professional audiophile system that you use to enjoy your favorite FLAC or WAV audio files that you use to watch the latest action movie in True HD 7.1 surround.

Why hasn’t anyone ever done this before?
      There is so much money involved in the high-end audiophile world that no company has ever needed to.  Why spend time developing a video system to go along with your high end audio system when your audio system is making 400%-800% profits per unit.  Also, most Audiophiles have been lead to believe that they need separate systems for their video and their audio setups so their dealer can sell them two separate systems.  This is entirely not true and is proven with the release of the Assassin Audiophile AR-1.

What Software Does the Assassin AR-1 Use?
      The Assassin AR-1 at its core is a computer (like all audiophile systems).  Where it is different is that it runs off of Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate which does not and limit its (and your) functionality.  We could design spend hundreds of thousands of dollars designing our own program and charging inflated margins to cover this but the true fact is its not needed.  All Audiophile systems are computers at their core and have the same benefits and limitations regardless of their operating system.  Windows 7 can (very easily) be configured in a way that surpasses the other software programs that probably were designed by a windows based system to begin with?  The true value of our systems are that they can do everything a standard computer can while still performing to the levels of professional audiophile standards.

How much configuring will I need to do?
      Each customers setup is different and their personal preferences are different (preferred re-sampling rate etc.) so instead of setting something up that might be wrong for you, we configure the system to its core and provide easy step by step guides on how to set up the specific functions (multi-room control, tablet control, etc).  This way you can decide what is important to you and what isn’t and you are not paying for products and set-ups that you will never use!

How does it compare with other dedicated Audiophile Systems?
      While other systems try to control their programs, the content that you store on it (some even charge you for deleting your own files), Assassin Audiophile believes you should be free to manipulate your own data and files how you seem fit without having to sacrifice audio quality.

So I can edit, add rename, delete my data whenever I want?
      Yes!  We feel it’s your information; you can control it as you need to.  Included in all of our systems is a 2TB hard drive that is standard and the total volume can be expanded up to 6TB total.

Can I control my media from a Tablet?
      Yes!  You can control any Assassin Audiophile system from any compatible android tablet and we include the step by step guides on your systems desktop!

Can the Assassin Audiophile AR-1 control multiple rooms and listening zones?
      Yes!  Multiple rooms and listening zones can be configured and how to set these up are included in the guides that come on the systems desktop!

How can the Assassin AR-1 be as good in Audio quality as systems that are just dedicated audio servers?
      Dedicated high end audio servers have to spend a large amount of their budget on marketing, development and customer support representatives because they lock down their data so they have to be involved in even the most menial tasks.  The upside of this for them is that generally, those specific functions they are very good at.  The downside is that that function is usually the only thing they can do and the owner ends up paying exuberant mark-ups for the system to pay for the companies high overhead.  At Assassin Audiophile HTPC, we provide the step by step guides and information for you to configure the system as you desire.  If you are looking for a unit that you just have to turn on, and it will do 1-2 specific things only and that’s all you want it to do and don’t ever want anything else.  The Assassin Audiophile AR-1 may not be for you.  But if you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty, following some guides, and spending a few initial hours configuring your system, then you won’t be able to find a better unit anywhere in the world than the Assassin AR-1 for a more attractive price!