Caruso-R All-In-One System By T+A HiFi

T+A introduced the first Caruso in 2008, and the device quickly won numerous awards, gaining absolute cult status due to its unique overall design. In 2020 a new generation of the Caruso appeared, and this constituted the greatest advance yet in the history of this product: the new version represented a completely new development – both technically and visually. Although its heritage remains clear, the new Caruso epitomizes the transformation of the machine from a combination of individual products to an all-in-one device. Just add a pair of high-performance speakers and you’re set!

The Caruso R Aluminium Framework provides great precision and physical strength, while its external dimensions harken back to the first Caruso of 2008. The new 7” HD screen effectively extends the Caruso R and gives it a look of restrained elegance.

7-Inch Touchscreen

The Caruso R’s command center is the T+A NavigatorOS: a 7” touch-screen combines all elements of the control system and displays cover art directly on the machine itself. The system architecture of the NavigatorOS unites all the machine’s settings, from screen brightness to tone controls for bass, midrange, treble, and loudness. An additional Playscreen is available, which succeeds in visualizing and informing at the same time: metadata has never been displayed in such fine form as here. In addition to touch-screen control, the Caruso R can be operated using the T+A CarusoNavigator app or the FM Caruso remote control handset, which is supplied as standard. The slot for the modern CD disc mechanism is located above the touch panel. It analyses the disc’s TOC data, which then displays cover art and metadata.

Connections

The connection area on the back panel is an impressive reflection of the Caruso R’s versatile nature. From the first day of its development, the Caruso R was intended to be the centerpiece of a versatile, high-quality HiFi system. One key feature was the requirement for a wide-ranging array of playback sources, as sources should not represent a restriction. USB inputs cater to mobile and network sources, while LAN, WLAN, and Bluetooth sockets are also available, their signals converted by the SC 100 – the T+A streaming client. Analog inputs are also available to integrate other gear. The Caruso is T+A’s first product to exploit SC 100, which provides access to services such as Gracenote Music ID, Airable Music Services, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, and Amazon Music via Alexa. The capabilities of the Internet are no longer just used – they’re raised to a new level.

Tuner, Amplifier

AT+A’s has fine-tuned their design to make the best possible use of signals delivered by high-quality domestic aerials for an FM Tuner. The entire amplifier section is controlled by the integral DSP, which linearises and optimizes the frequency response, switches and manages all the inputs and outputs, and controls the high-performance output stages. The latter is designed to cope with a vast range of loudspeaker types, is completely stable under load, capable of handling very high currents, and is distortion-free even up to extreme volume levels. The mains section is totally stable over the full operating range, i.e. it never collapses, and has very high current reserves.

The substantial weight of the Caruso R is a clear indication of its inner strength and build quality. The specially developed T+A Aluminium Framework makes the Caruso R tremendously rigid: a sophisticated profile extrusion serves as the principal load-bearing frame for all the internal architecture. It is manufactured to ultra-close tolerances and CNC-machined, and that’s why all the components slot seamlessly together. As a result, the case is devoid of resonances.

Stereophile
“The Caruso R packs plenty into a single, sturdy, compact unit. It’s handy to have so many playback options and to have everything centralized. Turntable and phono preamp must be provided separately, but that’s okay—preferable even.

The Caruso’s sound seemed well-controlled but not too composed. There’s a sense of flow and ease, with generous resolution, mostly neutral tonal balance, and a nice way with well-recorded music.

The Caruso mobile app wasn’t perfect, but it’s getting better all the time, and it was the better way to control playback.

The Caruso R provides plenty to please audiophiles new and established—although the latter group might consider the R as a secondary system. Its small footprint suits small spaces. It would be great in a bedroom.

Many tech-driven, high-end audio manufacturers offer single-box audio solutions. There’s competition from makers like NAD, Devialet (though without the disc player), Naim, and others. The Caruso R is not the least expensive contender, but its sound quality rises above the “lifestyle” clic/stigma.

It’s encouraging for the future of the hobby that even the most tech-driven manufacturers are making products geared toward a wider range of music-loving customers. ”

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ta-caruso-r-multisource-receiver

Av Forums
“The Caruso R sits neatly in a category of product that we encounter from time to time at AVForums, although it might be the first time that it has occurred with an all in one. This is a product that appeals far more when you start using it than the on paper specifications might suggest. No, it can’t handle 384kHz PCM or DSD but, are these really the bulk of your listening material? The shape is a bit odd too but not insurmountably so. I’d really like to be able to turn the green light off too but, if I owned it, five minutes and a roll of insulation tape would be a satisfactory plan B. Where the NAD M33 offers on paper greatness but sometimes struggled to turn that into genuine real world promise, the Caruso R is something where the moment you give it a chance, it starts to make more and more sense. This is possibly not quite a good enough product to topple the Uniti Star but it comes unexpectedly close to doing so and for that reason comes Highly “

https://www.avforums.com/reviews/t-a-caruso-r-all-in-one-system-review.18863/

Hifi and Music Source
“If you do need a bit of quality at any moment the T+A Caruso R has the capability, poise, and power to deliver a dominant performance”

https://hifiandmusicsource.com/2021/07/ta-caruso-r-all-in-one-system/

CD-Player

• Formats / Frequency responce
  • CD-DA (12cm), CD-R*
  • CD-RW*, Audio CD
  • MPEG 1 Layer 3 (MP3)
  • Windows Media Audio (WMA, DRM not supported) / 2 Hz – 20 kHz/100 dB / CD-Text.

Streaming Client

• Formats : MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, WAV, ALAC
• Services : Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music, qobuz, Spotify Connect (subscription required). DLNA
• Interfaces : LAN: Fast Ethernet 10/100 Base-T, WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n
• USB : 1 x USB 2,0 Mastermode

Bluetooth

• Standards / Codecs
  • A2DP 1.2 (Audio), AVRCP 1.4 (Control) / aptX®, MP3, AAC, SBC
  • Bi-directional sink + source

Tuner

• Internet Radio : Airable Internet Radio Service (> 11000 stations worldwide)
• FM : 87,5 – 108 MHz; sensitivity 1 µV; S/N > 65 dBA
• DAB+ : 168 -240 MHz (band III); sensitivity 2,0 µV, S/N > 96 dBA
• Features : RDS/RDBS, station name (PS), station logo, radiotext (TR)

Amplifier

• Nominal output : at 4 Ohms 2 x 100 Watts, at 8 Ohms 2 x 50 Watts
• Peak output : at 4 Ohms 2 x 150 Watts, at 8 Ohms 2 x 75 Watts
• Distortion : < 0,02 %
• Inputs
  • 2 x AUX (RCA) 2 Veff max
  • 1 x USB 2.0 Mastermode,
  • SP/DIF:1 x coax (192 kSps)
  • 1 x TOS-Link (96 kSps)
  • 2 x LAN (1 x uplink, 1 x out)
• Outputs : Pre-Amp (RCA) 2 Veff, subwoofer (RCA), headphone 32 Ohm@30mW (3,5 mm jack)
• Sound Management : 2 channel stereo system with DSP controlled sound characteristics

Mains / Accessories / Dimensions

• Mains supply : 100-127 V, 220 – 240V, 50-60 Hz
• Power consumption : max. 300 Watts, Eco standby < 0,5 Watts, comfort standby 5 W
• Dimensions (H x W x D)
  • 21 x 29 x 29 cm
  • 8.3 x 11.4 x 11.4 inch
• Weight : 7.5 kg, 16.5 lbs
• Accessories : Remote control, power cord, USB cable for charging RC, antenna Bluethooth,antenna WLAN, telescopic antenna radio
• Finishes : Case aluminium black 42, top and bottom covers aluminium silver 43

Technical modifications reserved

User manual Caruso R