The brand-new Leak TruStream looks as if it has escaped from a vintage shop, yet it is in fact a thoroughly modern music streamer offering a wide range of capabilities.
Vintage styling is currently very much in fashion. Equipment from the 1950s through the 1980s is often considered the new form of “antique,” and manufacturers are happy to tap into the demand for designs inspired by that era. The new Leak TruStream is a perfect example: beneath its retro exterior lies a fully modern network music player.
At its core is an ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M DAC chip, supported by ESS HyperStream II architecture, which includes the Time Domain Jitter Eliminator. This technology is designed to ensure highly accurate timing, ultimately resulting in improved sound quality. The streamer supports PCM resolutions up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, as well as DSD up to DSD512.
Streaming from popular music services such as Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect is fully supported. You can also listen to live internet radio from around the world via TuneIn, while Apple AirPlay 2 is included as well.
The Leak TruStream features a USB-C input and two USB-A ports. Optical and coaxial digital outputs allow you to connect an external DAC if desired. Alternatively, you can use the balanced XLR outputs for an analog connection, or the standard RCA line outputs. Headphone users are also catered for, as the unit includes a built-in headphone amplifier with a 6.5 mm jack output.
The Leak TruStream is priced at €1,199.