Silent Angel from China has earned an excellent reputation in recent years with some impressive digital audio components. Various tests at LowBeats (see links below the article) underscore this. Furthermore, the German Silent Angel distributor IAD is extremely active in promoting the brand in this country. Among Silent Angel's highlights is the Z1 music and Roon server, the "Plus" version of which is currently one of LowBeats ' references . With the Rhein Z1C, the company has now introduced a "little brother" to the Z1 Plus. The device's design is even more similar to an Apple Mac Studio than before and can be used as a Roon server, player, streaming bridge, or music management server, depending on your needs.

With the accompanying VitOS app, the Rhein Z1C can be easily and quickly configured and controlled for your desired application. Thanks to compatibility with Hi-Res formats and support for popular streaming services, it brings together music from all sources.

The highlights of the Rhein Z1C

The Rhein Z1C is essentially a beefed-up mini PC optimized for audio. However, targeted modifications—such as ultra-low-noise USB ports, sophisticated shielding measures, and a high-precision TCXO clock—signify the concept's superior performance compared to simple solutions. The Z1C's sophisticated casing and plug-and-play capability also set it apart. The device also offers additional options for optimizing the sound. Users can provide the Z1C's system clock via an external 10 MHz clock, allowing the server to synchronize with other digital audio components.

The Silent Angel Rhein Z1C is an ideal Roon server, but also allows the use of other server applications such as ReadyMedia, HQPlayer NAA, or can serve as a DLNA renderer. These can be installed as needed with a simple tap in the VitOS Manager app. This also applies to the company's own Orbiter plugin, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect. 

Up to ten Roon-Ready endpoints can be supplied with music. Like its bigger brother, the Z1C can also function as a fully-fledged Roon endpoint by simply connecting it to any USB DAC. Beyond Roon, the Z1C also excels as a streaming bridge via the VitOS Orbiter plug-in. For this, it also only needs to be connected via USB to a D/A converter, such as one integrated into a CD player or amplifier, or integrated as an external DAC. This allows the Rhein Z1C to flexibly integrate into any playback chain and easily integrate digital sources into the setup, including streaming services such as Tidal and Qobuz, as well as Spotify Connect and Apple Airplay 2.

If necessary, the Rhein Z1C also takes on the central role of music management, streaming via DLNA to up to ten DLNA-compatible devices. Your own music archive can be conveniently made accessible to the Z1C via USB mass storage devices, or you can access the music from a NAS via the network. 

To save costs, the Z1C's aluminum casing is not quite as elaborate as the very thick-walled casing of its big brother, the Z1 Plus, which is decorated with milled cross grooves, but is nevertheless of a very high quality. At the same time, it is well shielded against all types of EMI and protects other sensitive devices in the playback chain from emissions from the computer inside the Rhein Z1C itself.

Assessment/Comment

The Rhein Z1C offers almost the same functionality as the Z1 Plus from the same manufacturer, but costs just under half. The savings are likely primarily due to the somewhat simpler, yet thankfully still very high-quality, Mac-style case (the Z1C also weighs almost exactly the same as a Mac Studio M2 Ultra). Otherwise, the differences to the top-of-the-line model are manageable. Instead of a 25 MHz clock port like the Z1 Plus, the Z1C uses a 10 MHz port (which is actually much more common and doesn't require a special external clock from Silent Angel).

The Z1C's processor core is slightly weaker than the Plus's (Intel Quad-Core CPU J4125 instead of J6413 and with only 4 or 8 GB of RAM instead of 16 or 32 GB).

The Rhein Z1C should be an interesting alternative to other music server solutions for demanding users, especially since it can serve not only as a Roon server but also as a bridge/player. Furthermore, the device is an extremely straightforward plug-and-play solution that requires no knowledge of computer/server administration. Setting it up as a Roon server, for example, requires only two steps: connect it to the network, activate it as a server with a single click in the Roon app, and log in. – If you've been looking for a significantly cheaper alternative to the Z1 Plus for a while, you've found it here.

Availability and price

The Silent Angel Rhein Z1C has been available in black or silver at specialist retailers since mid-August 2024 at an RRP of €1,699. Further information is available on the Silent Angel product page .

Technical data