LEAK TruStream Network Audio Player

LEAK TruStream lets the music flow…

Original British hi-fi trailblazer launches its first network audio player, fusing state-of-the-artstreaming technology with vintage ‘mid-century’ style.

Cambridgeshire, England -- One of the biggest names of the mid-20th century hi-fi scene, LEAK returned in 2020 with its first new products since the 1970s. The arrival of the LEAK Stereo 130 integrated amplifier and LEAK CDT CD transport piqued the interest of the audio world, fusing the vintage appeal of classic LEAK design with state-of-the-art audio circuitry. These were later joined by a second, more powerful integrated amp – the Stereo 230 – followed by the reincarnation of a bona fide British classic, the LEAK Sandwich speaker.

This spring, LEAK further expands its relaunched range by applying the same classic style to the most modern of audio system components: a network audio player. The LEAK TruStream combines first-class streaming and DAC architecture within its walnut wood-veneered enclosure, engineered with a laser-focus on elevated sound quality. As ever with LEAK since the company’s inception, the TruStream is designed with one objective above all: the faithful reproduction of music, rendered with lifelike presence and emotional depth.

A technically advanced digital source component, the TruStream offers versatile connectivity including dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet for network streaming, plus a USB-C input for PC/Mac connection.

Two USB-A ports are provided to plug in USB storage devices; these double up as digital outputs to hook up an external DAC if required, alongside optical and coaxial S/PDIF outputs. Balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs are supplied for connection to an analogue amplifier, and a built-in headphone amp enables ‘head-fi’ fans to plug straight into their streams.

There must be an angel (playing with my heart)

LEAK’s design team undertook an exhaustive search for a technology partner to provide the ‘streaming engine’ at the TruStream’s core. They settled on Silent Angel, a company fully satisfying the key requirements of rock-solid platform stability and excellent sonic potential.

Formed in 2014, Silent Angel has spent the last decade cultivating an impressive reputation for itsnetwork streaming platform, around which its own highly regarded products are built. The company’s technology is cleverly designed, giving its music streamers a clear sonic advantage over other devices at comparable price points. It’s stable in use, delivering unerring quality however you stream, with an accompanying app that’s built for performance and simple to use.

LEAK’s team of electronics engineers worked closely with Silent Angel to develop the TruStream, integrating a custom version of Silent Angel’s streaming engine with LEAK’s own circuit designs. ARM Cortex-A72 and Cortex-A53 multi-core CPUs supply ample processing power for seamless operation, and a specialised app based on Silent Angel’s VitOS software provides a crisply designed and user-friendly interface on iOS and Android devices.

Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect and TuneIn are all fully integrated (the latter alongside Silent Angel’s own Internet Radio facility) with each service supported to its highest audio resolution.

AirPlay 2 offers another way to stream via Apple devices, and because LEAK’s network player is fully UPnP/DLNA compliant it connects seamlessly with other DLNA devices on a home network – NAS drives, for example – with the option to control the streamer via third-party UPnP/DLNA apps.

The TruStream is certified Roon Ready, with RAAT (Roon Advanced Audio Transport) protocol built in.This ensures it works seamlessly as an endpoint in a Roon-connected audio environment, controlled by the Roon app – the software of choice for many audiophiles building high-performance integrated digital music systems in their homes.

Sweet streams (are made of this)

Silent Angel’s audio streaming technology is designed to minimise sonically deleterious forms of noise and distortion and maximise digital signal integrity, thereby painting the music on a ‘silent’ background to achieve superior contrast, clarity and expression.

The TruStream’s circuitry builds upon this bedrock, applying LEAK’s own first-rate electronics including a DAC stage painstakingly designed for sonic excellence. At its heart lies the ES9038Q2M, a high-specification 32-bit DAC chip from the ESS Sabre series, accompanied by proprietary clock and power supply circuitry to make the most of ESS Technology’s HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator.

Although technically excellent, Sabre DAC chips must be implemented with care to extract their full sonic potential. The post-DAC active filter is a critical element – LEAK has incorporated a Class A circuit that is perfectly tailored to unlock the full potential of the ES9038Q2M’s exceptional signal-to-noise performance and dynamic range.

LEAK shares its parent company with Mission, which also launched a network player at the start of 2026. Like the TruStream, Mission’s 778S incorporates Silent Angel streaming technology – in fact, LEAK and Mission are the only brands to benefit from this outside of Silent Angel’s own network audio devices. But, in addition to clearly contrasting external designs, the LEAK and Mission streamers differinternally too.

Most notably, the TruStream’s power supply stages are further enhanced, including an ultra-low-noise toroidal transformer by Noratel – an upgrade from the already high-quality transformer used in the Mission 778S. Clean, consistent power is delivered to all the sensitive parts of the digital and analogue stages; the XMOS chip, MCU and DAC each have their own dedicated supply, with multiple discrete ultra-low-noise regulators providing power separately for each stage of the D-to-A conversion process – a critical contributor to the streamer’s performance.

The TruStream’s analogue output circuitry incorporates high-quality components and features a balanced topology, designed to eliminate noise and distortion in the signal path. This feeds the XLR outputs directly, enabling anyone connecting the streamer to an amp with balanced analogue inputs to reap the full sonic benefits. Meanwhile, those making use of the 6.35mm headphone output profit from an onboard amp with a high-quality current-feedback design and high slew rate, ensuring a dynamic and detailed performance with all manner of headphones.

Talkin’ ‘bout high-resolution

High-resolution audio support is state-of-the-art, handling PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz (including fixed-point PCM via the LEAK TruStream app) and native DSD up to 22.5MHz (DSD512). Every significant hi-res and lossless audio format is catered for, spanning FLAC, Apple Lossless (ALAC), WAV, AIFF and APE, alongside native DSD in DSF and DIFF form, as well as DoP (DSD over PCM). ‘Lossy’ format support includes MP3, WMA, AAC and OGG – no matter how the audio you play is formatted, the TruStream delivers its full sonic potential.

You have placed a thrill in my heart

When LEAK returned at the start of this decade with its first new products for more than 40 years, the fusion of vintage aesthetic, contemporary features and state-of-the-art technical proficiency heralded a new and unique addition to the high-performance audio scene. The arrival of the TruStream adds further to the proposition, delivering a thoroughly modern digital source to match the CD transport, amplifiers and speakers already in the range.

As with the rest of LEAK’s current lineup, the TruStream’s classic ‘mid-century’ look, with a crisply finished walnut wood-veneered cabinet applied over an aluminium chassis, is key to its appeal. More than mere nostalgia, its design is a celebration of British industrial design from hi-fi’s golden age – designed, engineered and built to an exemplary standard.

Just as crucial is the TruStream’s top-tier performance. Its sound is fulsome, detailed and not the least bit old-fashioned, stirring emotions with thrilling sonic realism. Dynamic, natural and fluid, it fully engages the listener without a hint of harshness or clinical over-emphasis.

LEAK’s first music streamer is an obvious match for the brand’s amps and speakers, but its range of outputs and built-in volume control give it great system versatility. It can be connected to any integrated amp or preamp, or directly to a power amp or active speakers, or to an external DAC. Or simply plug in a pair of headphones to create a superb ‘head-fi’ streaming system.

Price and availability

Coupling vintage cool with advanced streaming technology and a first-rate sonic performance, the LEAK TruStream network audio player is available from April at an RRP of £999.

Web - https://leak-hifi.co.uk/