I have not heard them side by side, but am personally won over by the SOtM/MicroRendu construct of a client Ethernet-to-USB endpoint, networked via ethernet to a generic computer-grade NAS mass storage server. The SOtM/MicroRendu paradigm is a building-block approach, as compared to a audiophile-vetted standalone purpose-build CPU like Aurender. You need to decide if you want to DIY vs. a packaged one-box solution. I started with a Rendu, networked over Ethernet to a QNAP TVS-882 i5 NAS hosting Roon, then upgraded to a SOtM SMS-200 Ultra with tx-USBultra and a SOtM-modified D-Link EN hub, all synchronized to an SRS PERF-10 10Mhz master clock. I’m done.
Aurender N100h vs. SOtM sms-200 Ultra
In your opinions, which is a better sounding file player, the Aurender N100h or the SOtM sms-200 Ultra? I realize the Aurender is over twice as much, but the fancy Conductor app is not really a big deal to me. I'm just interested in the best USB output to my DAC from an attached SSD.
Thank you.
Thank you.