How do you like N200? How does N200 compares with N20? I did not experience any 'heat' issues with N20 as I had mine on a open shelf.
Aurender N20 Music Server Comments and Observations
My Aurender N20 Music Server is installed and working great. The N20 is supplied WITHOUT hard drives installed. This means hard drives are the customer’s choice. Each of the two rear panel mounting sleds accommodates a 1, 2, 4 or 8TB 2.5-inch SSD or up to 5TB 15mm height 2.5inch HDDs. Since users have different storage requirements, Aurender feels this is the best way to satisfy everyone. Aurender recommends Samsung EVO (I used Samsung EVO) or QVO series internal SSD drives, and Western Digital or Seagate HDDs.
The SSD Disk installation means you loosen the screws on the back of the unit, pull out the slot, insert the SSD, push in and tighten the screws (top slot is Music1). After I installed the SSD, I went to the Conductor App, settings, disk information tab to format the SSD (please see instruction links below). If, for some reason, the format command does not appear, please power down (turn electrical power off) and restart manually. Restarting takes time since the N20 has UPS circuitry inside.
I checked for software updates on the N20 (there were none) and deleted my old Conductor App and installed a new copy from the App Store on my iPad.
My First impression is it sounds excellent. The music is clearer, the bass is better, has more air and it has more musical details. The overall musical presentation is much improved. I am listening to jazz now and the SQ is much improved. I really like it.
You know the music is great when I am typing my message and music catches my attention and forces me to look up. This unit is truly outstanding. I am very impressed. Cranking the volume and this unit is truly amazing. It is much improved over the N10. The music has more feeling and depth.
I copied my albums from my LaCie external hard drive (backup drive) to the N20 okay. I also ran the scanner, scan for newly added files, so all my albums appeared okay. This worked perfectly. Please note the scan for newly added files takes time to run (watch for messages on your App).
A miracle! Next, I restored my music1/backup and all my Qobuz links were returned. This is needed since my main library includes BOTH my stored CD’s and Qobuz links. Previously, I used the backup my Music1 tab and also copied all my albums to my LaCie external hard drive. For this step, I restored my settings from Music1/backup file. This is a required step to ensure all my QoBuz related links were restored.
In summary, my N20 is breaking in but out of the box, the N20 sounds terrific. For startup purposes, the N20 displays a six-digit code that must be entered into the Conductor App. The Aurender N20 Music Server is highly recommended.
Useful Aurender Users Guides and Web Manuals links are below:
https://aurender.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
SSD/HDD Installation Guide
https://aurender.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360045605693-SSD-HDD-Installation-Guide
I hope the above is useful.
- ...
- 39 posts total
Well, it's the best streamer I ever had, I thought it was great! Being able to convert DSD to PCM on the fly, upsampling, a really good clock and SPDIF output, among other features make it very flexible, and sound is fantastic. The N200 in comparison is very simple, but just using USB output it is also very good. Hard to give a sound comparison though as I did not have the units in house at the same time. Going off memory fwiw I think the N20 had just a little more refinement and definition. |
@jimmy2615 I find your review of the N20 misleading to say the least. The N20 doesn't run hot. Google is your friend! The N20 will output native DSD over USB into a suitable DAC so why convert to PCM? Why use SPDIF when you can use USB or AES EBU? The N200 costs $6k and the N20 $12k if you can't strongly hear the difference you've got cloth ears or a super crappy system. Anyone interested in Auender produts should go and have a demo over a few days and make your own mind up. PS I have no horse in this race except I chose the N20 over many other products and many people tried to mislead me along the way. |
Lord, the N20 is an AWESOME streamer! It should be for $12k! In fact I think you’re cutting it short. The extra features are a lot of what you are paying for. Its spdif/AES output and clock is super high quality, and ability to convert DSD to PCM on the fly unusual in a streamer and takes tremendous processing power to do it. Did you know if you use USB your DAC’s clock is running the show? Some new DACs and many old ones do not process DSD (which to answer your question is why you would use spdif as opposed to USB), so the N20 enhanced capability in this area is a great feature. Also, its ability to upsample is great and also takes a lot of processing power, and again not available in a lot of streamers. I now have a DSD DAC and running USB exclusively, which is why I got the N200, I figured it was a shame to waste all the additional tech/features in the N20, not to mention the $$ they cost only not to use them. WRT heat, the N20 ran hot in my system, the N200 does not. What can I tell you? Processing power translates to heat. As I said, even the owner’s manual says not to put in a cabinet because it needs ventilation. I don’t believe I am being misleading. |
Thanks for your input. I agree with you, you're are not taking full advantage of N20 strengths if you're only using its USB output. The N20 is a superb streamer and it clearly excels in terms of low frequency extension and slam over its predecessors especially N10. When I upgraded from N10, I clearly heard the edge in terms of perceived detail. In a highly resolve system and with a DAC like EMM Labs DA2, you can really appreciate N20's virtues. I can only imagine what's N30SA like, hope to hear it someday :-) |
- 39 posts total