Aurender N20

What digital outputs do you need?  I decided on the Aurender N20 Music streamer since it supports BOTH USB and AES/EBU digital outputs to my DAC.  

For 2-weeks, I switched back and forth between the USB and AES/EBU digital outputs to my DAC.  In most cases, I prefer the AEB/EBU connection (a very high priority for me).    

I moved from the N10 to the N20 and couldn’t be happier.  IMO a big upgrade-better dynamics and quieter background.  I also switched back and forth between the usb, BNC, and AES multiple times.  At the end of the day the BNC  and AES were almost identical and both superior to the USB in my system(feeding a Chord DAVE).  Love the conductor app too.   
 

Overall I think you would be very happy with the N20.  Good luck!

@jeffreyw A lot of people are mentioning the difference between AES/BNC and USB.

If you want to take full advantage of the USB output you need a DAC with an Amanero Board. This will bring the SQ very close to the AES/BNC otherwise the AES/BNC will be clearly superior. You need USB for Native DSD otherwise you'll have to play DOP through AES/BNC.

Make sure in your Aurender settings to enable Professional Level Out, this will give quite a SQ boost to the AES/BNC output.

The N20 with a Master Clock is sublime. Totally different, on another level.

Differences between the sound of USB and AES/BNC/ SP/DIF are fundimentslly different. The USB output is  packetized info going to your DAC is a completely different format and will rely on additional processing (including retiming of the bitstream) before converting to analog. While the others only use the basic functions of the DAC. So, the difference between the two can often be thought of as: if my DAC is better than my streamer then most likely the USB will sound better, but if my streamer is better than my DAC, then more likely the other digital formats will sound better. While you have to try it to make sure they very different processing routes.

Non-USB connectors are the same feed coming out different connectors.

@hgeifman 

I will primarily use USB. I have an Aries Cerat Helene on order which is optimized for this output. AES is also a possibility. It is a tough decision to make! I think the N20 is the direction I am headed.

Thanks