Aurender

@baylinor 

I appreciate the invite. I would love to connect with you and listen to your amazing system next time I visit Austin. My point of engagement was not to cast doubt on what you’re hearing with Node 2, which is a great performer for the money and even better with upgraded power supply. Bottom line, if you’re satisfied with what you’ve put together then it shouldn’t matter what else out there. 

I used to own Vault 2 so I can say from my experience, Aurender streamers offers a substantial upgrade in sound over Node albeit at higher price of admission. Streamer is just one piece of the pie, so one needs to ensure your rest of the system is up to the task. My impressions of Node vs Aurender are in the context of my system (listed here under my moniker). 

You’re welcome to stop by next time you’re in Houston. 

@lalitk 

It's a deal!

Lots of beautiful equipment in a very nicely treated listening room. I would be a fool not to take you up on the offer. I don't go to Houston often but will let you know when I do. Take care.

Great topic, many valuable opinions, Thank you!

I have an N20. I also have the Holo May KTE DAC.

I can say without hesitation the Aurender Conductor App has been a very good experience. I owned a Lumen D2 and the Naim Streamer DAC solutions prior to my current setup. In both cases, the Conductor App has been more intuitive and reliable, IOS and Android are prevalent in my home, neither have been an issue.

Finding the right combination Aurender settings an interconnects has been the challenge. With all the variables (DSD to PCM, AES, USB, LOW Pass Filter, Upsampling level options, etc..)  It is literally picking a lock! I have purchased many different interconnects, all very good. I,ve found many times sound quality depends on the recording, not the Conductor settings or interconnects. 

I have spoken to both Tim at Holo and Ari at Aurender, great guys, experts in their respective verticals, but hesitant to recommend a comprehensive setting or interconnect configuration.

I am not technical, the science is too broad.  There is so much content and expertise on this thread. If anyone cares to potentially narrow down a couple best in class settings to recommend, I would really appreciate it, I.E. Low Pass Filter Setting, DSD to PCM or not, upsample or not,  interconnect, etc...

Much Appreciated 

@mkdm11

I enjoyed my time with N20 immensely (paired with EMM Labs DA2). I believe N20 holds a sweet spot if you can utilize all of its brilliant features. As far as settings goes, my recommendation would be to play with each setting and keep what sounds best to your ears. The same applies to digital output, AES vs USB. All of these choices are subjective…I guess my point is it would be a shame to not explore all the features on a transport like N20 :-)

When I had my N20, I did not prefer any upsampling or DSD conversion. I had my N20 connected using both AES (for files upto 24bit/192kHz) and USB for DSD’s. Another thing I really appreciated was CLM (critical listening mode) in N20. It further drops the noise floor and allows you appreciate quiet passages and space between instruments.

Use best digital cables you can afford. And lastly, if you have not yet; tweak your Ethernet signal with a passive filter from Network Acoustics’s ENO or Muon. They will further relax the sound and take off any digital edge or grunge.

I intentionally held back my feedback on one of the most important feature of N20, the clock input. PM me if you are curious about the master clock input. 

Would you please share rest of your system?

Lalita,

Thank you for the response/insight.

I don`t domuch upsampling, I am having better success with NOS at the DAC (44k) via USB. THE Aurender is set similarly at basic levels.  (I guess thats where my confusion originates. (Tons of options,, basic sounds best,, concerned I am overlooking something). I have AES "Front Row", USB AQ Coffee and Nodost SPDIF. From the Modem Small Green Computer to Fibre, back to ethernet to English Switch, AQ Vodka to N20.

Pre BAT REX II, AMP PASS XA60.8, 2 REL S510`s, Paradigm Persona F7, All Frey 2, Equi-Tek power conditioner.