Lumin U2 or Aurender N200

@swede58 I’ll have some thoughts over the weekend.

@ketchup . thanks for the clearing this point up, much I could read the pulling of files across the network was not described very well.

The difference between the Lumin and Aurender, is the Aurender can pull music files across the network, whereas the Lumin requires a server software to push to the endpoint. I can see advantages for both systems, the aurender has the simplicity of username, password, and processes the metadata and the file locally.

The Lumin handshakes with the server to decode metadata, change sampling rate to match the file and away it goes. The Lumin provides flexible choice of server (Audirvana, minim server, Jriver for a start), uPNP and Open Home protocols, Aurender has the Conductor software, that's about it. IF Conductor is not to your liking, there's the rock or the hard place.

@rms456 the latest generation Aurender streamers are Roon ready. So if you don’t like conductor you can use Roon, albeit the sound quality is degraded slightly (as with most Roon ready streamers).

@swede58 as I mentioned previously I borrowed Nordost Tyr 2 speaker cables to compare to my current speaker cables, Audience FrontRow. I also borrowed Tyr 2 USB cable to compare with Audioquest Diamond that I currently use in my system.
My current cables are Nordost Tyr 2 XLR between Bricasti M3 DAC and Boulder 866 integrated. Power cables Nordost Heimdall 2 on Aurender N200, Frey 2 on DAC and Frey 2 on amp.

I started the comparison by replacing just the speaker cables. After letting the cables settle, I can say the Tyr 2 are different but not better. Really close but the Tyr 2 are slightly thinner sounding than the FrontRow. The overall balance is cooler with the Tyr 2 speaker cables. Drums sound just a bit smaller with the Tyr 2. Soundstage is superb but the FrontRow are no slouch there either.

After I got familiar with the new sound, I swapped the Diamond USB. Out wentvthe AQ and in went the Tyr 2. This was perhaps the biggest shock. The sound warmed up, everything became bigger, more detailed with better dynamics. The USB cable balanced the speaker cables out perfectly. However the traces of the cooler presentation still remain.
I ran this combo for 2 days listening to my reference music as well as the new stuff. But…after pulling out the Tyr 2 speaker cables and reintroducing FrontRow, I prefer the warmer, more vibrant and more delicate presentation with the FrontRow speaker cables. It’s hard to put back the AQ Diamond USB. My system never sounded this good. With Tyr 2 the bass is just so fast, deep and textured, the highs are crystal clear, there’s color in the mids that I’ve not heard with the Diamond.
I need to figure out next steps. I’m planning to give Audience FrontRow USB cable a try. The AQ Diamond is a nice USB cable but it just doesn’t hold a candle to Tyr 2.
Honesty I’m super happy with the FrontRow speaker cables. They’re not exactly cheap but I’ve not heard anything better up to this point. I satisfied my curiosity about the full Nordost loom and as in the past mixing and matching works out better for me.

@audphile1 

Thanks for posting your impressions. Your assessment aligns with mine, I have yet to find analog and digital cables from one brand offering great synergy and competing with very best, within my budget..LOL!  Usually it’s one or the other.