Innuos or Aurender

After researching options I decided on the Innuos Stream1 with with PhoenixUSB output board and LPS1. I installed a 4TB WD Red SN700 NVMe M.2 SSD myself. I've ripped over 600 of my CDs with it using an external Blu-ray optical drive with USB. Simple, fast, and does an excellent job grabbing artwork.

I primarily use an iPad to control it but occasionally use an iPhone or my laptop browser and they work equally as well. My components are in an enclosed cabinet so a display on the unit does me no good. The Sense app works and sounds great while helping me manage and play Qobuz and my ripped CDs.

I needed a unit that had a width short enough to fit on a shelf side by side next to a full width component and the Stream1 fits perfectly. I didn't look at the Aurender and can't comment on how it compares and I didn't consider any product from Chinese owned companies.

Innuos 

Love my Pulsar and Sense 

Good choice!

+1 innuos

Have a Zenith Mk3 and Phoenix USB to my Bricasti M3 DAC.  The sound quality is great and the Sense app works flawlessly. 

Let me also put in a word about Innuos support.  My Phoenix module quit working after a brief power outage.  It could see but not connect to my DAC.  The Stream 1 still worked through the regular USB port, however.  Within the day I was working with a tech in Portugal, with no language barrier at all.  He could not figure out the problem.  Because I had on the very first Stream 1’s that reached customer hands, they asked if they could bring it back to the factory to examine it.  A label was quickly emailed, it was picked up promptly, and I had back from two trans-Atlantic flights in about 9 or 10 days, fully working, with guidance on how to avoid the problem.  I chose to buy a backups to run just the Stream 1 via the LPS1.  I’ve had two power drops since then with no problem.  

When I bought the Stream 1, I looked very hard at the Stream 3, but the cost delta was fairly large, and I want to put that money into a preamp upgrade, about which I am still considering my options in light of all the great postings I received here at Audiogon.