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Aurender N30SA or Jay's Audio CDT3-MK3

I have the Jay's Audio CDT3-MK3.  I have a lot of CDs but I also have made a lot of recordings from FLAC files bought on Presto and burned to CD-R.

I recently replaced the Philips CD Pro2 with a new one.  Now I notice that my Maxell CD-Rs are noisy in comparison to commercial CDs which are very quiet.

I bought a different brand of CD-R Verbatim and they are quiet like the commercial CDs.  Now I want to replace all the Maxell with the Verbatim and that is a lot of CD-Rs which I burn at 4X so it will take a long time.

So I considered getting an Aurender N30SA to play the FLAC files from the server.  I was hoping the sound quality would equal or be better than what I was getting from my burned CD-Rs played on the Jay's.

I asked AI which would sound better and got the following response (see below for a summary).  I know to be careful accepting what AI has to say and try to do more research to confirm.  What are your thoughts on what AI had to say?

I also found this thread where Brandonhifi likes his Jay's over his Aurender W20SE but he was streaming rather than playing the files from the server  https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/jay-s-audio-cdt3-mk3-wins-over-aurender-w20se/by_member?username=lordmelton  

AI 

So which one “sounds better”?

If the disc is perfect (AZO, Taiyo Yuden, MAM‑A Gold, or a flawless pressed CD):

➡️ Jay’s CDT3‑MK3 will sound more natural, more dimensional, more “live.” It has a drive and immediacy that even the N30SA can’t quite duplicate.

If the disc is average or flawed:

➡️ Aurender N30SA will sound cleaner, quieter, and more stable. It removes all mechanical variables and gives you a blacker background.

If the rip is bit‑perfect and the DAC is excellent:

➡️ N30SA will be more consistent and more neutral.

If you value “musicality,” “drive,” and “presence”:

➡️ CDT3‑MK3 wins with a great disc.

If you value “silence,” “precision,” and “effortlessness”:

➡️ N30SA wins every time.

 

Thanks, Kent

kent10
kent10 OP
9 posts
 

Update--I bought a used N30SA.  This has been a very difficult decision for me.  I have been thinking about the N30SA for quite some time, and I only wanted it if it would sound better than my Jay’s which has been giving me trouble lately.  I thought I would never need anything other than the Jay’s unless I wanted to get into streaming at some point.  Right now I have so many CD’s and downloads that I listen to over and over, many I haven’t listened to yet.

I considered what audphile1 suggested with for example a Mola Mola and Roon Nucleus but I suppose I have done so much reading on the N30SA that I had my heart set on that.

But I will upgrade my DAC eventually.  I have already started looking.  dwest1023 really likes his Holo May with Aurender so that sounds promising.  I was thinking of starting with the Holo May KTE and then upgrading later.  But why 2 steps.  I usually like to just buy once without continually upgrading.

I am thinking of the Mola Mola Tambaqui.  I might be able to swing it used at some point.  It has a quality streamer too so there is duplication.  I realize I could have saved by getting this and a Roon Nucleus as Audphile1 suggested.  Hmmmm.  I am still excited to have the Aurender and there is always the option to sell if I am not happy with something.

Thanks everyone!

 

 

 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,880 posts
 

Congrats!!!

yeah you can resell it. Buying used is a smart choice. 

mooks005
14 posts
 

I have a N30SA connected by AES and a CDT3 connected by I2S to an Audio Mirror Wave DAC. Both are awesome but I prefer the sound of the CDT3. Actually I prefer the sound of vinyl over both.

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