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Jay’s Audio CDT3-MK3 wins over Aurender W20SE

In search for digital perfection I’ve continuously upgraded my streamer to find Qobuz nirvana. The streamer’s only competition has been my Audiolab 6000CDT which clearly outperformed any Chord 2go/2yu and the Volumio Primo middle grade streamer. Only after buying the flagship Aurender W20SE did my streamer blow the CD transport out of the water, like burn every CD never going back. But studying hi end CD transports I decided on the Jay’s Audio CDT3-MK3 and it has been a revelation. It’s like I’ve never heard a cd before. It so outperforms the W20SE in detail clarity depth richness of tone it’s astonishing. IMHO CD with a hi-end CD transport is far far better than the absolute best streamer in the world. The W20SE is not going up for sale but will be getting much less use from now on.

I’d be interested in the community’s thoughts about CD vs Streaming.

brandonhifi
kent10
10 posts
 

Hi brandonhifi,

Do you have any further thoughts on your comparison of the Jay's CDT3-MK3 and your W20SE?  Have you played files from the SSD on the W20SE?

I also have the Jay's CDT3-MK3 and am considering the Aurender N30SA for file playback.  I would be disappointed if I didn't like it as much as the Jay's.  Perhaps the 2 are just different but both still amazing.

Thanks, Kent

kennyc
3,073 posts
 

It’s not unusual for a good CDT to outperform streaming in SQ. But the decision between the 2 is usually not SQ but media availability - very different experience. Streaming leads to music discovery, often from vast libraries

jaymark's avatar
jaymark
549 posts
 

Network filters have helped my streaming quality for sure. IMO they are essential kit for streaming.  Cables matter - sorry Jason...... Does my Melco CD transport sound different?  Yes, it does.  Does it sounds better?  IMO it does.  Ditto for CD files recorded on my Melco server.  Does my tricked our server sound really good?  It for sure does and obviously has an Uber greater convenience factor.  I do 95% of my listening thru Qobuz.  I was warned that streaming did not sound as good as CDs.  And while correct, the different sound of the streamer was much closer quality wise then I was led to believe.  Splitting hairs on interesting but head scratching questions is what we audiophiles do....

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