Aurender N10 - Sound quality performance is erratic

For clarification of "Play button", are you talking about the sideways triangle button at the top left of the screen? So I just hold it down a few seconds? -I've not heard of this tip but very glad you replied to my thread. I'm truly hoping this works when I try it later today.

 
Hi pokey77,

Yes, the Play button is the triangle button, between the previous and next track buttons.
Just hold it down for 2-3 seconds and a menu will pop up for 2 options - Restart or Turn Off. Choose Restart.

Good luck! :)

If you read the Stereophile review of this unit, it seem to do a little trickery to anything that’s not MQA related, JA exposed it and I commented on it in the comments.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/aurender-a10-network-music-playerserver
" However, the A10's misapplication of the MQA reconstruction filter to non-MQA files stored on its internal drive means we must withhold a full recommendation for the A10 until this problem has been corrected.—John Atkinson"

And this was still the same even after a firmware update.

Cheers George

If you read the Stereophile review of this unit, it seem to do a little trickery to anything that’s not MQA related, JA exposed it and I commented on it in the comments.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/aurender-a10-network-music-playerserver
" However, the A10's misapplication of the MQA reconstruction filter to non-MQA files stored on its internal drive means we must withhold a full recommendation for the A10 until this problem has been corrected.—John Atkinson"
And this was still the same even after a firmware update.

JA's comments apply only to the A10 which has its own dac section.
Neither the N10 nor the N100H has a dac section to misapply any signal, MQA or not. So this issue has no relevance at all to the OP's question.

FYI to all - My methodology diagnosing this problem has been to play the same 10-15 reference tracks and take notes so I can compare day-to-day sound quality. My pre/amp are on all the time and the N10 is always in standby and fairly warm to the touch.

Also, to those who have mentioned drop outs, that has never been my problem. Sound quality is my one and only problem. Apparently both @hgeifman and @jon2020 have experienced similar SQ problems and have posted above; I thank you both.

Update

@jon2020  

Thank you for the clarification on the Play button tip. Last night I played a few tracks I am intimate with and then tried the long press of the "Play button" choosing the Restart option, and unfortunately for me, this did not change the sound quality at all.

Next, I tried a reset of my modem/router and that also had no effect at all. The system sounded the same for the entire session and through both of  these two changes. I checked, the ATT modem/router and it does not have a battery.

I have made a word doc and will start working through other suggestions as time allows. I think a good place to start is to have a tech come out and check all connections, both inside and outside. -I appreciate all the help so far.

FYI - I just want to say that Aurender has provided exceptional customer service so far. We all acknowledge this is an unusual problem and will continue to work towards solving it. I do appreciate your help here on Audiogon very much as well.