DAC for Aurender N200

@hickamore, if I was looking for a DAC to pair with an Aurender N200 I’d seriously look at the Chord Dave. 

I use a musetec 005.  Wonderful combination.

@adasdad Original question was specifically directed to other users of Aurender N200 with experience of various DACs connecting via USB. Got multiple hits for ARC Ref9, T+A DAC200, Denafrips Terminator 15, Bricasti M3. Yes I want musicality, but specifically also a more convincing soundstage and richer instrumental timbres. Already got a shiny powered box that looks just fine. Want a better one with OXCO. 

@hickamore, which of the DACs that have been mentioned attract your attention the most? Are you looking for sonic accuracy, musicality, reference quality neutral presentation, or a shiny powered box that weighs 20lbs sitting somewhere near the rest of your gear?

@adasdad Right, that is where this thread originated. I have researched every DAC mentioned, about 30 of them, and compiled my short list. Plan is to audition those available new within my budget, and if unsatisfied, try those on used market offering quick turnaround in case of dissatisfaction. That said, the bar is pretty low for audible improvement on my existing "legacy" DAC.

@hickamore, my suggestion would be to audition the best DAC that you can afford and that sounds good to you. Streamers don’t mean a thing unless they’re sending the bits to an equivalently capable DAC. 

@hickamore 

I think that’s the way to go. My best set up was a Rogue RP7 w/upgraded tubes and a pair of top of the line Odyssey Kismet monos. Only had one source so figured it was overkill .

sold everything and bought a Coda CSiB integrated. A very fine integrated but did not compete with my previous set up. 

Seems like this topic pops up every few weeks so I'll toss my Canor, DAC 2.10 into the mix. For $4K it's is as good if not better than all but the very hiend Mola Mola, Berkeley, DCS and Meitner pieces. I listened to a bunch in the $3-$7500 range and the Canor was superior in almost every way to the others including Weiss, PS Audio, Benchmark, etc. The separation of musical instruments in the soundstage is what floored me. Zero grain, no digital remanence whatsoever. I am partial to tube DACs especially in a highly resolving setup and this Canor has been a terrific addition to my system. Definately worth a demo. Just my experience...

I already had a CEC DA5 as my DAC, which went perfectly with my CEC TL5 CD transport. I then went the 'whole hog' with digital and purchased the Aurender N200. I couldn't be happier with the N200/ DA5 combo via usb. Not to say that there are better alternatives but I'm too busy enjoying the music to experiment! :-)

cheers, Paul 

@jimboman I use AQ Diamond and it sounds very good with the Bricasti. Good luck and keep me posted. 

@audphile1 

I’ve got a Wireworld starlight Platinum 8 and an AQ Diamond for USB.  Will start with those  thanks again for the advice and encouragement  

Apologies to everyone for hijacking thread…don’t have ability to DM at the moment  :-)

best, JAMES

@jimboman check your messages I replied there. I would bet a good USB would be better than AES but worth trying. Good AES not sure…haven’t tried anything recently except DH Labs which was decent. 
 

@audphile1  

thanks for the DM.  Yes, it’s the $2500 M3H unit in LA.

the seller doesn’t think it has an MDx board in it…but either way, I’m looking forward to adding it to my system.

does yours have the Ethernet board? I have a Lumin U2, and am thinking of trying AES to compare with the dedicated USB output (on U2).

any recommendations for AES XLR cables?

many thanks.

JAMES

@benzman T+A Dac 200 ----> tube preamp ----> Class A SS amp?

I have never heard of any Sabre based Dac described as warm. What is the rest of your system?  Don’t sleep on the T&A Dac 200. Find one pre owned and check it out. Easy to listen to yet all the detail/resolution/transparency you need. Whole nother  level from the Bricasti M3 it replaced. 

@hickamore You might also consider their newest, cheaper device, the Metronome DSC Mini.

@stievus Thank you for the introduction to Le Dac2, one of the few new-to-me DACS mentioned here that checks all my boxes, including cosmetically.. Read up on it, including reviews which suggest I would prefer it to T+A Dac2. Impossible to guess what synergy it might have in my system, but If buying new and if trial is  offered, I could test with Terminator/Venus (R-2R for less $). (Though coming tariffs may confine all of us DAC-seekers to the US-made & used markets).

It surprises me that nobody mentioned as a candidate  Le Dac2 from the French company Metronome Technologie.

⬆️ A DAC with 24-bit 192KHz maxx resolution for $6K, that’s a hard pass for me!

Equally or perhaps better Non-oversampling (NOS) DAC to consider,

LTA Aero and Border Patrol DAC SE-I.

A head to head comparison is warranted before anyone thinking about chucking down $6K for any DAC out there! 

I'd throw in another vote for Mojo Audio Mystique X-24AM. An amazing dac!

Best wishes,

Don

@bikeboy52 

I’m in the same boat.  Let me know what you find out and I’ll do the same with you.

(Pontus ll to N200.)

@jonwolfpell that’s my PS Audio DSD MkI vs. Bricasti M3 results as well. No comparison. Especially in noise floor that’s pretty much the foundation for all other improvements over PS A.

I too am using a Pontus two with my N200 and can’t help feeling like there is a lot more potential in there that Im not unlocking . Like a lot of others here Im trying to figure out where I wanna go next with a new Dac.Any one know of a Dac lending library?

The only two DACS I’ve directly compared in my system are the PS Audio Direct stream Mark II & the Bricasti M1 Series II. It wasn’t close as the Bricasti was better in every way from build quality to sound quality. The Bricasti is built very well in n MA & sounds excellent w/ a dead silent, jet black background & very detailed & dynamic with no listening fatigue. I found the PS to be thin sounding in comparison & often noisy on some cuts. You may be able to find the Bricasti used for about .$9K but I suspect it’s the next level from most anything new near that price. Highly recommend!

Thanks to the many A'goners who weighed in on this. I will soon be making the best-informed device acquisition of my career.

@hickamore  NotVAT in USA, I bought mine from  @Audioman58 in the USA

we sell a  large number of dacs: naim, nad,chord,bricasti, aqua hifi, and a few others 

we recommend you look at an aqua hifi lascala for a number of reasons:

Extremely musical r to r design with a tube output stage:

unlike many r to r designs the lascala has incredible resolution while  having a lush midrange.

accepts high res pcm and dsd

is completely modular and upgradable so as technology improves the dac can evolve.

Dave and Troy

Audio Intellect NJ

aqua hifi dealer

The AudioMirror Tubadour V is <$8k and is an excellent tube DAC. 

I'm using my Aurender N200 with a Holo Audio May KTE DAC via USB and I'm very happy. I did try coaxial but thought the USB sounded better.

The following DACs are highly compatible with the Aurender N200’s capabilities in delivering high-resolution files and managing noise effectively.

R2R

• Denafrips Pontus 15th / Venus 15th – Highly regarded for natural, analog-like sound.
• Holo Audio Spring 3 (Level 2 or KTE) – Exceptional detail and tonal richness, suitable for audiophiles.
• MSB Discrete DAC – Modular design, excellent for upgrades; very high-end performance.
• Rockna Wavelight DAC – Smooth, organic, and precise sound reproduction.

Delta-Sigma chip based

• Chord Qutest / Hugo TT2 – Known for transparency and detail retrieval.
• Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ – Offers a neutral and detailed sound signature with a robust feature set.
• Benchmark DAC3 – Clean, accurate, and neutral presentation, ideal for reference listening.
• T+A DAC 200 – A hybrid approach delivering both precision and warmth.

Hybrid or Tube-based

• LampizatOr Amber 4 – Tube-based design for warm, lush sound.
• Audio Note DAC 2.1x – Purely musical with a minimalist approach.
• PS Audio DirectStream DAC MKii – FPGA-based, highly resolving and smooth sound.
• Weiss DAC502 – High-end DAC with precision and great functionality.
• LTA Aero DAC – Tube output stage with low output impedance

High-End (these might be over your budget but worth consideration one day you become rich

• dCS Bartók – Renowned for advanced technology and unparalleled soundstage.
• dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC – dCS flagship DAC
• Mola Mola Tambaqui – Compact, highly resolving, and extremely dynamic.
• Esoteric N-05XD – Matches the refinement of the Aurender N200  perfectly.
• Luxman DA-06 – Offers a smooth, musical presentation with excellent build quality

I’m really happy with using a good USB from my N200 to the Pontus ll. Though I must admit that I haven’t tried ABS/EBU.

I’m on the other end of this inquiry. I have a Bricasti M1SE and have been tire kicking for a streamer… pretty close to pulling trigger on an N200 but I swear somewhere I read the Bricasti is better with Ethernet rather than USB? Would love for someone to tell me that’s not true lol.

@lalitk  @audphile1 & others very helpful, many thanks. I always prefer the warm side for extended listening, whatever the genre. This tends to mean Class A amplification and/or tubes somewhere along the way.

@fthompson251 Does one pre-order the Terminator 15th direct from Denafrips since the Vinshine demise? How much VAT/other taxes?

Owing to uncorrectable hearing loss, the very top end is wasted on me. Which means audio budget is limited not only by finance, but by inability to hear the higher levels of refinement. Ear fungus, alas, is a real thing. Ate a hole in right eardrum 20 years ago, and now left as well. "Healing" means permanent scar tissue. But that's for another thread.
 

Absolutely love my Mojo Mystique EVO DAC with USB from a Bricasti M5.

Interesting thread to check out…https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/six-dac-comparison

@hickamore 

You got some good recommendations. Choosing a DAC to pair with the Aurender N200 depends on your sound preferences, system synergy and budget. The N200 is a high-quality streamer with excellent timing and transparency, so you’ll want a DAC that complements its strengths without introducing unwanted coloration.

I can make some recommendations based on my experience with different DAC’s and Aurender models I’ve owned over the years, 

Holo May KTE - It’s a R2R DAC with exceptional resolution and tonal balance. Its natural sound pairs well with the N200’s precision. You’re likely to hear deep soundstage, natural tonality, and excellent detail retrieval. 

LampizatOr Baltic 4 or Amber 4 - For their warmth and richness. I would only recommend a LampizatOr DAC if your rest of the system is Solid State and you feel it lacks warmth and musicality. 

dCS Bartók or Rossini  - Highly detailed, expansive and transparent. Personally, I wasn’t impressed due to its slightly dry texture and analytical sound. I have only heard non-Apex version. Not sure, if Apex version sounds more engaging?  

Master Fidelity NADAC D (formerly Merging Technologies NADAC) - I would choose this DAC for extreme transparency, wide soundstage and reference level detail. It strikes a perfect balance between smoothness and accuracy with a firm grip on musicality. 

Bricasti M1 SE or M3 - You get a refined, dynamic and detailed sound with its distinctive natural tonality.

If you’re aspiring to build an all ARC system, then DAC’9 with latest USB board would do just fine. I used to own DAC 9 and it’s a fine sounding DAC within ARC ecosystem. 

Whichever DAC you choose to go with, its Synergy with rest of your system is far more critical than any XYZ brand. 

Do you lean toward a specific type of sound, e.g., warm and lush, neutral and precise. Knowing that could help narrow down the choices further and not feel overwhelmed by plethora of available choices in DAC’s. 

@fthompson251 ya, more than $2k difference between the Terminator and DAC 200.  It’s certainly the better value and imo sounds better too.

Have an N20 XLR AES connected to an MSB Discrete DAC with the N20 Clock synced with the Femto clock in the MSB. I use the Word Sync connection on the N20 to connect to the Word clock in the MSB. This sounds superior to just using the N20 Clock. This connection  was recommended to me by MSB

Everyone likes something different, of course, and most people recommend what they have. I have the DCS Bartok And it is not at all analytical to my hearing. But I will say the upgrade to the Apex version is a substantial improvement in sound quality. If you got interested in it, I would strongly consider the Apex version, to my ears, the upgrade is very much worth the money.

@marco1 I too have found that my Terminator 15th (Which is a Terminator +) sounds really good with the N200. I almost bought a T+A Dac 200 but changed my mind.

The Audio Analogue AA DAC for 5000, it has a great volume control, you can eliminate the preamp…a real steal..

I actually liked the Bartok.  I didn’t find it analytical at all.  I just like the Terminator a bit more.

@hickamore a word of caution/warning with ARC DACs - only the latest iterations include the USB card that is compatible with Linux based streamers. You would have to check with ARC if the unit includes the latest USB card or was upgraded. Otherwise your N200 is not going to be compatible with DAC9 if you’re planning to use USB.

Few more DACs to add to the list…

Chord DAVE: Awesome DAC but a bit long in a tooth so expect a replacement soon however the prices on a used market are great.
dCS Bartok: older non-Apex version is within your price range. dCS are considered to be top notch DACs. The brand’s been around forever and as with other big names (think Wilson Audio, B&W, McIntosh, etc.) has its fan base as well as plenty of haters. I would not hesitate to try a dCS DAC if one’s available on a used market at a price that would allow for a flip at minimal loss in case you don’t like it. And this is true for other DACs as well. Everything in this hobby is subjective. Some will say dCS sounds analytical, others will state it’s superb and is natural and musical sounding - too many variables to consider and is best to try.

I find that on the N200 the usb is by far the better of the two connections. I run mine with a Denafrips Terminator Plus, which I also find to be a very good combination. I’ve also tried the Bartok and TA DAC’s but find the Terminator more to my liking.  I understand with Vineshine out of the picture Denafrips will still use their Texas service center so if there were to be a problem, service would not be too inconvenient for US residents. If you do decide on Denafrips I would confirm that though.

@lalitk Given the state of my hearing, I'm unlikely ever to move up to N20. So as you say, the goal is to connect N200 via USB to a better DAC. Wondering which if any of those recommended above you would pair with the N200?

+1 @jwpstayman 

The Aurender and T+A DAC 200 might make a great combo, since the Aurender can do both - PCM and DSD on USB. This is one flexible DAC with tons of option.

So many good options in your budget. Check out Meitner, Bricasti, Lampizator, Rockna, Denafrips. Laiv, etc. 

With N200, USB is the best way to take advantage of its stellar capabilities. The SPDIF connection while it’s decent, provided for convenience and to facilitate connectivity with legacy DAC’s.

In absolute terms, OCXOs are much more accurate and stable than the temperature-varying crystal oscillators (TCXO’s).

I am using a Lab 12 DAC 1 Reference with my N200.   I like this DAC a lot , I bought the N200 by leveraging a preamp I wasn't using that had some value toward the N200.   For .$800 plus that trade I stepped I to an Aurender.  For me it was a no brainer. 

Another factor was I wanted a streamer good enough that it would not be outclassed if I updated my DAC.   

The N200 has had some recent FW updates and some Conductor updates in the last month.   Aurender support is excellent 

@willywonka  Yeah I was aware the clock in the streamer is basically a non issue for USB, but the info on the TXCO clock was interesting.   That said, my Iris has a TXCO clock and I still notice a significant improvement although I’m using the i2S connection so not sure how much each is contributing. 

The N200 has only USB and coax outputs. But I would like to use USB with a superior DAC and it sounds like used ARC DAC 9 would fit that bill. I have always aspired to  hear what an ARC piece would do in my (slowly evolving) system. Will be on lookout for a used DAC 9. Failing that, I gather T+A DAC 200, Denafrips Terminator (product support after Vinshine?), Bricasti, PS Audio might all provide a distinct improvement. Thanks to all for insights. Any other info welcome pending good luck on the used market.