Aurender

I use the USB output exclusively because I listen to a lot of DSD files which I have stored on my N20. You must use USB to enjoy native DSD.

In my system USB is better than SPDIF. I would recommend a solid silver USB cable.

We haven't discussed streaming but it's as good or better than my ripped files.

I own the N200, with my DAC I think it sounds better with SPDIF.    It sounds good via USB but it's my DAC , not the N200's outputs.  

My other back up DAC is a RME and it uses it's internal clock no matter the input type .   So I really can't compare. 

The Aurender sounds much better than the Vault it replaced, can play or copy ripped files from the Vault.  It sounds great with Qobuz...  really good, like I don't need to spin CDs type of good.  

aurender no doubt makes real good stuff, as does innuos, auralic, lumin, red rose, grimm and so on -- roon users can go the nuc/nucleus route with 'a la carte' endpoints such as sonore products, bypassing the expensive all-in-one boxes sold by the 'luxury digital system integrators' named above

each company has worked hard and developed excellent solutions to streaming/digital music management... each of course has also made strategic choices on how to handle the software aspect, and each is wary, to varying degrees, of roon seizing control of the end use customer

i would think given how each company has developed its solutions, each company’s products may favor certain connection protocols, external clocking protocols, and so on... some thus may play better with certain other downstream dacs and how they implement connections ...

@vonhelmholtz 

Whichever ‘digital’ output you end up preferring from any of the Aurender transport (streamer) is largely depends on your DAC implementation of USB and legacy digital inputs like AES or SPDIF.  As a long time Aurender user, I can say with utmost confidence that they are built to very high standards and no matter which digital output you use, Aurender will faithfully render the digital bits to your DAC. Another important consideration while choosing a streamer is the app interface. Once you get your replacement DAC, reach out to Aurender dealer for in-home audition. Good luck! 

@lalitk 

Sounds like a good plan.