Aurender integrated streamer/DACs

Thanks very much.  This makes sense.  I am back to homemade Roon core which I am comfortable with OR an Aurender ACS10/N20/N200 plus DAC, the optimum pairing TBD based on the DAC selected.  In my mind the Weiss has a leg-up because of the ability to implement bass room correction (and to a lesser degree anti-essing), in which case I would likely pair it with one of the referenced Aurender products, but should the PS Audio DSD prove superior to my ear, then I might stick with a dedicated CORE and perform room bass correction within Roon.

I think both the streamer and DAC are equally important.

Most folks have access to ok sounding streamers (MACs, PC, iPads) and the intellectual attraction to “it is just bits, it can’t make a difference” is so overwhelming that most folks basically have to hear the difference a high quality stream can make to believe it. This usually happens after they own a high quality DAC. I did. I was instantly converted and never considered going back.

So, to soften the financial blow and focus on a single research project, it may make sense to get a really high quality DAC first… as it will produce a big upgrade… but then the streamer will also.

@mhwilliford

You’re on a right path. Let’s chat about network optimization once you’re settled with 502 or PS Audio DSD in your system. Good luck and keep us posted!

Update.  I auditioned a Weiss 502 for about a month.  Very fine piece of equipment that was quite frankly built better (not as flashy, but better connections and knob feel) than my McIntosh C2700 pre-amp.  I fully expected to find that the Weiss was audibly better than the C2700's DA2.  Using Roon, and setting up a zone with both the Weiss connected via ethernet and the DA2 to my PC via USB, I was able to easily accommodate A/B comparison, and then a double-blind test.  My son (who is a musician) and I both took the test and really could not tell the difference.  The rest of my system is an MC 462 and B&W 802 D4s, so you'd think it would be resolving enough to tell the tale.  The sound really is quite good, but now I am back to looking at the source because thinking about it some more, maybe that's my first constraint as my PC is in no way optimized for sound, though I do use an AQ Coffee USB cable.  So now I am back to N20 or N200 to be sure my source is as good as I can practically afford, and then try another DAC (based on another technology - maybe a PSAudio DSD MkII or the T+A DAC 200 or Holo May or second-hand dCS Bartok).  Thoughts?  Thanks All.  -Mark

@mhwilliford If you can afford an N20, go for it. The N200 is excellent, but the N20 is a level above and delivers with much more body and smoothness on top of the great clarity the N200 brings. The N20 is near endgame, and you have to listen critically to discern the differences with the doubly expensive N30SA, which is exceptional by bringing even more clarity and larger soundstage.

For the DAC, I have highly recommended T+A as I have in the past, but I am curious about the DSD MK II as I used to own the fully modded MK I. That said, the DAC 200 is leagues above the DSD MK I. I haven’t heard the DAC 200 and DSD MK II side by side.

I would forego the Bartok. I find it to be a bit closer to the analytical side, and you may be paying for features you will not use (built in streamer).

Take this with a grain of salt as I am an authorized dealer for Aurender and T+A, but I am an audiophile first and chose to carry these brands for a reason and owned equipment from them prior to becoming a dealer.