2. digital
  3. 180615-174247

Aurender N20 Streamer & Holo May DAC vs Analog

A couple of caveats..

1. My retail analog system is 2x $ of my digital.

2. Power cable to phono preamp > to Aurender

3. Analog signal interconnects $$$>$ digital cables.

Analog is much more musical with regards to tonality, airy soundstage with great imaging, detail, impact .. in every way.

Aurender/May DAC USB vs AES/EBU is source dependent and I haven’t figured this out completely, but CD likes AES with upscaling. Most other sources benefit from USB with regards to imaging, airy presentation and detail/tonality. Still early, but, for example, playing “Friday Night In San Francisco” these differences were quite apparent with Qobuz 176/24. I was definitely favoring USB, but Analog was so much more of everything and much more involving. Analog was amazing.

Aurender is major upgrade from iFi Zen Stream with their best power supply and fiber optic Ethernet isolation.

vonhelmholtz
vonhelmholtz OP
911 posts
 

@lordmelton

I have the same analog cables from DAC to preamp and phono preamp to preamp, but I have higher quality power cables on all components, but only Audioquest Delta NR on Aurender.

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
877 posts
 

The N20 is very sensitive to power cables. Use the best you have.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,899 posts
 

The Holo springs May KTE is a far better dac in absolute terms  but is not a streamer , the Aurender is nice ,they are known much more for their  streaming 

many guys buy a high end dac, then get a good streamer  the dac by far is the most important part of the system ,for all music starts there ,Good or bad , 

the speakers too equally. Important  .i have over 40 years as a Audiophile and. Owned a Audio store  Spending on a top quality dac the New Denafrips Terminator + 12 th anniversary is a bit better still .

vonhelmholtz OP
911 posts
 

@lordmelton 

I am within my 60 days at Music Direct, so will return Delta NR power cable.  I’ll look for used Sigma v2 NR cable. 

larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,002 posts
 

What do you hear with the Aurender that you don't hear with a BlueSound Node 2i?  If you can hear a significant difference, what would I hear that is different?  I might consider upgrading if there is a significant difference in sound quality.  Would I benefit more if I added a DAC to my BlueSound?   

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