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750$ Intel NUC vs $6000 Aurender N200: I don't hear the difference

I finally plunged into the source is as important as the DAC belief that is quite prevalent here and decided to test out Aurender N200. And given I have a very highend DAC, thought if the N200 pans out I would go for the N20 or N30.

 

I was expecting the N200 to blow away my Intel NUC which is 10th gen, core i7, 8GB and running Roon Rock BUT I am switching back and forth between USB playing the Roon Rock, and Co-axial playing Aurender N200, and I don't hear much of a difference maybe a hair, or not even that.

 

A few caveats: 1) Roon Rock is playing Quboz, N200 is playing Tidal (I am unable to get Qobuz login to the N200 for reason I don't understand).

2) I am comparing Coaxial on N200, USB on Roon Rock.

Caveat #2 can be ignored because I don't hear a difference between Coaxial and USB output of N200.

 

So either this is an "Emperor has no clothes" moment or I am missing something big. Any thoughts on what I might be missing before I send this N200 back to the dealer on Monday.

 

Rest of my system: Nagra TUBE DAC -> Accuphase E-650 -> Devore O96 and all Acoustic Revive wiring. 

essrand
metaldetektor
160 posts
 

Nagra tube dac owner here. A few thoughts:

1. the digital part of the Nagra -- with its DSD upsampling -- does a lot of lifting. I would say server/streamer matching is much less important with the Nagra, than it is with other dacs I’ve used.

2. the analog output stage of the Nagra is one of the best in the business. This is of course what Nagra is legendary for. Analog, tape specifically.

3. notwithstanding 1, there is a clearly synergistic streamer to pair with the Nagra, and that’s the Playback Designs MPS-X. Designed by AK, who designed the digital module in the dac. Just a streamer, so you can continue to use your NUC as the server. This replaced a Grimm MU1 in my system.

marco1's avatar
marco1
539 posts
 

The OP saved $5k+.  He’s happy.  Why try to convince him or anyone else he did something wrong.  I say congrats and enjoy the music.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,241 posts
 

 

marco1

469 posts

 

The OP saved $5k+.  He’s happy.  Why try to convince him or anyone else he did something wrong.  I say congrats and enjoy the music
 

There are two sides to this coin. I agree with you…whatever floats your boat and makes you happy…that’s side one of the coin. The side two of it is the inconsistency in the A/B testing between the two use cases, the subjective nature of it all and the part where the inaccurate data posted here will result in misguiding others who are potentially striving to improve their systems. May be I’m completely off track here, but here are my $0.05 cents (inflation adjusted).

jastralfu's avatar
jastralfu
422 posts
 

@musiclover1 Im using an Audioquest cinnamon I think.

@audphile1 you make a really good point.  It’s still a valid comparison, in the sense that one combination sounds better than another, but not in the context of this discussion.  Easy with the keyboard warrior tough guy nonsense though, please.  I made an honest mistake with respect to comparing dac to dac or streamer to streamer.  Some constructive criticism is always welcome.  I know just enough to know I don’t know much and I have plenty to learn.  We all make mistakes.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,241 posts
 

@jastralfu 👍 yeah bull 💩 was just a technical term but it isn’t constructive criticism. I agree. It did get the point across though…

😂

Happy Listening!!!

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