@mclinnguy, you needn’t go all crazy reclocking the signal from your router to your music server if you don’t need to. I put two relatively inexpensive network switches between my CAT6 router and my server, and it really took away any trace of digital glare and harshness that makes streaming music sound less analog than when listening to records or music on tape.
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.
- ...
- 211 posts total
@mdalton interesting point of view and a worthy response to my post above. 👍 |
That is called being an audiophile. Let us know how your impressions of the K50. Looking forward to it. I am jealous. (well, if it sounds better that is :) Curiously- why the K50 over the N20? Or other? |
@adasdad When I see what others have done in their streaming chains, this is hardly "all crazy" . I don't plan on getting another ER and cascading them, as many have done- my Cisco switch at $100 is much cheaper than some of the switches one can buy, I just got it so I can try optical. But the thing is - how does one know if one "doesn't need to" or not? From experience, one doesn't know there is glare or hash there until they hear their system with it removed. One thinks their system is glare free, and then they try ________ and the music is even smoother. But yes, I don't need to do anything. My system sounds fantastic. I just want to. Let me ramble for a bit: Read about about another streamer that is rather new: the Jcat XACT-S1. It has gotten some rave reviews, just like the Grimm MU1 did. Without checking exactly I believe it is about the same price as the K50 Tonywinga is going to try. The designer/owner then suggests one should use 2 of them- the first one as a switch, into the second one used as the endpoint. Sure, sign me up! Seriously, I think that is crazy because I don't have $25000 burning a hole in my pocket, but to others that is cheaper than the Taiko, and if it sounds better than it is a bargain to them. My comment above to Tonywinga-, and you stated it above as well- we try it- we check it out with our ears- if it works better we keep it, if not, we sell it - this is being an audiophile. |
Hello mclinnguy, I picked the K50 for its high level USB output as well as having multiple player and server app options. The Antipodes allows the use of Roon, Squeeze, HDplayer (with subscription) and a couple of others. I also see the logic in their multiple processor strategy. I'm a little miffed that for the money, they do not include a SSD. Okay, SSDs are not expensive so no big deal but SSDs are not expensive so why not include a complimentary drive? That's like my expensive DAC. It did not come with a power cord. It is considered a given that the buyer will use their own high end power cord. Ok, yeah I did have my own high end power cord. I thought of an analogy to streaming. Back in engineering college in the 1970s, I remember the Civil Engineers put together a water filtering demonstration for an Open House. They started with raw sewage and filtered it down to pure drinking water. The entire process was viewable through Lucite panels. Everyone was invited to sample the drinking water but there were few takers, that I saw. The apparatus started with grates to filter out the big chunks, then gravel and then finer and finer sands until the final stage that I guess filtered out the bacterium. Just like the water, the music being streamed is mixed in with the garbage and needs progressive filtering to clean it up. Just a thought. |
- 211 posts total