Aurender Music Server and CD Transport comparison

"How far up the chain do I have to go to get sound that is equal or better than my Aurender?"

No one can answer that question. Sound quality is subjective. There's just way too many variables to give an accurate response. You have to listen to it.

I would give The Cable Company a call. They should be able to send you a few to demo. You can also experiment with equipment you already own, like a CD or DVD player. If they have a digital out, as most do, try them. It should give you some idea as what to expect.

There's another solution you may want to consider. Take whatever you have for a budget, and buy a less expensive transport. Use the rest to buy a re-clocker. Those can make a nice difference especially if you are using different brands for your transport and dac.

@audphile1 

+1 …. upgrade the DAC 

Get a CD transport with USB output and send it to the Aurender. It should sound identical to music played off the hard drive.

I think you all are missing the point. Ok. lets change the parameters as I actually have two systems.

In my first system I have Herron Line Stage, Herron Mono Blocks,
Denafrips Terminator DAC and an Aurender N100 H (USB not the Coaxial version) into Tetra 606 speakers. Cabling is Audio Sensibility Statement.

I am in the market for a CD transport and I want it to sound as good as my Aurender N100C. How far up the chain do I have to go to get sound that is equal or better than my Aurender?

The rest of the downstream in irrelevant to the question what transport equals or betters the Aurender within a reasonable price point.If you don't know you don't know. I am asking people that do know.

Very typical here and on other forums. I ask for an apple and you all tell me I need an orange. Somebody knows the answer and that is who I am waiting for.

You might want to buy a few transports and do a shootout with your streamer and keep the CDT that sounds best to you. Avoid the forums altogether with this kind of attitude and your inability to provide a full system context in order to get a proper response.
Good luck!