After reading that thread where Benchmark and some users claim that the streamer you buy is irrelevant as the DAC3 will eliminate all noise and they will all sound the same. You I believe had the DAC3 with both Lumin and Aurender streamers. So what’s your take?
Aurender Model Choices
Before I ask my question let me provide some context.
My system includes the following:
New MacBook Air Running itunes/Music serving hundreds of stored CDs
Macbook connected to my Benchmark DAC3 via Audioquest Coffee USB Cable
DAC balanced connection to Benchmark HPA4 PreAmp
PreAmp balanced connection to Benchmark ABH2 Amp
Benchmark Amp connected to Harbeth C7es-XD Speakers
This configuration has provided a neutral clean, and balanced sound. Really no complaints. However I wanted to add Streaming. So I Signed up for Qobuz and downloaded the App to my MacBook. Using WiFi I found that the Qobuz stream offered superior sound quality to my local CD library. Even Redbook CD quality was better plus the HiRes albums were really good
So now I need to get a dedicated Streamer. Using the MacBook is not convenient and from what I’ve read a Streamer should offer additional SQ enhancement. I’ve done a lot of research and really like the Aurender products plus when I recently purchased my speakers I auditioned them with an Aurender Model 100. The sound was excellent. I plan to go back in a few weeks to audition the $6k N200 model. I’m sure it will sound very good but I will be left wondering what does the N20 sound like? How much better can it be for another $6K? Unfortunately my dealer doesn’t have one to audition and neither does any other dealer near me. I’ve read comments on several forums that the N20 is twice as good as the N200 or that the N200 is nipping at the heals of the N20 or that the N20 just offers a 20% increase in SQ or the N20 blows the N200 out of the water. Without a side by side audition I’m struggling with paying twice the price without a demonstrable and significant SQ improvement. I would expect a SQ that once heard I could never settle for the less expensive model. In my recent experience a more expensive model does’t always win. When buying my speakers I auditioned the Harbeth C7es-XD and the more expensive 30.2 XD model. After almost an hour of back and forth I preferred the lower priced model.
So to conclude has anyone had the opportunity to audition the N20 and N200 together?
If so please Specifically what if any SQ differences did you hear and were they worth an additional $6k?
As I listen to my system streaming from my MacBook with wonderfully smooth, clean HiRes sound I wonder can I actually get significantly more improvement for $6k or $12K?
Thanks for any info and experiences you can provide.
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So…I’ve used several streamers with Benchmark but not the n200 as I just recently got it. Keep in mind, some audiophiles with Benchmark DAC3 are totally content and have no plans to upgrade anything. It plays music just fine with rPi and they’re satisfied. They will likely have and be happy with Mogami cables and a stock power cord. When I called Benchmark with a question on setting gain for XLR outs, the very nice gentleman whose name escapes me at the moment asked me what preamp I was using. I said Pass XP12 (at the time). He recommended that the DAC3 HGC direct into amp will sound better than XP12 as the Pass preamps color the sound. I wasn’t going to argue that point as I have tried it and it didn’t come close to the way XP-12 lays things out in the soundstage. They also recommend their cables and say you don’t need anything better. buy the N200 either used or new with a generous trial period to spend enough time with it to make a decision in your own system. Get another streamer as well, cheaper than the N200…may be the lower line Eversolo or something. WiiM Pro Plus or Lumin U2 Mini. Something to compare it too.
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This topic has received quite alot of attention on Audiogon - and other forums - recently. There are definitely opposing views on this, so I would encourage you to do what you’re doing; keep an open mind and sort thru the issues in a systematic way. One of the better recent threads on this forum for highlighting the disparate perspectives in a reasonably thorough way is at the link below: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/what-makes-one-music-server-sound-better-than-another Good luck! |
Awesome! I’m looking forward to your thoughts. Just make sure that you give each streamer and yourself at least a day, preferably more, before switching out for another unit. A quick A/B is never a good way to compare things. Allocate some alone time for this late in the evening when it’s quiet. That’s what I normally do when I compare components or cables. |
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