Streamer for LTA Aero

"a highly capable, yet sensible streamer" and "My interest ...is due mostly to their ripping feature ...I have a couple thousand CDs."

It sounds as if you are interested in a server/streamer with an easy CD ripping feature and also on-board storage of digital music files. 

IMO, considering the number of CDs you own, you are smart to look at the convenience of the ripping feature and you should also look at the convenience of managing your digital music files once you have them ripped files, i.e., will you be able to log in on any of your networked devices and manage your files?

You should also look at what you will be using to play files, i.e., are you planning to add Roon and use that to manage your streamed and stored music or will you be using another streaming program/app, or perhaps a proprietary program unique to the streamer manufacturer?  

Also consider whether you want a single box that sits in the same room as your primary music system or whether you might be interested in a separate server and streamer.  If you connect your server to your local network, you then have the option of using multiple streamers for different music systems in separate rooms or even a garage/outdoor system. 

It appears price is not your primary consideration since you have named a couple of $6K+ streamer/servers (Innuos ZENith and Aurender N200).  If your budget can expand a little, you might also look at Grimm MU1, or even MU2.

Another one to look at would be a server from Small Green Computer in conjunction with a streamer from Sonore (or another streamer).  The nice thing about Sonore's streamer line is not only that they sound good but that you can start with their lower priced ultraRendu Plus for only $1K or opticalRendu for $1.6K.  If you later choose to upgrade to their Signature Rendu SE Deluxe Optical at $5.4K, you can move the lower priced streamer you started with to stream music in another room.  Both SGC and Sonore offer very good support, IME.

Take your time and read these threads to learn as much as you can before you make your decision.

Thanks mitch2. If I've given the impression that money isn't a consideration, that's my fault. I'm still working at 71 because of my passion for music. I just keep adding time to my sentence with each purchase. The Grimm was a serious consideration until I heard the Aero. I'm not sure that's a sensible combination. I haven't really considered Sonore. I'm confined to my living room

We would recommend a 432 EVO server

Our Aon is the highest performing server/streamer we have tested and to date we have tested vs the innous statement Aurender n10 and n20 and the Grimm a lot these streamers are double or triple the cost of our Aeon.

We compared an Aeon to a Innous statement next gen $27k and found the 1/3^rd less expensive 432Evo aeon to sound just as good,

We tested vs a 12k Aurender n20 and we sounded better.

One client tested vs the grimm which is more expensive and slightly preferred the Aeon.

All 432evo servers offer a modular, fully- upgradable design with a 2tb ssd and a built in cd burner.

Unlike most competitors all parts of the server are physically and electrically separated from one another:

our CPU is a specially tested, low noise, high speed Intel multi core processor residing on its own board,

the clock card and USB  card are also separated and the cpu is powered by its own external Sbooster power supply, while the sensitive clock and USB cards are powered by their own external power supply the hard drive is even shock mounted of a proprietary laser sintered, floating suspension system.

The proprietary Operating system has been designed for low latency and to maximize Roons sound quality by utilizing the cpu’s multiple cores to maximize Roon's  sound quality: one core runs the roon program while another core runs the machines back ground processes and on yet another core caches the music files.

The combination of advanced hardware coupled with our operating system and custom software ensures a level of musicality that has to be heard to be believed.

Dave and Troy

Audio Intellect NJ

432evo dealers

Reaching for a CD allows you to play music without a functioning internet on your network Streamers will not. Are you ready to live with that? The only non network player was available for less than a year.

Moving on, the feature set is far more critical than "matching" any DAC.

You have managed to attract sales pitches.

just a note of appreciation for the measured wisdom displayed by most posters and especially the OP….