Why I Sold My Aurender N200

@navyachts  The worst part about your story is that you used it to fund the creation of another lawyer.

(I keed -- I was a lawyer --just retired)

I heard all these great things about the N200 as well and wasn't impressed when I got one as well. I sold it as well. 

@rsf507 not to take this conversation elsewhere but I’ve owned the M3 with network card and used it as roon endpoint. I also tried it with Mconnect.
It compares well with Lumin U1 Mini that I had and sold because I couldn’t distinguish it from the M3 network card. But I’ve taken the musicality of my system to a completely different level when I bought my Aurender N200. I came to a realization on how inferior streaming with that network card is when I compared it to a cheap Audiolab 6000CDT transport and got the doors blown off the M3 network card. Good streamer is essential at least for me in my system. The Bricasti M3 I bought back is a straight DAC without network. 

I have a Bricasti M21, Aurender N200 and Roon core running on a Dell PC. I also hear little or no difference between the Aurender via USB and Roon on the Dell via Ethernet to the Bricasti.

@navyachts 

Thank you taking the time for sharing your experience—it’s a thoughtful and grounded perspective that adds a lot to the ongoing discussion about streaming quality. Your process of directly comparing the Aurender N200 to the Bricasti M1 SE II’s network card, especially with your wife’s input, highlights an important truth: the best solution is the one that works for your ears and system.

N200 is a great sounding streamer and usually a better value in a system without a robust purpose built DAC with built-in network capabilities. Your experience coincides with mine (sold my N30SA) and highlights that streaming quality depends on context. For some, a dedicated streamer makes a significant difference and for others, it’s redundant when paired with an exemplary Network attached DAC like the Bricasti or Grimm MU1/MU2 and Merging Technology + player. 

Sharing this experience might encourage others to evaluate their setups with a similar mindset. Enjoy your Bricasti, it sounds like you’ve landed on a solution that delivers exactly what you need!

Roon done right (Grimm MU1 or MU2 or Merging Tech are core as well as streamers and purpose built for Roon). 
The problem for me was Roon sound quality which is sterille and not engaging. It is the case with network card in Bricasti as well as using Aurender N200 as Roon endpoint point. Using Aurender Conductor is significantly better. 
So if you are comparing N200 to Bricasti network card using Roon, I can see why you can’t tell the difference. I cancelled Roon for now as after extensive comparison I couldn’t stand listening to dull and sterile sound that Roon produces in my system configuration. YMMV. If you like it, you saved yourself a nice chunk of change.