Why I Sold My Aurender N200

@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. 

That sounds like a good reason to me.  The Bricasti is a great DAC so I'm not surprised .    

The Grimm wins hands down.  Not so dry sounding as the others you mentioned and it runs Roon, which is a necessity in my book.

Best thing ever to give your daughter some well deserved cash for a good project.you should be proud of her.i still member the trauma of going through dental and because they wanted me to be the first with dds and MD in a new program not tested I just went to med school.bless the vets when I was at the va doing surgery the cafeteria would close prior to us finishing the surgery day.the vets would order extra food for us residents.we would our nightly rounds to check on patients and they would feed us. The cost of professional school is hundreds of thousands of dollars today.that deters some of our brilliant people.enjoy the music stay healthy