750$ Intel NUC vs $6000 Aurender N200: I don't hear the difference

OP could be experiencing sin of omission deal, nuc vs. sin of commission, Aurender. Now is that sin of commission due to Aurrender or some other part of system?

One often doesn't perceive omission as a sin, and it may be preferable in some cases, perhaps in a lot of cases.

Usb taken off motherboard is terrible way to stream, better is optimized usb out, this means separate card and power supply such as Jcat. Best is ethernet out, many high end servers don't have. Ethernet out allows post server fiber conversion and separate streamer, both are critical to optimal streaming. Personally, I'd never purchase any server without two ethernet connections.

I like these comparative reviews. Get the usb and Qobuz on equal footing and report back.

This is quite amazing finding considering you're not using LPS on NUC. With LPS and fanless base I could more understand result. Are you sure the Aurrender is burned in, the analytical sound you speak of is common with lack of burn in.

Or perhaps results not unexpected. I have Trifield Meter and find things like displays, hdd, wifi, transformers give off horrible levels of RFI, the reason I like all separates. I'm careful with placement and provide shielding  around the worst RFI offenders.

Every single process on motherboard produces noise. Every single cable, connector, LPS, switching power supplies, piece of equipment produces noise. Less than optimal home and equipment grounding, quality of AC are another source of noise. Noise is in form of EMI/RFI, also external sources such as wifi, cell phone towers, etc. I have Trifield Meter, can assure skeptics there is much RFI coming out of streaming equipment.

In speaking with guys at Uptone they mentioned speed of processors on motherboards, point being limiting time signal on motherboard important for sq. Incredible how far into the weeds one can go with this stuff.

I perceive server in much the same way as itsjustme. The majority of what you're paying for in off the shelf servers is r&d. Anyone with knowledge of computers and network can diy solution, the parts pretty similar. Implementation, the r&d of things is where differences are magnified. I recently saw, can't recall where, $35k server, amazing attention to every single little detail, quite possible this server would be revelation. Still, I couldn't account for $35k cost regardless of this maximum attention to detail.

Two considerations, performance and value, maximum performance doesn't care about price. Each of us has to determine value for ourselves. Ultimately, we all want maximum performance at minimum price. Determining maximum utility from streaming setup is so difficult, so many choices!