2. digital
  3. 188726-188464

Aurender A Series DAC Performance

I’m shopping for a streamer and also an upgrade to my Benchmark DAC3. So what’s the quality of the Aurender A200 and A20 DACs compared to a streamer and separate DAC. The Aurenders use the AKM DACs   
 

If I were to get a separate DAC probably would be one that has a streamer in it such as Meitner MA3. But those DAC streamers don’t have internal storage which I would like. Plus The caching for playback and dedicated apps. 
 

Anyone with same decision process?

jfrmusic

Showing 1 response by rkfaberdds

rkfaberdds's avatar
rkfaberdds
41 posts
 

I’ve recently been DAC shopping/auditioning & started with an A200 home demo.  My decision was to get a barely used HiFi rose 250A & a brand new Denafrips Venus2.  I offer you the following as to what I listened to in my search & why I’m beyond satisfied with what I bought:

-A200($6300 new) Great sound, great App, high price for entry level/sound quality.

-Lumin D2 ($2300 new). Possibly better sound than A200, certainly on-par.  The Lumin app sucks though.

-GoldNote DS10 evo with outboard power supply($4400 new).  Better sound than Aurender and Lumin.  Fiddly App and numerous issues with connecting and set up.

-HiFi Rose 250A (circa$1700 used, $2600new). Equal to Aurender in sound.  App is probably better than Aurender.  Lots more features than any of the above.

-Cocktail Audio N25($1500 new) kinda crappy sounding.  Difficult set-up & app.

-Denafrips Venus2, 12th anniv. DAC ($3000 new).  The sound from this unit betters all of the above I listened to & it isn’t really close in my rig.  I’d like to know if anything sounds better..but then again I really don’t.

GL in your decision, but not spending $6300 + tax on entry-level Aurender was easy decision for me.

-

More to discover