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Aurender A200 vs N200

I have a great turntable and analog system and I am now studying the addition of digital to my system. I will be adding streaming. I like the Aurender line of streamers and have narrowed it down to an A200 or the N200. Has anyone on this forum done any critical listening to compare the A200 vs the N200? If so, what differences did you note?

My plan is to initially use the DAC in my McIntosh C2600, and then to later add a high end DAC to my system, so I only want to focus on the streamer performance at this point.

Does anyone have first-hand experience with the A200 vs N200 sound quality?

hikerneil
maxdukecapone's avatar
maxdukecapone
58 posts
 

@hikerneil 

I have an Aurender A20 up for sell on Audiogone.

You could have the upgrade streamer and upgraded DAC.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,401 posts
 

Another vote for N200. Not only it’s a better streamer but a streamer only ‘box’ allows higher performance with an outboard DAC and flexibility to tailor your sound. 

jmrrobbie1
19 posts
 

I m also looking to finalize my digital path...currently using the Bluesound Node which is surprising decent in my system. This will be the last part to finalize my system...do not want to upgrade later...one and done purchase. A new N200 is going for $6,300 at most audio retailers...what would be a matching outboard DAC at the same price point = to keep entire system with interconnects under $15k?  Looking at the big picture - why not the A30 (new $19k); a one box system very well designed, I think the one hit is ability to backup files, newer versions Roon ready too??:

Analog Output Network Player
MQA Full-Decoder DAC / Headphone Amplifier
CD Ripper / Music Library Manager / 10TB HDD Storage
Variable-Output Balanced XLR and Single-Ended RCA Analog Outputs
USB Digital Output / Coaxial and Optical Digital InputsLinear Power Supply with Integrated UPS 

FPGA-Based Precision Clock

upsampling non-DSD files up to 705.6/768kHz to the analog outputs. Or leave upsampling off (default setting) for an untouched bitstream.

I understand seperates in the digital chain are superior in several areas, including ease to upgrade one section later(DAC), but for a one box system (A30) compared to a N200 with match-capable DAC seems like a better bang for money spent...

Thoughts and insight appreciated,

JR

charliee's avatar
charliee
178 posts
 

The A200 sounds like a good way to go if you have no digital components as it has both needed components in one box. Or maybe the HiFi Rose. Fewer cables as well. I’m an analog guy who is looking into digital, which I find enormously confusing. The one box seems like a great way to go. 

jfrmusic
266 posts
 

Went with the A20 after hearing both but key reason was I got a MSB DAC and they recommend the A20

It has the better AES Digital Output

Allows sync with a superior external Word Clock which the MSB Discrete has. 
 

The N Series are better than the A because they don’t have to deal with the digital noise from the DAC and offer slightly better performance. 

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