Aurender Model Choices

@jfrmusic strange…works fine for me. 

N200 in that system makes more sense than the N20.
I’m currently using the N200 with Bricasti M3 DAC connected with AQ Diamond. The N200 with Coffee will be a significant improvement over your laptop. You won’t regret it.

@lalitk definitely worth trying.

While there, is it possible to compare N200 to N20 driving the same dac?

Just click on my id then click details. You’ll see the system.

👍

Pretty bad assumptions are made above, @benanders
1. I owned Benchmark DAC 3 HGC long enough to know it

2. I’ve used several streamers - Mac Mini, Auralic Aries G1, Lumin U1 Mini, Bricasti M3 built in network renderer, tried WiiM Pro Plus just to see what the hype is all about and to confirm its all hype. My current streamer is an Aurender N200.

Few other points worth notng - the N200 has a slot for an internal SSD and that is the absolute best way to set up your local library. I loaded a Samsung SSD with my CD rips and it sounds amazing - much better than with an HDD connected via USB cable.

The difference between the streamers is very audible and the components in the OP’s setup will reveal it. If there’s a three figure streamer as good as the N200 with the same features and build, I’d like to know what it is and where I can purchase it.

Source file should theoretically matter more than anything downstream in the chain, at least until you get to your speakers.

Source file is extremely important. But what you’re saying here is streamer, dac, preamp and amp don’t matter as much as the source file and I disagree. I can airplay a song from YouTube to my N200 and with its low resolution and quality it will sound a million times better than the best version of it played thru a garbage chain of components feeding the same speakers. Yet another bad assumption on your part.

@benanders empirical and factual evidence, hearsay, bias.

I’m in this hobby because I love music and enjoy gear. I don’t measure harmonics with an oscilloscope. And I don’t have to in order to provide thoughts based on actual experience.

@lalitk covered everything else in his response so I won’t reiterate it. 

@jfrmusic you’re going to love the N200 in that system. 

@jfrmusic I have done the spdif to USB comparison with my N200. To answer your question, I prefer the USB interface. The coax was pretty good though but it sounded a bit too reserved and lacked in soundstage, dynamics and extension.
I used DH Labs D750 digital coax and the “stock” Aurender supplied USB cable.

Going from the stock Aurender USB cable to Audioquest Diamond further widens the gap.

However, just to be clear, the results aren’t guaranteed to be consistent with every DAC.
When it comes to usb interface, the DAC implementation and clock is what matters the most. With spdif the clock in the transport/streamer is a critical element. The N200 is optimized for USB while featuring a decent clock for spdif. This is where the N20 takes it up a notch or three with its integrated OXCO clock that takes care if the outbound spdif signal better than the lower grade clock in the N200 does.

@jfrmusic my current DAC is a Bricasti Designs M3. You can check out my system under my user ID, details.

I 100% agree you should try both coax and usb when you get your streamer.
I do remember preferring usb with DAC3 HGC but your ears be the judge.

One other cool thing in the N200 that I really appreciate is the Critical Listening Mode. It shuts off the display and non-essentials. There’s a small difference but it is there and you can hear the lowered noise floor. I usually don’t like keeping the displays on the DAC, streamer and preamp on anyway and this feature is perfect for me in every way.

I found the Benchmark a bit too matter of fact and cool sounding for my taste. While it’s a significant step in the right direction by the designers at Benchmark compared to the DAC 1 that I used to have years ago, it still retains that studio monitoring tool vibe. 
When I picked up the M3 I had A/B’d the two DACs.
The Bricasti sounds more natural and engaging in my system, to me. There’s an improvement across the board over the Benchmark DAC starting with its black background, better bass, clearer mids and more delicate highs to the soundstage. The M3 better matches the rest of my system as well. It also has a killer volume control if it needs to be used as a makeshift preamp, is better built, has linear power supply with digital and analog sections isolated, two toroidal transformers, lower noise floor and better details. It has multiple filters and clock settings that let you dial it in to best fit your system. Display that tells you the format/bitrate (auto shutoff) vs the tiny lights on DAC3. This isn’t a benchmark beat down. The Benchmark DAC 3 is an excellent DAC in its price category. I’m not downplaying its capabilities by any means. 

One more thing to add…I think the very resolving, dynamic but sweet/tube like sounding N200 with the right digital cable and power cord will greatly complement the DAC3. That’s why I stated it will be a good match. 

No. I did try though and it’s really good. I just like the Pass XP-22 preamp better.

here’s a link to my system page….

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/7895

@lalitk thank you! Had to temporarily give up vinyl but going to probably get back into it at some point. Just focusing on digital front end at the moment. Still have my record collection and that’s not going anywhere.

And yes you’re right about the investment in the vinyl front end.
It was an arms race in my system with constant upgrades to both and it kind of ended up being neither here nor there. I think my future vinyl setup will be a separate system and not mixed into the main rig…we’ll see….

that’s exactly right! You end up listening too hard for differences and it takes a toll on you. The enjoyment of music moves to background.
 

When your digital reaches certain level what I’ve noticed is vinyl becomes a throwback. It’s like shaving with a straight razor, soap and badger brush once in a while…amazing experience but it isn’t an everyday day kind of thing. 

I tried Conductor v3 and yes it’s not the best. But I can tell you the latest v4 is really nice. Still not on par with Roon but light years better than Lumin app and comparable to Auralic LDS. 

Thanks! Yeah the X260.8 monos are my current amps. 

Also how did you get those heavy amps home and into you room?

Adrenaline! 

Just kidding. My son was around and helped me. 

So…I’ve used several streamers with Benchmark but not the n200 as I just recently got it.
I could hear the difference in sound switching out power cords, Ethernet cables and adding Eno Ethernet filter as well as fiber optic conversion and network switch on the streamer. If these changes caused differences in sound, why would different streamers not sound different? I heard a difference between coax and usb and difference between different usb cables with Benchmark. 
 

Keep in mind, some audiophiles with Benchmark DAC3 are totally content and have no plans to upgrade anything. It plays music just fine with rPi and they’re satisfied. They will likely have and be happy with Mogami cables and a stock power cord. 
 

When I called Benchmark with a question on setting gain for XLR outs, the very nice gentleman whose name escapes me at the moment asked me what preamp I was using. I said Pass XP12 (at the time). He recommended that the DAC3 HGC direct into amp will sound better than XP12 as the Pass preamps color the sound. I wasn’t going to argue that point as I have tried it and it didn’t come close to the way XP-12 lays things out in the soundstage. They also recommend their cables and say you don’t need anything better. 

So my recommendation to you would be not to listen to anyone including me 😂

buy the N200 either used or new with a generous trial period to spend enough time with it to make a decision in your own system. Get another streamer as well, cheaper than the N200…may be the lower line Eversolo or something. WiiM Pro Plus or Lumin U2 Mini. Something to compare it too.
Do a shootout. If the N200 doesn’t sound like it’s worth the dough, send it back. keep the cheaper streamer. 
 

Awesome! I’m looking forward to your thoughts. Just make sure that you give each streamer and yourself at least a day, preferably more, before switching out for another unit. A quick A/B is never a good way to compare things. Allocate some alone time for this late in the evening when it’s quiet. That’s what I normally do when I compare components or cables. 

@dbt thank you! Yes the M3 is a really nice DAC!

Your setup is very nice as well! Speaking of N20…I’ve not heard it but the OXCO clock in it should be an improvement over the Lumin U2. Add to that the much beefier power supply and I think it will sing with your MSB DAC. 

@dbt  I’m with you on that 100%. 

@jfrmusic that’s exactly the situation @dbt is warning you about….

Aurender + MSB Discrete = something you’ll hear that you won’t be able to unhear

good luck dude!

😂

👍

Is this a local NJ dealer? MSB is on my list. Not immediately but hopefully not in too distant future. I’d take a ride to hear it if it’s not too far. 

Ah I kind of thought that was it…I’m in north jersey and that’s a hike for me. I’m been there and it’s a good store. Keep us posted. 

@lalitk that’s an interesting point. 

@jfrmusic congratulations!!! That’s one heck of a digital front end! Enjoy it and keep us posted!

@jfrmusic my recommends would be to start with a baseline level Ethernet cable like the bluejeans you had mentioned or even the Amazon Linkup cable. Don’t invest in switches or any other network tweaks. The MSB Discrete has a built in preamp section correct? So I would try that in place of the benchmark preamp. You have a digital front end that’s a good few levels above your amplification chain. See how the MSB volume control sounds vs the benchmark pre and layout a plan to upgrade the amplification next. Put the cable upgrades and tweaks on back burner for now. Just my $0.2.

@jfrmusic congrats! Go to system page and you should be able to upload photos there. 

Click on hamburger menu on top right then choose Create System. 

https://www.audiogon.com/systems