Aurender Model Choices

@audphile1 You have a really nice setup and I have read good things about Bricasti!

@jfrmusic I am a big fan of Benchmark because the DAC1 USB was the first external DAC I purchased in about 2008/09 and I owned the DAC3L as well! Years later, I bought a Holo Audio Spring 2 KTE and later, the Spring 3 KTE DAC. I can’t say it was a night and day improvement, but it was much better. However, when I recently purchased a used MSB Discrete DAC w/two power supplies, it was a big improvement over all the DACs mentioned above. I have a LUMIN U2 streamer connected to my MSB with an Acoustic Zen Absolute 110 AES cable and it smokes! I auditioned about (5) different AES cables from The Cable Co. and (3) different USB cables and one Pangea “toslink” cable which was SHOCKINGLY good! The Acoustic Zen Absolute 110 AES cable was the king! I consider my speakers, (Wilson Audio Sabrina X), the quarterback of my system and I built the team of gear around them. This approach has been a success story for me!

I say all this to say, I am a fan of the AES connection and I hear that the Aurender N20 is the ticket if used with the AES and “clock” connection, as others have already mentioned. I would love to try the N20 in my system, but I’m holding tight for now. I think the Aurender streamer will be an improvement for you regardless of which one you choose, but I agree the N20 may be overkill in your system. Nothing beats a failure but a try, so if you were able to demo the N200 and N20, that should help you make a decision and be able to sleep at night!

Keep us posted!

@audphile1 Thank you!

I have a buddy in my audiophile circle that has the N20 and an upper tier MSB DAC, using the AES and clock connection, and he loves the combination.  I haven’t heard it because we don’t live in the same area.  The price difference between the Aurender N20 and LUMIN U2 is a lot and I’d have to decide if the financial value of the “possibly” better sound quality of the N20 is worth it to me.  That’s what we all have to consider in this hifi game, how much are you willing to pay for a particular sound quality that you love?  The problem is, when we hear it, we cannot unhear it, so we have to decide.  The sound quality chase has to stop somewhere, so I have found contentment in my system.  Stay away from constant hifi reviews if you want to stop the madness because thats what sparks the “how would that sound in my system” mentality!  Lol….

Enjoy the tunes is all I can say!!

@jfrmusic Thanks for the gear compliment!

My experience with Benchmark vs. Holo Audio is a good question.  The Benchmark is excellent for the money, but the Holo Audio was smoother, bigger soundstage, better bass, mids, and just produced a better analogue sound to me.  Again, not a night and day difference, but a noticeable difference.  The Holo Audio recommended break time is about 400-500 hours.  It sounded much better once I had it broken in.
 

I have learned that the room is the biggest component in the system and it can make or break your system.  My comparisons have been in the same room, so that eliminates excuses for the DACs.  However, variables, variables, variables.  By that I mean, the Holo Audio DAC may sound better with the Holo Audio Serene preamp vs. your Benchmark preamp, different digital cable offerings, etc?  If you plan to keep your Benchmark DAC, you’ll be able to compare both DACs with it, but you won’t get to hear the same brand pairing with the Holo Audio unless you’re able to demo the Serene preamp in the chain.
 

I hope that helps.

@jfrmusic No problem!

If I had to choose one of those DACs you mentioned without hearing them, I’d probably get the Mola Mola.  I bought the MSB Discrete because it’s been my first choice of upgrade without hearing it in “my” system and I have no regrets.  I had my eye on the T+A DAC200 as well.  That might be worth considering too.  DCS has a phenomenal reputation, but I didn’t include it in my list of DACs to pursue.

Godspeed to you and keep us posted!

@audphile1 Bingo! 😆 This hifi game is serious business when it should be a simple hoppy for fun!

@jfrmusic Keep in mind the MSB DACs do not come equipped with a USB input.  MSB is a modular DAC and they chose not to include the USB module as many MSB owners prefer the AES input.  I bought the MSB Quadrate USB module directly from MSB to demo and the AES outperformed the USB module, given the (3) different USB cables I tried with it.  It’s hard to try all the different variations of cables and options unless you have a dealer that’s going to let you borrow it, you own it or you’re willing to buy it with an option to return. They do offer an MSB ProISL interface which works in conjunction with their MSB Pro USB input.  That’s supposed to be superior to the standard Quadrate USB input that I ended up returning to MSB.  I listen to 90% traditional jazz and the AES input, plus the Acoustic Zen Absolute AES cable, was simply dead silent and produced the most realistic bass and acoustic instrument presentation I have heard in my system.  I spent days and hours critically listening to the same tunes while switching back in forth inputs and cables.  I conducted blind tests with my brother who could care less about all this hifi stuff and he clearly heard the difference.  He was surprised how a single cable was producing a different sound.  The dealer will explain the MSB DAC features and options to you.

Lastly, I paid way less than what the Discrete DAC costs brand new.  Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have bought it when I did.