Aurender N100 or X100?

I own two Aurender streamers (W20SE and N100). While I copied my library onto them… I haven’t used those files or those on my network for two years… Qobuz has almost every one of them and frequently in higher resolution. 
 

I cannot recommend Aurender too highly. But I seldom listen to the same music that I own any more (or if I do I listen to the Qobuz version). They have half a million high Rez albums. I would buy one with as little storage… over time you’ll likely let owning files fall into history… like 78rpm records.

@mahler123 ​​@artemus_5

The Aurender Conductor app is excellent… is highly regarded by all that I have heard comment on it.

Aurrender only makes streamers and makes what is arguably the best.. the W20SE… so they can use their technology to equip all levels. Stereophile whether they say it or not rate stuff “for the money”. I have heard dozens of components they have reviewed and each time was reminded this is the way they sound.

I have been trying to get my digital end to sound as good as my analog end for decades. It always fell far short. I have tried just about every way to stream from a PC, MAC, and portable device. When I finally bought an Aurlic Aries G2… it finally got me in the same league. Then I got an inexpensive Aurender… it was much better sounding. It finally took my digital end to true audiophile levels. This motivated me to upgrade further.

In my main system streaming or playing red book CD or file playing (regardless of the location) sound exactly the same… Qobuz frequently sounds better as they have a half million high resolution albums. Perhaps more importantly my very good analog and digital end sound the same… this was such a complete turning point for me. And the fact that this can be done (at different price levels I am sure)… to me, if I didn’t have this… this would be my number one objective.

Having all music sound truly fantastic independent of format is life changing. The world of music opens up. Your library becomes nearly infinite. Meaning you can chase a group you like through history, or explore the edges of genera… or recording qualities… or just listen to fantastic music you never heard before… for the rest of your life.

Getting there is like every move to improve your system, effort. Look at the streamer attached to a DAC like a TT / cartridge that is attached to a phono stage. Each is a major component. Most people think of a streamer as a place to save some money… there is a mistake.

All my components are roughly the same price… but my streamer and amp cost about 20% more than the rest. A very worth while investment and probably the most cost effective you will ever make.

I bring this up because… like so many challenges… once you know it can be done… it becomes hugely easier. If you don’t know it can be done, it feels like it is much higher risk. It makes you be overly conservative in your purchases of a streamer (the thing that will prevent you from getting there) seems the responsible thing to do. It lets you settle for, “that is good enough”… and spend money on other stuff… like more CDs or files, or albums.