Aurender N20 Music Server Comments and Observations

@pokey77, Hello, it is great to chat with you again.

My Aurender N10 Music Server cost $8,000 and was very good. The Aurender N20 Music Server costs $12,000 and is truly outstanding. As I noted in my above post, the music is clearer, the bass is better, has more air and it has more musical details. The overall musical presentation is much improved. Aurender says the N20 has “An All-Digital Phase-Locked Loop system (ADPLL) incorporating Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) with OCXO clocks precisely times digital audio data transmissions and minimizes jitter to below negligible levels. The results are sonically audible with better image focus, a wider, deeper, taller soundstage presentation and an uncanny analog-like organic quality”. The above is probably why it sounds so good to me. I suggest you give it a listen and decide for yourself. Based on my listening, I strongly recommend the Aurender N20 Music Server

I am not using an upgraded internet switch. I have had major Internet connectivity issues with my Linksys and Apple Routers. I finally purchased the Luxul Wireless Router Kit – EPIC 3 AC3100 Wireless Router and the XAP-1510 AC1900 Access Point. Everything is working fine AFTER my ISP made some further adjustments (adjusted the Internet signal strength (VERY IMPORTANT), replaced my outside junction box, replaced all my inside cables and tuned their outside signal boosting amplifier.

Successful Tidal and QoBuz Streaming REQUIRES all your devices that connect to the Internet to be working perfectly. This includes the router, switch boxes, modems and the ISP connection (junction boxes, amplifiers, etc.). It seems, unfortunately, I have had issues with most everything down stream.

I suggest you review these many components to ensure they are working okay. And, yes, most likely, you will need to contact your ISP to ensure the cable speed is okay, the cable signal strength is within its required range, etc. My ISP, Wave Broadband, was very helpful ensuring the service was working for me. This is not simple project and requires time and lots of patience to get it working correctly.

Any questions, please ask. Thanks.

"11. 12. USB 3.0 Data Port 1, 2

Both ports can be used to copy files from USB memory devices. Either port can also be connected to dCS systems by using the optional USB to RS232 dongle. Connecting the dCS RS232 control cable will enable automatic clock selection between the Aurender N20 and the dCS Master Clock. These ports should not be used as audio outputs".

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"Dedicated Word Clock Input

The N20 offers support for an external word clock which can, in some cases, improve upon the SPDIF audio performance in terms of musical rhythm, pace, timing, and phase coherance. If the user wants to use a separate master clock and SPDIF interconnects, a music server with master clock input is needed as well as a DAC with master clock input. The external word clock can then be used to synchronize timing between both digital devices ensuring jitter-free and time-perfect data transmission. N20 can accept word clocks with the following frequencies: Master clock: 10MHz, 12.8MHz, Word clock: 44.1KHz and 48KHz in multiples from 1 to 512. N20 supports both word clock (dCS, DACs or similar) or Master Clock (MSB DACs or similar) inputs.

 Master Clock Input     Word Clock or Master Clock Input (BNC) 10MHz, 12.8MHz (44.1kHz and 48kHz multiples from 1 to 512), Input impedance 75Ω".

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