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Aurender N20 Streamer & Holo May DAC vs Analog

A couple of caveats..

1. My retail analog system is 2x $ of my digital.

2. Power cable to phono preamp > to Aurender

3. Analog signal interconnects $$$>$ digital cables.

Analog is much more musical with regards to tonality, airy soundstage with great imaging, detail, impact .. in every way.

Aurender/May DAC USB vs AES/EBU is source dependent and I haven’t figured this out completely, but CD likes AES with upscaling. Most other sources benefit from USB with regards to imaging, airy presentation and detail/tonality. Still early, but, for example, playing “Friday Night In San Francisco” these differences were quite apparent with Qobuz 176/24. I was definitely favoring USB, but Analog was so much more of everything and much more involving. Analog was amazing.

Aurender is major upgrade from iFi Zen Stream with their best power supply and fiber optic Ethernet isolation.

vonhelmholtz

Showing 1 response by audioman58

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audioman58
3,878 posts
 

The Holo springs May KTE is a far better dac in absolute terms  but is not a streamer , the Aurender is nice ,they are known much more for their  streaming 

many guys buy a high end dac, then get a good streamer  the dac by far is the most important part of the system ,for all music starts there ,Good or bad , 

the speakers too equally. Important  .i have over 40 years as a Audiophile and. Owned a Audio store  Spending on a top quality dac the New Denafrips Terminator + 12 th anniversary is a bit better still .

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