Need help with Aurender N20
Please help with a cable recommendation. I added an Aurender N20 that feeds my Holo Audio May DAC. For the most part I'm very pleased with the addition but I feel there is more to be unlocked in the upper frequencies regarding detail and resolution.
I'm running an AES cable to the DAC to take advantage of the superior clock in the streamer. The cable in use is a Clarus Crimson but I'm wondering if there is a better AES cable choice that will be more open and offer more top end detail.
If anyone has experience with different AES cables I'd like to hear your thoughts. The max budget would be $2500. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
I recommend Acrolink AES/EBU Digital Cable. You can borrow Leggenda 7N-DA2090 from Cable Co and audition in your system. I used this cable with N20 and N30. You can spend more but you’re unlikely to find a better cable for the money. https://www.thecableco.com/cables/digital-cables/7n-da2090-leggenda-aes-ebu-digital-cable.html |
I use a Transparent AES between my Aurrender W23SE and my Audio Research DAC. I have found Transparent to be extremely transparent... moving exactly the signal without allowing interference or tipping tonal balance. Cardas has a slightly warm tone... attenuating the high frequencies a small bit in analog, power cords an digital (I have not tried USB however). |
+1 for Network Acoustic. Thanks @fastfreight …Muon and Kimber Hybrid USB were my top choices when I had USB base setup. Another brand that makes excellent digital cables is Final Touch Audio. I never had a chance to own their USB or AES. I do own a pair of their Ethernet cables…they are the most organic, emotionally engaging, and finely balanced cables I’ve ever experienced (and I’ve tried many Ethernet cables). |
I had the N20 and it fed my DAC via Shunyata Omega AES and also Omega ethernet it was a stunning combination. immediately noticed a vast improvement when upgrading to the Shunyata Omega unfortunately my system was destroyed via lightning and flood damage I now have a Lumin P1 DAC/Streamer but went back to the shunyata Omega Ethernet Not sure what a used omega would cost But it was a fantastic sounding set up |
I have several systems in different rooms that I like to mess with. In one of them, I use the Sonnet Hermes network transport with the matching Sonnet Morpheus DAC. After trying all the connection types between them, including the I2S that Sonnet says is best, I have a strong preference for AES. It sounds more balanced and lifelike than the others. I had been using a Clarus Crimson which was a solid cable. Tried a Kimber Orchid and that was pretty good, similar to the Crimson. Eventually got my hands on a rare Yamamura Millennium 5000 which I like more than the others so I'm using that now. The Yamamura might be just a bit too warm though, so I just ordered a Veritas Nexum A to see how that compares. Veritas Cables is a new brand I discovered recently on the forums here. So far I am loving their speaker cables and want to try other models. If I don't love the Veritas model I will probably try Audience and Jorma next. They both have interesting models in AES. |
Thank you to all from the community who responded. I appreciate your thoughts. @996turbo911 please let me know how your cable trial goes, I'm interested in learning how your experience goes. Cheers |
@rick_n Will do! The new cable shipped already and should arrive mid week. But of course listening impressions will take some time to develop. |
@rick_n Updating you on the Veritas Nexum A which arrived yesterday. Initial impressions are extremely positive. This thing is built like it should have had a four figure price tag instead of the $299 I actually paid. First listen also highly impressive so far. This is all straight out of the box so things will likely get even better with burn in. I will update when I have more to say about it. |
I have found with the N20 that you really need a good AES and USB cable if you are going to take advantage of DSD. I have read that the May has a great DSD section. The N20 is a fantastic machine and I've found or rather heard no degradation in SQ by using the USB but saying that some PCM recordings sound better with AES. The biggest difference however is getting an external 10Mhz master clock for the N20. This really does make a huge difference. |
