New streamer
I recently opened a discussion on upgrading my DAC. I started at the beginning of that discussion, that I was a vinyl guy, but with my purchase of the Chord Qutest, I realized that digital music can be outstanding and want to now upgrade my Node.
That will provide 2 benefits: Maximizing my current systems digital, and allow me to move the Node & Schiit Modi Multibit 2 to the family room, a small HT setup with a Yamaha AVR driving a Goldenear soundbar. Streaming there is currently MusicCast using the AVR DAC. The improvement there should be very nice.
My 2 channel equipment is as follows:
Rogue RP-1 w/ NOS Brimar’s, LSA Warp 1, KEF R11’s, Rhythmic F12SE, Pro-ject 1Xpression w/Hana ML, Rega Aria, Bluesound Node w/Qubuz, Marantz CD6007, Chord Qutest. Good to very good power, speaker, interconnect cables.
My weakest link (I believe) is now my Node.
I don’t want or need amplification or volume control, ripping storage, nor an internal DAC. Sound signature should be neutral.
My budget is $2,500, but willing to spend less. My current favorites are:
Lumin U2 mini. Very well reviewed, beautiful, perfect form factor, good app & controllable via my Harmony One remote. It is currently my #1 choice.
Auralic Aris. If new, the G1.1, if used G2.0 or 2.1. Very well reviewed, good app, OK form factor, but not controllable via harmony.
Naim ND5 XS2. Considered the best high end streamer by What Hi Fi Would need to buy used to stay close to budget.
EverSolo DMP-A6. Included based upon reviews, but may not be a serious contender.
HiFi Rose RS250A. The streamer EverSolo seemed to copy
Aurender. Don’t think they have anything within my budget, but included for discussion.
LPS upgrade for Node. Included because I know it will come up. Plan to reuse my node downstairs, so out. Would prefer LPS upgrade for one of the above.
Please let me know your thoughts and/or recommendations. Thanks!
“The local Aurender dealer has no N150’s in stock” That shouldn’t deter you from ordering one. My dealer didn’t have N30SA in stock, I got mine delivered in 5 days from their warehouse in CA. As far as app, Aurender’s Conductor is one of the best app out there. |
Looks like you’re all set! From what I’ve read here, streamer probably the most under appreciated component in digital streaming. Many here believe that quality of streamer don’t or can’t possibly matter and high quality streamers are nothing more than a computer with fancy parts. In my experience, the upper echelon brands like Aurender, listening becomes a highly sweet endeavor. I started out with N100 (10 years ago) and kept moving up within Aurender line. IMHO, Aurender streamers possess a highly engaging DNA and presents music in a balanced way. Enjoy! |
All of those are very worthy consideration when buying a component unheard. If I may add, the stellar tech support from Aurender. Unless a hardware failure, everything else is easily troubleshooted remotely and promptly. This was a huge consideration for me to stay with Aurender for 10 plus years. In 10 plus years of owing 4 different streamer..Zero hardware failures. |
Upsampling upto 24bit/192kHz is only available on Aurender’s higher end digital models like N20, W20SE or N30SA through SPDIF/AES output. All of aforementioned models also features superior OCXO clock. USB is always bit-perfect with no digital signal processing. Your N150 will simply pass on the bits in Qobuz original available resolutions, 16/44.1kHz, 24/44.1kHz and 24/192kHz for internal processing by your external DAC. Aurender’s analog players (with built-in DAC) are capable of upsampling any non-DSD files up to 705.6/768kHz through the analog outputs. |
