FYI to the OP and anyone else considering purchasing a used Aurender. Not sure what dealer was giving out false information but I just corresponded with Aurender and their 2yr. Warranty is transferable.
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!
Showing 7 responses by marco1
@signaforce you're welcome. Hopefully you won't need to use it but nice to know its there if you do. It's ashame people who tout themselves as Authorized Dealers wouldn't know something like this or worse yet use it as a sales tactic. What's the world coming to 🤪 |
@zlone you probably are already aware but Schiit has a USB upgrade available for a very reasonable price. I had an older Yiggy a few years back and the SPDIF was better than the old USB at that time. You don’t say what model/edition Schiit you have but if an older version the upgrade could hold you over for a while. I have tried my N150 with a friends upgraded Yiggy and it was an improvement over the version I had. |
Aurender has a very good reputation and while you always have to consider service with used gear, I’d consider the source of a comment like that too. Dealers make money selling new equipment, lol. The N150 is a very nice unit (I have one) and will be a very nice step up from the Node (I have one of those too). No issues btw. |
@audphile1 my thoughts exactly. Had I not been trading up to the N20 and getting ready to list my N150, giving me a reason to contact Aurender directly, I too would probably be passing along inaccurate information. Still another reason manufacturers need to vet their dealers more carefully. |
+1 It takes a little bit of time for the changes to soak in. Going from a Node to the N150, the changes don’t necessarily smack you in the face like other component changes might. But very soon you’ll be listening and thinking to yourself how good things sound realizing how much of an improvement the new streamer has actually made.
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