Recommended streamers/servers?

Have a close look at Aurender. They produce outstanding streamers in different configuration. I own two and have owned and listened to many others. I believe in general them to be the leaders in the field. There flagship is probably the most used reference streamer used in high end audio shows. They sound dead quiet (something not that common), very musical, and detailed. Buying used might be a good way to move up another level in their product lines.

I have found putting more money in the streamer than other non-speaker components a worthwhile investment. They are like turntables, if you don’t have it at the start of the signal chain then it isn’t coming out the other end… well, unless it is noise and distortion.

There are fundamental differences between using a streamers USB output to DAC versus SP/DIFF or AES output to DAC. Depending on the strength of your DAC one or the other can sound much better. The DAC must retime the USB bitstream, the others it does not.


I have found large and profound differences between sub- $3K streamers, $5K, $10K, and $20K+ streamers. It is somewhat like a turntable, in general, high quality streamers provide a much higher quality signal. This is then turned into an analog signal and amplified. It may be counterintuitive, but it makes a huge difference. On the other hand like all components it needs to be matched with appropriate quality equipment for high quality sound that is cost effective. Matching a $10K streamer with $500 DAC, preamp, and amp is unlikely to allow you to fully appreciate it’s full potential.

@efoo

I recommend looking at Aurender… I had a Auralic Aries G2 and my Aurenders are much better. Aurender makes streamers at many price points. Streamers make a huge difference! I have experience with streamers from $200 (PC, as well as separates) to $22,000. Also, actually Linn makes a good high end streamer. I now own a Aurender W20SE… and what at first looked like an exorbitant amount of money ($22K), instantly sounded like a cost effective deal when I heard it in my system.


You can see my systems if you click on my ID.

@marek28

What was your associated equipment? What you describe is not the sonic signature of Aurender. Was it more than two years old? They redesigned the power supply about a year and a half ago, although that by itself would not account for the sound you describe. Perhaps it was defective?  I own two Aurender streamers and heard several other models in good systems.