Streamer Comparison and Suggestions


I am considering options for a new streamer for the specific purpose of improving sound quality as a Roon endpoint feeding a DAC.  

The set-up:

  • networked server/Roon core in a separate room
  • connection to my main system using fiber, a converter and LPS
  • very short Ethernet cable into dual Bonn N8 switches
  • Network Acoustics Ethernet cable then muon filter
  • Metrum Acoustics Ambre Roon endpoint/streamer (currently)
  • Variety of DACs having USB, S/PDIF, and AES/EBU input options

The Ambre is a Raspberry Pi based device with internal LPS and femto clocking.  I am curious whether some of the more expensive, more well-known streamer options may result in improved sound quality as a Roon endpoint feeding my DAC - which is my only goal.  I intend to continue using Roon to control Tidal, Qobuz, and my server stored music files so the addition of fancy touchscreens, on-board storage, or optional player software will not affect my decision unless the device also offers improved sound quality.  

Streamers I have been considering are in the $5-8K price range and include:

  • Sonore Signature Rendu SE (optical or otherwise - USB output only) $5,300
  • Innuos Pulsar (USB output only) $7,999
  • Auralic Aries G2.2 (lots of flexibility) $6,099

Thanks for any suggestions and specifically any comparisons between the streamers listed above.

mitch2

Showing 4 responses by audiotroy

mitch you should check out a 432evo Aeon to date we haven't found a server that beats it 

the aeon is a completely modular design so the server can be improved as newer parts become available.

each part of the server is physically  and electrically isolated from each other:

the cpu and motherboard are separated from the clock card and usb card

the cpu is run by by an external sbooster power supply.

while the clock and usb are run by their own separate, sbooster power supply

a laser sintered, custom made shield, eliminates  radiated rfi from the low noise cpu.

 A proprietary operating system runs Roon differently then most servers

in a 432 EVO server runs Ron in its own core, while  background processes are run on their own core.

Music caching is run on yet another core.

in our tests the Aeon  sounded   as good as the $27 Innous statement next gen

we beat the  Aurender n10 and N20 models

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect NJ

432evo dealers

luv tubes we have compared our server to innous and Aurender and our clients have compared tp antipodes and grimm 

mitch wehad a client with a similar setup to yours and he switched to an Aeon

luv tubes has nothing to do with selling mitch anything we have had numerous clients testing our servers vs many of the best units out there thats all we are saying