Streamer creates a Wow experience

@sns I will put my bet on digital file serving (on a local high-performance music server) to be the de facto standard for high resolution / high fidelity playback. Even though streaming using high quality Ethernet/optical and quality switches/reclockers get very close, the shortest path will always likely win.

I do have faith. In the last year I reached a reference grade with my digital setup, using the Aurender N30SA server/streamer going into the T+A SDV 3100 HV DAC preamp. Using the Synergistic Research Ethernet Switch UEF and DH Labs Reunion Ethernet cables improved the quality of streaming to get it close to the local files stored on the Aurender, but local files still win. Both are generally equal if not most times better than my vinyl rig, which at about a $60K MSRP is no slouch either. But digital will just continue to get better, and I can’t say the same for vinyl. But who knows what the future holds?

I love reading posts like this. What DAC(s) are you feeding the iFi, and do you feel it is now close or even better to your CD playback?

I love demoing high quality streamer/servers for people to prove that bits are not just bits. That jaw-dropping moment you mention is one I often see when I work with customers and friends who do not yet understand what a quality streamer/server can do. 

A good LPS for digital is absolutely not snake oil as long as it is replacing a lower-performing built-in power supply. I’ve used separate LPS’ in many instances, all of them have made a positive difference. The most surprising? Adding a Farad Super3 LPS to power my Uptone EtherRegen when I owned it. Adding the EtherRegen to my digital delivery very subtly helped lower noise and improve timing, but adding the Farad to the EtherRegen resulted in a much bigger impact than what the EtherRegen brought on its own, increasing clarity to a greater extent and greatly reducing fatigue. I almost returned the EtherRegen until a friend convinced me to try his Farad. The moment I did I ordered one for myself. 

@sbank Aurender does not support Roon. Many people are partial to Roon due to its user interface, but if one has not paid for a lifetime pass, they continue to throw money away on it monthly. Aurender’s ecosystems are sonically quite impressive given the coupling between the hardware and software. As @lalitk encourages use of the iPad for the conductor app, a new version of the iPhone app is in beta to its dealers and nearing full release soon. I was able to play with it at AXPONA and can hint that the user experience is much better. I actually requested some of the features it will contain.

In full disclosure, I am an Aurender dealer.