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Streamer Upgrade Bluesound Node To Aurender N10

Just got into streaming via a Bluesound Node running Tidal and Qobuz, streaming from an iPad Air via wifi. Very impressed by the simplicity, convenience, incredible choice of music and sound quality. My question is; if I replace the Bluesound Node with an Aurender N10 will there be a noticeable difference in SQ?

Rest of the system is a McIntosh C52 pre amp, MC312 power amp and Magico A5 speakers. I feed the digital optical output from the Bluesound Node to the C52. A/D conversion is done in the C52. If I do upgrade to the Aurender N10, what is the best way to connect the system together? A/D in the Aurender N10 or C52, type of cable connection between the two units etc?

mgattmch

Showing 3 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,431 posts
 

Yes… an Aurender N10 will make a profound improvement in sound quality. I own two Aurender and auditioned the N10. These are audiophile components and perform at that level.

 

Optical connection would be the least preferred. Coax input to the Mac would probably sound the best. USB can sound better… but this tends to be when the DAC is better quality than the streamer. So, in this case I guess leaving the timing in the Aurender would be preferred. But try it. I would wait to get high end cables until after you have it in your system.

ghdprentice
6,431 posts
 

👍

ghdprentice
6,431 posts
 

To avoid the wifi issue. Get a cheap wall wart wifi extender and plug next to Aurrender. Connect extender to Aurender via Ethernet. Works wonderfully and sounds great with high quality streamers like the Aurender. Both my systems work that way, I know of a number of $100K+ systems working like this.

 

Solving this problem was what originally drew me to buy an Aurlic Aries G2. The wifi extender solved the problem allowing me to use Aurender streamers and improve audio performance. My streamer performance is at the level of my analog system.

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