Streamer upgrade? follow up.


I posted the first part of this earlier in the week. There are a few other threads running concurrently here about this same subject.This is my personal experience with this situation.Ive been using a Aurender A100 streamer/dac which is they’re entry level unit, the SQ wasn’t horrible but I was pretty sure I could get it better.In a attempt to do that I purchased a Denafrips Pontus two and a DhLabs Mirage Usb cable to use with the A100 utilizing its Usb out.The two local hi fi dealers here in SO Cal both told me this would not produce much of an result and in my opinion after trying it they were both correct. So… as I stated in the first post I was coming from a “bit is bits” perspective which was I was convinced adding a better Dac would accomplish my goals, I just couldn’t believe that the zeros and ones  could possibly effect the quality of sound. But not being one to give up I decided in for penny in for a pound Id see for myself if there was anything to the other side of this conversation, I wanted a new toy for Xmas anyway.So I traded my A100 plus some cash to TMR ( nice people btw) for a shiny new Aurender N200 which arrived yesterday. Last night the moment of truth, I hooked up the new unit with the exact same everything as before in my system nothing different but the streamer.I let the tubes and everything else warm up for a few hours,picked a song I knew inside and out sat down and pressed play. Immediately within the first few notes of the Stones “ Wild Horses “ I knew I had made the right choice and that I was wrong believing  bits are bits “. I really don’t have adequate language to describe the difference in sound quality other than to say I feel like Im in someone else’s home listening to they’re far superior system, its that drastic.I can with complete confidence say this has got to be one of if not the most significant upgrades Ive made in my system, scouts honor!              PS. Grinin ear to ear here.                                                            

bikeboy52

Showing 5 responses by oddiofyl

Enjoy !   I have had a N200 for a few months now and it is awesome.   Support is awesome too.    No regrets here other than not doing it sooner 

If you plan on storing music the Samsung EVO drives work great.     I put a 4 TB one in and am moving my music there as time allows.   You can move files there super easy with a PC / Mac.   

I optically isolated my digital gear cheaply and effectively by using TP Link' s 2210MP Jetstream switch and two MC220L Media Converters with SFP fiber optic Converters  One for my Vault 2i and one for my Aurender N200.    Cost around $250 for everything.  Under $200 if you isolate one device.  

I originally got a pair of the MC220L but needed a better switch so picked up the 2210MP switch and used a media converter for each networked music player .

If your system has a bottleneck south of the streamer,  you will never reach the streamer’s full potential.   
 

I only will recommend something if I have used it first hand, own it, demo’d it or used it in some capacity 

I can recommend the N200 if the rest of your system is of the same caliber it is worth a demo.   
 

Like I have said numerous times, the Node / Vault is a great streamer    The N200 is better in every metric, especially the most important aspect ….  Support. 
 

Aurender support is exceptional 

“This is great ad for Aurender N200 which I will never ever spend my money on 

what’s the op experience coming to streaming? 
Aurender , auralic is a joke 

they are the first streamer/ dac recommended by 99% of people here and most of this guys are dealers and so on”

I could not disagree more with this statement 

No experience with Auralic but have heard they are great too