Aurender N20

I wholeheartedly recommend an audition with the Grimm Audio MU1.

I've heard an Aurender and the Grimm just took digital sound to another level.

The best streamer I have ever heard yet. And it includes many components and features in the box, running on Roon Core - it's superb digital transport and should be compared with an Aurender in an audition if you can organize one!

The Music Room is an authorized Aurender retailer and might be worth looking at.  I purchased my Aurender N20 from them. 
 

The Music Room - Autender

Trying both units and choosing the  best based upon performance is the best course of action. However if that is not possible looking at the device specifications may offer some insight.

N20 relevant features: linear power supply ; Double Isolated Gigabit Ethernet LAN; OCXO clock; Word clock input facilitates.

N200 relevant features: linear power supply, Double Isolated Gigabit Ethernet LAN; TCXO  Clock

There should be an audible difference in the AES and SPIDF digital output between the Aurender devices because of the clock differences. The N20 should have an improved sound.

When using a USB Audio 2.0 Standard asynchronous connection from either Aurender device the DAC runs off a clock that’s completely independent of the USB clock. Synchronization between data rates is maintained by use of a separate feedback path via the USB interface.

The updated N20 clock should not have a material effect on the quality of the USB sound output when compared to the N200.
Theoretically when using USB audio output both devices should have similar sound based upon the same USB circuit, linear power supplies, double isolated Gigabit Ethernet LAN and operating system. The difference  between the two devices should come down to internal noise suppression.

If using the AES or SPIDF output from the Aurender then IMHO the extra cost of the N20 would be worth while. However if your only using USB output then IMHO the N200 might be a more cost effective option.

@welcher 

Thanks for the detailed info! I have spoken to 3 well-respected dealers, and all were unanimous as to the N20 being clearly superior to the N200 with all outputs (by a considerable margin). I will primarily use the USB output since my DAC is optimized for this (Aries Cerat Helene). The N20 will allow me to experiment with SPDIF and AES, but at what cost? I am very perplexed since the USB circuit is quite similar (I think!) It doesn't appear that I am getting a dealer "hard sell." When I posed the question to all three dealers, there was no hesitation at all as to the N20's prowess. It's giving me heartburn!

If you are going to be using SPDIF or AES output I would get the N20. I am not impressed with the SPIDF output on my N200.