Seeking music server recommendation: aurender vs Innuos vs other

**Benko** · October 9, 2020, 10:44 PM

Q1: Old timer high end audio, new to digital beyond CDs looking to buy a music server to rip my CDs to and for streaming: I've read good things about Aurender ACS10 Music Server/CD ripper and also Innuos servers/CD ripper. Any thoughts on either brand, or other brand you'd recommend?

I'll be using my oppo modwright 105 CD player as DAC for now.

My tastes run towards the more musical and I don't like bright.

Q2: Classical music: does software for either work well with classical music?

Thanks for your time.

**Calvin** · October 9, 2020, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Benko

Q1: Old timer high end audio, new to digital beyond CDs looking to buy a music server to rip my CDs to and for streaming: I've read good things about Aurender ACS10 Music Server/CD ripper and also Innuos servers/CD ripper. Any thoughts on either brand, or other brand you'd recommend?

I'll be using my oppo modwright 105 CD player as DAC for now.

My tastes run towards the more musical and I don't like bright.

Q2: Classical music: does software for either work well with classical music?

Thanks for your time.

The ACS10 is great. I don't play much classical, but jazz, female vocals, and soft rock and Aurender does it all well. The ripper is simple to use - literally open the disk tray, insert CD and close tray. Everything else is automatic. You can edit using the Aurender ACS Manager App. On a just released CD - never in circulation before, like the new Krall CD that just came out - you will probably have to use your iPad and type in the names of the songs. It's simple.

**Mike** · October 9, 2020, 11:13 PM

Aurender all day long. Sound and support. But the Lumin U1 is excellent too.

**joeinid** · October 10, 2020, 12:13 AM

Welcome to the forum Benko.

**Randy Myers** · October 10, 2020, 10:06 AM

Aurender and Lumin are both good choice from what I hear. Here are some other choices.

Small Green Computer
Music Servers – Small Green Computer

Roon Nucleus +
Roon Nucleus - The Roon Music Server Built for Sound Quality

Wyred 4 Sound
MS | Wyred 4 Sound

SGM
SGM Extreme Music Server – Taiko Audio

I won't mention that you can also do custom built computers because some people always get angry when that subject is brought up

.

**Mr Peabody** · October 11, 2020, 01:09 PM

I was in your shoes a little more than a year ago. I have not heard Innuos but I believe the ACS10 has more on board storage. I ended up with an ACS10 and love it, it is easy to rip your collection and use. I have the 8TB version, ripped about 1200 CD's or so and only used a small fraction of the HD.

I did make a mistake and bought a NAD 50.2 which is feature rich, however, I was not happy with the sound. I can't explain it but, though music servers, there is a difference in sound quality. The ACS10 was more expensive but the performance increase surpassed the expense to me. Not even close.

Unless things have changed Innuos does not have their own app. The Aurender app, Conductor, is pretty good.

The ACS10 is a really high quality unit for guys like me who aren't that into computers or just don't want to use computer for streaming. Or, more of a plug & play type of thing. Worth mentioning, ACS10 only has a USB output. Linox based. Aurender does sell a USB converter.

If you are picky about the album titles and such you will have to learn the editing features. Sometimes my albums showed up as part of a box set and track number may say 3 1, 3 2, etc opposed to just 1, 2, etc. It don't bother me as long as I can tell what I am playing. I do highly recommend the ACS10 as a happy owner.

**Swisstrips** · October 11, 2020, 02:07 PM

So if one were to start thinking about a “closed” system (as opposed to multiple PC / HQP type), streaming not important and would use a larger library with a fair amount of DSD, what Aurender would one look at that isn’t ridiculous $?

**Mike** · October 11, 2020, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Swisstrips

So if one were to start thinking about a “closed” system (as opposed to multiple PC / HQP type), streaming not important and would use a larger library with a fair amount of DSD, what Aurender would one look at that isn’t ridiculous $?

Hands down, yes.

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**u-sound** · October 11, 2020, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Hands down, yes.

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the hands down mk2

**Benko** · October 11, 2020, 05:02 PM

Thanks everyone for their replies.

Quick question because I am totally new to digital audio: I assume when I rip CDs I can add comments e.g. singer/songwriter or Beethoven symphony to help me search when I want to play back?

THanks.

**Calvin** · October 11, 2020, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Benko

Thanks everyone for their replies.

Quick question because I am totally new to digital audio: I assume when I rip CDs I can add comments e.g. singer/songwriter or Beethoven symphony to help me search when I want to play back?

THanks.

On the ACS10 this is automatically done, but you may edit it, if you desire to more refine it.

**Swisstrips** · October 11, 2020, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Hands down, yes.

That's what I'm curious about - the model equiv (non DAC) to a multiple PC config - think JCAT control and audio PC or a multiple ROON core and HQP audio PC with a streamer e.g. SOTM or Sonore feeding the audio PC (then to DAC)

It looks like:
X100L
N100 series
BIG jump $ > ACS10

**nicoff** · October 11, 2020, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Benko

Thanks everyone for their replies.

Quick question because I am totally new to digital audio: I assume when I rip CDs I can add comments e.g. singer/songwriter or Beethoven symphony to help me search when I want to play back?

THanks.

When you rip a CD, you will have the option of choosing the metadata from different sources. Unfortunately the Metadata available for free for classical music is all over the place. It will seldom be consistent.
On a multi disc symphonic CD, I have found one CD with the tracks in one language and another Disc in another language.
On your Beethoven example, unless you fix it, you could end up with discs by Beethoven, L. v Beethoven, Ludwig van Beethoven, and any possible variation you can think of. And unless you fix it, you will have a hard time finding what you are looking for later on. Not to mention that some metadata confuse the Composer (Beethoven) with the Conductor or Artist (Abbado).
And while you can make edits using the same software that came with your device, you will be better off investing in metadata software particularly if you have a large CD collection that you are going to rip.
If you are using a paying service like Roon or similar, you will get better and more consistent metadata. In that case, you could, for example, choose to display the metadata from Roon while playing your ripped CDs.
Ripping your CDs and having all your music digitized will allow you to listen to your music in a very different way. Once you get used to it, it is hard to go back.

**Benko** · October 11, 2020, 08:23 PM

I don't believe that Roon works with aurender, but I've written Aurender to see if other metadata editors work with their hardware. Only have a few hundred classical CDs but I wonder how much work it would be to edit metadata for all e.g.

Beethoven Symphony 9 Furtwangler
Beethoven PC 1 Davis

Thanks.

**Calvin** · October 11, 2020, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Benko

I don't believe that Roon works with aurender, but I've written Aurender to see if other metadata editors work with their hardware. Only have a few hundred classical CDs but I wonder how much work it would be to edit metadata for all e.g.

Beethoven Symphony 9 Furtwangler
Beethoven PC 1 Davis

Thanks.

Aurender doesn’t work with Roon. However, Aurender will include most of the info you require automatically. Anything you desire to add / edit is easily done with their App.

**nicoff** · October 11, 2020, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by Benko

I don't believe that Roon works with aurender, but I've written Aurender to see if other metadata editors work with their hardware. Only have a few hundred classical CDs but I wonder how much work it would be to edit metadata for all e.g.

Beethoven Symphony 9 Furtwangler
Beethoven PC 1 Davis

Thanks.

You can use MP3TAG to fix the metadata. You would rip all of your CDs to the hard drive and when done, then you use another computer running MP3TAG to access that drive and fix what you need to fix. The nice thing about doing it that way, is that you can determine how you want the data to look and you can do so using batch processing.

If you are willing to consider a streaming music service like Qobuz or Tidal (I believe that both work with Aurender), you can sign up on a trial basis and you could check the sound of streaming versus the sound of your rip. If you decide that you like the sound of Tidal/Qobuz better, then you could avoid the hassle of ripping and metadata fixing altogether.

I personally ripped all my CDs years ago and I now find myself listening to the music streaming service (Qobuz) and don’t bother to play my ripped music (or CDs) unless they are not available in Qobuz. If I were starting today with digital, I would not bother ripping my collection but that’s only because I found no sound difference between streaming vs ripped. Other folks may prefer the ripped version or the physical CD but that is not my case.

**Mr Peabody** · October 12, 2020, 03:12 PM

Will the ACS100 for less money meet your needs?

Originally Posted by Swisstrips

That's what I'm curious about - the model equiv (non DAC) to a multiple PC config - think JCAT control and audio PC or a multiple ROON core and HQP audio PC with a streamer e.g. SOTM or Sonore feeding the audio PC (then to DAC)

It looks like:
X100L
N100 series
BIG jump $ > ACS10

**Mr Peabody** · October 12, 2020, 03:26 PM

As Calvinmentioned when ripping the CD the ACS10 searches the internet and automatically adds the artists name, cover art and track list of the CD. You have the option of searching your library by artist or album title. My Classical CD's listed fine for the most part. Some of the other CD's have small sgitches but could be edited, however, as I mentioned even with the glitch I could tell at least the artist. For example, my Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, listed as Pink Floyd Discovery. And a few others had the box set name opposed to the actual title of the album. I never had music on a computer so the ACS 10 is great for novices like myself.

Originally Posted by Benko

Thanks everyone for their replies.

Quick question because I am totally new to digital audio: I assume when I rip CDs I can add comments e.g. singer/songwriter or Beethoven symphony to help me search when I want to play back?

THanks.

**Benko** · October 12, 2020, 09:25 PM

Thanks again Aurender sounds like it is a good choice for me and software looks plenty good enough.

"ACS10 only has a USB output."

How much difference does this really make in sound quality?

**Jack** · October 12, 2020, 09:41 PM

The other "popular" choice would be Innuos and it too is USB only so the Aurender may be your best choice especially from a good dealer.

**Swisstrips** · October 13, 2020, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

Will the ACS100 for less money meet your needs?

Yes possibly. That or the n100 it would appear. However, their product line up consists of a lot of models and seems a bit confusing / redundant. At least at first glance.

On top of that, will they all sound different or does it come down to focusing on functionality to fit ones need?

**Mike** · October 13, 2020, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by Benko

Thanks again Aurender sounds like it is a good choice for me and software looks plenty good enough.

"ACS10 only has a USB output."

How much difference does this really make in sound quality?

No different in sound quality if you’re only using/needing USB.

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**Mr Peabody** · October 13, 2020, 07:48 PM

I only mentioned it to be sure your DAC has the USB input. Aurender has very high quality USB outputs. This was actually told to me by another manufacturer as I was shopping their products.

Originally Posted by Benko

Thanks again Aurender sounds like it is a good choice for me and software looks plenty good enough.

"ACS10 only has a USB output."

How much difference does this really make in sound quality?

**Mr Peabody** · October 13, 2020, 07:57 PM

I was hoping Mike would take this question. The ACS10 is the first Aurender I owned, so not an expert. The line is not redundant, some units include DACS, some have certain features, only the ACS units have trays for ripping. It is vast though and can be intimidating.

If someone don't come along with better direction, email Aurender, they are very helpful.

Originally Posted by Swisstrips

Yes possibly. That or the n100 it would appear. However, their product line up consists of a lot of models and seems a bit confusing / redundant. At least at first glance.

On top of that, will they all sound different or does it come down to focusing on functionality to fit ones need?

**Mike** · October 13, 2020, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Swisstrips

Yes possibly. That or the n100 it would appear. However, their product line up consists of a lot of models and seems a bit confusing / redundant. At least at first glance.

On top of that, will they all sound different or does it come down to focusing on functionality to fit ones need?

The sound really improves as you move up the line. The ACS10, ACS100, A10, A30 all have different functions from the N100H, N10, N20, N30 (coming soon), W20SE. ACS stands for Aurender Content Server. It’s meant to replace a NAS. Ripping capabilities built in. The N series is the series for those with DAC’s already. The A series is all in one - with DAC, with the A30 being a superb true all in one, with ripping!

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**Swisstrips** · October 14, 2020, 09:21 AM

Thanks @Mr Peabody + @Mike, redundant wasn't the best description. Mikes summary explains it perfectly! Apologies to the OP for getting OT

**KeithR** · October 16, 2020, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Jack

The other "popular" choice would be Innuos and it too is USB only so the Aurender may be your best choice especially from a good dealer.

Innuos uses isolated ethernet, which I prefer to USB. It's really quite easy to setup and use Roon directly on an ipad - going on 3 years without much of a hiccup. Just the occasional firmware upgrade which is all done online.

**Hear Here** · October 16, 2020, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

I was in your shoes a little more than a year ago. .

I did make a mistake and bought a NAD 50.2 which is feature rich, however, I was not happy with the sound. I can't explain it but, though music servers, there is a difference in sound quality. The ACS10 was more expensive but the performance increase surpassed the expense to me. Not even close.

If you are picky about the album titles and such you will have to learn the editing features. Sometimes my albums showed up as part of a box set and track number may say 3 1, 3 2, etc opposed to just 1, 2, etc. It don't bother me as long as I can tell what I am playing. I do highly recommend the ACS10 as a happy owner.

I'm interested to hear your NAD M50.2 experience as I have one. Most of its stored files were ripped in FLAC using a RipNAS and transfered over to the NAD but I've ripped a few from its own ripper.

Do you think it's the NAD's ripping ability that lets it down or the way it streams its stored files? I've never been convinced about its ripping as there's no report on the quality of the rip - obtained from metadata showing the precise bit count it's looking for. The RipNAS was better in this respect and I know which rips are not bit perfect.

In fact, since I started subscribing to high quality streaming services (currently Qobuz) I now rarely play from the files stored in the M50.2 - there seems little point in playing CDs or their rips when virtually everything can be streamed.

I now tend to use the 50.2 mainly for simply PLAYING CDs that I don't want to rip (borrowed or friends' CDs) and this ability is rare in rippers. It's a pretty good CD player. I like and use its AES/EBU output - again less common in rippers or streamers generally.

Unless things have changed since I started to rip my own CD collection, editing FLAC files is much simpler than WAV files and the chance of metadata being corrupted is far lower with FLAC. If Classical is ripped, a lot more editing is needed as most sources of metadata confuse Composer with all sorts of other less relevent principle tags. A Beethoven piano concerto is as likely to be put in a Previn (soloist) file, or LSO (orchestra), or Rattle (conductor) as its proper Beethoven one. You have to move these ripped folders into your Beethoven master file and probably rename it - all very easy with FLAC files using Windows' cut and paste and rename. Also you'll probably want to gather together your Ludwig van Beethoven folders with your Beethoven ones so they appear in an alphabetical list of Composers under B. Most non-classical will be correctly grouped under the relevent Artist.

**Mr Peabody** · October 16, 2020, 04:02 PM

I am a picky listener. I believe it's the 50.2's streaming. I found that FLAC sounded better than WAV with the 50.2. In my system the sound was thin. As a reference I moved to streaming from a Mark Levinson #512 SACD player, so my digital had big shoes to fill, the 50.2 to my ears just didn't do it. Functionally, it had all the features provided you like the Blue OS. Well, I didn't like the fact the Wyfi streaming was only 2.4Ghz opposed to 5. Some say there's not much difference but in my experience 5Ghz is faster. The Ethernet did help.

Originally Posted by Hear Here

I'm interested to hear your NAD M50.2 experience as I have one. Most of its stored files were ripped in FLAC using a RipNAS and transfered over to the NAD but I've ripped a few from its own ripper.

Do you think it's the NAD's ripping ability that lets it down or the way it streams its stored files? I've never been convinced about its ripping as there's no report on the quality of the rip - obtained from metadata showing the precise bit count it's looking for. The RipNAS was better in this respect and I know which rips are not bit perfect.

In fact, since I started subscribing to high quality streaming services (currently Qobuz) I now rarely play from the files stored in the M50.2 - there seems little point in playing CDs or their rips when virtually everything can be streamed.

I now tend to use the 50.2 mainly for simply PLAYING CDs that I don't want to rip (borrowed or friends' CDs) and this ability is rare in rippers. It's a pretty good CD player. I like and use its AES/EBU output - again less common in rippers or streamers generally.

Unless things have changed since I started to rip my own CD collection, editing FLAC files is much simpler than WAV files and the chance of metadata being corrupted is far lower with FLAC. If Classical is ripped, a lot more editing is needed as most sources of metadata confuse Composer with all sorts of other less relevent principle tags. A Beethoven piano concerto is as likely to be put in a Previn (soloist) file, or LSO (orchestra), or Rattle (conductor) as its proper Beethoven one. You have to move these ripped folders into your Beethoven master file and probably rename it - all very easy with FLAC files using Windows' cut and paste and rename. Also you'll probably want to gather together your Ludwig van Beethoven folders with your Beethoven ones so they appear in an alphabetical list of Composers under B. Most non-classical will be correctly grouped under the relevent Artist.

**Randy Myers** · October 16, 2020, 04:18 PM

When it comes to WiFi 2.4Ghz has a larger range but 5Ghz is faster. Therefore if in close enough proximity 5 is better but if you need a larger range then 2.4 is better.

**steve59** · October 16, 2020, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

When it comes to WiFi 2.4Ghz has a larger range but 5Ghz is faster. Therefore if in close enough proximity 5 is better but if you need a larger range then 2.4 is better.

Interesting, Is 24/96 wireless streaming still the maximum resolution? Also which usb cable offers the best bang for the buck?

**Randy Myers** · October 17, 2020, 11:43 AM

I personally like AudioQuest, but there certainly are other good choices. I use two AQ Coffee USB cables (from server to the Recovery and out of the Recovery to the T+A DAC).

**BobK** · October 19, 2020, 11:28 PM

I have the Innuos Zenith MK III and love it. I'm using it as a Roon Core w/ a 2TB SSD for storage, and separate HD for backup. Ripping was super easy...no comparison to dbPoweramp and transferring files to my Qnap...saved my sanity with classical recordings. Sounds great to me...but I don't play in the same sandbox as a lot of people here. Really simplified my digital audio and can't recommend it highly enough.

**Randy Myers** · October 20, 2020, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by BobK

but I don't play in the same sandbox as a lot of people here

Reviewing your signature I would say you have quite the nice system!!!

**BobK** · October 20, 2020, 12:46 PM

Thank you, Randy! Appreciate it. What I actually have is the most wonderful, understanding wife in the world. We just celebrated our 32nd anniversary last week.

She's only gotten angry about my system twice in all these years. The first time was in the early 90's when I traded in my ML Sequels and showed up with a pair of Requests. The more recent was when she found out how much those Shunyata power cables cost. Hard to blame her.

**ADCO** · October 29, 2020, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by BobK

I have the Innuos Zenith MK III and love it. I'm using it as a Roon Core w/ a 2TB SSD for storage, and separate HD for backup. Ripping was super easy...no comparison to dbPoweramp and transferring files to my Qnap...saved my sanity with classical recordings. Sounds great to me...but I don't play in the same sandbox as a lot of people here. Really simplified my digital audio and can't recommend it highly enough.

I’m in the exact same situation for about the same time. I also use the isolated ethernet output on the Innuos and have used the USB outlet as well....
I had a rather catastrophic self inflicted problem with mine and if there was any question about the companies support I can tell you it’s the best I have received from any audio based company going on 30 years now.
The sound is excellent , Roon is a champ.... not sure what else to say other than it’s an excellent and well engineered product. Highly recommended

**CPP** · October 30, 2020, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by Benko

Thanks everyone for their replies.

Quick question because I am totally new to digital audio: I assume when I rip CDs I can add comments e.g. singer/songwriter or Beethoven symphony to help me search when I want to play back?

THanks.

Budget ??

**AThrillOfHope** · September 28, 2021, 12:18 AM

Okay, old thread.

Mike—do you recommend:

1) The A30 with built-in DAC, OR
2) the “Non-DAC” Aurender units coupled with a DAC?

If #2, then I believe you like the MSB line like the Reference, correct?

So, if true, the question is: Aurender N series with MSB (or other DAC) or A-series if the key is sound quality?

Originally Posted by Mike

The sound really improves as you move up the line. The ACS10, ACS100, A10, A30 all have different functions from the N100H, N10, N20, N30 (coming soon), W20SE. ACS stands for Aurender Content Server. It’s meant to replace a NAS. Ripping capabilities built in. The N series is the series for those with DAC’s already. The A series is all in one - with DAC, with the A30 being a superb true all in one, with ripping!

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**4N6** · September 28, 2021, 02:01 PM

Anyone have experience with the Auralic Aries G1 or G2.1 streamers? The G2.1 can have 2TB of SSD storage and is Roon compatible.

**Mike** · September 28, 2021, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by AThrillOfHope

Okay, old thread.

Mike—do you recommend:

1) The A30 with built-in DAC, OR
2) the “Non-DAC” Aurender units coupled with a DAC?

If #2, then I believe you like the MSB line like the Reference, correct?

So, if true, the question is: Aurender N series with MSB (or other DAC) or A-series if the key is sound quality?

Aurender + MSB is a match made in Heaven!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**Mr Peabody** · September 28, 2021, 03:33 PM

My friend tried a G1 vs his computer and ended up buying the G2. He uses Roon thogh so he doesn't have to deal with Auralic's app. If it's the harddrive feature you like have you looked at Aurender's ACS models? I have not used Auralic in my system but my ACS10 was so much better than the NAD M50.2 the price diference was easily worth it to me.

Originally Posted by 4N6

Anyone have experience with the Auralic Aries G1 or G2.1 streamers? The G2.1 can have 2TB of SSD storage and is Roon compatible.

**Jack** · September 28, 2021, 07:38 PM

I've owned four Auralic streamers including to G!'s and they are a very good product comparable to any of the other models mentioned in this thread. I think there app works great or I wouldn't keep buying new models. So my opinion is based on actually owning the products and not reading about them or repeating something I was told by someone I know. If you're in the US and want to find out if the Auralic models will work for you then take advantage of the trial period at Audio Advisor or other similar dealers and find out for yourself. All four of the major streamer companies make good products and you have to decide which features and app works for you.

**Ricky64** · September 28, 2021, 11:52 PM

Bill Parrish at GTT Audio is a trusted source, and he thinks very highly of using the Auralic G2 as a Roon Endpoint. Personally, I purchased a Grimm MU1 so that I could have a plug and play Roon interface with improved sonics and volume control.

**alfa100** · August 31, 2022, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Aurender + MSB is a match made in Heaven!

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True!!! I have that combination.

Thread: Seeking music server recommendation: aurender vs Innuos vs other