Aurender A30

[Mike]

I decided to get the Aurender A30 for the store. This is a superb “all-in-one” digital hub that I’ve had my eye on since I first got to demo it in April.

Many of my clients as asking for something that has a CD ripper built in, streams, etc. A one box solution if you will.

The Aurender A30 has:

- A GORGEOUS full color screen
- A superb DAC in it (AKM’s latest chipset at the time - 4497). It has a CD ripper.
- It has 10TB of storage.
- It has a slew of digital inputs (for connecting say a CD Transport).
- It has two USB inputs for additional storage.
- It has network connectivity and
- It has a USB Digital Output (dedicated for audio), so if you want to use an external DAC, you can. This last bit, is key.

How good is the USB digital output on the A30? “Better than the N10 and very close to the W20SE”, according to Aurender. Although the W20SE has some other bells and whistles to keep it as Aurender’s Premier computer audio transport. But the A30 comes close and has a ripper, more storage and a DAC.

The reviews and rewards for the A30 are piling in. Check it out.

[u-sound]

- It has a USB Digital Output (dedicated for audio), so if you want to use an external DAC, you can. This last bit, is key.

so would you say actually it needs an external dac to really shine?
btw a beautiful and very interesting machine. well i think it would be interesting as a one box solution.

[Mike]

so would you say actually it needs an external dac to really shine?
btw a beautiful and very interesting machine. well i think it would be interesting as a one box solution.

No, it has a dual mono AKM4497 chipset which is used in some very expensive stand alone DAC’s today.

The USB Output is for the person who says “but one day, what if I want to try another DAC?” You’re not “stuck” with the DAC in it. It’s a superb DAC chipset today, but in 5 years, the user may want to try another DAC and they can keep the ripper/streamer part. Very flexible.


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[u-sound]

thx.
just wondering how much more expensive it would be to equal same sq with seperate units, cables, racks etc

[Mike]

thx.
just wondering how much more expensive it would be to equal same sq with seperate units, cables, racks etc

The issue for my clients, many seek out a ripping solution with the true “one box solution.”


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[joeinid]

The A30 looks seriously awesome.

[Audio 1]

The A30 is such a beautiful design and so well executed with every detail addressed.

[Mike]

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[joeinid]

Beautiful!

[kzhtoo]

This is by far the best looking Aurender product.

[Mike]

The sound is shockingly good and the ripping is awesome. Aurender A30 has its own app.


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[rrwmd]

Looks incredible in black too!



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[myjazz123]

Mike, if possible, can you tell, how the sound compares with lumin x1, luxman-d08u, esoteric k-01x?. Is that close to these levels?
Thanks.

[Penthouse-D]

Agreed. Far more attractive than my ACS10 and any other model I've seen. Even the box is nicer!

[Mike]

Mike, if possible, can you tell, how the sound compares with lumin x1, luxman-d08u, esoteric k-01x?. Is that close to these levels?
Thanks.

To my ears, it far surpasses the Esoteric K-01x. I keep thinking to myself, “it’s the same chip, but such a better sound.” It has the Aurender “fullness” and “smoothness” characteristics, without any loss of detail. The Luxman D-08u is still, to my ears, very very analog like. Too bad it’s now retired. It truly could trick someone into thinking you were playing vinyl. The Lumin X1 is also, a champion and worthy of all the accolades. It has the toe tapping musicality one has come to expect Lumin while having incredible instrument separation.

The A30’s huge screen, ripping capabilities, storage, etc. are just added bonuses to a phenomenal sounding piece, with loads of flexibility due to its digital inputs and outputs.

Boy, are we in the golden age of digital or what?


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[UltraFast69]

To my ears, it far surpasses the Esoteric K-01x. I keep thinking to myself, “it’s the same chip, but such a better sound.” It has the Aurender “fullness” and “smoothness” characteristics, without any loss of detail. The Luxman D-08u is still, to my ears, very very analog like. Too bad it’s now retired. It truly could trick someone into thinking you were playing vinyl. The Lumin X1 is also, a champion and worthy of all the accolades. It has the toe tapping musicality one has come to expect Lumin while having incredible instrument separation.

The A30’s huge screen, ripping capabilities, storage, etc. are just added bonuses to a phenomenal sounding piece, with loads of flexibility due to its digital inputs and outputs.

Boy, are we in the golden age of digital or what?


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Digital, what’s that? The numbers on your wrist


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[nicoludio]

To my ears, it far surpasses the Esoteric K-01x. I keep thinking to myself, “it’s the same chip, but such a better sound.” It has the Aurender “fullness” and “smoothness” characteristics, without any loss of detail. The Luxman D-08u is still, to my ears, very very analog like. Too bad it’s now retired. It truly could trick someone into thinking you were playing vinyl. The Lumin X1 is also, a champion and worthy of all the accolades. It has the toe tapping musicality one has come to expect Lumin while having incredible instrument separation.

The A30’s huge screen, ripping capabilities, storage, etc. are just added bonuses to a phenomenal sounding piece, with loads of flexibility due to its digital inputs and outputs.

Boy, are we in the golden age of digital or what?


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Would be interesting to hear about how the Aqua Formula XHD figures in this lineup.

[Ritmo]

Nice looking and sounding piece. I saw it at AXPONA last year and at Mike’s store yesterday. It is a well thought out solution to rip, store and play music. Furthermore, it really simplifies setting up and using a digital music solution for those that are not tech savvy.

[Mike]

The screen on this A30 is just beautiful.


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[GSOphile]

To my ears, it far surpasses the Esoteric K-01x. I keep thinking to myself, “it’s the same chip, but such a better sound.” It has the Aurender “fullness” and “smoothness” characteristics, without any loss of detail. The Luxman D-08u is still, to my ears, very very analog like. Too bad it’s now retired. It truly could trick someone into thinking you were playing vinyl. The Lumin X1 is also, a champion and worthy of all the accolades. It has the toe tapping musicality one has come to expect Lumin while having incredible instrument separation.

The A30’s huge screen, ripping capabilities, storage, etc. are just added bonuses to a phenomenal sounding piece, with loads of flexibility due to its digital inputs and outputs.

Boy, are we in the golden age of digital or what?


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Actually, I believe the A30 uses the same chip as Esoteric's newer K1/K-01Xs/K-03Xs.
Also, Mike, any word on the US availability on the recently announced (at least in Asia) Luxman D-08u's replacement, the D-10X?

[Mike]

Actually, I believe the A30 uses the same chip as Esoteric's newer K1/K-01Xs/K-03Xs.
Also, Mike, any word on the US availability on the recently announced (at least in Asia) Luxman D-08u's replacement, the D-10X?

You are correct. The first production run for the new Luxman D-10x is scheduled for February 5th with QC after that. So shipping end of Feb.


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[dznutz]

Hey Mike,

You ever considered the Cocktail X45pro? Same fit and finish as the A30 with all the same features but at 1/3 the price

[Mike]

Hey Mike,

You ever considered the Cocktail X45pro? Same fit and finish as the A30 with all the same features but at 1/3 the price

Yes, I’m aware of them, just not on my radar. Lumin and Aurender are tops in my books.


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[Mike]

Cocktail Audio Inside:



Aurender A30 inside:




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[dznutz]

Understood, I could go into detail as I have owned a couple Aurenders and just about everything from Lumin. All Ill say is that no one should bypass the Cocktail products.

No argument on the interior photos, but we are comparing a $6500 product to a $18,000 product. Im sure for another $1K Cocktail could partition the interior better.

[Mike]

Understood, I could go into detail as I have owned a couple Aurenders and just about everything from Lumin. All Ill say is that no one should bypass the Cocktail products.

No argument on the interior photos, but we are comparing a $6500 product to a $18,000 product. Im sure for another $1K Cocktail could partition the interior better.

I’m sure it’s fine, but as you can see, you get what you pay for. Also, I look at it from a different perspective. Let’s just say, their distributor (who recently dropped Cocktail) and in particular, my rep, weren’t overly enthusiastic about their stuff.

I also try to carry the best stuff in general. There are lots of other products out there as you know. Many cheaper. But I have to look at the whole picture: brand quality, the company behind it, reliability, build quality, and most importantly, sound.


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[Calvin]

The A30 is a beauty to behold. The inside photo of it above is impressive. I'm sure it will play even better than it looks.

[sb6]

Would be interesting to hear about how the Aqua Formula XHD figures in this lineup.

I had the Esoteric K-03 and the Formula before the xHD or analog board upgrade and there simply was no comparison. The Aqua was significantly more realistic. I did a write up at WBF a while back on this. Now with the xHD upgrade + analog module upgrade the delta would be very, very significant IMO.

[Mike]

Picked up the Nimbie loader from Amazon. Plugged it into the A30, loaded the discs and it worked like a charm!

I’ve also got a special order ACS10 on order. A whopping 28TB model!


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[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum.

I had the Esoteric K-03 and the Formula before the xHD or analog board upgrade and there simply was no comparison. The Aqua was significantly more realistic. I did a write up at WBF a while back on this. Now with the xHD upgrade + analog module upgrade the delta would be very, very significant IMO.

[DeadHead]

The name of this manufacturer forum should be changed. The A30 is certainly not dacless. What a truly amazing product. In my opinion, it a “bargain” considering all it does, especially functioning as a wonderful digital preamp. I know this concept is sacrilege to some, but I am beyond ecstatic. I did not think I could ever attain this level of detail AND smoothness coming out of my speakers.


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