*NEW* Esoteric N-05XD

[Mr Peabody]

Wow, so the streamer and preamp sections are not used? A costly DAC.

I would certainly want to use all 3 elements - streamer, DAC and preamp - and would need the package to perform exceptionally well. I am using the NAD M66 at present, but it's not sound quality that's letting it down, but features that were present in my M33 that have mysteriously vanished from the further up-market M66. Why NAD are doing this is annoying to the extent I'm considering jumping ship to another brand.

The problem is finding a very good sound from a unit that offers the features I'm looking for. Perhaps the forthcoming NAD M33 V2 will be an overal improvement over the already exceptional M33 V1 that I still have. The V2 has an even better DAC than the one in V1 or M66 - the ESS Sabre ES9039PRO. I'm familiar and like the BluOS control app, particularly as it's available on all 4 main platforms, so no need for Roon.

Does the Aurender ACS10 also play CDs as well as ripping them? A while ago, I was looking for a single unit that would play or rip CDs and store FLAC files on internal twin 4 TB drives with streamer included too. Rare as hen's teeth, but I found this in the NAD M50.2. Now my collection of 1500 or so CDs are ripped and I have a streamer in the M66 (and M33), the M50.2 is now rather redundent and for sale. My music library is now held on a portable SSD drive connected to the M33 or M66 via USB and it works perfectly.

The ACS10 will not play CD's just rip. That is one cool feature of the 50.2.

Maybe this warrants a new thread. My opinion multi function units have a primary function or strength. My 526 is primarily a preamp, the N05xd primarily a DAC, etc. Not to say the N05xd isn't good in the other areas I just feel the DAC is primary. I wonder if there are units out there that are equally as good in all their, functions.

I was hoping the N05xd preamp would be close enough I could sell the 526. That isn't the case. Keep in mind the 526 is twice the money. However, the n05xd DAC is at least twice as much DAC as the one built-in to the 526. If I'm not mistaken I don't think MSB has a preamp I assume their digital playback functions as a very good preamp for them not to see a need.

I think you are fighting windmills waiting to stream with a remote. The industry doesn't seem to embrace your approach. An ap would be so much more cost effective.

 

[Hear Here]

So what features are you looking for? Just about everything out there now runs at least Spotify Connect and Qobuz Connect and sounds OK.

I'd like to see what's playing without having to power up a PC or fiddle around with a phone.

I like to power up my system with a single press of a button and start music playing (from a radio station, or Radio Paradise, or a Qobuz play queue, etc) using only the front panel screen, or the IR remote.

I wouldn't want to have 2 or more apps running to control music source, volume, etc. BluOS allows everything to be controlled from its app and this can be on Windows, or OS X, or iOS, or Android.

I don't want analogue sources, but very few streamer preamps offer digital only.

I wouldn't want to have to switch apps if I move from say Qobuz to Spotify for example

I don't believe the cable that improves sound has been invented (it never will be), so I like to rid my system of all cables apart from ones to be speaker - ideally! That's why I prefer all-in-ones, or certainly units that do more than a single job.

 

[Hear Here]

I think you are fighting windmills waiting to stream with a remote. The industry doesn't seem to embrace your approach. An ap would be so much more cost effective.

Not looking for that, but I do like to be able to start my system and play music from a number of sources (as described above) without having to fart around with an app!