The N100 Owners Thread

madfloyd said:
What do you mean by beta PC software? Software for controlling it (versus an iPad)? What were you using before?

I'm wondering if there's any sonic benefit of an Aurender over a CAPS running JRiver. Because if there aren't any, I can only see downsides.
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He means the Aurender Music Manager (AMM) software (think: similar to minimserver for the Lumin). The AMM software is in beta testing for Windows. The Mac version works perfectly and has been out for a while.

As for the benefit, I can think of many. First, the Aurender iPad app is excellent - just like the Lumin app. Second, you have a device that is purposely built for high end audio. It also looks like it belongs on your system. My Aurender has never crashed, stopped working, etc. My CAPS did. Frankly, I just don't like using a computer modified for audio in my system. I prefer to use a device purposely built and supported for audio.

YMMV.
 
Mike, if the Aurender App is anything like the Lumin App then it is subpar to JRemote. Not even close. That Lumin app is poorly designed and BUGGY.

My CAPS server has never crashed in the 3 or 4 years that I've had it. You can fully customize JRiver and JRemote. JRiver allows options like room correction if you need it.

My CAPS server looks like a piece of audio equipment and not a PC. It is also dead silent.

In any case, if anyone has compared the Aurender to a CAPS from a sonic perspective, I'd love to hear about it.
 
Ian - we will agree to disagree. I had the CAPS V2 with Red Wine Power Supply. I much prefer using a Lumin/Aurender type product.

YMMV.
 
After a month of fully breaking in my new Aurender N100, and as much as I hate to do it, I think I'm going to have to go back to my fully optimized 2009 Mac Mini with custom power supply. Seems when I use the Devialet Air Ethernet connection with the Mac Mini, I am getting slightly better sound quality versus the Aurender N100 via USB into the Devialet. The Devialet Air Ethernet connection is very stable (others have reported problems/bugs) and I'm using Audirvana + from the Mac Mini. Audirvana + seems a little better than Amarra and both are definitely better than the Aurender USB. Both Mac and Aurender were being fed by my QNAP NAS. Simply amazing sound with the Air Ethernet from Devialet. Much more detail and definitely larger sound stage. If I use USB from the Mac Mini, then it's pretty close in sound quality so it's definitely something to do with the connection of Air Ethernet vs USB with the Devialet.

However, the Aurender absolutely destroys the Mac Mini in it's ease of use and user interface. So nice having the iPad app and Tidal integration (for casual listening) as well. Oh well....just can't live with giving up that sound quality.

By the way, I've tried a bunch of different USB, power, and ethernet cables, but the results are always the same.

Going to list it on the site for sale later today if anyone is interested. Bummer.
 
madfloyd said:
I'm wondering if there's any sonic benefit of an Aurender over a CAPS running JRiver. Because if there aren't any, I can only see downsides.
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Ian,

What downsides would these be?
For what it's worth, we've used Aurender in two of our three rooms at Newport, and it was rock solid. Not a single crash. And I was loading more music all through the event, via network!
Personally, I don't like the UI for the Aurender app. Too busy, and the color scheme is also not to my liking. BUT it's rock solid, and fairly intuitive. Again, completely personal, but I prefer the look of the Auralic Lightning DS app.
I do agree that JRemote is a great UI, but JRiver itself isn't.
I've never compared a CAPS to any of the streamers. But the Auralic Aries beat a Mac laptop+Audirvana Plus handily.


alex
 
That might suggest noise on the LAN.

I have N100 and have used 2x TP Link fibre media converters (very cheap solution) to make a totally isolated fibre connection to the Aurender.

Also the TotalDAC USB Filter (it's not just a cable) made a big improvement = now with this combination it sounds seriously analogue, 3D and smooth.

I would be amazed if you preferred a computer over how mine sounds, but obviously I do not question your experience or ears, just trying to throw in a few ideas.

With kind regards.

Foggy916 said:
After a month of fully breaking in my new Aurender N100, and as much as I hate to do it, I think I'm going to have to go back to my fully optimized 2009 Mac Mini with custom power supply. Seems when I use the Devialet Air Ethernet connection with the Mac Mini, I am getting slightly better sound quality versus the Aurender N100 via USB into the Devialet. The Devialet Air Ethernet connection is very stable (others have reported problems/bugs) and I'm using Audirvana + from the Mac Mini. Audirvana + seems a little better than Amarra and both are definitely better than the Aurender USB. Both Mac and Aurender were being fed by my QNAP NAS. Simply amazing sound with the Air Ethernet from Devialet. Much more detail and definitely larger sound stage. If I use USB from the Mac Mini, then it's pretty close in sound quality so it's definitely something to do with the connection of Air Ethernet vs USB with the Devialet.

However, the Aurender absolutely destroys the Mac Mini in it's ease of use and user interface. So nice having the iPad app and Tidal integration (for casual listening) as well. Oh well....just can't live with giving up that sound quality.

By the way, I've tried a bunch of different USB, power, and ethernet cables, but the results are always the same.

Going to list it on the site for sale later today if anyone is interested. Bummer.
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rww said:
That might suggest noise on the LAN.

I have N100 and have used 2x TP Link fibre media converters (very cheap solution) to make a totally isolated fibre connection to the Aurender.

Also the TotalDAC USB Filter (it's not just a cable) made a big improvement = now with this combination it sounds seriously analogue, 3D and smooth.

I would be amazed if you preferred a computer over how mine sounds, but obviously I do not question your experience or ears, just trying to throw in a few ideas.

With kind regards.
Click to expand...

Would you mind posting the specifics here? What brand/model of fibre media converter. Single or multi mode for example. What fiber cable you are using. And if possible, a specific hookup diagram. This is a very interesting idea. I would be interested to try it.
 
Mike said:
Would you mind posting the specifics here? What brand/model of fibre media converter. Single or multi mode for example. What fiber cable you are using. And if possible, a specific hookup diagram. This is a very interesting idea. I would be interested to try it.
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+1
 
Mike said:
Would you mind posting the specifics here? What brand/model of fibre media converter. Single or multi mode for example. What fiber cable you are using. And if possible, a specific hookup diagram. This is a very interesting idea. I would be interested to try it.
Click to expand...

Network Isolation - Page 7

This how I learned about it... all the credit goes to the guys on the above thread, note that the quality of the PSU on the N100 end of the fibre network NEEDS to be linear & regulated for the biggest improvement.

I can't beleive such a 'cheap as chips' solution (less than £100) makes such a big improvement.

Coupled with the: totaldac USB cable (expensive but absolutely worth it) - and you will be enveloped in music.

I have learned that digital is about noise management, as in, 0s & 1s alone is what you want.


(I am using the N100 (no onboard HD) with a QNAP 253 NAS & Auralic VEGA DAC knitted together with the above)
 
Sorry if this is a dumb question but would going with the N100H that has it's own internal storage (no need for a NAS) be the better solution to avoid possible noise on the LAN? I've got a sale pending on my N100 and was willing to maybe try the N100H if it might improve things. Again, I absolutely would love to be able to get away from the Mac Mini (and even my NAS) and take advantage of the user interface of the Aurender. Even if I could get the SQ to be equal between the two, I would still be willing to go with the Aurender.
 
The N100 would still need the LAN connection to remote control it, and I think it ought to sound better without a local hard drive inside it - that's why I went the NAS route.

The file is copied from the NAS to the N100 at the time it is added to the queue so the NAS does affect streaming quality (the file is not streamed externally from the NAS - it's streamed from the locally copied file on the N100's 1TB SSD)

Foggy916 said:
Sorry if this is a dumb question but would going with the N100H that has it's own internal storage (no need for a NAS) be the better solution to avoid possible noise on the LAN? I've got a sale pending on my N100 and was willing to maybe try the N100H if it might improve things. Again, I absolutely would love to be able to get away from the Mac Mini (and even my NAS) and take advantage of the user interface of the Aurender. Even if I could get the SQ to be equal between the two, I would still be willing to go with the Aurender.
Click to expand...
 
"The file is copied from the NAS to the N100 at the time it is added to the queue so the NAS does affect streaming quality (the file is not streamed externally from the NAS - it's streamed from the locally copied file on the N100's 1TB SSD)"

Is the only way to get the music onto the HD in the H model via LAN? And that process would add noise to the files, affecting later play back? And is 'streaming' the a correct description of moving data from one HD (storage) to the other (buffering) and considering the file being played is contained on the buffering HD? Obviously, I am not understanding something important here. Foggy was asking about the H model while your comment speaks to a NAS, which I didn't understand to be required of the H model.
 
You can also copy your library via USB to the internal HDD (H model) or SSD (S model) - depending on what firmware version you are on.

Before hooking up my NAS I was using USB and playing files directly from a flash drive.

There are some who believe that because Aurender cleverly copy to (it is not possible to degrade or add noise by copying the file) and stream the copied files from the internal SSD, the system ought to work optimally in terms of SQ by not having another internal drive holding the library. If you have an additional internal HDD or SSD it can be more convenient in terms of library management, but I'm happy to use AMM for library management in order to gain any 'potential' SQ improvement by not having an extra internal HDD or SSD fitted.

Regardless of the above, if you are remotely controlling the Aurender via a tablet, computer or phone, you still need a LAN cable attached... and trust me, your LAN will quite probably be riddled with noise that will leach in and spoil the party. Optically isolating the LAN should be seriously considered - because it costs peanuts and is relatively simple to accomplish.


with kind regards.

;-)



Smile said:
"The file is copied from the NAS to the N100 at the time it is added to the queue so the NAS does affect streaming quality (the file is not streamed externally from the NAS - it's streamed from the locally copied file on the N100's 1TB SSD)"

Is the only way to get the music onto the HD in the H model via LAN? And that process would add noise to the files, affecting later play back? And is 'streaming' the a correct description of moving data from one HD (storage) to the other (buffering) and considering the file being played is contained on the buffering HD? Obviously, I am not understanding something important here. Foggy was asking about the H model while your comment speaks to a NAS, which I didn't understand to be required of the H model.
Click to expand...
 
Hooked up an UpTone Amber in between and Aurender N100S and The Modwright Oppo Dac and took it to another level. For 175.00 best bang for the buck I have ever spent on Audio. Highly recommended!!

Russ
 
Thanks for this info.

The totaldac filter was a good improvement, so I will probably get a regen to try given the price. I had heard that regen does nothing for the new aurenders, due to them having a very good usb circuit so you have answered a question I had raised on another forum.

[edit] I've ordered one, for the sake such a small amount of coin, It's worth seeing if I get a similar result (although the TotalDac filter will already be doing a lot of cleaning).

russellbobby said:
Hooked up an UpTone Amber in between and Aurender N100S and The Modwright Oppo Dac and took it to another level. For 175.00 best bang for the buck I have ever spent on Audio. Highly recommended!!

Russ
Click to expand...
 
rww said:
Thanks for this info.

The totaldac filter was a good improvement, so I will probably get a regen to try given the price. I had heard that regen does nothing for the new aurenders, due to them having a very good usb circuit so you have answered a question I had raised on another forum.

[edit] I've ordered one, for the sake such a small amount of coin, It's worth seeing if I get a similar result (although the TotalDac filter will already be doing a lot of cleaning).
Click to expand...
Nothing further from the truth. You will notice a huge improvement. The Bass will be the most defined you ever heard in your system. I instrument separation will improve. You will hear harmonizing with distinctive voices and think WTF. It's a no brainer.
 
russellbobby said:
Nothing further from the truth. You will notice a huge improvement. The Bass will be the most defined you ever heard in your system. I instrument separation will improve. You will hear harmonizing with distinctive voices and think WTF. It's a no brainer.
Click to expand...

Hope so... TBH the system sounds so good now that it's almost unimaginable to expect much more.

;-)
 
OK, you sold me as well. The Aurender is already such a good piece--I'm floored with it as it continues to burn in. Its hard to describe whats happening with a transport but I'm just getting solidity and PRaT and an even more organic flow that is just fantastic. The user interface is great and I tried Tidal last night and the Aurender makes streaming music fantastic.

If that little Regen makes the N100H any better, its a no friggin brainer for the coin.
 
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