Aurender N20 – (Au-)Rende(r)z-vous with A Streamer
It's been some time since I listened to anything in my setup, so I was happy to accept Soundloft's offer to listen to an Aurender brand streamer in my own four walls.
The interested reader will be aware that there is a kind of hierarchy that applies to devices in terms of their impact on playback. A streamer (or streaming bridge) does not have as much influence on playback as a speaker, amplifier or D/A converter. Based on this hierarchy - and your own expectation management - I would recommend setting up the base correctly first before working with products such as a streamer without a DAC (or streaming bridge); the entire chain has to be right. Only then will you notice the differences that a streamer (bridge) can bring. Now the potential buyer of an Aurender N20 will have his system in order, I guess.
You shouldn't spend 12,900 euros on a streamer if issues like acoustics still need to be addressed. Or if you're not happy with your speakers, etc. But let's assume that everything is already correct. The character of the Aurender N20 is precise, detailed, complex and subtle compared to other streamers that I had in my system. When listening, it quickly becomes clear that Aurender has done its homework. This is reflected in its calmness and stability. The playlist comes clean and pure into the listening room. I tested 2 different DACs and what I noticed immediately is that the limiting factor is certainly not the Aurender. I connected the N20 with AES/EBU and USB to the DAC board of the Soulution Audio 330 INT amplifier.
The AES/EBU is from Mogami and the USB is from Cardas. I could imagine that an even better AES/EBU cable could make a difference here. But that was enough for the short test session. It was played via my Roon server, and I copied a small playlist onto an external SSD, which I could play directly. Music is available locally here, but I have compared it with Qobuz.
The Aurender has a built-in SSD, which is only used for caching the music (no access for your own), but it offers 2 slots for installing 2.5 inch SSDs up to 8 TB. I used my portable SSD on the USB port and then played the files directly. For convenience and because I couldn't find any added value in terms of sound, I ended up just playing with Roon.
What I like most about the Aurender is the audibility and the representation of the room, and I mean the room in the music and not my listening area. It is probably what is described in many reports as a "black" background. It is the air between instruments or the area where nothing can be heard that makes the difference. This makes the stage seem a little set back; you could also describe it as a little more reserved.
With the RS150 I have the feeling that there is a kind of imaginary demarcation in both depth and width. Of course the room still seems bigger than it actually is, but with the Aurender N20 this demarcation is missing and everything seems much more airy. Depending on the type of music, these differences are sometimes more or sometimes less noticeable. I found the differences to be greatest with classical music, but with electronic music they were less significant. They are audible, but in an A/B comparison not so obvious that you could speak of a "significantly better" sound.
Conclusion:
It showed me that a streamer (without a DAC) can very well have an influence on the overall picture, no matter how well the DAC does its job. The Aurender N20 sounds simply excellent. The overall picture is complete, perfectly traceable and lets you hear every sigh and every fiber of the artist. Provided, of course, that the rest of the system can pass it on. But on the other hand: In this class, it seems pretty obvious to me.
Curious people, shop talkers and eternal critics are welcome as visitors, just write to me. I'm always happy to have visitors from like-minded people. Have a good time, everyone, with lots of great music.
ASwiss / End of August 2024
