Aurender N20 Ultra High Performance digital output network transport Review

Performance overlap

The lineup of Aurender’s digital transports is interesting in that the A20 incorporates the functionality of three devices, preamp, DAC, and streamer/file server at an MSRP of $15K, while the N20 is nearly as much at $12,500 but is a dedicated streaming and file playback device. As with the A20, slots in the rear are provided for up to two 2.5” HDD or SSD drives, which are user installable. It also has USB 3.0 and NAS share connectivity which allows for a NAS, USB hard drive, or thumb drive to be connected to play local files. The online discussion of the N20 and the word from Ari is the best playback quality is achieved through using the internal storage. I reviewed the A20 solely as a streaming device and will treat the N20 similarly here.

I can imagine critical analysis of this juxtaposition of components from two different audiophile perspectives. Those who wish to economize might think that they would be overpaying for the N20 when the A20 gives so much more in terms of functionality and system setup flexibility. Conversely, those who know the power of separates to potentially build a much more capable system might feel the N20 is priced high for being only a streamer/file playback device. Both perspectives fail to appreciate these components’ performance spectrums.

In real world usage, performance of sibling products of the same genre is not fixed, but ranges. The performance ranges of the A20 and the N20 overlap, with the A20 occupying the part of the performance spectrum that starts lower and does not reach as high as the N20. Due to its flexibility, many systems can be built with the A20 and thus it has potential for more iterations of sound within its performance limits. The N20, as a dedicated streamer/file server, does not have as many iterations for systems within its performance spectrum, but that spectrum essentially begins at the upper end of the A20’s performance range.

One of my colleagues commented on the disparity of functions and price, “Why would anyone buy an A20 if they can get better sound from combining a cheap DAC with the N20?” The simplest answer is that the hobbyist may not wish to spend several thousand beyond the cost of the N20 to make the investment in a dedicated streaming unit worthwhile. The audiophile concerned about total system cost should pay attention to the A20. The audiophile less constrained by budget and committed to very high-quality digital playback should consider the N20. The N20 has no attenuation, so a preamp or volume control in some form is needed. The most likely solutions would be as follows; 1. An integrated DAC with preamp/volume control, and dedicated amplifier(s), 2. Dedicated DAC, preamplifier, and amplifier(s), or 3. A DAC and integrated amplifier. In reviewing, I have built iterations of systems using all those configurations. While I do not build all these configurations for every component reviewed, I have built enough of them with the same equipment over time that I have found consistencies in performance, the most consistent outcome being that quality of components usually trumps configuration of the system. Usually, a system comprised of fine components regardless of configuration outperforms an affordable system regardless of configuration. Rarely does a budget component consistently outperform higher end gear across a variety of systems.

Many are the claims that this or that affordable component is a giant killer, but it is usually an inflated claim that is proven wrong when many systems of different configurations are built comparing the affordable component against an upscale component of the same type. For example, over the years the appealing and affordable Eastern Electric Minimax Tube DAC Supreme, like dozens of other named giant killers, when compared in many systems, has not toppled DACs such as the COS Engineering D1. Likewise, you will read below about an instance where the Exogal Comet DAC outperforms the COS Engineering DAC, but that is rare. It takes several iterations of systems to find one where the Comet is clearly superior.

The myth dies hard

The myth of incredible sound on the cheap dies hard. When put to the test in actual system building the inexpensive component usually loses. The best systems are most often built with the best and usually more expensive equipment. Many believe their economical gear would outperform more expensive gear, but that is usually opinion versus demonstration. I have arrived at my conclusion through building hundreds of rigs with a wide range of equipment. If superior quality sound could be obtained with inexpensive gear, I would have quit reviewing expensive gear because there would be little incentive to spend my time with gear that would cost much more but sound the same. I would have concluded that chasing upper end gear was a waste of time. But the opposite occurred when I discovered that finer audio equipment is substantially better sounding than budget components. That is not to disdain the economical end of the spectrum. The entire community is hearing vastly improved sound over the standard from 30 years ago! Just as the lower-level equipment sounds better, so also the standard for SOTA (state-of-the-art) has also been elevated. It is easy to demonstrate when products from 30, or even 20, years ago are compared side by side to similar current products — if those same products existed back then! Streamers and servers were not common components, but it would pertain to amps, cables, or speakers.

How does that apply to the notion of pairing a budget, giant killer DAC with the N20? Achieving the necessary outboard attenuation through commensurately high-quality separates would add substantially to the cost of using the N20. If the audiophile does not wish to spend that much, then the A20 is an excellent solution. If the N20 was paired with an inexpensive DAC, my system building experience is that it would not achieve the sound quality of pairing it with an elite DAC. The owner of the N20 would spend a great deal of money for a specialized product but not take full advantage of it. Does one buy a high-performance sports car to drive in a mundane fashion? One does not buy an N20 to get chintzy but to reach for the moon in terms of sound quality. That necessitates putting many more dollars into the system for a higher caliber set of components and cables to compliment the N20. Would the N20 elevate a more pedestrian rig? Yes, almost assuredly. Adding a more upscale component to any affordable system usually enhances the performance. One would hope that upgrading might continue to bring the entire system to the same performance level, being elevated with the introduction of each better component or cable. I remember back to when I was a budget audiophile and would hear dealers talk like that. I thought they were just selling, but they were right. I found out through handling gear in reviewing.

A one box component like the A20 obviates the question “Did I build the rig right?” When assembling a traditional system of several components, given the field of available products there are at a minimum hundreds of configurations of systems possible. If that is an overwhelming thought, then why go there? Get the A20 and be done. Persons who identify as Music Lovers will likely find that conclusion appealing. Let the nerds twiddle with the rig forever, but the music lover can buy a quality setup and plow more into the media of their choice, usually vinyl. But do not delude yourself that you have secretly outdone the N20 and a manifestly better system.

If one wishes to have a digital front end that competes with the better analogue setups, they will have to spend a lot of money. Fantastic digital is not cheap. Especially in comparison with analogue, you will not typically get a digital source that will be beguiling, i.e., to draw you toward listening to it often, if you don’t put serious money into it (i.e., $5-10K minimum; I am not interested in debating this point) If the digital source will always be secondary, then a component like the A20 would be a smart solution. As I have eschewed vinyl, the digital source is critical to me, and I continue to pursue a higher-end result.

As an aside, I thought that I would sorely miss the hardware remote from the A20, but the software interface is excellent and since many DACs such as the Exogal Comet and COS Engineering D1 are integrated, I can use each unit’s remote control to manage the listening level. Using the DACs volume control avoided the Aurender app’s slower volume control, so mild frustration was avoided by using my Samsung tablet for music selection and the DAC’s volume control.

As digital music has matured in terms of both the music services and streaming and file playback equipment, it has reached the level of quality that I am unashamed to use it as my source for listening while reviewing. I pay little attention to whether a song is streamed or played back from a file. There is so much variability in the providence of each recording that unless one is working with only a couple music labels, the final rendering of streaming or file is fairly an inscrutable factor. Add to that the large degree of difference in sound quality resulting from specific pairings of equipment and it becomes a chasing after rainbows to think one will find the ultimate playback for all recordings. Literally, the audiophile would have to change the format, settings, and system for each song for that to occur. I am not interested in making my life an obsessive-compulsive hell in the process of achieving the best playback of all my music. Obtaining superb results for all the music is good enough.

Thankfully, the sound quality with the N20 is so good that I have let go of most of my system anxiety, that is, the hyper-critical analysis of the sound from track to track. I can appreciate the unique characteristics of each system I build and the idiosyncrasies of the different genres of speakers I use without annoyance at there being some aspect I consider deficient. That speaks volumes about the excellence of the N20. The better the sound of a rig holistically, the more relaxed I am when listening to it. The N20 puts me into a relaxed state when listening, which is one of the highest compliments I can give.