03-Jul-2015, 11:54
(This post was last modified: 03-Jul-2015, 18:09 by GuillaumeB.)
You lot are a demanding bunch aren't you? 
Anyway these tests become impossible if you throw in too many variables. I think we keep things simple and we just compare the Aurender to the Melco.
I've never doubted that AIR sounds great, in fact in my last big shootout I pointed out that AIR was the elephant in the room; it actually sounded better than some of the other streamers!
However as Confused has correctly pointed out (and if we put the AIR reliability issues to one side for a second) it becomes more about personal preferences/usability (Confused: you like the iTunes interface, with track ratings etc right?). In my case I like to use an iPad running a simple IOS app to play music without worrying about computers. Yes I know there are computers in the QNAP and totaldac d1 but they are "always on" and difficult to fiddle with without using a computer browser to access their operating systems, plus the one in the totaldac is highly optimised for audio, you certainly can't use it to check your emails. I'm also highly suspicious of Mac and PCs in the audio chain, particularly plain vanilla ones; I know the ones used by for example Antoine and completeluxury are a completely different kettle of fish. After hearing Gentleman's prototype 4 chassis streamer in Sweden I can most definitely attest to this!
However given that I don't have the technical know-how and expertise to build my own 2 or 4 box computer what I'm looking for is the perfect streamer/storage device.
I'm also not convinced by the sound quality of online streaming in my system - sorry PhilP. Yes Qobuz is much better than Tidal but it's still a long way off the sound you get from, say the Melco N1Z running a FLAC file, which quite frankly is the best I've heard to date. Period. I honestly think that if 80% or more of your listening is Qobuz or Tidal then the Melco is surplus to requirements; it is after all a highly optimised NAS.
Oh boy we're digressing... just Melco v Aurender ok?
Guillaume
Anyway these tests become impossible if you throw in too many variables. I think we keep things simple and we just compare the Aurender to the Melco.
I've never doubted that AIR sounds great, in fact in my last big shootout I pointed out that AIR was the elephant in the room; it actually sounded better than some of the other streamers!
However as Confused has correctly pointed out (and if we put the AIR reliability issues to one side for a second) it becomes more about personal preferences/usability (Confused: you like the iTunes interface, with track ratings etc right?). In my case I like to use an iPad running a simple IOS app to play music without worrying about computers. Yes I know there are computers in the QNAP and totaldac d1 but they are "always on" and difficult to fiddle with without using a computer browser to access their operating systems, plus the one in the totaldac is highly optimised for audio, you certainly can't use it to check your emails. I'm also highly suspicious of Mac and PCs in the audio chain, particularly plain vanilla ones; I know the ones used by for example Antoine and completeluxury are a completely different kettle of fish. After hearing Gentleman's prototype 4 chassis streamer in Sweden I can most definitely attest to this!
However given that I don't have the technical know-how and expertise to build my own 2 or 4 box computer what I'm looking for is the perfect streamer/storage device.
I'm also not convinced by the sound quality of online streaming in my system - sorry PhilP. Yes Qobuz is much better than Tidal but it's still a long way off the sound you get from, say the Melco N1Z running a FLAC file, which quite frankly is the best I've heard to date. Period. I honestly think that if 80% or more of your listening is Qobuz or Tidal then the Melco is surplus to requirements; it is after all a highly optimised NAS.
Oh boy we're digressing... just Melco v Aurender ok?
Guillaume
Industry disclosure: UK distributor for Shunyata Research
220 PRO, totaldac d1 server with additional external power supply, totaldac d1-seven, Echole PSU for Totaldac, Wilson Audio Sasha 2, Shunyata Research cables, Shunyata Hydra Alpha A10 + DPC-6 v3, Various Entreq ground boxes and cables, Entreq Athena level 3 rack, 2 X SOtM sNH-10G with sCLK-EX + 10MHz Master Clock input + sPS-500 PSU, i5 sonicTransporter w/ 1TB SSD
UK
