Melco v Aurender

[PhilP]

I have had time to use Aurender X100 (not N100) and own the Melco N1A which I'm very familiar with. Two thoughts about the N1A that I don't need a comparison to keep in mind, 1. the N1A allows user to mirror the drives just like most 2+ bay NAS. When a N1A drive goes bad (and all drives eventually do whether SSD or HDD), user swaps in a new one making exact re-mirroring easy. 2. As Andrew Everard/Paul Miller reported in their N1A review, it matters most how one connects N1A into their system. Since day one I use my N1A connected USB to D120 with only a modem for iPad communication with app. I have nothing else on my home network and never use this network connected to internet. Sounds best that way. The Aurenders are fine devices. The Melco is easier to use as setup and adjustments are made via front panel button pushes for most part. SQ comes down to personal preference, but they are both very good in this price range. I've been an audio bug since early 1970's serving in US Army overseas and forty years since have owned much more expensive systems than my present downsize/senior living system - so no neophyte in this hobby. I have no doubt there will be better players in years to come. I do not miss my expensive turntable setups, my Esoteric disc player or my Lumin A1 Network Player from past.

Interesting post Bob. From SQ and usability perspectives I'm sure you're right that it often comes down to personal taste and you make a very good point about the robustness of the Melco solution in comparison to the Aurender to which HDDs were only added to the N100 as an afterthought (as apparently many users had problems setting it up with AMM) and there is no disk mirroring. Nowadays though it's pretty easy to back up the Aurenders to external USB drives. Apparently it does require a trip back to a dealer if you need to have a HDD replaced and formatted - though I did read that Aurender can do this for you remotely.