19-Mar-2015, 11:59
(17-Mar-2015, 10:45)Eddye Wrote: [ -> ]I've had the Aurender N100 on audition this past weekend. I picked it up at my local dealer last Friday. At that time the AMM app wasn't available for download, but stubborn as I am, I connected the N100 and switched it on. There really was no setup to do. It just connected to my network and within the Aurender Conductor app I could connect to my NAS and browse the folders and select the music files to play.
So that afternoon I started listening and was not impressed. It was bad, it really sounded a lot worse than my Macbook Pro with Audirvana.
Realizing the unit was brand-new I stuck with it for a few hours and after a short time it started to sound better. Pretty soon it was on par with my MBP/Audirvana setup and on Saturday it really sounded better than the MBP. The sound quality was still going up and down, but that is to be expected after only 10 hours or so playing. Saturday evening I really started comparing the MBP with the N100. It's not in the details or micro details that the N100 performes better, they are about the same, but the N100 is so very much better musically. Instruments sound more real and alive, there is a natural flow to the music that is very beautiful. This really is an audio component, not just a small computer that can play music files.
Sunday afternoon an Audio friend came over with some different power cables to try, and it was quite noticeable that the unit is still not played in properly. After switching power cables the S and F sounds were really obvious. Thinking this was the power cable we switch back, but the pronounced S's and F's were still there, only to disappear after about an hour or so. Throughout the Sunday the N100 kept playing very naturally, musically and really quite beautiful.
Friday evening I mailed Aurender the link to their Aurender Music Manager app wasn't working, and this was restored Saturday. So I installed AMM, selected the N100, selected the music share on my NAS and 5 minutes later the app was finished and the library was uploaded to the Aurender. That really makes controlling the N100 a pleasure with the Conductor iPad app. It as a lot of features and small things to work quickly. I find it very easy to use.
So, to finish this Audition, I just called my Dealer and told him I wouldn't be bringing this unit back.
Thanks for sharing this Eddye! And keep coming back with updates during and after the burn in.
It really looks like the N100 could be a very good upgrade for my Auralic Aries. A 3TB NAS I have already, so no need to go for a X100 (although the idea of having everything, including storage, in a high end package is tempting of course.....)
PS It would be nice to share your experiences also on the htforum.
