Quote:
Originally Posted by jdandy
Dave.......Congratulations. Nothing like going for the gold. The Aurender W20 is unique in many ways by design, and by all accounts a superb audio performer. Even though the W20 can be used in conjunction with an external word clock, its own internal OCXO (oven controlled crystal oscillator) is remarkably accurate joined with the field programmable gate array phase locked loop system that reduces jitter to near immeasurable levels. The W20 power supply and alternating battery pack power source is innovative and not only provides super clean power but also prevents power loss to the server in the event of a utility power loss. There are many other engineering and design highlights in the Aurender W20 music server that make it a ground breaking reference level audio component. I am positive from my own experience with my Aurender N10 and Esoteric K-03 setup that you will be delighted beyond your greatest expectations.
The Aurender Conductor app is a pleasure to use. Moving music files to the W20's generous 12TB (6TB x 2) hard drives is a simple drag and drop operation. Once you've done it you will be a pro. The Conductor application automatically updates itself as music files are uploaded. As for cables, you have options and most likely the AES/EBU connection will deliver your best digital signal to the DAC. My Esoteric K-03 does not provide the AES/EBU connection so I use a Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 coaxial digital cable from the N10 to the K-03. I also keep a Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 USB cable connected between the N10 and the K-03 for the times I wish to make comparisons. If you haven't already, you can read my Aurender N10 Caching Music Server review here.
I am looking forward to your review of the Aurender W20. These are exciting times.
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Dan,
It always amazes me how much technical information you retain and how you always manage to put words together in way that I can understand. I'm really looking forward to having the W20 along with the K-01X. I've always been a disc spinner and enjoy the process of picking an album and listening from beginning to end. With a two and half year old and a 12 week old newborn, the idea of building playlists and having immediate access to millions of tracks at the touch of a button started to sound very appealing. The unit should arrive next week and ill post an update after it settles in just a bit.
Dave