New Aurender N100H - total newbie Q's

[jdandy]

Matt.......An Ethernet connection from your Aurender N100H directly to the router is the way to go. I would also connect your laptop in the same way to your router. Then you will only need to drag and drop your music files from the laptop hard drive to the Aurender hard drive. Here is how to do that.

Once your laptop and N100H are connected to your router press and hold the Windows key while you press the R key. The Run window will open. Type two back slashes like this \\ in the Run Window. A window will pop up with your N100H name. Click on it then click OK. This will open a window that shows your Aurender hard drive. Click on the hard drive and your music folders will be shown. These are the folders where you will drag your music files. Leave that window open and resize it if necessary to occupy the left third of your monitor. Now open Documents and click on Music. This will open your music folder on your laptop where your FLAC files for ripped CD's should be listed. Resize that window so that it sits beside the open window with your N100H folders. Now it is just a matter of dragging and dropping the music files to the N100H folder of your choice.

The Aurender Conductor App for Android is useful but not fully functional. You should consider using an iPad, then download the Aurender Conductor App from the Apple Apps store. It is free. That is the best way to go.

[Matt Lan]

Thanks- I've picked up an iPad today.

Looking at my MS Surface laptop, I've only got a USB output. My router also has USB slots, so maybe that's the best link?

Will need to test and see.

Will report back. It's a journey!

Cheers

Matt

[Matt Lan]

Eureka! I've got the basics set up and am loving it!

Thanks for all the help in getting here. I was in fact able to connect my MS Surface laptop to the router by Ethernet cable after all, there was a bridge available in the docking hub after all. These new laptops are so small now that a lot of older connectivity we'd come to expect needs to be outboard.

As an observation, I was initially trying to work off the hard copy printed Quick Start guide. I actually found the online Aurender user guide to be much more helpful.

So far so good, I've ripped about 20 albums to AIFF using dbPoweramp, and counting. Dan - it really is as simple as dragging and dropping to the Aurender. Nice. I also find the Conductor app to be plenty intuitive - though I am still figuring out how to navigate it best.

A few questions have come up - glad to hear your thoughts.

1. I am running into the K-03 DAC. I started playing music right away and then remembered the various filter settings. By default, I was playing on USB Normal setting. What prompted me to look into it was that there are some sample 192kHz material already loaded on the Aurender, and everything was playing at 44.1 (capped?). I then tried the HS 1, and HS 2 asynchronous inputs (the latter has been recommended elsewehere as a good choice.) That enabled 192 resolution in the sample tracks. In reading the manual, it talks about downloading drivers for HS1 and HS2 - is that even required, or did the Aurender take care of this natively? So far HS2 seems to work fine with no clicks or anything. Dan, I am interested in your personal setup choices here.

2. SO far I am ripping just my CD's. I don't know what options there are for SACD's. Can someone elaborate?

Thanks for sharing my excitement - the convenience is really off the charts. I have been spinning CD's for SO many years, this really improves the experience. It makes my collection, which was stored and strewn over the house, truly accessible again.









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[jdandy]

Matt.......Happy to hear you are up and running. Your sound system looks great.

As for asynchronous HS2 setting on the K-03, the Linux operating system Aurender uses does not require a Windows driver. The HS2 setting on your K-03 is the one you want to use with the N100H.

I can't help you with ripping SACD's because I listen to SACD's by spinning them in my Esoteric player. My library of SACD's totals 68, all stored together, so I have no issue finding them or playing them. The DSD files from SACD's and DSD downloads are huge. I don't see any reason to load up my hard drive with those files when I can just place a SACD in the tray. The overall catalog of recordings on SACD that appeal to my musical taste is limited at best, so I am good with listening to DSD recordings via SACD physical media.

[Matt Lan]

Thanks for clarifying - HS2 it is!

Good point about the SACDs - I too only have probably 3 or 4 dozen titles and don't expect that will change much... was just wondering if it was even an option.

PS - I looked into the Aurender online help and it did not explain what the HDD light means - it is blinking (slowly) from time to time on the display. I assume since all my content is new, it's just moving stuff around?

Cheers

Matt

[jdandy]

Matt.......That HDD symbol lets you know when the hard drive is loading files to the solid state drive for playback. Once the music files you have selected are fully loaded in the SSD that symbol will stop appearing and the hard drive is put into sleep mode.

[nicoff]

Originally Posted by Matt Lane

A few questions have come up - glad to hear your thoughts.

.....

2. SO far I am ripping just my CD's. I don't know what options there are for SACD's. Can someone elaborate?
.

Do a search on the forum for ripping SACDs. Also check other websites like computer Audiophile dot com.
Older models of Sony Playstation and certain brands/models of CD players allow you to rip SACDs. The process is not difficult and not much different that ripping a regular CD. However you need certain hardware (For example Oppo 103 or 105 CD players) and (free) software available online.
One nice thing about ripping your CDs and your SACDs is that you will be able to stream all your digital music without having to get up from your seat. [emoji3]

[crwilli]

Ripping SACDs is no harder than ripping CDs but as NICOFF pointed out, you need a specific model of Pioneer SACD player or an OPPO 103/105.

Note that your K-03 will not natively decode the DSD files that result from an SACD rip.

[Matt Lan]

This is all great information - thanks everyone for sharing (and being patient!)

Cheers

Matt

[akitared]

Originally Posted by crwilli

Ripping SACDs is no harder than ripping CDs but as NICOFF pointed out, you need a specific model of Pioneer SACD player or an OPPO 103/105.

Note that your K-03 will not natively decode the DSD files that result from an SACD rip.

Is there a simple way to rip DSD from SACD without command line or scripts? I have an Oppo 105 and a load of SACD that I would like to transfer as DSD to my Aurender N100H