Decision: Aurender N100h vs N10 or Mac Mini...

[Timobi]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Timobi.......Your McIntosh C2600 and MC452, along with your Martin Logan ESL 13a's make an excellent and highly resolving sound sound system. If you were to have both the Aurender N100H and the N10 music servers connected to your system at the same time, you would have no problem identifying the performance differences between the two servers with your system. Of course you would be listening to the N10 through the proprietary SPDIF output circuits that are supported by the ultra accurate oven controlled crystal oscillator clock (OCXO). This refined digital section of the N10 is what makes the difference in performance and is the primary reason for the cost difference over the N100H.

USB output from the N100H and the N10 will be quite similar, so if USB will be your only signal path between the C2600's DAC and an Aurender music server you may find yourself completely satified with the N100H. On the other hand, if you are seeking the highest performance and absolute lowest jitter, the Aurender N10 will certainly thrill you for many years every time you listen to it.

I doubt you would find yourself disappointed with either the N100H or the N10. Both music servers are receiving rave reviews from pundits and owners. Yes, the N10 is 2.85 times more expensive than the N100H. You will have to decide if the larger hard drives, larger solid state cache, additional isolated linear power supplies, the SPDIF output section (coaxial, Toslink, AES/EBU) along with its astonishing OCXO clock controlling the SPDIF digital outputs timing, the dual AMOLED screens, and the elevated performance are worth the price difference. In my humble opinion, the Aurender N10 is worth every cent.

Dammit Dan...why did you have to say all that?

Wow...good stuff Dan. I am not married to the USB connection. In fact I am using the cheapest cable alive. And it sounded better than the Sony HAP 1ZES HDD. So I can only imagine improving that AND utilizing the SPDIF dig outputs what sonic bliss will occur.

Its a cost issue but then its not. I didn't let $$ get in the way of what I have now.

Thx again Dan.

[2fastdriving]

I'm sure there are advantages with the N10 over the Mac mini, mostly because of the more advanced clock. However, you can build a very satisfying Mac mini setup with audirvana and tidal which is a fraction of the cost. It can be controlled by an iPad, too.

Another option is to build a NUC server running roon. I've not done it, but I am thinking about it. Search for how to articles on that.

Comes down to your budget and whether you want turn key or tinker time.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by 1KW

The N100H and the N10 have the same USB output, both have similar power supplies. I am glad you are happy with your purchase, but the no comparison comment is really hard to swallow. Were they both going through the same cable and dac ? If so how did you do a A/B comparison ?

David.......Through the many years you and I have discussed audio components you have often found it hard to swallow many of the improved performance claims that have been provided you, that is until you actually experienced them. Case in point, your upgrades from the C220 to the C2300 preamplifier, from the Technics SL1200 turntable to the Michell Gyro SE with the SME309 tonearm and Shelter 501 MKII, from the Panamax power conditioner to the PS Audio Power Plant Premier, from the Sonus faber Guarneri Memento's to the Sonus faber Elipsa speakers, and most recently from a MacMini used as a music server to a purpose built Aurender N100H music server. Ring any bells? For years you remained convinced there was no logical reason to spend money upgrading because you were positive the performance improvements would not justify the expense, only to promptly be proven wrong once you finally made an upgrade. Just because you experience difficulty wrapping your mind around established performance gains between one component and another does not mean those performances improvements aren't present and valid. Just sayin'......

[PMCH]

Originally Posted by 1KW

The N100H and the N10 have the same USB output, both have similar power supplies. I am glad you are happy with your purchase, but the no comparison comment is really hard to swallow. Were they both going through the same cable and dac ? If so how did you do a A/B comparison ?

When my wife and I did the comparison at the dealers' showroom, everything was exactly the same even the cables both being the same USB. Only the two boxes were switched so there was a short lag with our audio memory between the switching. Within 30 seconds of listening to the N10 over the N100h we were sold on the N10. I actually went to purchase the N100h since I am a total newbie with media servers and thought it would be a good place to start. If I hadn't noticed a big difference, for me, I wouldn't have considered a N10 as a starter piece. I only went by what I heard with my own ears and not by any specs. I was listening through a very high quality system and perhaps the N10 shines through more than the N100h in that instance.

[1KW]

Originally Posted by jdandy

David.......Through the many years you and I have discussed audio components you have often found it hard to swallow many of the improved performance claims that have been provided you, that is until you actually experienced them. Case in point, your upgrades from the C220 to the C2300 preamplifier, from the Technics SL1200 turntable to the Michell Gyro SE with the SME309 tonearm and Shelter 501 MKII, from the Panamax power conditioner to the PS Audio Power Plant Premier, from the Sonus faber Guarneri Memento's to the Sonus faber Elipsa speakers, and most recently from a MacMini used as a music server to a purpose built Aurender N100H music server. Ring any bells? For years you remained convinced there was no logical reason to spend money upgrading because you were positive the performance improvements would not justify the expense, only to promptly be proven wrong once you finally made an upgrade. Just because you experience difficulty wrapping your mind around established performance gains between one component and another does not mean those performances improvements aren't present and valid. Just sayin'......

I have no doubt the N10 is a better MS than the N100H, the "no comparison" statement is exaggerated.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I have no doubt the N10 is a better MS than the N100H, the "no comparison" statement is exaggerated.

David.......It's easy to see how you can arrive at that conclusion, and I can't say I disagree. I don't want to speak for Paul, but I do understand how exuberance can temper an owner's choice of words when speaking about a new component. I think we've all been guilty of that at one time or another.

[docmd2010]

I have auditioned both the N100H and the N10. There was a small, but audible difference between the N100 and the N10 when using USB on each one. AES out on my N10 vs the USB on my N10 was different as well, a bigger difference than the N10 and the N100H.

I actually had my wife do a blind test on me, and i could pick out the SPDIF connection 3/3 times on three different songs. Really the only advantage of the N10 is a better clock.

To me it was a small price for a better clock (some of the high precision clocks are really expensive!). I think it's been pointed out on this forum that the clock on my 8K N10 is a good bit better than the clock on my 20K Esoteric dac.

Oh. The difference between an aurender and a laptop (same system, same USB cable0 was so significant that I thought i was listening to a new speaker or amplifier when i connected the USB to it.

You will clearly get a performance boost with the N100H. Also need to figure, the N10 will not only cost you more in the unit, but to enjoy the full advantages of the N10, you need a coax/AES-EBU AND a USB cable, so you will need to spring for extra cables. Note that single AES-EBU can not support DSD, which needs to be played through the USB cable.

[docmd2010]

Oh, and one thing, each circuit in the Aurender needs time to fully open up! The sound was way better after a couple weeks of playing it straight. I also left the speakers at very low volume to break in my new cables.

[Timobi]

Thank you docmd. Appreciate it. Plannng a trip down to Baton Rouge soon for a demo.

I did think about the extra cost for cables.

RE: USB; I have a lot of DSD files as well.

[PMCH]

I apologize if "no comparison" was an exaggerated choice of words but that was the exact words my wife said during our comparison. I did hear a "significant difference" for myself or else I could not have justified the purchase of the N10 over the N100h. We were listening on a very revealing system and that may have been why we noticed more of a difference between the N10 and the N100h.