REVIEW: Comparison of 5 High End Digital Music Servers - Aurender N10, CAD CAT server, TotalDac d1-Server, Auralic Aries, Audiophile Vortex Box

[Articnoise]

Some additional notes regarding the sound from the mR + MCRU after more listening and burn in. The biggest positive improvement compared to PC + JCAT USB + battery power supply are superior clarity, more plankton, increased transparency, stronger bass, better dynamics/energy, more refinement and openness. Soundstage, image, blackness, tonality, bass/treble extension and so on was also improved but to a smaller or much smaller degree.

 

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I have observed with the mR that if I use an Internet browser while playing Tidal music in Roon the SQ gets infected negatively. Am not talking about noise or pops or things like that, just that the sound is not as good as it is while not using an Internet browser. This is not a problem per se, as I don’t surf the Internet while I do any serious music listening. What I wonder is if someone else can hear this? I guess it will only be revealed if you have Tidal + Roon playing from a PC or laptop connected to the mains and a router in the same room.  

 

My speculation is that the dive in SQ is caused by the routers wall wart. That the router’s switching noise is traveling thru the mains in the room to my PC and other audio gear. Like more streaming traffic -> more switching noise or something like that. And if I can hear a difference while I use or not use an Internet browser at the same time as am playing Tidal music in Roon. What’s saying the router doesn’t also infect while only streaming Tidal in Roon.

 

I know that Roy and some others have said that the NAS/router doesn’t have any effect on the sound, but I would think that those audio setup is (very) different (maybe less sensitive) and not includes a PC or laptop that is connected to the router. So if anyone that has a mR and a PC/laptop can try and see if you get the same result it would be great.

 

MCRU have a linear power supply for routers. Maybe something for me?

 

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/wireless-router-psu-s/566-regulated-linear-power-supply-for-virgin-superhub.html

 

[shuttlepod]

  Some additional notes regarding the sound from the mR + MCRU after more listening and burn in. The biggest positive improvement compared to PC + JCAT USB + battery power supply are superior clarity, more plankton . . .

 
More plankton? In all my years of reading audio reviews, I haven't seen that one before. Let's see, I'm guessing you might mean something like more tonal density. It could have something to do with how "wet" the sound is. Or maybe you are just experiencing more global warming in Sweden?

 

[Liu Junyuan]

More plankton? In all my years of reading audio reviews, I haven't seen that one before. Let's see, I'm guessing you might mean something like more tonal density. It could have something to do with how "wet" the sound is. Or maybe you are just experiencing more global warming in Sweden?

Lol! Plankton was a term thrown around here in a DAC review thread that anticipated the launch of the Yggdrasil. It has just become common currency by this point. It refers to microdetails in the recording that are revealed by higly resolving gear and masked by unresolving gear. Think HD800, Yggy, EC Studio, and so on.

He is saying the MCRU allows the uRendu to resolve microdetail better, probably by repressing noise.

 

[shuttlepod]

Lol! Plankton was a term thrown around here in a DAC review thread that anticipated the launch of the Yggdrasil. It has just become common currency by this point. It refers to microdetails in the recording that are revealed by higly resolving gear and masked by unresolving gear. Think HD800, Yggy, EC Studio, and so on.

He is saying the MCRU allows the uRendu to resolve microdetail better, probably by repressing noise.

Makes sense now. Although I'm not quite sure what the differences might be between the phrases "superior clarity," "more plankton," and "increased transparency."

 

[romaz]

  I have observed with the mR that if I use an Internet browser while playing Tidal music in Roon the SQ gets infected negatively. 

I have not noticed this degradation in SQ, Abbe.  I frequently surf the internet on my Mac while Tidal/Roon/HQPlayer is running.  I have also gone through two router changes since I began using my mR and I haven't noticed any difference between the two.  Which tube DAC are you using?

 

[yellowblue]

Romaz, I see in your signature that you got an Abyss. How do you like your new headphone with the Dave?

 

[Articnoise]

 
Makes sense now. Although I'm not quite sure what the differences might be between the phrases "superior clarity," "more plankton," and "increased transparency."

 

By more plankton I mean more micro details or inner details. Let me explain. Take a 4K TV vs a HDTV vs an old fat TV. They may use different technology: Led, plasma, OLED etc but the main difference (in this type of classification) is the resolution. A 4K TV screen has much more pixels than an HDTV that in turn has much more resolution than an old fat screen TV, which was the norm like 10 years ago. When we have different tech and qualities that may result in more or less clarity even if they have the same amount of resolution. Think LCD vs plasma for example. The LCD TV usually had a sharper picture than the plasma TV while the plasma had other strength IMO, like blacker background, richer and more natural colors etc. The transparency is more the like the screen itself (or window) that can be clear or more like it had a thin constant veil or light-reflection or whatever make me feel like there is something between me and the screen/music.  

 

I would not say that there are a sharp or even an exact definition to describing subjective matters like SQ and that they often overlap each other or have a different meaning for different people. So sometimes with audio terms it can look like they mean exactly the same just in other word, even if it was meant to be a more nuanced impression.

 

http://www.stereophile.com/reference/50/index.html#AoarqW6slSDIfa2A.97

 

[romaz]

  Romaz, I see in your signature that you got an Abyss. How do you like your new headphone with the Dave?

It has quickly risen to the top and shares equal time with my HE-1000.  Where the HE-1000 provides a pleasingly light and airy presentation and has this wonderful ethereal treble quality that I enjoy, the Abyss can provide a grand and commanding performance that I have not heard another headphone match.  The HE-1000 can make even horrible recordings listenable.  While the Abyss is less forgiving, for really good recordings, it's portrayal is more convincing and comes closest to rivaling my speaker setup with respect to imaging and soundstage.  Where the HE-1000 excels in texture and nuance the Abyss excels in grip and authority.  The HE-1000 goes deeper and the bass can be better defined but the Abyss has more thunderous bass presence, especially in the mid bass region.  I find the two very complementary.
 
I used to have problems with the Abyss and its bright treble which lead to headaches with prolonged listening.  After 2-3 tracks, I was basically done with it with certain types of music.  This became much less of an issue with the DAVE and became a non-issue when the stock headphone cable was replaced with a DHC Silver Spore4.  The combination of DAVE + Silver Spore4 + Abyss is now supremely enjoyable for even hours on end and the Abyss in many ways is more capable of revealing the qualities of the DAVE.  It's hard to know which one I'd choose if I had to choose just one.  Fortunately, I don't.

 

[Articnoise]

  I have not noticed this degradation in SQ, Abbe.  I frequently surf the internet on my Mac while Tidal/Roon/HQPlayer is running.  I have also gone through two router changes since I began using my mR and I haven't noticed any difference between the two.  Which tube DAC are you using?

 

Okay thanks. I have thought more about it and am going to buy a LPS for my router. To have a cheap switching wall wart in the same room as my audio gear can’t be good.

 

I Have an Aesthetix Pandora with NOS tubes. 

 

[vert]

  It has quickly risen to the top and shares equal time with my HE-1000.  Where the HE-1000 provides a pleasingly light and airy presentation and has this wonderful ethereal treble quality that I enjoy, the Abyss can provide a grand and commanding performance that I have not heard another headphone match.  The HE-1000 can make even horrible recordings listenable.  While the Abyss is less forgiving, for really good recordings, it's portrayal is more convincing and comes closest to rivaling my speaker setup with respect to imaging and soundstage.  Where the HE-1000 excels in texture and nuance the Abyss excels in grip and authority.  The HE-1000 goes deeper and the bass can be better defined but the Abyss has more thunderous bass presence, especially in the mid bass region.  I find the two very complementary.

 
Hi romaz,
 
I'd like try both those headphones one day. I recently installed an Entreq Powerus Challenger 3V and was stunned at how much of a difference it made. 
 
I thought I had the power side of the equation covered . . but I guess not.
 
There's something to be said for non-traditional power conditioners that address RFI and vibration.
 
I find it a bit amusing that people swap DACs and headphones without ever realizing the full potential of those components. 

 

[jelt2359]

It has quickly risen to the top and shares equal time with my HE-1000.  Where the HE-1000 provides a pleasingly light and airy presentation and has this wonderful ethereal treble quality that I enjoy, the Abyss can provide a grand and commanding performance that I have not heard another headphone match.  The HE-1000 can make even horrible recordings listenable.  While the Abyss is less forgiving, for really good recordings, it's portrayal is more convincing and comes closest to rivaling my speaker setup with respect to imaging and soundstage.  Where the HE-1000 excels in texture and nuance the Abyss excels in grip and authority.  The HE-1000 goes deeper and the bass can be better defined but the Abyss has more thunderous bass presence, especially in the mid bass region.  I find the two very complementary.

I used to have problems with the Abyss and its bright treble which lead to headaches with prolonged listening.  After 2-3 tracks, I was basically done with it with certain types of music.  This became much less of an issue with the DAVE and became a non-issue when the stock headphone cable was replaced with a DHC Silver Spore4.  The combination of DAVE + Silver Spore4 + Abyss is now supremely enjoyable for even hours on end and the Abyss in many ways is more capable of revealing the qualities of the DAVE.  It's hard to know which one I'd choose if I had to choose just one.  Fortunately, I don't.

Actually you do choose- every time you put on your headphones!

 

[romaz]

   
Hi romaz,
 
I'd like try both those headphones one day. I recently installed an Entreq Powerus Challenger 3V and was stunned at how much of a difference it made. 
 
I thought I had the power side of the equation covered . . but I guess not.
 
There's something to be said for non-traditional power conditioners that address RFI and vibration.
 
I find it a bit amusing that people swap DACs and headphones without ever realizing the full potential of those components. 

I agree, good power is the foundation to any good system.  It benefits everything.  I've never had the good fortune to try the Powerus.

 

[romaz]

Actually you do choose- every time you put on your headphones!

My point was that it would be difficult to choose just one.  Perhaps it's time to take a poll.  If you were forced to have just one headphone, IEM, etc., which one would it be?  As much as I'm really loving the Abyss and not knowing what the new Focal Utopia headphones sound like, I would go with my trusted HE-1000 as long as I could pair it with my DHC Spore4 cable.

 

[adamaley]

Roman, have you compared the DHC Spore4 cable to any other upgrade cables for the HE1K? I've been looking for a comprehensive comparison of the Nornes/ALOs/DHC etc, but most people seem to have settled with the first upgrade and not experimented further.

 

[adamaley]

  Roman, have you compared the DHC Spore4 cable to any other upgrade cables for the HE1K? I've been looking for a comprehensive comparison of the Nornes/ALOs/DHC etc, but most people seem to have settled with the first upgrade and not experimented further.

Apologies - I meant to say Romaz.