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

[romaz]

  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.

Yes.  Aside from the HEK's stock cable, I also have the Moon Silver Dragon V2.  Compared to the Spore4, it has a more energetic presentation but part of this energy is in the form of glare that is not to my liking.  This can be a fatiguing cable (it is for me which is why I moved away from it).  Moon has more recently come out with the Version 3 of this cable that utilizes UP-OCC silver.  Many are now appreciating the benefits of this level of purity and it should improve this glare, however, Drew Baird elected to go with stranded wire and continues to use a teflon primary dielectric.  Many believe solid core wire provides better tonal body than stranded wire but it is less flexible and probably not an ideal characteristic for headphone cables.  Some believe stranded wire can result in less skin effect which is responsible for the smearing of transients and so you will see many cable manufacturers using this type of wire.  Is this better than a litz configuration?  Peter Braddock at DHC and Dave Cahoon at ZenWave, two people I respect greatly, don't think so.  They prefer litz wire by a mile.  Peter also uses a cotton primary dielectric for both his Complement4 and Spore4 that many believe to be a more inert dielectric with better damping capabilities compared to the teflon that most cable makers use.
 
As for the Complement4 vs the Spore4, they are more similar than they are different.  The Spore4 uses a military grade insulation scheme for each of its 14 bundles of ultra pure litz silver wire that results in probably the most well-protected and isolated cable you can buy and is responsible for how quiet this cable is, even at long length (>15 feet).  In my evaluation of a 5 foot vs 15 foot Silver Spore4, I was unable to detect any drop off in SQ.  The downside is that this cable is more unwieldy.  It is heavy and rigid compared to the Complement4 and downright monstrous compared to my Moon Silver Dragon.  The Complement4 could represent a nice compromise for those who have no need for long cable lengths and value comfort and flexibility.  
 
In addition to the Moon and Complement4, I have also compared the DHC Nucleotide, Nordost Heimdall 2, Cardas and DanaCable Lazuli HF with my HEK.  All of these are copper cables and each of them easily improve upon the stock cable but none of them approach the resolution and the quiet and effortless quality of the Spore4.  

 

[Articnoise]

   
you might want to try NAA mode.  i don't have roon but NAA mode is a huge improvement over MPD in my system

 

I have tried and like HQPlayer (no filters, no upsampling, only ditching) in NAA mode in Roon better than Roon RAAT. HQPlayer in above configuration has a clearer, cleaner and more transparent sound with more resolution, air, bigger soundstage and quicker decade. Roon RAAT by compare was warmer, fuller (muddier) sounding and has stronger bass (at the expanse of some clarity, cleanness, transparency, timing precision, resolution and treble/air).

 

[Liu Junyuan]

 



I have tried and like HQPlayer (no filters, no upsampling, only ditching) in NAA mode in Roon better than Roon RAAT. HQPlayer in above configuration has a clearer, cleaner and more transparent sound with more resolution, air, bigger soundstage and quicker decade. Roon RAAT by compare was warmer, fuller (muddier) sounding and has stronger bass (at the expanse of some clarity, cleanness, transparency, timing precision, resolution and treble/air).

Very helpful. Thank you.

 

[cat6man]

   

I have tried and like HQPlayer (no filters, no upsampling, only ditching) in NAA mode in Roon better than Roon RAAT. HQPlayer in above configuration has a clearer, cleaner and more transparent sound with more resolution, air, bigger soundstage and quicker decade. Roon RAAT by compare was warmer, fuller (muddier) sounding and has stronger bass (at the expanse of some clarity, cleanness, transparency, timing precision, resolution and treble/air).

 
Almost identical to my conclusions, but I found better and more bass with NAA mode than MPD mode on microRendu.
 
It is not clear to me if this has anything to do with hqplayer processing quality per se other than moving the rendering off of the MR and reducing computation at the MR.
The engineer in me wants to know the 'why' but the music lover is convinced.
 
In any case, the improvement in sound quality was a no brainer for me.

 

[shuttlepod]

There are differing opinions on Roon RAAT vs. running HQP in NAA mode without upsampling, etc. It may be system dependent (especially with regard to the dac) with some personal subjectivity thrown in. You will see these differing opinions on computeraudiophile, where microRendu users are comparing the two modes. I have a friend with a Chord Mojo who clearly prefers running HQP in NAA mode with his microRendu (while using the Roon GUI). It seems that the Chord DAVE is perhaps less sensitive to the differences between the two modes, although Roy (Romaz) concluded that he preferred HQP with only dithering turned on. 
 
I will be making my own comparison later in the fall after I have purchased a microRendu.
 
Fortunately, you can do the HQP trial or just shell out the $150 or so for an HQP license and test it yourself.

 

[adamaley]

  There are differing opinions on Roon RAAT vs. running HQP in NAA mode without upsampling, etc. It may be system dependent (especially with regard to the dac) with some personal subjectivity thrown in. You will see these differing opinions on computeraudiophile, where microRendu users are comparing the two modes. I have a friend with a Chord Mojo who clearly prefers running HQP in NAA mode with his microRendu (while using the Roon GUI). It seems that the Chord DAVE is perhaps less sensitive to the differences between the two modes, although Roy (Romaz) concluded that he preferred HQP with only dithering turned on. 
 
I will be making my own comparison later in the fall after I have purchased a microRendu.
 
Fortunately, you can do the HQP trial or just shell out the $150 or so for an HQP license and test it yourself.

This! After using HQPlayer's trial a couple of months before getting my MR, I really preferred its sound to JRMC. However, I couldn't get past the user interface woes, so I ditched it for a while. Finally, after getting the MR, in my haste to experience the Roon/HQPlayer combo, I purchased a licence. I was extremely disappointed with the sound unfiltered/unupsampled going into an Yggdrasil. It was very muddy with reduced dynamics and detail - everything HQplayer hadn't been playing without Roon and the MR. I read somewhere on CA about how folks with the Yggdrasil are preferring using Roon without HQPlayer for the best sound. I agreed with this notion upon switching back to Roon Ready mode without HQPlayer in the mix.
 
Also, @romaz, thanks for the cable comparisons. That's very valuable and comprehensive feedback to have.

 

[Articnoise]

   
Almost identical to my conclusions, but I found better and more bass with NAA mode than MPD mode on microRendu.
 
It is not clear to me if this has anything to do with hqplayer processing quality per se other than moving the rendering off of the MR and reducing computation at the MR.
The engineer in me wants to know the 'why' but the music lover is convinced.
 
In any case, the improvement in sound quality was a no brainer for me.

 

I see, which audio player did you use before in MPD?

 

I have used HQP desktop for more than one year and tried it against my other audio player and I must say that it had the same strength together with JCAT USB:  clear, clean, transparent with lots of resolution and air. Both Jriver, Roon and JPlay has a bit fuller, muddier and grainier sound with less clarity and top treble. Foobar 2000 can sound clear, but is kind of artificial sounding IMO. Roon has the heaviest bass punch of all the audio player I have heard.

 

HQPlayer’s clearer, cleaner and more transparent sound with more resolution, air, bigger soundstage and quicker decade is if no filters, no upsampling and only ditching is selected. With poly sync filter for example it sound a bit fuller and very much like Roon, which is a fine audio player, just not as good as HQP to me and with me gear.

 

I believe that Roon RAAT is operating (almost) the same way as HQPlayer, together with the microRendu, and that all the processing is done before the mR.  The difference is that with HQP Roon is just a GUI. It is HQP that is doing all the processing. I have both Roon and HQPlayer on my PC so I expect no difference in workload for the mR. 

 

 

[cat6man]

   

I see, which audio player did you use before in MPD?

 

I have used HQP desktop for more than one year and tried it against my other audio player and I must say that it had the same strength together with JCAT USB:  clear, clean, transparent with lots of resolution and air. Both Jriver, Roon and JPlay has a bit fuller, muddier and grainier sound with less clarity and top treble. Foobar 2000 can sound clear, but is kind of artificial sounding IMO. Roon has the heaviest bass punch of all the audio player I have heard.

 

HQPlayer’s clearer, cleaner and more transparent sound with more resolution, air, bigger soundstage and quicker decade is if no filters, no upsampling and only ditching is selected. With poly sync filter for example it sound a bit fuller and very much like Roon, which is a fine audio player, just not as good as HQP to me and with me gear.

 

I believe that Roon RAAT is operating (almost) the same way as HQPlayer, together with the microRendu, and that all the processing is done before the mR.  The difference is that with HQP Roon is just a GUI. It is HQP that is doing all the processing. I have both Roon and HQPlayer on my PC so I expect no difference in workload for the mR. 

 

 
 my comparison was the MR in mpd mode (minimsserver + bubbleupnp on android)  vs. MR in naa mode (hqplayer on intel 6i7 nuc)
 
previously, i had a sms-100 running mpd mode, but after putting the MR in the improvement was so obvious i didn't bother with detailed comparisons.
 
i have no roon and cannot comment on any roon configurations

 

[yellowblue]

I never reported back how the MCRU LPS developed after 400 hours burn it. It continued to be better, especially in dynamics and bass. I regret a little that I posted my review so early. I am really happy that I ordered the MCRU. No need to read the computeraudiophile forum anymore and more time to listen to music. 

 

[Articnoise]

  I never reported back how the MCRU LPS developed after 400 hours burn it. It continued to be better, especially in dynamics and bass. I regret a little that I posted my review so early. I am really happy that I ordered the MCRU. No need to read the computeraudiophile forum anymore and more time to listen to music. 

 

I’m glad you did yellowblue as it got me to choose a MCRU LPS. Never too late to add additional impressions as the gears breaks in and one get more listening time with them.   

 

On to another subject. I had a bit of fun and tried HQPlayer together with my Chord Mojo yesterday. Even with the Mojo, that is on the lean side and that could benefit from some more fullness IMO, I clearly preferred HQPlayer without any filter. 

 

[romaz]

  I never reported back how the MCRU LPS developed after 400 hours burn it. It continued to be better, especially in dynamics and bass. I regret a little that I posted my review so early. I am really happy that I ordered the MCRU. No need to read the computeraudiophile forum anymore and more time to listen to music. 

Yes, thanks for the feedback.  I think it's clear this is a solid option that also happens to not be so expensive.

 

[kennyb123]

   

Even with the Mojo, that is on the lean side and that could benefit from some more fullness IMO, I clearly preferred HQPlayer without any filter. 

 
I also preferred HQPlayer without any filters with my Mojo.  I'm not sure I'd agree though that the Mojo is on the lean side - at least in my system.  Of course lean is a relative term, so it depends on what you're comparing it to.  

 

[Articnoise]

   
I also preferred HQPlayer without any filters with my Mojo.  I'm not sure I'd agree though that the Mojo is on the lean side - at least in my system.  Of course lean is a relative term, so it depends on what you're comparing it to.  

 

I agree sound impressions are subjective and depends a bit on preference and which other gear you're comparing them to. My intent wasn’t to leave an impression on the Mojo. It was that before I tried it with mR + HQP was pretty confident I would prefer the Mojo with some filters in HQP. Filter that would make the sound a bit fuller. I didn’t. The small gain in fullness I heard didn’t make up for the loss in clarity, dynamic and resolution IMO. 

 

[STR-1]

Yes.  Aside from the HEK's stock cable, I also have the Moon Silver Dragon V2.  Compared to the Spore4, it has a more energetic presentation but part of this energy is in the form of glare that is not to my liking.  This can be a fatiguing cable (it is for me which is why I moved away from it).  Moon has more recently come out with the Version 3 of this cable that utilizes UP-OCC silver.  Many are now appreciating the benefits of this level of purity and it should improve this glare,  

I had the pleasure of speaking with Drew at CanJam London earlier today, and of listening to the Silver Dragon V3 with a pair of HE1000. Can't remember now what the amplification was but the cable sound really nice, open and detailed Based on reviews, I have had in mind either to get the Silver Dragon (Premium) or the DHC Silver Complement. Romaz speaks highly of the latter compared to V2 of the former, which could be enough to swing it for me if it were not for the massive price difference - at equivalent length, the Complement is more than four times the price of the Silver Dragon (and the SDs are dispatched within 3 days compared to up to 3 months for the Comp,events). Has anyone else had experience of both these cables? Thanks.

 

[TheAttorney]

[Can you post the exact configuration for your MCRU power supply? thanks]  
Originally Posted by Articnoise /img/forum/go_quote.gif

 

Model MCRU: microRendu 7V DC 

Cable Up-Grades: Pure Silver DC Cabling

Fuse Up-Grades: Synergistic Research Fuse

Mains Lead: MCRU Asylum Power Lead (will try it against some of my other power chords one day)  

I'm close to ordering an MCRU for my mR.
 
Whilst I can experiment with power cords and fuses at a later stage, I'm guessing that the DC cable is captive, so harder to change in the future.
 
Which leads me to ask: Why did you choose the pure silver DC option (about £50 extra] over the other DC cable options? Was it based on peronal experience or recommendations? Or just tick all the option boxes and be done with it?
 
As the DC cable is so short in the first place, I'm just wondering what differences it can make?