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

[REXNFX]

So are you saying that CD replay is more enjoyable than your music server? Or that the convenience of the latter causes you to jump from one artist to another?


Apologies as I read your post again. Would you mind sharing your server and CD player with us?

Looking at his signature I'm guessing he's using the Naim NDX fed by a Mac/PC and something like a Cambridge Azure 351 CD player, either way a pretty shocking result.

 

[vert]

  Looking at his signature I'm guessing he's using the Naim NDX fed by a Mac/PC and something like a Cambridge Azure 351 CD player, either way a pretty shocking result.

 
Nope. If I were using an off the shelf Mac/PC as a server then that would explain everything. 

 
Using an Exemplar DAC with a server and Cambridge CD player.

 

[REXNFX]

   
Nope. If I were using an off the shelf Mac/PC as a server then that would explain everything. 

 
Using an Exemplar DAC with a server and Cambridge CD player.

Haha, I couldn't tempt you then...I'll try another question, are you using the same cable between Server and Dac and CD player and DAC?

 

[vert]

  Haha, I couldn't tempt you then...I'll try another question, are you using the same cable between Server and Dac and CD player and DAC?

 
Yes, same SPDIF digital cable: Ziro audio Disclosure. Which I like very much btw.
 
I'm also using a pricey Audience AU24se power cord on both. Overkill for the Cambridge CD player, but it sounds good.

 

[alubis]

There are seldom any reviews of servers such as Aurender, CAD CAT, Auralic Aries etc with published measurements. The only reviews of these kind of servers complete with measurable result that I can found is only for Melco N1A by the HIFI News and the measurements looks encouraging. I'm tempted to buy one for my Chord Hugo.
 

 

[romaz]

  There are seldom any reviews of servers such as Aurender, CAD CAT, Auralic Aries etc with published measurements. The only reviews of these kind of servers complete with measurable result that I can found is only for Melco N1A by the HIFI News and the measurements looks encouraging. I'm tempted to buy one for my Chord Hugo.
 

You're right, I've never seen measurements and since no one else publishes measurements, it's hard to know what these values mean without the ability to compare them to something.  The top Melco looks like a very good unit on paper but the problem with this model is there are so few reviews (I've seen just one) and it's priced higher than the CAD CAT and Aurender N10.  It's a tough sell without more user feedback.

 

[n-a]

I have no doubt that the Cambridge cd player works great. Cambridge audio has their own "S3" servo mechanism to get the most out of the cd.
The CXC transport could be great for the price. I haven`t heard it though. Dedicated cd transport with S3 servo + remote under 500 euros. 
And i like the look also.

 

[vert]

  I have no doubt that the Cambridge cd player works great. Cambridge audio has their own "S3" servo mechanism to get the most out of the cd.
The CXC transport could be great for the price. I haven`t heard it though. Dedicated cd transport with S3 servo + remote under 500 euros. 

 
The CXC looks nice, but I just went with the cheapest option. I believe all of their CD players from the 351c and up use the same transport and S3 servo.
 
I could never get my rips to sound as good as CD, but it looks like CAT is the way to go if you're willing to spend the big bucks.

 

[REXNFX]

   
The CXC looks nice, but I just went with the cheapest option. I believe all of their CD players from the 351c and up use the same transport and S3 servo.
 
I could never get my rips to sound as good as CD, but it looks like CAT is the way to go if you're willing to spend the big bucks.

Talking of controversial, I use my Sony Z3c phone as my digital player/server and it sounds better than any CD Player I've heard, but like you I can't get my CD rips to sound good so I just use downloads and Tidal. I'm beginning to think the problem with CD is the CD medium and not 16/44.1.

 

[vert]

  Talking of controversial, I use my Sony Z3c phone as my digital player/server and it sounds better than any CD Player I've heard, but like you I can't get my CD rips to sound good so I just use downloads and Tidal. I'm beginning to think the problem with CD is the CD medium and not 16/44.1.

 
Yes, those enhanced Japanese CDs sound way better than the coasters we call CDs. Another problem is the variability in the ripping quality.

 

[vert]

Romaz, have you tried replacing the fuses in your DAC and servers?
 
I've installed aftermarket fuses before, but I recently put in an Audio Magic Beeswax fuse in my DAC and the results were astonishing.
 
I'd normally have to spend thousands to get this type of leap in performance. 
 
I believe the Aurender may have replaceable fuses. 

 

[romaz]

  Romaz, have you tried replacing the fuses in your DAC and servers?
 
I've installed aftermarket fuses before, but I recently put in an Audio Magic Beeswax fuse in my DAC and the results were astonishing.
 
I'd normally have to spend thousands to get this type of leap in performance. 
 
I believe the Aurender may have replaceable fuses. 

Yes, just about all valuable electronic gear will have a fuse to protect themselves against overcurrent conditions.  There are exceptions, however.  My Bricasti M1 DAC did away with its fuses earlier this year and Bricasti instead replaced them with a wire harness that resulted in improved SQ.  I purchased that upgrade and heard the improvement for myself.  Instead of a fuse, my Audience aR6 line conditioner uses a circuit breaker similar to your panel at home as they felt it to be superior.  Otherwise, all my gear have fuses.  Fuses are felt to degrade SQ but unless you're willing to break the law and subject yourself to fire hazard, they are a necessary evil for most gear.  The best that a fuse can do is be invisible and the best fuses come close to achieving this transparency although there are some fuses that seem to target a specific coloration that allows them to be used as a tuning aid.  I cannot consider myself a fuse expert as I've only tried a few, specifically the SR20 and Synergistic Red, and they do make a difference.  I settled on the Synergistic Red for the TotalDac and have been quite pleased although the improvement over the SR20, already a very good fuse, wasn't night and day.  t have not tried the Audio Magic Beeswax fuse but I know of their reputation.  The biggest difference thus far for me has been grounding with an Entreq box, bigger than any power cable, IC or fuse upgrade I've tried.  Grounding the signal seems to absolve many sins.

 

[TheAttorney]

Hi romaz, how does the Entreq grounding relate to the Audience power conditioner (of which I have a variant)? 
Does the Entreq compliment the Audience or replace it?

 

[bmichels]

 
Yes, just about all valuable electronic gear will have a fuse to protect themselves against overcurrent conditions.  There are exceptions, however.  My Bricasti M1 DAC did away with its fuses earlier this year and Bricasti instead replaced them with a wire harness that resulted in improved SQ.  I purchased that upgrade and heard the improvement for myself.  Instead of a fuse, my Audience aR6 line conditioner uses a circuit breaker similar to your panel at home as they felt it to be superior.  Otherwise, all my gear have fuses.  Fuses are felt to degrade SQ but unless you're willing to break the law and subject yourself to fire hazard, they are a necessary evil for most gear.  The best that a fuse can do is be invisible and the best fuses come close to achieving this transparency although there are some fuses that seem to target a specific coloration that allows them to be used as a tuning aid.  I cannot consider myself a fuse expert as I've only tried a few, specifically the SR20 and Synergistic Red, and they do make a difference.  I settled on the Synergistic Red for the TotalDac and have been quite pleased although the improvement over the SR20, already a very good fuse, wasn't night and day.  t have not tried the Audio Magic Beeswax fuse but I know of their reputation.  The biggest difference thus far for me has been grounding with an Entreq box, bigger than any power cable, IC or fuse upgrade I've tried.  Grounding the signal seems to absolve many sins.

 
Romaz, you might be interested in this insight of the Entreq grounding box  

     

20 + photos...
 
  

 

[Yoga]

   
Romaz, you might be interested in this insight of the Entreq grounding box  

     

20 + photos...
 
  

The markup on those must be absolutely delightful for the creators. That looks cheap to build, even using quality metals.
 
I can't bring myself to pay for that. Looking for grounding alternatives if anyone has experience/ideas, it would be appreciated