After a seemingly eternal wait, the Sonore microRendu + iFi 9V power supply + SonicTransporter arrived today. Here is a photo. You will see the Sonicorbiter SE next to the microRendu. Both are diminutive in size:
The microRendu has been playing non-stop for the past 7 hours, not even close to being broken in. With the Chord DAVE and a 9V supply feeding the microRendu, it runs on the warm side but not hot to the touch. Sonore suggests 7V is ideal and so that is how my Paul Hynes supply will be configured. I was hesitant to report on the microRendu so early on fearing the microRendu would be at a significant disadvantage, but just like
@Sonic77 has found, the microRendu is sounding great even before being fully broken in and so here goes.
Early impressions on 2 channel + headphones with Audience AU24SE USB cable and <10 hours of break-in:
1) microRendu + HD Plex 9V vs Sonicorbiter SE + HD Plex 5V -- Even at this early stage, microRendu is quite obviously better and not by a small amount. Dynamic contrasts are greater. Bass hits considerably harder although it could be tighter. I suspect it will tighten with break-in and a better PSU. Soundstage is clearly more expansive and for sure, there is more air. Details layer better. I was expecting it to sound thin but to be honest, even at <10 hours, thin is not how I would describe the sound at all and I suspect the tonality will probably get even richer with time. No need to blind test. mR >> Sonicorbiter.
2) microRendu + HD Plex 9V vs microRendu + iFi 9V -- Close call but iFi sounds a little cleaner / tighter. I will stay with the iFi power supply until my Paul Hynes PSU is ready. iFi > HD Plex
3) microRendu + iFi 9V vs Aurender N10 -- To my ears, Aurender N10 is superior to the Sonicorbiter SE by maybe 10-15% as described in a previous post. Not surprisingly, the Aurender is a closer match to the microRendu but once again, even at this early stage, the microRendu is outpacing the Aurender in all of my metrics except one. The Aurender sounds tighter and cleaner in the bass although the microRendu definitely hits harder. I will be surprised if the microRender doesn't tighten down with break-in and with a better power supply. As good as the Aurender layers details, the microRendu layers them better. With Limehouse Blues (Jazz at the Pawnshop), as the snare is hit with a brush during the first 10 seconds of the track, with the microRendu, you hear more of the bristles stroking the snare. The better layering is unmistakeable. Space and depth are superior on the microRendu. In the same way that the N10 makes the Sonicorbiter sound a bit closed in, the same thing is happening with the microRendu against the N10. Both carry the same weight of tone but I fully expect the microRendu to break away with time and a better PSU. mR > N10
3) microRendu + iFi 9V vs Aurender W20 -- I don't have the W20 in house at the moment but I'm not sure it's worth it for me to bring it in. Compared against my basic laptop via USB and on the Chord DAVE, the W20 was a smidge better than the N10 (within 5%), almost too close to call and I could easily be happy with either. However, the delta I am seeing with the microRendu over the N10 is easily greater than 5% (probably at least 15% as a whole) and no doubt will improve with break-in and with a better power supply. microRendu > W20
As for the microRendu's electromagnetic emission, which I know
@paulchiu will be interested in, even at 12 inches away, the readings are very low (1.5).
Early conclusion: The microRendu in standard form and before full break-in is the finest digital source I've heard at any price and a ridiculous bargain at $640. This device will likely dramatically change the landscape of music servers moving forward.