Aurender N20 Server Streamer

Description

MY TAKE: Slotting in between the N10 and W20SE, the N20 offers a broad range of features and exemplary performance. Note: No internal drives for storage are included with the N20. There are two drive bays that allow you to install SSD/HDD 2.5" drives of your choice.
VERY highly recommended! - Galen

The most recent introduction to the Aurender line up, the N20 borrows some of the technology for in its more expensive sibling, the W20SE, representing an outstanding value.

REVIEWS:

The Absolute Sound: "Summing up, I loved the musical experiences conjured up by the Aurender N20. It presented the music with very high accuracy and precision, complete with the requisite muscle and horsepower to provide superb rendition of dynamic contrasts and shadings, but could temper and punctuate those dynamics with the delicate articulation of instruments and voices. The overall presentation was exceptionally uncolored and tonally accurate, yet rich with natural timbral warmth, three-dimensional weight and body, and fine gradations of instrumental or vocal textures. All this goodness was presented with clean, quiet, and very black backgrounds, refined, stable, and precise imaging, expansive soundstaging, and most importantly, nuanced, refined, and relaxed naturalness.

"Bringing it home, the Aurender N20 is one of a handful of the best-designed, best-integrated, best-engineered, and, most importantly, best-sounding audio components I have ever had the pleasure to use and experience. As such, it constitutes an innovative new benchmark in digital music server/streamers. Highest possible recommendation—the Aurender N20 is a veritable home run." - Stephen Scharf

Full Review Here

Computer Audiophile: "Those interested in a complete solution that requires zero configuration, from a company with a stellar reputation, offering full support from three continents, high end build quality, reliability second to none, and of course impeccable sound quality, should look no further than the Aurender N20. What about the flagship Aurender W20SE? After many hours using both servers, and many years using Aurender servers, I think the N20 is my favorite. If I needed dual AES output, I'd certainly go with the W20SE. However, I believe the sweet spot in the Aurender lineup is the N20. If I was paying with my own hard earned cash, I'd go with the N20 without question. I should also note, I have yet to hear the two chassis N30SA, but I look forward to that day in the near future. 

"The Aurender N20 hits the bullseye with simplicity, stability, speed, and sound quality. The product is as simple as possible, but no simpler. Essential features and a few bells & whistles are packed into the N20, while keeping the unit unencumbered by complexity. The chances of the N20 playing music immediately upon pressing play, are as close to 100% as possible. Whether my unit was in use constantly or sitting idle while I took a little Thanksgiving holiday, it always, without question, worked when I hit play. Chuckle if you wish, but that isn't a reality when using many high end solutions. I have them, I've done the homework, I've experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Aurender N20 is the real deal that delivers top notch sound quality every time it's ask to perform. Recommended and CASH Listed."

Full Review Here

FEATURES:

• The new linear power supply for N20 utilizes 2 transformers, 4 cores, large audio-grade capacitors, and isolated grounding! It is extremely sophisticated and dead quiet! A power supply this good contributes immediately audible improvements to any audio component.
• Grounding for the SPDIF outputs is now isolated by a separate transformer for an even lower noise floor on AES/EBU, Coax RCA & BNC, and Toslink outputs compared to N10.
• All new circuit boards populated with higher precision OCXO clock and oscillator exhibiting 4 to 10 times more stability (frequency stability vs. load) than the N10. Musicality, timing, pace, and rhythm are greatly enhanced.
• Like A30, ACS10, and ACS100, the N20 features a built-in super capacitor-based uninterruptible power supply. This prevents disc and operating system corruption in the event of an abrupt power outage by safely shutting down the system.
• A word clock input facilitates syncing N20 with an external word clock.
• N20 features a full color 8.8” 1980 x 480 widescreen as found on A30. The chassis size is just slightly taller than the N10 giving it a more substantial appearance.
• The N20 is supplied without hard drives installed. As with N100SC and ACS100, hard drives are the customer’s choice. Each of the two rear panel mounting sleds accommodates a 1, 2,4, or 8TB 2.5 inch SSD or up to 5TB 15mm height 2.5inch HDDs. Since users have different storage requirements, we feel this is the best way to satisfy everyone.
• Next-generation USB Audio Class 2.0 Module designed with an emphasis on lowering jitter and lowest possible latency.
• Like the W20SE and ACS10, the N20 uses a double isolated LAN port to filter out router induced noise.
• Double the DRAM (8GB) of the N10 providing ample system resource for support of native DSD 512 playback.
• Improved and higher capacity SSD for caching. Upgraded to 500GB M2 NVME. N10 uses a 2.5” 240GB SATA.
• Available in silver or black finish.