And this has what to do with anything? Even more confused as heck.
I think weāre going off topic here so Iāll just end by saying the DSD is so revealing as to it sounds according to the quality of the associated equipment you use it with.
3 Likes
The Aurender N10 has been repaired and is being shipped back. It cost $200 total to change the SSD that was broken. $100 for labor and $70 for SSD and $30 shipping. Thatās what my brother said, so I expect him to be floored like I was when it arrives, and he hears the Aurender first time in his system!! He is using the Mini Mac right now, so the difference is enormous!!
Overture told me the Esoteric N-03T in the US now and I should be getting it pretty soon. Weāll see if itās any better than the Aurender when it arrives. Will keep you posted if youāre interested.
2 Likes
I donāt know, there are a lot of people who think that there mini mac is the secret to happiness.
The Mac Mini is fine, especially when you modify it a bit. Just donāt make the mistake of listening to something that sounds way better like a tricked out Matrix with the Aurender N10, or you will no longer be satisfied with the Mac Mini. I guarantee it. Even my DMP is way more satisfying to listen to right now. But you already knew that.
Speaking of DMP, Iām listening to it right now and I swear it may be sounding as good as the Aurender, but waitā¦ I forgot I put in a new power cord in my P20. I made another discovery. This is one hell of a power cord and itās like a component upgrade!! It is the SR Galileo UEF power cord. Together with the RAL HDMI on the DMP, I swear, this is some sweet sounding system!!
So contrary to the common belief that hard drives fail, and solid state parts survive, the HDD within the N10 survived (hopefully with the library?). That is very good.
Good luck with the N-03T. It is definitely has a different design philosophy.
That SSD failure on the N10 is not that uncommon as there are several owners on the AudioShark forum that have had the same repair done and then the N10 was good as new.
In a system, parts and design are interdependent. So, it could be a design failure or parts selection failure.
Yes, the HDD survived with the library intact. Should work like new again. They were able to reboot the unit without erasing all the contents.
1 Like
A huge relief isnāt it?
Yes, it is for my brother. Iām glad I will not have these problems again since the Esoteric donāt have any drives in it.
1 Like
Will be interesting to see what you think about the Lumin app as opposed the Conductor. Load the Lumin app instead of the Esoteric app as it is an older version of the Lumin app that is not updated nearly as frequently but it is operationally the same.
For a number of years, I used Naim app for my Naim gear (still have 3 naim units). Naim app relies on Rovi, which is fine. I bought a lifetime subscription and Nucleus+ (as a streamer only as I still use Naim Core as a server) Roon has reinvented audio library use and management. The listening experience is nicer with all the suggestions, featured composers, labels, artists, main artists etc. My CDs ripped years ago are now more enjoyable with all the extra information and suggestions! Best of all, on a tablet, fonts are more legible than the old paper inlays or jewel case backs, LOL.
1 Like
The Esoteric call their app Sound Stream. It is also available on the IPhone which Aurender isnāt. I believe Aurender is making the app available on Android soon if it havenāt already. But My phone is a IPhone. The Esoteric is also roon ready so that might be an option if I choose. If Sound Stream or Lumin is like the Conductor app, I think I will love it.
1 Like
Sound Stream is the same app as the Lumin app just an older version and they operate identically the same is true of the Teac HR Streamer app. I have tried all three. The Lumin app might turn out to be a little different just from looking at them but they apparently both work great and sound good but it will just be a period of adaptation for you after years with one app.
1 Like
My guess, is that Roon does its processing using its core, be it a computer or a Nucleus. Sound Stream / Lumin app allows processing to take place within the streamer, be it Esoteric, Teac, or Lumin. So, it is worth testing the native app with these functions.
Elsewhere (I think in the tweaks thread) members spoke about Roon filters for room / listening seat correction. I will try to learn more about these features.
The Naim Server used a piece of third party software that it transpired was developed by two guys in a flat in Acton. They licensed it. The also licensed it to other companies, including Ava Media that made a better and cheaper version of the Naim Server. Unfortunately it had a fatal SQL flaw and could crash catastrophically. Mine did, twice, over about 5 or 6 years. Naim decided to stick to in-house software.
Innuos do not like Roon because they think it messes with the sound. They have advised me to avoid data conversions and filters if not really necessary. I donāt do any at all. Innuos are very popular with Roon users, but have been around longer than Roon, are not a Roon off-shoot business, can host other streaming apps and are developing their own uPnP app, which should make them sound even better.
PSA used to say on their website (they may still do) that the digital lens makes the quality of the data source (in terms of noise etc) irrelevant. dCS are the same in that you can connect pretty much anything to a Bridge. QNAPs are common. The good thing about them is that if you use WD Red or similar they will last many years with little chance of failure. Iāve had a TS451 with 4 x 4TB WD Red running for 6 years without fail. Problem is that a Roon Core needs SSD, I tried SATA and it was an epic fail. I have a TS473 with 4 x 2TB SSD running for a year now with no issues.
Naim Uniti Serve broke down twice within the space of four years, one was covered by warranty, the other my cost. It uses an old Windows version. While it was away for repair, I bought the Naim Core which is still in use as well as Mu-so. Uniti Serve and two other components are retired in boxes.
Have a MuSo Qb2 here as well. Super smashing great.
Naim pays the rent of a lot of audio dealers. Itās incredibly good and mostly reliable with a great product range. There no āCult of Naimā either. I tend to think of people who buy Naim not as fanboys but as no-nonsense non-audiophiles who want good sound quality and technology.
1 Like
In my personal experience, most people I know who feel that have not tried a server. And that includes: Me before I got a real server; friends and family and (koff, koff) others who shall not be named here.
It certainly seems to be an inexpensive way to get into it - which it is. And probably just fine for a lot of systems. Frankly - still using one in my second system because Iām using a Transporter, so need to run LMS. But once you get your head around what matters in a serverās design (hint: Everything) you want something designed for the task.
1 Like