My stuff is so obscure I’ve had to download most of the images manually. About 3500 CDs MOL. I can’t say that I’d be excited to go through that again.
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With the Aurender what input do you use on the Directstream ?
If USB - do you need to get the matrix and go the i2S path or are u using another ds input?
I use the usb with a Ifi Purifier 2 in line. It makes a good difference and Cardas Clear Beyond usb cable. Thar’s the one with the double cables, one I believe is for the 5v, and to keep the signal separate. Usb can do pcm 352.8 kHz and dsd 128. The other outputs cannot do dsd, although the Aurender can convert dsd to 172kHz 24bit on the fly. I never use the other outputs because the usb sounded so good already.
I just bought the Matrix to Spdif 2 last week and maybe I’ll get it next week to try. It ships from China so takes awhile to get here. If it sounds any better than the usb, then I’ll let you know. Until then, Cheers.
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Take heart, my warranty replacement Matrix shipped from Xian, China on Friday and travelled to Maui, via Memphis, TN, in less than 72 hours, arriving Monday morning. That was economy Fedex. Which is to say, watch your tracking number closely as the Matrix requires a signature. For my first Matrix, I left a note on the door for Fedex and they left it…
There are different ways of looking at the Aurender. One is that its a true high end piece of audio kit that produces amazing sound quality. And it may be that. Another is that its a woefully underpowered computer with an extraordinarily high mark up. I’m not expressing any conclusion, just putting different angles out there.
The MacMini’s sound can be greatly enhanced by using something like HQPlayer, or even Audirvana. The HQPlayer author has put a lot of energy into creating an analog like sound, and a souped up MacMini will have, for better or worse, way more processing power than an Aurender. The Mac/Matrix combo does sound pretty sweet.
I’m not intending to cast shade on the Aurender, but more so pointing out that a Mac’s sound can be greatly enhanced by using the right audio playback software.
It would be very interesting to read a professional review comparing a nice Aurender to a high powered Roon/HQPlayer (PC or Mac) setup. I can say that while the excellent Roon is high priced at $500, its a bargain compared to what you’re paying for the “free” Aurender app.
You can read about the Aurender N10 on Stereophile. John Atkinson review it compare with his Mac Mini at the time. That was the reason I wanted to try the Aurender at that time.
Yes, I’m familiar with the Aurender, a buddy of mine has one and swears by it. It just would be interesting to see a shootout between an Aurender and Mac/ PC running Roon/ HQPlayer. Unfortunately, that’s a review we’ll never see in Stereophile or any other high end magazine or review website because Aurender pays big ad bills and HQPlayer does not…
Here is what one dealer’s experience is. Of course the only way is if you can borrow one to try in your own system.
"Apologies all - but, NOT. Apologies for use of Caps. I completely get using a Mini, as I did for years. Decades, actually. In various forms, for various Audio Applications. I had (still have in a box somewhere - anybody want it?) the same Modded Mac Mini as Paul - which AFAIK is what he was using as a digital source at RMAF this past weekend. Sure sounded like it. But what tends to happen in my long-ish experience with Minis as a “HiFi” sound source, is an endless Tweak Cycle, adding/changing/modding any number of aspects of the thing - and Every single thing Connected to it.
It is a device that was never intended for high end audio, as shocking (or obvious) as that may sound. When you design a Server from the ground up to do nothing other than play music and as minimal of an OS as possible, it easily is more musical than the Most Modded Mini…and there are several companies that have been doing this for years. Donkey’s Years in the Digital Domain.
I just got to the point where I’d spent More Money on it, and the attendant tweaks/outboard devices/cables to aid in Not Making it Sound Like [edit: (poo) Forum Software Facism] - than the cost of a Third or Fourth Generation, Really Well Built, Really Well Thought out Server from any of various manufacturers."
Well said - I agree absolutely, having also started out with a Mac Mini used as a dedicated music player.
Badbeef’s solution, buying an off-the-shelf server, is fine if you can afford it (don’t forget to include 2 levels of backup for the music library files). I adopted a cheaper solution which requires a minimum of tweaking: a NAS with a sufficiently powerful cpu that it could run Minimserver (or equivalent server software). Only tweak I’ve found necessary in 6 happy years listening to music via this route was to add optical isolation to the ethernet connection to the renderer/DAC.
.
True. Plenty of ways to skin this particular cat.
Part of my situation was - and I know I’m not alone in this - that I had spent the equivalent of the cost of a good server on the Mini, mods to the Mini, external drive, galvanic isolation devices and cables, linear power supplies, etc.
So for an equivalent expenditure, I got a better-functioning, better-sounding, well-realized 3rd or 4th Gen device. Just a single decent USB cable to the DS (or use whatever kind you like). I don’t even have my HD hooked up lately, as I tend to forget it is attached, and most stuff is on Qobuz or Tidal. I saved the cost of those by not using a Roon subscription or requiring a Roon Core.
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I concur with Mr Beef on this aspect. Currently using a MAC Mini. Nothing wrong with the MAC Mini approach, but you can spend some serious coin pursing audio enhancements to the point of exceeding the cost of a purpose built all in one solution. I found the MAC Mini to be a great way to get on the streaming “Train” and learn what I could. Now that that is behind me it is time for an upgrade, Aurender, Auralic, or Innuos. I also, like the option of an all in one solution with no additional wall warts, linear power supplies, or other MOJO…
Just my two cents.
Thanks Folks
Much to think about and especially helpful when I can tend to be penny-wise and pound-foolish (Mac Mini). I’ll start with trying to figure out how to do the following:
- Purchase a USB 1 TB hard-drive.
- Load our CD collection from the iMac (iTunes) to the hard-drive
- Hook the drive up to our Cambridge Azur 851N ****OR can I skip the Azur totally and use the DSJunior with it’s built-in bridge?
- Connect the Azur to the DSJunior
- Connect the DSJunior to the preamp.
Last night I was able to successfully move the Orbi satellite so I can wire directly from it to the DSJunior and/or the Azur…Yeah
Then look at finding a used Aurender, or Auralic. The Innuos seems a bit out of our price range.
I’ll maintain the Mac Mini is a great solution, but for me it was made far simpler because I already had a spare mini (or two) for its use as a music server. Combined with Roon and HQPlayer, playing/streaming FLAC Hi-Res music files (at least CD quality), it sounds fabulous on my modest system.
I haven’t gone much further than that with the mine. I am trying a Matrix X-SPDIF 2, but I haven’t implemented any kind of alternate power supply for the mini, or other expensive mac mini tricks.
The biggest thing here I would ask (and forgive me if I missed it above) is what kinds of files did you rip your CDs to? Are they lossless FLAC/AIFF/WAV files? Or are they lossy (AAC/MP3)? (When I hear “iTunes” I always assume AAC/MP3 as the default, but I could be way off base here.)
Anyway, you may have already sorted this, and perhaps I’m out of touch for bringing it up, but I think the sound quality of the file will have a lot more to do with your enjoyment/experience than what kind of server you choose. (Especially the further up the food chain you go with the rest of your system.)
If you are price sensitive an Innuos Zen may work out. You should be able to negotiate the price if you are comfortable with used.
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Thanks for the reply.
Everything so far has been saved at the Apple Lossless Encoder setting. I understood that this was the highest resolution for savin g through iTunes.
John
cool. I could have added ALAC files to the “lossless” list. 
None, using Mac Mini is the old way of doing things, it’s never gonna be as good as a dedicated music server with proper isolation, power supply, wifi chip, etc… My favorite is Innous, check out their products here:
http://www.innuos.com/en/catalog/go/music-servers-mk3
I audiotioned them at Axpona and was quite impressed, also Darko has a cpl of video reviews of them. Worth checking out.
Yup! Either Aurender or Innous, my two fave brands.
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One comment about Innuos, they were having some issues communicating to the Ayre DAC at RMAF. No explanation given, but they did need to clear the room and asked that we come back in an hour or so. Happened twice with no explanation. They were clearly frustrated.
That and some changes to their dealer network in my area has me rethinking Innuos at the moment. It is capable of some great sound, especially with the Phoenix.
Interesting, weird! I like them a lot, and I think it’s a great server and a bit more affordable than Aurender.