Aurender N10 - Sound quality performance is erratic

@hgeifman - I appreciate your sharing. Maybe something as easy as reboot the modem when the music isn't sounding right. Or more complicated. Hopefully we can get the system dialed in where it plays well ALL the time.

@jon2020 

Hi Jon,

You said "I then restart it with a long press on the Play button on my iPad. and the SQ returns to glorious after that and this works every time".

For clarification of "Play button", are you talking about the sideways triangle button at the top left of the screen? So I just hold it down a few seconds? -I've not heard of this tip but very glad you replied to my thread. I'm truly hoping this works when I try it later today.

@hgeifman 

I turned on my iPad and it asked if I want the latest update for the Conductor App and I downloaded the update. So I should be up to date now.

FYI - I just want to say that Aurender has provided exceptional customer service so far. We all acknowledge this is an unusual problem and will continue to work towards solving it. I do appreciate your help here on Audiogon very much as well.

@jon2020 

I never clear my playlist. I'll give that a try.

FYI to all - My methodology diagnosing this problem has been to play the same 10-15 reference tracks and take notes so I can compare day-to-day sound quality. My pre/amp are on all the time and the N10 is always in standby and fairly warm to the touch.

Also, to those who have mentioned drop outs, that has never been my problem. Sound quality is my one and only problem. Apparently both @hgeifman and @jon2020 have experienced similar SQ problems and have posted above; I thank you both.

Update

@jon2020  

Thank you for the clarification on the Play button tip. Last night I played a few tracks I am intimate with and then tried the long press of the "Play button" choosing the Restart option, and unfortunately for me, this did not change the sound quality at all.

Next, I tried a reset of my modem/router and that also had no effect at all. The system sounded the same for the entire session and through both of  these two changes. I checked, the ATT modem/router and it does not have a battery.

I have made a word doc and will start working through other suggestions as time allows. I think a good place to start is to have a tech come out and check all connections, both inside and outside. -I appreciate all the help so far.

@steakster 

Yes I am talking about streaming Tidal.

Ok, didn't know that "the streaming settings for your personal account need to be re-set" when Tidal has updates. How do I know when Tidal updates, and then how do I re-set my personal account? I appreciate the insight. 

FYI - Today brought an amazing session with sound quality as good as it has ever been for me. I hope tomorrow will be the same. BTW, I have not performed any other updates since yesterday, so not sure why it was so good today, but I'll take it. Didn't want to stop listening it was so good.

FYI - Today brought another amazing listening session with sound quality seemingly as good as it has ever been for me. I said yesterday that I hoped tomorrow will be the same, well it was. BTW, I have not performed any other updates since 10/22 but I did take back the loaner N10 and picked up my repaired N10. According to Aurender, the player had a grounding issue and also one of the SSD drives needed to be replaced. I drove home and put it in the system and had to leave for an hour or so and it was playing tracks while I was away. I sat down after I got home and wow, REAL music was playing. I didn't want to stop listening it was so good. When the music is this good, I can't help but be happy.

@steakster 

FYI - I do have the Conductor app set to HiFi and also checked for updates a few minutes ago and it says that I'm already up to date. Thanks for the recommendation.

BTW, you wouldn't believe the SQ on Tidal for redbook quality files using the N10. It can be staggeringly good. For me it is so worth the $20/month fee and the cost of the server. Savings well spent.

I bought the $50 MQA app the day the N10 was installed. On the few MQA  tracks I've played it seems to make a positive difference vs the redbook file. But I do note 44.1 redbook files that are recorded well do play amazingly. I still consider myself new to this but all the best sounding tracks I know are not MQA and the vast majority are redbook.

UPDATE - Day 2 / Oct 25 with the repaired N10 - Was really good again and mostly similar to Oct 24. I very much enjoyed my listening session and I am hoping and praying that this is the new normal.

Again, I really appreciate all posters comments and suggestions.

@jon2020 

So I listened today after work around 5:30 PM and though good, the sound was warmer, less bass control/definition, and with less resolution. Satisfactory, but not all time. In a way, this is the similar to the way that my original N10 performed and in fact this is my repaired N10, back in the system since October 24th. Being that both N10s had varying quality of sound on different days, I don't think it points to a flaw in N10s, but may be more likely the fault of my DSL connection. During the listening session I attempted to run a speed test and it would not complete. After the session I tried to run it multiple times and it would not complete the test; the test would show download speed but no latency and only sometimes report upload and the upload speeds were either way lower than included in the service or double the speed, which I've never seen before. I also tried again just a few minutes ago to get the test to run all the way through, and it still would not complete. I do not know if this is the fault of the speed test or that my DSL is not operating correctly. But I need to have ATT send a tech out here to get to the bottom of this.

So I listened today from around 10-11AM when I had to quit. Sound was good but not great. It was mostly like yesterday. This day-to-day variability is killing me.

I called AT&T today and they updated my modem/router via phone support. The speed test still won't complete though. After I hung up about 5-10 minutes later, the modem/router quit working for a few minutes and rebooted and everything seems alright now but I won't get to play music until tomorrow so I have no idea if the software update has helped or not. Anyway, they are going to send out a tech on 10/29 to install a new DSL modem/router and I hope this will wind up being the culprit. I'm still not sure if the speed test website is partially malfunctioning or if the DSL isn't working correctly or if it is the modem/router. 

@jdavis37 

All of my problems have been with streamed music. I have not uploaded any music to the player yet. I've been trying to iron out my streaming problems first.

As you probably read above, ATT was out here on Monday morning and replaced my modem/router, replaced the wiring inside, checked all wiring outside the house, and replaced all wiring in the "box" at the edge of the neighborhood and gave me a new line. I've had very good listening sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and just a little while ago, today. I am very pleased with the quality of sound since the ATT tech was here.

I can highly recommend the N10. It is pretty easy to use and it sounds very very good. It is able to accurately playback a very high resolution image and it amazes me the sound quality it can provide on a well-recorded Redbook file. I'm very happy with the N10 and with the customer service provided by Aurender. I'd do it again.

@jdavis37 

2019 isn't all that far away! I know, it sounds long now since you don't have that new piece of gear, but it'll be here before you know it. I didn't try other servers in my system. I just tried the A10 and N10 and can tell you the N10 is very much worth the extra $$. I think the most important thing is that your new server synergize with your gear and really the only way to find that out is to put your choice in your system and listen to how it sounds. Hope you find just the right server.

Streaming is so fun; the only work is to go look up the next track or album. I'm really digging it. BTW, my CD collection is getting smaller and it feels good.

I'll keep the reboot procedure in mind; thanks for the tip.

"I am assuming it will work for a USB connected drive as well as using the internal drives?" -All the inputs are there so I'd say yes. I am using AES from DAC to N10. I also tried USB and felt AES was overall slightly better. Based on the text on the Aurender site, the two main drives do not appear to be SSD. I am unsure if you can replace them. You could try asking Aurender support. They are very helpful.

The Conductor app is quite easy to use. I found a few videos on YouTube that walk you through the features and that was a good use of 15-20 minutes.

Just finished another listening session and it was really very good. The N10 is an amazing source.

@benzman 

We used the TAD DAC in their Evolution SACD player and later the TAD DAC in their C2000 preamp and that is what I ended up with.

I believe I did compare the A10 to the N10 with the same DAC in the C2000 preamp, just using them as streamers. I believe this was with AES but am not 100% sure. I've used both USB and AES with my N10 and slightly prefer the overall presentation with AES. It was not a night and day difference with Nordost Heimdall 2.

I have heard the A10 with it's built-in DAC, but it was not as good even using MQA. The N10 + DAC is much better.

@jdavis37 

I have not compared the N10 to other servers in the same price range. But as I mentioned above, I have compared it to the lower-priced a10 and there is clearly a reason that Aurender charges more for the N10. It was a big stretch for me but I'm glad I did it. The N10 plays well-recorded files with ease and files that are more average in recording quality just sounded fuller & clearer than the A10. It was a very hearable quality the N10 brings to the party. The N10 is 27 lbs, meaning there's a lot of iron in there. It can be that heavy because it uses a full-size chassis, where they can physically enclose more and better quality transformers giving a big boost to the sound quality of the larger chassis. Take a look at Google photos or the Aurender site to see the interior of each of the servers, they speak volumes. -I hope you get a chance to try the N10 out. And I'd welcome a discussion of any other servers you have the pleasure of comparing it to. As a side note, my source said that the W20, Aurenders reference server, it is only marginally better than the N10 when using a single AES connection. When the W20 uses a word clock and DAC that can handle the twin-wire connection, it is quite a bit better. But you are looking at a $40k front end. I've heard it in a different system and it was very good, but it is well beyond my budget. Cheers and good luck in your search.

Finally, I'd like to say thank you very much to @hgeifman and @jon2020 for your help and encouragement. I hope this thread will help other users arrive at an even better sound in their own systems. 

As those of you who have been following this thread know, I had been having erratic sound quality streaming Tidal. ATT came out last Monday morning and performed maintenance, replacing my modem/router, and returning everything to good working order. I was able to listen once on Mon/Tuesday, and twice yesterday and today for a total of six sessions and all my sessions have been very good. Apparently my modem/router was the most likely culprit according to my tech; the tech called back to check in on me today - good customer service on ATT's part. I do notice that my internet is faster now that the service has been performed and of course the most important part, the music is now correct. 

Aurender has provided very good service along the way including providing me a loaner N10 and repairing my N10.

My dealer, Mike Rose @ Excel Audio in Newport Beach, has also been exemplary in his customer service. He had pushed me to have my internet connection checked and it turned out to be culprit. He has been there in my journey and has been instrumental in helping me to build a system that I had only dreamed of prior to meeting him around a year ago. As a totally satisfied customer, I suggest if you are in the Southern California area, Mike is a top-notch dealer worthy of doing business with, not only because he carries some of the finest world-class audio components available, but because he is first-class in customer service. Mike is just like all of us, he loves the music. When you are around him you can't help but be happy, it is just infectious. 

@jon2020 

Thanks Jon. Had two great sessions today (on vacation for the week). Now that everything is all in order I've been listening to lots of new and old music; so fun it was.