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Aurender N100H vs N10

Hi,

I currently have an Aurender N100H connecting to a Lampizator Lite 7 DAC via USB.  I am thinking about upgrading to N10, but considering the huge price difference, is it really worth it to get the N10?  The most important thing to me would be the sound quality.  Would the sound improvement be significant enough to justify the extra money spent?  Thanks for your input. 

respected_ent
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
Hi _ent,

Of the power cords I have tried, here is my ranking of sound quality when paired with the N100H:

1) Verastarr Statement III Gold/Silver Hybrid HC
2) Verastarr Statement II Gold/Silver Hybrid HC
3) Verastarr Statement III Silver
4) Verastarr Statement II Silver
5) Verastarr Signature HC Silver
6) Verastarr Signature Silver
7) Synergistic Research Element CTS Digital
8) Synergistic Research Tesla Hologram D
9) TWL Digital American

The SR Blue fuse is my favorite, followed by the HiFi Tuning Cardas Copper, and then the SR Black. BTW, the N100H takes two fuses.

Isolation is the Symposium Ultra platform with Rollerblock 2+ (slightly more detailed) and without Rollerblock 2+ (slightly more harmonically textured).

Dave
respected_ent OP
178 posts
 
Hi, Dave, looks like my TWL DA HP cord ranks the lowest (at number 9) in the list of power cords you've tried on the N100H.  Wow, sounds like I got a long way to go before I can bring the best out of my Aurender.  2 SR blue fuses?  That's just going to add up real fast.  Isolation will also be something I need to work on later.  Now I understand why you are not looking to upgrade to N10 any time soon.  May be your 'enhanced' N100H is now sounding very close to the N10.  Thanks.   
respected_ent OP
178 posts
 
I just saw some online postings where people said the SR blue fuses either didn't make the N100H sound any different or the improvement is very small.  Is this right?
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
I had a similar experience until I moved up to better cords and cables.

My point is that improving the inputs and ancillaries will optimize the sound quality from the gear one has now as well as gear upgrades down the road. I think it is a tragedy to upgrade perfectly good components when one has not experienced everything they are capable of and then also not experience what the upgraded gear is capable of either due to underestimating the benefit of investing in great power, cabling, isolation, etc. that allows any component to give its best. :)

Dave


skytool
4 posts
 
Someone asked Aurender about the USB difference between N10 and N100h  and Auralic's response is that the USB interface in N10 and N100h are exactly same,although N10 has better parts and power supply, which may still make some sound difference in USB output.
  Also the  OCXO crystal clock in N10 only works on coaxial output and has no impact on usb output. 
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