With this high-end network player from Aurender, dematerialisation becomes a reality for even the most demanding audiophiles. The flagship model, the Aurender A20, incorporates a digital player, converter, preamplifier and headphone output, making it a stand-alone device for listening to the best Hi-Res audio streams. It can even be equipped with internal storage discs for completely offline access to your favourite works.
A South Korean company created by a team of hi-fi enthusiasts, Aurender has successfully established itself in the world of high-end hi-fi. To achieve this, it has demonstrated its imagination by offering innovative solutions that are easy to use and, above all, impeccable in terms of the sound reproduction quality they offer. The A20 network player is no exception to this tradition.
It follows the broad outlines of the A30, which offered the possibility of ripping CDs directly thanks to its internal drive and integrated hard drive. Although the Aurender A20 does not have an internal drive, it can still accommodate internal hard drives. Two internal bays are reserved for hard drives, both traditional and SSD, with a capacity of up to 8 terabytes each. In this case, it is still possible to rip CDs, but using an external CD drive.
LATEST GENERATION DACs
For flawless digital signal processing, the A20 continues to rely on a digital-to-analogue conversion chain designed using the best components on the market. In particular, it uses AKM 4497 chipsets in a dual mono configuration. It therefore has two separate power supplies protected by specific shielding. This configuration guarantees very high-level channel separation combined with exceptional musicality. In addition, in order to fully preserve the purity of the signal, the A20’s power supply uses four generously calibrated toroidal transformers.
This means that each section – from the server and hard drive management section to the analogue stages and conversion sections – has its own power supply, which is autonomous and independent of the others. This eliminates any risk of interaction between the different sections.
MQA AND PCM STREAM MANAGEMENT UP TO 32-BIT/768 KHZ
In addition, in order to accept the latest generation of Hi-Res audio streams, the A20’s converters handle MQA at full resolution. Similarly, the Aurender A20 handles PCM files up to 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD up to DSD512. The conversion quality of any DAC is also linked to the stability of its clock.
Here again, the A20 is equipped with a particularly stable and accurate system. Its OCXO (oven-controlled crystal oscillator) clock is managed by a system incorporating FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays). This configuration gives the clock generator extreme accuracy. Its error remains below 100 femtoseconds, making jitter negligible. Finally, the A20 oversamples files, with the exception of DSD files, up to 32-bit/768 kHz.
A USER-FRIENDLY APP
But to fully access its settings, the A20 has a dedicated app called Aurender Conductor. Compatible with iOS and Android, it allows you to adjust both digital and analogue filters, among other things, to achieve true symbiosis between the Aurender A20 and the components it is connected to. The A20’s large 8.8″ screen displays all the information about the file being played and the status of the various settings. In addition, this app offers easy and user-friendly access to a multitude of Internet radio stations, as well as high-quality music streaming services such as Qobuz and Tidal.
A WIDE RANGE OF CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS
In terms of connectivity, the A20 is ready to be integrated seamlessly into any amplification system. In addition to its network player features, it also serves as a high-quality DAC for interfacing a digital source with an analogue system. In addition to slots for SSD hard drives for local music storage and an RJ-45 Ethernet port, it has two optical inputs, one coaxial input, one BNC input and USB ports.
The analogue outputs are available in balanced mode on XLR connectors and unbalanced on RCA connectors. Their output level is adjustable to optimise the combination of the A20 and the power amplifier, or even the preamplifier to which it is connected. Note that there is also a digital output on USB. This can be used to connect an external DAC to the A20, limiting it to the function of a network player. A headphone output on the front panel allows the A20 to be used completely independently.
Finally, the A20 has an elegant finish and understated design. When used to directly control a power amplifier, the large knob on the front panel acts as a volume control.
INSTALLING THE AURENDER A20
The new A20 is a complete digital audio server that connects directly to your preamplifier or integrated amplifier via an unbalanced or balanced connection. It can also be connected directly to a power amplifier; in this case, the A20’s volume control should be used. The choice is easily made on the front panel. This source deserves a proper installation on a high-quality stand that can support the machine’s 17 kg weight. Care should also be taken to ensure that the power supply and the quality of the power cord are appropriate. This has a significant impact on the final result.
THE SOUND OF THE AURENDER A20
Since the Aurender brand has been distributed in France, its success has been unwavering. It must be said that this server manufacturer got it right from the start. Today, the brand increasingly incorporates digital-to-analogue converters into its machines, meaning that customers do not need to use an external DAC, as is the case with the A20 in our test, as the machine is complete. We are delighted to find what has contributed to its reputation, namely one of the most successful user interfaces on the market and a sound quality that is as pleasant as it is musical.
Aurender has built its reputation on remarkable listening comfort. These are sources that you can listen to for hours without ever feeling the slightest auditory fatigue. This is obviously the case with the A20, which stands out for its reproduction of a particularly wide and, above all, exceptionally consistent sound spectrum. The bass register goes very low with excellent precision. It provides the music with a foundation, a base, an authentic reference point.
At the other end of the bandwidth, the treble captivates with its shimmering character, variety, lightness and total absence of simplification. But above all, regardless of the amplitude or level considered, the A20 reproduces all types of information with astonishing consistency. The timbres are soft, highly nuanced, particularly realistic and natural. This is obviously due to its remarkable resolution, which allows the device to develop the harmonic richness necessary to highlight the slightest subtleties.
As we have already said, and we undeniably find this characteristic here, the Korean manufacturer has never made a secret of its desire to design perfectly pure sources. This is why the A20 can boast a very high level of detail. What sets this source apart from many others is also the level of virtuosity and restraint it can boast. In this price range, we regularly encounter devices that tend to err on the side of excess. In the first few minutes of listening, this always provides a very flattering sensation that maintains the listener’s illusion of sonic beauty. But in the long run, we know full well that this is relatively artificial and quickly becomes tiresome…
With the A20, Aurender completely avoids this pitfall. We can confirm this after spending many hours listening to this device, even at high and prolonged volume levels, without ever feeling the slightest fatigue.
OUR CONCLUSION
For eclectic music lovers who want not only the best listening comfort, but also smooth and easy operation, Aurender is a must-have. This is a device that you will keep for a long time, one that will do justice to a truly high-end system while ensuring simplicity at every level. Remarkably designed to make everyday life easier, the A20 provides constant enjoyment. It is the ultimate jukebox, capable of offering you the quintessence of sound.
Authors: Estève Fabry and Pierre Fontaine
TECHNICAL SHEET: AURENDER A20
- Origin: Korea
- Price: €14,900
- Dimensions: 430 x 141 x 355 mm
- Weight: 17 kg
- Digital inputs: 1 x RCA SPDIF/1 x BNC SPDIF/2 x Toslink up to 24-bit/19 kHz
- Analogue outputs: 2.0 (RCA) or 2.7 Vrms (XLR): 4.0 or 5.4 Vrms selectable
- Dedicated USB audio port: 1 x USB audio class 2.0
- Ethernet: 1 x Gigabit Ethernet dual isolation
- USB PCM audio output: up to 32-bit/768 kHz
- DSD: DoP up to 128 – Native DSD up to 256
- Storage (user-installed):
- 2 x 2.5″ (15 mm height)
- Tray for SSD or HDD
