Aurender A30

A30 Aurender’s best DAC, plus the convenience of built-in CD Ripping Reference Analog Output Network Player with Aurender’s best built-in DAC, CD Ripping, Library Management functionality, 10TB storage, and Dedicated Headphone Section A Marriage of Performance and Convenience A30 is the flagship model from Aurender’s range of analog output network players. Like A200, A15, and A20, A30 is, at its essence, a caching music server/streamer with a built-in DAC and analog outputs.  A30 is built around Aurender’s best internal DAC architecture: a dual-mono pair of AKM4497 DACs for the ultimate performance in channel separation, resolution, and control. The Aurender A30 also includes full MQA Decoder technology which enables you to play back full-resolution MQA audio files and streams, delivering the highest possible sound quality of the original master recording. Beyond delivering exceptional audio quality, A30 includes functions like CD ripping, 10TB of internal storage, ultra-wide color LCD display, a high-quality dedicated headphone section, and an integrated software suite of metadata editing and library management tools. All this, and much more, makes the A30 the new performance standard in all-in-one digital source components.   Key Features Aurender’s Best DAC Aurender designed the A30 for those seeking the simplicity of an all-in-one unit without sacrificing a high level of resolution, transparency, and the reproduction of inner detail. Built around an integrated dual-mono AKM4497 DAC module, A30 delivers MQA full-decoding to get the best performance out of MQA content, as well as every other major digital audio format. Linear Power Supply with Integrated UPS A fully-linear power supply architecture with extensive shielding prevents noise from being delivered to sensitive DACs. Four discrete toroidal transformers power the server system, digital outputs and dual-mono DAC respectively. A “super capacitor” based UPS system stabilizes A30 in the event of an abrupt loss of power. FPGA-Based Precision Clock A30’s precision clock generation system incorporates a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with sub 100fs jitter-reducing clock generator to precisely time digital audio data transmissions and minimize jitter to below negligible levels.     Variable Output XLR & RCA Outputs A30’s high quality Balanced (XLR) and Unbalanced (RCA) outputs guarantee compatibility with any preamp, integrated amp, or even power amps! A30’s DAC-level lossless volume control enables it to function as a preamp when connected directly to a power amplifier. Dedicated Headphone Section In addition to being a stellar Analog Output Network Player for loudspeaker systems, A30’s sophisticated headphone section is a real overachiever! Featuring a dedicated headphone amp and three different types of headphone outputs, A30 is a HeadFi lover’s endgame. 10TB HDD Internal Storage With a 10TB HDD built-in, even the most extensive music libraries will have plenty of headroom.     Automatic CD Ripping Aurender’s CD ripping software, which was custom engineered and optimized to work with the integrated TEAC CD-ROM, yields shockingly good CD rips in WAV, FLAC or AIFF codecs. Sophisticated error detection and correction software ensures accurate rips for great sounding digital files. A30 supports the Acronova Nimbie AutoLoader (not included) which allows for unattended and automated ripping of up to 100 cds at a time. A30 Manager Companion App A30 is so packed with features, we had to give it its very own app! The A30 Manager companion app is used to configure all Library Management functionality including CD ripping preferences and behaviors. Smart Copy/Move/Delete utilities, Metadata Editing and Duplicate Checker are just some of the library management software-based tools provided for you to organize your music library the way you want. Digital Connectivity A30 is capable of upsampling non-DSD files up to 705.6/768kHz to the analog outputs. Or leave upsampling off (default setting) for an untouched bitstream. Upsampling DAC Option A30 is capable of upsampling non-DSD files up to 705.6/768kHz to the analog outputs. Or leave upsampling off (default setting) for an untouched bitstream.   REVIEW & AWARDS Aurender A30 review - Read More "Aurender promotes its A30 with the tagline “a marriage of performance and convenience” and says that it “provides everything one needs to create, store, manage, edit and play hi-res file content in one compact audio source component.” Although, as I discovered, you will need to add a few other ‘bits n’ bobs’ – most of which you will likely already own – Aurender’s claim is close enough to the truth that I am prepared to hand them a hall pass, simply because the A30 does what it does so brilliantly well… and also because I so absolutely adore that front panel! " - Australian Hi-Fi    Aurender A30 Music Server | REVIEW - Read More "The A30 can centralize and orchestrate your disparate musical world – from local files to NAS files, to streaming services. And this one-box solution from Aurender will not only seriously improve your audio system’s performance, it will also do that one thing that technology is supposed to do – it will simplify your life. " - Scot Hull       Aurender A30 Full Review - Read More "Aurender's track record for great products and customer service over the last decade, now enhanced by its analog flagship A30, is proof that this company has taken itself to another level. I believe Aurender should now be considered one of the blue chip companies in HiFi. I unquestionably recommend the A30 to even the most knuckle-dragging, stubborn, old school audiophiles. To quote the late Christopher Wallace, "If you don't know, now you know." " - The Computer Audiophile   Aurender A30 caching music server/CD ripper/streamer - Read More "The A30 is not inexpensive. Yet, the fact that the A30 offers this level of performance in four key device areas makes this a solid bargain. Once you invest an afternoon in taking your time to configure it properly it will reward you with simple operation using it together with the very well thought out Conductor app. After ripping all of your CD’s, configuring and logging into your streaming accounts and boxing up your many old devices you can settle back and decide which of the forty million songs you should enjoy. That may be your most difficult audio decision left to you. Bravo Aurender, the simplicity benchmark. " - Eric Neff   Aurender A30 Digital Music Player - Read More "There's no denying that the A30 is a remarkably comprehensive device, and – from its stylish lines and display through to the slick Conductor app – clearly one that's been thoroughly thought through. It handles a huge range of formats, is easy to configure and a delight to use. Settle on a favoured digital filter and 'current mode', and few network/streaming DACs will deliver so much musical information. " - Andrew Everard     SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions 16.9″W x 14″D x 5.6″H (4.7″ w/o Feet) Weight 37.5 lb Material Machined Aluminum Chassis  Front Panel Display 8.8″ 1920 x 480 Wide IPS Color LCD Power Supply Full Linear, 1x50W (CPU), 2x25W (DAC L&R), 1x25W (Headphone), 1x25W (FPGA) CPU Intel Low Power Quad Core RAM 8GB Library Storage Capacity 10TB (3.5″ HDD) SSD for System & Cache 480GB NVME Data USB Ports 2X USB 3.0 (Rear) Software Suite Aurender Conductor, A30 Manager Ethernet Port Double-Isolated Gigabit LAN Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Yes (Super Capacitors) Power Consumption Play (47W), Peak (80W), Standby (6W) CD Ripping Capability Yes, Slot-Loading Optical Drive, Compatible with Nimbie Autoloader Audio Analog Outputs XLR (Balanced), RCA (Unbalanced) DAC Chipset AKM 4497 – Dual-Mono Audio Word Clock OCXO Analog Outputs Supported Format PCM: Up to 32-bit / 768 kHz; DSD: Up to DSD512 Digital Outputs USB Audio (Dedicated) USB Output Supported Format Up To 32-bit / 384kHz, DSD128 (DoP), DSD512 (Native) SPDIF & AES/EBU Output Supported Format N/A Digital Inputs 1X Coax RCA, 1X Coax BNC, 2X Optical/Toslink Headphone Section 1 x 1/4″ (6.5mm) Unbalanced, 1 x 4-pin XLR Balanced, 1 x 4.4 mm Balanced Master Clock Input N/A MQA Support MQA Full-Decoder On Board Compatible Formats DSD (DSF, DFF), WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, M4A, APE and others DSD-to-PCM Conversion N/A