Aurender AP20

AP20 A premium Integrated Amplifier with the heart of an Aurender Elegance. Finesse. Resolution. Grace. If ever Aristotle’s adage: “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” is applicable in audio, it applies to AP20. And, given the quality and quantity of parts in this equation, that’s saying a lot. AP20 delivers unprecedented audio performance from an integrated amplifier. It includes the world’s best Class D amp modules in a dual-mono configuration, an analog R2R relay-based volume control and preamp section, Aurender’s best DAC, a master clock input, a headphone output, a suite of digital and analog inputs and outputs, and the most sophisticated linear power supply block Aurender has ever deployed. The result? An audio component that paints every musical timbre with full-bodied realism. With a delicate touch that’s backed up by enormous headroom for transients and dynamic swings, AP20 drives even the most demanding speaker loads and casts a soundstage that is both expansive and laser-focused. All of this performance, with the heart of an Aurender. Other integrated amplifier solutions on the market may offer support for app-controlled streaming, but in nearly every case, the user experience, library management, and software playback engine are an afterthought requiring third-party software and hardware to get the job done. In AP20’s case, more than 10 years of industry-leading experience has made Aurender the digital source component of choice in the world’s finest audio systems. Now, that same holistic digital playback engine and user experience is available from an integrated amplifier that completely removes the need for more components and cables. Just add speakers, and enjoy a premium HiFi experience, without all the HiFi boxes.      Key Features Ultra High-Performance Class D Amplifiers There’s Class D, and then there’s ridiculously good Class D. AP20 utilizes the finest amplifier modules available. Designed by renowned engineer Bruno Putzeys, the Purifi Eigentakt 1ET400A amplifier is free of digital harshness, edginess, and grain. Featuring impressive specifications that are reflected in its extraordinary audio performance, AP20’s dual-mono amplifier section represents the state-of-the-art of Class D amp technology. Dead-Quiet Linear Power Supply Most Class D amplifier implementations utilize switch mode power supplies because they are efficient, cool-running, and inexpensive. However, this can introduce noise and distortion to the signal path, resulting in an audio presentation that lacks a sense of natural analog grace. So, in typical Aurender fashion, AP20 uses SIX discrete toroidal transformers to power the CPU, left & right DAC boards, FPGA processor, and power output stages, respectively. Aurender’s Best DAC Aurender designed the AP20 for those seeking the simplicity of an all-in-one unit without sacrificing a high level of resolution, transparency, and inner detail. Built around an integrated dual-mono AKM4497 DAC module, AP20’s best-in-class DAC section delivers high-resolution PCM, DSD, and MQA full-decoding at the highest level.     Analog Volume Control In any system, the quality of the audio presentation is significantly impacted by the volume control mechanism of the preamplifier. Remarkably, AP20 employs an analog-domain volume control based on an R2R stepped-attenuator system. Volume control of this quality is utterly uncommon in digitally-equipped integrated amps, and it is a major reason why AP20 provides such a natural, open sound. OCXO Precision Clock AP20’s OCXO based 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. Analog Pass-Through Inputs The AP20 provides a suite of analog inputs including 1X balanced XLR and 2X single-ended RCA, offering an ideal solution for integrating external analog sources into your audio system. Vinyl enthusiasts can connect their phono stage to an available analog input and enjoy pure analog pass-through without any A/D conversion in the signal path.     Digital Connectivity With a variety of digital inputs including 1X RCA SPDIF, 1X BNC SPDIF, and 2X TOSLINK optical interfaces, AP20 is well-equipped to render external digital sources such as a CD transport, media player, or TV via its superior internal DAC. Auxiliary XLR Output AP20’s high-quality balanced XLR output allows the user to feed subwoofers with line-level input (XLR-to-RCA adapters may be required in some cases). Users are supposed to select the “XLR + Speaker” option in the Aurender app, which enables both XLR and speaker outputs simultaneously to augment bass. Master Clock Input Although AP20 is equipped with an extremely precise OCXO clock system, jitter can be minimized further by connecting a 10MHz Master Clock signal generator such as Aurender’s MC10. Dedicated Headphone Section In addition to being a stellar amplifier for loudspeaker systems, AP20 also features a 1/4″ headphone output for quiet moments.     REVIEW & AWARDS REVIEW AURENDER AP20 INTEGRATED STREAMING AMP: HIGH-END PLUG-AND-PLAY - Read More "You could call the Aurender AP20 plug-and-play, but at a truly high-end level. A Super-Integrated that can proudly bear the Aurender name. And yes, it comes with a certain price tag. But even though it is now a worn-out cliché: put together a system from separate components that can do all this at the same level, and then add up the price tags. The missing 'nice to have' functions in the app can be circumvented in some way, and other than that I can't really fault anything. Therefore, I am pleased to award the maximum score of 5 stars. " - MAX DELISSEN    Aurender AP20 Integrated Review - Read More "Around my house we like to say, use it up, wear it out. I feel like I used this unit in every which way imaginable and forced it to flex its muscles while simultaneously whispering with accuracy, but I couldn’t wear it out. I couldn’t find the limits of the Aurender AP20. This is so much more than an integrated amplifier. It’s a complete system with sky-high capabilities. 100% CASH Listed. " - The Computer Audiophile     SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions 16.93″W x 14.2″D x 5.9″H Weight 57.3 lb Material Machined Aluminum Chassis Front Panel Display 8.8″ 1920 x 480 Wide IPS Color LCD Power Supply Full Linear, 2x 400VA Toroidy Transformers (L&R Power Amp), 2x 50W (L&R Audio Boards), 1x50W (CPU), 1x25W (FPGA) CPU Intel Low Power Quad Core RAM 8GB Library Storage Capacity 2X 2.5″ Compartments (User-Installable Storage) 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 N/A Audio Volume Control Relay-Based R2R Stereo Attenuator -64dB ~ 0dB., Velocity Sensitive Operation Analog Outputs XLR (Balanced) 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 N/A 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 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 Amplifier Amplifier Module 2x Purifi 1ET400A Class D Amplifier Module in Dual-Mono Configuration Rated Power Output 200 W into 8 ohms / 350 W into 4 ohms THD (20Hz-20kHz) 0.003 % (1W to 200 W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms) Damping Factor 800 (ref. 8Ω 20 Hz to 6.5 kHz) Output Impedance <65μΩ @ 1kHz Power Configuration Full linear & Dual-Mono – 2 x 400VA Audio grade Toroidy toroidal transformers Power Supply Filter Capacitors Total 80,000uF ( 40,000 uF / channel) Binding Posts WBT nextgen™ pole terminal – Signal conductor made of pure copper