Widealab Aurender Music Servers

[Johnny Moondog]

Given that we all have unique systems, and through experience acquire musical cues as to what we like best, here are my 2 cents...

A brief description of prior systems. Started with the PS Audio PerfectWave Transport and DAC (1st generation). Replaced that combo with a Mach2Music SSD Mac Mini, Audirvana Plus, and AMR DP-777 DAC. Upgraded Mach2Music with a Mojo Audio Server -- SSD Mac Mini with internal SMPS removed, hardwired DC power cable, and external ultra-low-noise linear power supply. The sound quality improved by changing each of those sources and DACs.

I've been curious about the C.A.P.S. v3 Zuma and Aurender S10 -- and thus my asking Joe about his PC/Mac progression to the S10 -- but now have the opportunity to demo the W20.

First impressions...

The W20 hardware is extremely heavy and feels like you are lifting a power amplifier. When the dealer removed the top, I was impressed with the internal materials and design to create isolation between power supply, audio board, and storage. I'd seen photos... but seeing it in person was wonderful.

The dealer has had this unit for several weeks, so it already has a good dose of break-in hours.

I spent Saturday night just listening to the W20 on it's own, while browsing the thousands of Redbook CDs and high resolution albums the dealer installed, and getting to know the Aurender iPad application. Had a blast! Everything sounded so good I forgot to stop and analyze. Just listened to wonderful dynamic music.

On Sunday I loaded a selection of my music library onto the W20, and began the process of comparing the same tracks played back by the Mac Mini and the W20. I continued this comparison of tracks for the next couple of days.

Don't quite know how to describe the difference in detail yet -- but with every track I preferred the W20 over the modified Mac Mini. My first impression is that the instruments have more of their own "space" -- making it easier to hear all the parts played simultaneously. Perhaps that's just another way of saying "more coherent/micro dynamics" as Joe stated.

I haven't experienced any issues with adding high resolution files to playlists. And since I don't use up-sampling with the DP-777, I've not had any issues with conflicting clock frequencies.

More later...

[Still-One]

I am having a hard time understanding how most of this thread and especially many of the last few pages have much to do with the W20?

Maybe it should be retitled to something less specific.