Aurender A30
The Aurender A30 delivers clean, deeply resolved sound, combining punchy bass, airy treble and sharply focused imaging with a remarkably complete digital front end. HiFi News admired its rhythmic precision and effortless format handling, while Audiophile Style found its DAC and balanced outputs capable of replacing serious separates. CD ripping, vast storage and a superb headphone stage complete the polished one-box experience.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
91/100
Features Usability
94/100
Value for Money
89/100
Pros
Exceptionally clean, detailed and precise presentation, with strong dynamics, image focus and controlled bass.
Highly capable all-in-one platform combines server, streamer, CD ripper, DAC, preamp and dedicated balanced/unbalanced headphone amplification.
Conductor software and the large front-panel display make library management and everyday operation notably slick and approachable.
Cons
The neutral, tightly controlled voicing can sound a little dry to listeners seeking greater warmth or romantic scale.
Local stored files deliver richer, more dimensional playback than NAS or streaming sources in one reviewer’s experience.
Backing up the internal music library is less straightforward than it should be.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviewers consistently hear an unusually resolved, precise and musically composed presentation, with strong rhythmic grip, dynamics, image focus and convincing space. Its character favors clarity and truthfulness over added warmth or romantic scale; one reviewer found it occasionally a little dry, while another found locally stored files notably richer and more immediate than network or streamed playback.
Overall Sound
94/100
What Hi-Fi praised the A30's clarity, precision and spacious rendering, while Hi-Fi News found it clean, detailed, rhythmically capable and dynamically assured. Part Time Audiophile called local-file playback reference quality, and Audiophile Style heard considerably greater resolution, texture and detail than Aurender's A10, with punchy, controlled bass and airy highs. The principal caveat is a presentation that can sound a little dry rather than overtly warm or romantic.
Digital Signal Integrity
93/100
The A30 uses FPGA-based reclocking specified to reduce jitter below 100 femtoseconds, alongside thermally stabilized clocks and separated linear supplies. Hi-Fi News also reports SSD caching that keeps the library drive inactive during playback, plus multiple-read error correction in CD ripping that in some cases made rips sound marginally better than the original disc.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
This is an exceptionally comprehensive music-server front end: local storage, silent CD ripping, streaming, DAC and preamp functions, extensive headphone provision and flexible file support are all integrated in one chassis. The Conductor control experience receives especially strong praise, while the only meaningful connectivity omission noted is Wi-Fi.
Streaming Software
93/100
What Hi-Fi calls Conductor V3 simply superb, and Hi-Fi News found the A30 easy to configure and a delight to use, describing the app as slick. Alpha Audio likewise found library copying straightforward and CD ripping quiet, with metadata retrieved neatly; the lack of a touchscreen was not considered troublesome.
Features Connectivity
96/100
The A30 combines internal storage, slot-loading CD ripping, network playback, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, internet radio, digital inputs, USB audio output, balanced and unbalanced analogue outputs, and balanced and single-ended headphone sockets. It supports PCM to 768kHz, DSD512 and MQA, and can operate directly into power amplifiers; Alpha Audio's only noted omission was Wi-Fi.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
The internal execution is serious, with four toroidal transformers, separate power supplies for major sections, capacitor-backed power protection and a listening mode that disables nonessential circuits. Part Time Audiophile describes tank-like construction with robust controls, although Alpha Audio found the unit felt a little wobbly, preventing an unqualified verdict.
Value for Money
89/100
At roughly $18,000-$19,000, reviewers are clear that the A30 is not inexpensive. However, Part Time Audiophile argues that it is less overpriced than it first appears because it can replace multiple components and associated cables, while Audiophile Style considers its price in line with the high-level performance and system consolidation it provides.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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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
- Analog Outputs
- XLR (Balanced), RCA (Unbalanced)
- DAC Chipset
- AKM 4497 – Dual-Mono
- Audio Word Clock
- OCXO
- Analog Outputs Supported Format
- Up to 768kHz/32bit PCM, DSD512 (Native)
- Digital Outputs
- USB Audio (Dedicated)
- USB Output Supported Format
- Up to 768kHz/32bit PCM, DSD512 (Native), DSD256 (DoP)
- 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
Manufacturer's Description — Aurender
Reference Analog Music Server
MQA Full-Decoder DAC / Headphone Amplifier
CD Ripper / Music Library Manager / 10TB HDD Storage
Variable-Output Balanced XLR and Single-Ended RCA Analog Outputs
USB Digital Output / Coaxial and Optical Digital Inputs
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.
Hallmarks of Aurender
Hardware <> Software Integration
A closed system. Aurender playback and control software is developed in the same building as its hardware. Superior integration means that Aurender's software engineers are able to specifically optimize playback performance of the extremely robust hardware at their disposal.
Caching Playback Engine
Other systems buffer. Aurenders cache. Every Aurender model features a massive solid state memory from which all playback occurs. This important feature helps to minimize system resource requirements for enhanced audio performance and stability.
Dedicated USB Audio Output
USB is prone to transferring noise between devices. Aurender's dedicated USB Audio output is physically and electrically isolated from the noise-generating CPU board to minimize noise in the sensitive audio interconnect.
Low-Power High-Efficiency CPU
A powerful CPU is essential to making any computer run smoothly and quickly. However, with more power comes more noise. Aurender's low-power high-efficiency Intel CPUs have enough headroom to run the machine while minimizing the amount of current drawn in order to keep the noise floor as low as possible.
Elegant Front Panel Display
Easy to read high resolution LCD display. Dynamic, elegant, understated.
Double Isolated LAN Port
Two layers of transformer based isolation to filter noise out of Ethernet connection.
Local Library Storage Capacity
Every Aurender contains either massive built-in internal storage capacity, or at least one slot for super easy user-installable storage options. Enjoy localized media storage, and ditch the cumbersome NAS or HDD.
Integrated Streaming Services
The entire world of streaming music content is available to you within one great app. Enjoy integrated access to TIDAL, Qobuz, and Internet Radio. Plus Spotify Connect and AirPlay.
Critical Listening Mode
Enable Critical Listening Mode to defeat the front panel screen, buttons, and all background computing activity that is not essential for playing music. CLM offers an even quieter, more transparent audio presentation.
USB HDD and NAS Connectivity
The best user experience occurs when your music content is stored on Aurender's internal storage. However, USB 3.0 data ports and NAS share connectivity are included in order to play or import content stored on a NAS, external USB hard drive, or thumb drive.
Support for All Major Audio Codecs & Formats
Remote Internet Technical Support
In case you should encounter any difficulty or problems, Aurender's dedicated support team may log into your system remotely to diagnose and fix any issues. We take support extremely seriously, and we're here to help!
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Aurender A30
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- The ASOC Gallery of Fine Audio — in-store — Stratford, Ontario, Canada (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 110Hz — online and in-store — Kielce, Województwo świętokrzyskie, Poland (website)
- 3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
- A 10 Audio Room 4 Music — in-store — Amsterdam Nieuw-West, Noord-Holland, Netherlands (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- All That Audio — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- American Sound — in-store — Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (website)
and 142 more verified dealers