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Best Music Server / Streamer / DAC 2025 - Robb Report
High-Performance One-Box Streaming Source Component – Now Roon Ready!
Searching for a high-performance one-box source component? Look no further than the extraordinary A20. It's the latest addition to Aurender’s range of analog output music players. The A20 shares the same basic circuitry topologies, DAC chipset, and form factor as the flagship A30. However, it dispenses with the CD ripping functionality and metadata editing software – and the headphone connection is a single standard 1/4” jack. That makes it perfect for the digital music lover whose library is already digitized and wants a full-fledged, high-performance server, streamer, preamplifier, DAC, and headphone amplifier.
The A20 can be customized to your needs in terms of storage capacity and type. Two ports located on the rear panel can accommodate a hard drive (HDD) or an SSD up to 8TB per port, providing a massive 16TB of digital file storage. If your use is 100% streaming, no drives are required, though you can add them later if you wish.
Roon Ready, Too!
Here's great news! This Aurender model is now Roon Ready. See bottom of our product description (what you're reading now) for more information.
Award-Winning Performance
The Aurender A2 grabbed the Best Music Server / Streamer / DAC 2025 Award 2025 from the Robb Report.
"Still our pick for an all-in-one digital source, the Aurender A20 has a proven track record for performance and product support that’s important amidst the evolving technology of the digital landscape. A world-class streamer, it also incorporates a DAC that allows use with a conventional preamp or line stage, making it a one-box source for music lovers who’ve jettisoned their CDs and LPs."
"The Aurender’s tank-like build and impeccable sound quality put it into digital’s top-tier, enhanced by a user interface that is intuitive and reliable, unlike some kludgy competitors."
Pure Audio Performance
The A20 is distinguished from other analog-output models by its pure audio performance. Employing the world-renown AKM 4497 chipset in a dual-mono configuration with dual linear power supplies, it delivers nothing but the best in sound quality. Also included is full MQA Decoder technology, enabling you to play back full-resolution MQA audio files and streams.
The precision clock generation system incorporates Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) with a sub 100fs jitter-reducing clock generator. This precisely times digital audio data transmissions and minimizes jitter to below negligible levels.
"A Premium Sound Experience"
"The sound I am getting in my room reminds me of some of the finest systems I have heard at shows and dealerships," observes Doug Schroeder, dagogo.com, September 2023. "The Aurender A20 is giving me a premium sound experience. The interface is first rate and works well with Tidal and Qobuz. It is a high-end music ecosystem experience."
"The Aurender A20 has upscaled my digital listening massively, and I will not surrender that upscaled streaming experience. For now, an Aurender in some form is going to be my source for both personal and reviewing purposes, maybe for the next five years!"
Exceptional Sound Quality and Performance
"The Aurender A20 is a high-end digital music player with exceptional sound quality and performance," notes hifireport.com.
"It can reproduce various music genres, from classical to pop, jazz, and blues, with remarkable accuracy and precision. The device’s advanced technology and intuitive user interface make it easy to use and control. At the same time, its sleek and modern design adds an element of sophistication to any home audio setup. "
Your Digital Hub
Using the A20 as your “digital hub” reduces system complexity. For example, the A20 can function as preamplifier allowing for direct connection to a stereo power amplifier or active speaker system. The preamp section has both SPDIF and optical inputs that allow other source components like a CD transport, Blu-Ray player, or cable box to feed its audio through the A20’s superior DAC.
Integrated Dual-Mono Full-Decoder MQA DAC
Aurender engineered the 768KHz/32bit dual-mono DAC around a next-generation flagship AKM 4497 DAC chipset with dual-mono linear power supplies for reference-class fidelity. Its Full-Decode MQA technology is a fully compliant MQA end-to-end solution enabling you to play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the "original master recording". This method of decoding delivers the highest possible sound quality available from MQA.
Balanced (XLR) / Unbalanced (RCA) Audio Outputs
Both balanced and unbalanced outputs are provided for interfacing with a preamplifier or power amplifier. When the A20 is connected directly to a power amp, the analog output is adjustable to best match the sensitivity of the amplifier used. The two settings for balanced XLR connections are 4.0Vrms and 5.4Vrms. Unbalanced RCA outputs are selectable at 2.0Vrms or 2.7Vrms.
Power Supply with Ultra-Low Noise Floor and Integrated UPS
A full-linear power supply and extensive shielding prevent noise from being delivered to sensitive DACs for the best sound reproduction. Four discrete toroidal transformers power the server system, digital output and dual DACs respectively. This power supply comes with a “super capacitor-based” uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for stabilizing the A20 under an abrupt power outage condition.
For best audio performance, choose the Critical Listening Mode. Circuitry related to panel illumination and other background function can be defeated. This mode conserves system resources for the best possible sound quality.
The Aurender Conductor App Takes Control of Your Music
The Aurender Conductor App turns your iPad, Android phone, or tablet into a highly versatile user interface for Aurender Music Servers, making managing, viewing, playing and streaming high-resolution music collections a breeze. All permissions, behaviors and functions of the Aurender Music Server / Streamer can be easily accessed through the Settings menu of the Aurender ConductorApp.
Embedded within the Aurender App are the lossless streaming services Tidal and Qobuz (subscription required). When using a streaming service, Aurender handles the streaming content the same way as files stored internally, so all functions and operations are the same with either library. In fact, it's easy to combine streaming content into your library of files making all content appear to be one and the same.
Adaptive Storage and SSD Caching
Two rear panel ports accept the user-installed hard drives of your choice (HDD or SSD) and the capacity you wish. Playback is handled via a caching system unique to Aurender. While music files are stored on the user installed drives, playback always occurs from a solid-state drive (SSD). This method allows for the storage drives to only be concerned with loading content onto the SSD for playback. The result is that these drives experience a short duty cycle of operation before going idle, which contributes to their long-term reliability.
Support for All High-Resolution Formats
All major codecs are supported by the A20, including PCM up to 786kHz/32-bit, DSD up to 256 DoP, and native DSD up to 512. The A20 is capable of upsampling non-DSD files to 705.6/768kHz to the analog outputs. You can also allow PCM audio to reach the DAC without alteration and let the DAC perform its own upsampling.
Adjustable Analog and Digital Filters
Onboard digital and analog filters enhance your listening experience. The filters can be adjusted for precisely fine-tuning the sound to best compliment the audio system the A20 is used in. There is a factory default filter setting which can be selected. MQA content requires a filter setting that cannot be changed as it is a fixed for the MQA decoding process.
Digital Connectivity
Four digital inputs are provided: one RCA Coax, one BNC Coax, and two Optical. These inputs allow for the interface of additional digital sources such as a CD transport, DVD player, television etc. Any device connected this way will now be able to take full advantage of the superior sound quality of the DAC within the A20. Additionally, the A20 features two USB 3.0 ports for super-fast copying from a USB storage device.
The A20 also features a 2X isolated LAN port in which to connect directly to your router. This LAN port will isolate the A20 from any noise introduced by the LAN/Router connection.
High-Performance Headphone Amplifier
Enjoy the full sonic potential of your favorite pair of headphones. Incorporated within the topology of the A20 is a high-quality headphone amplifier suitable for use with the finest headphones. A single 1/4” jack is provided on the front panel for easy access.
Flexible Volume Adjustment
When the A20 is used as a preamplifier, the system volume can conveniently be controlled three ways via the front panel rotary control, the Aurender Conductor app, or the supplied IR remote control. When used with a preamplifier the variable output can be set to fixed direct output in settings.
Remote Internet Technical Support
In the unlikely event you may need technical support, you can do so right from the Aurender Conductor App. Sending a Remote Support Request from the app allows engineers to quickly diagnose and correct problems over the Internet, should they occur.
Roon Ready Upgrade
Here's great news! This Aurender model is Roon Ready. Roon Ready models now function as Roon Endpoints. This means you can play music using the Roon app if you have a Roon Server running on the same local network as Aurender music server/streamer units.
To ensure your device is Roon Ready:
- Update your Conductor App to the latest version (Minimum Requirement 4.25).
- Update your Aurender System Software to the latest version (minimum requirement 1.24.255 for AP20 and A1000, 1.24.265 for A20 and A30)
- Ensure you have Roon Server installed on your local network with an active subscription.
