Aurender N20 Caching Music Server Streamer

A Reference Source for Serious Digital Systems

Aurender builds music servers the way watchmakers build fine watches. Obsessively, and for people who notice. The N20 is the company's reference-class caching server and streaming transport. It is a purely digital source. It was built to feed a world-class DAC the most precise signal it has ever received.

The heart of the design is caching playback. Instead of streaming files across your network in real time, the N20 copies upcoming music to a 500GB solid-state cache. It plays from there, which isolates playback from network noise and drive activity.

Two rear trays take your own drives, up to 16TB in total. The N20 then serves your whole library. Tidal and Qobuz stream alongside it, through Aurender's own Conductor app.

Timing gets equal care. An oven-controlled crystal oscillator keeps jitter vanishingly low. An FPGA-based phase-locked loop refines every output. A word clock input lets the N20 sync with an outside master clock. That is a feature borrowed from recording studios.

Built Like the Instrument It Is

Every output is digital, by design. There is an isolated USB audio port, AES/EBU, BNC coaxial and optical. Each one feeds the DAC you choose. Native DSD512 and hi-res PCM both pass through. Transformer isolation on the S/PDIF outputs blocks noise from reaching it.

The full-width aluminum chassis weighs a solid 30 pounds. An 8.8-inch color display fronts it, showing album art and playback status. The Conductor app for iPad, iPhone and Android handles browsing, playlists and settings. Its polish has made it a benchmark. It comes in black or silver.

What Reviewers Are Saying

The Audio Tailor, in a December 24, 2024 review, wrote that the N20's clocking system "delivers a remarkably organic soundstage that might make you question whether you're listening to digital audio at all," describing a presentation that is "expansive, detailed, and incredibly natural."

Who Is This Server Best For?

• You own a reference DAC — the N20 exists to feed it the cleanest, best-timed digital signal possible.
• You have a large music library — up to 16TB of internal storage serves your collection alongside streaming.
• You use an external master clock, or plan to — the word clock input is rare even among high-end servers.
• You value Aurender's Conductor app — widely regarded as the finest control software in high-end audio.
• You want the USB output to be the quiet one — the isolated USB stage exists to keep computer-grade noise away from your converter's input. See our digital-to-analog converters.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect the N20 to your DAC by USB for full-resolution playback, or by AES/EBU, BNC coaxial, or optical. Join your network over Ethernet, install drives in the rear trays if you have a file library, and manage everything from the Conductor app. An external master clock connects to the word clock input for studio-grade synchronization.

From there, the caching engine works silently in the background, buffering your music to solid state before it plays.

Pairs Well With

Building your digital front end? Here are some great companions for the N20:

• DAC: The essential partner for this reference transport — see our Digital-to-Analog Converters.
• Preamplifier or Integrated Amplifier: Downstream of your DAC — see our Integrated Amplifiers.
• Cables: Quality USB, AES, or BNC digital cables matter at this level — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Audio Rack: Give this 30-pound reference piece a proper home — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the N20 have analog outputs or a built-in DAC?

It's a pure digital source with USB, AES/EBU, BNC coaxial. And optical outputs, designed to feed an external DAC.

What does "caching" mean?

The N20 copies upcoming music to its 500GB solid-state cache and plays from there, isolating playback from network traffic and drive noise.

Can it store my music library?

Yes. Two rear trays accept 2.5" drives up to 16TB combined (drives sold separately).

What streaming services does it support?

Tidal and Qobuz, fully integrated into the Aurender Conductor app, plus your own network and stored files.

What is the word clock input for?

It lets the N20 synchronize with an external master clock, the same timing discipline used in recording studios.

What formats does it play?

Native DSD512 and hi-res PCM, including WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, M4A, and APE files.

See It in Action

Aurender's Ari Margolis explains the digital engineering inside the N20:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about music servers, DACs, or building a reference digital system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.