Aurender
A15 DAC Music Server
$8,400.00 USDFeatures
Dual-Mono AKM 4490 Full-Decode MQA DAC
PCM up to 768kHz/32bit. DSD up to 256
Balanced and Single-ended Analog Outputs / USB Digital Output
Full-Color 6.9″ 1280 x 480 Wide IPS LCD display
Storage (user installed) 2 x 2.5” Tray for SSD or HDD
Increased SSD Cache to 240GB / System Memory to 8GB
2X Isolated Gigabit LAN Port
SPDIF Optical x 1 and RCA x 1 Digital Inputs
What's in the Box?
Warranty
The upgraded replacement of the Aurender A10, the A15 DAC Music Streamer combines advanced digital audio technology with user-friendly features. The Aurender A15 is an ultra high-performance analog output network player with a dual-mono MQA full-decoder DAC, RCA, and balanced XLR analog outputs. As with all of Aurender's 'A' series, the A15 is designed to take full advantage of the vast selection of MQA-encoded music available today. It also has two rear panel bays which can accommodate user-installable 2.5″ HDDs or SSDs of up to 8TB each to store the largest of music libraries. The Aurender A15 represents a well-balanced blend of high-end digital audio technology, excellent sound quality, and user-friendly features, making it an attractive option for those seeking a comprehensive digital audio solution in a single unit.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the Aurender A15 Music Server/Streamer with our Black Dragon Power Cable, Silver Dragon Network Cable, Silver Dragon Interconnect Cable (XLR and RCA), Silver Dragon Coax Digital Cable (RCA), and Silver Dragon USB Cable (USB A to C). The Silver Dragon Network Cable will provide a stable ethernet connection to the Aurender A15 for music streaming and data transmission. The solid-core silver conductors in the cable provide high speed, low latency, and low jitter-perfect bit rate communication between audio components. The Silver Dragon Interconnect Cable with XLR and RCA connectors will allow the A15 to be connected to other audio source components in your setup. Sold in Pairs, the Silver Dragon V2 is our top-of-the-line silver conductor-based interconnect. With a braided geometry and amazing shielding, this interconnect is a remarkable solution where noise isolation is key.
Our Silver Dragon Coax Digital Cable with RCA connectors will provide plenty of detail and an open presentation to your music, providing the best digital transmission possible for your gear. Our Silver Dragon USB Cable will provide the most stable connection for digital transmission between your source device and A15. Our USB cables have been optimized for audio transmission of large high-resolution audio files, so you can enjoy your music with the utmost fidelity. The Black Dragon Power Cable is the ultimate power cable designed to be dead quiet and reject all EMI and RFI interference. 4-11Awg Stranded high-purity slow-drawn Copper conductors are used per cable in a star Quad configuration. The cable has a single 100% coverage shield but can be doubled up for noisy environments plus it is relatively flexible.
High-End Sound, Elegant Simplicity
The Aurender A15 is a performance-packed unit with balanced analog outputs and a resolving dual-mono AKM 4490 built-in DAC chipset with MQA full-decoder technology. The DAC chipset delivers a resolved, smooth sonic signature that's free of digital harshness and decodes PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD up to DSD512. Via the USB audio output, the A15 supports formats of PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD (DoP) up to DSD128, and DSD (Native) up to DSD256. The A15's fully linear power supply structure incorporates four audiophile-grade toroidal transformers along with advanced shielding and isolation that work together to prevent noise from being introduced to the signal path. A high-precision clock generation system incorporating Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) runs the A15's DAC section with an extremely accurate sub-100fs clock generator to precisely time the digital audio data transmission and reduce jitter well below negligible levels. Although the Aurender A15 is not a Roon Ready or Roon Tested device, it supports playback from Tidal, Qobuz, and Spotify Connect.
Low-Profile Design
The Aurender A15 features a sleek, minimalist design typical of Aurender products. Front and center is a 6.9" wide IPS LCD display that can be adjusted in the Aurender Conductor App, available on iOS (iPhones, iPads, tablets) and Android devices. Use the display menu button on the right side of the front panel to cycle through various display options including song information, ripping menu, and playlist menu. Playlists may be selected and played using the four buttons on the right side. You'll also find an input selection button and a volume control knob that manually adjusts the DAC-level volume output. The A15 comes with a handheld remote control so you can manage the unit's functions without leaving the couch. Mute, power on/off, play/pause, track skip, select the inputs and outputs, toggle the display menu, and control the volume level all from the remote. As an added bonus, users can choose between two finishes, black and silver, to perfectly complement their existing audio setup.
On the back panel of the A15 is the host of analog audio outputs and digital audio inputs. Analog outputs include a left/right XLR and left/right RCA, while digital audio inputs include an optical SPDIF and coaxial SPDIF RCA. You'll also find a dedicated proprietary USB Audio Class 2.0 output, USB 3.0 data port, double isolated gigabit ethernet port, AC power switch, and AC power socket. The USB 3.0 port can be used to copy files from USB memory drives and connect a NAS. The coaxial and optical digital inputs can be used to connect digital sources like CD transport, TV, etc. The balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs guarantee compatibility with any preamp, integrated amp, and power amps. The A15 can function as a preamplifier allowing for direct connection to a stereo power amplifier or active speaker system. Two user-installable storage bays on the back panel allow users the flexibility of attaching a solid-state drive of up to 8TB or 2.5" HDD.
Features:
- Ultra High-Performance Analog Output Network Player
- MQA Full-Decoder DAC / Headphone Amplifier
- 2 x User-Installable Storage Drive Trays
- PCM up to 768kHz/32bit. DSD up to 256
- Full-color 6.9" 1280 x 480 wide IPS LCD front panel display
- Variable-Output Balanced XLR and Single-Ended RCA Analog Outputs
- USB Digital Output / Coaxial and Optical Digital Inputs
- Increased SSD cache to 240GB/ System memory to 8GB
- Upgraded Replacement of A10 with Intel N4200 Quad-core CPU
- Linear power supply with Super Capacitor based UPS
- 2x Isolated Gigabit LAN port
What's In the Box?
- Aurender A15
- Handheld Remote Control
- AC Power Cord
- Quick Start Guide
Specifications
- Analog Outputs
- RCA (Unbalanced), XLR (Balanced)
- DAC Chipset
- AKM4490 - Dual-Mono
- Audio Word Clock
- TCXO
- Analog Outputs Supported Format
- PCM: Up to 32-bit/768kHz; DSD: Up to DSD256, + DSD512 (Converted to PCM)
- Digital Outputs
- USB Audio (Dedicated)
- USB Output Supported Format
- Up to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD128 (DoP), DSD256 (Native)
- SPDIF & AES/EBU Output Supported Format
- N/A
- Digital Inputs
- 1x Optical/Toslink, 2x Coax RCA
- Headphone Section
- N/A
- 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
- Power Supply
- Full linear, 1x50W (CPU), 2x25W (DAC L&R), 1x25W (FPGA)
- CPU
- Intel Low Power Quad Core
- RAM
- 8GB
- Library Storage Capacity
- 2x 2.5" Compartments (User-Installable Storage)
- SSD for System & Cache
- 240GB NVME
- Data USB Ports
- 2x USB 3.0 (Rear)
- Software Suite
- Aurender Conductor
- Ethernet Port
- Double-Isolated Gigabit LAN
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
- Yes (Super Capacitors)
- Power Consumption
- Play (29W), Peak (42W), Standby (7W)
- CD Ripping Capability
- N/A
- Dimensions
- W16.9" x D14" x H3.8" (3.3" w/o feet)
- Weight
- 26.2 lb
- Material
- Machined Aluminum Chassis
- Front Panel Display
- 6.9" 1280 x 480 Wide IPS Color LCD