Aurender N50 Highend Music Server

AURENDER N50

The Aurender N50 positions itself as an uncompromisingly designed music server for demanding high-end systems. The focus is not on a wide range of functions for their own sake, but on the consistent reduction of all interference – with the goal of reproducing digital music as faithfully as possible.

At the heart of the concept is a strictly separated architecture. The three enclosures for the server, power supply, and audio sections operate completely isolated from one another. This physical separation minimizes internal interactions and prevents electrical or high-frequency interference from affecting signal processing. This approach is complemented by separately routed network ports, which ensure clean signal transmission and safeguard data integrity from input to output.

A key factor for sonic precision is the clocking. The N50 utilizes a highly stable OCXO clock generator controlled by a dedicated FPGA. This combination minimizes jitter and ensures precise timing of signal processing. For systems requiring even higher precision, an external clock input is available, allowing the N50 to be integrated into complex master clock environments.

The power supply adheres to the same high standards of control and purity. Two selected toroidal transformers with high inductance supply the audio section separately and reliably. Their vacuum-sealed, epoxy-encased design within a stainless steel housing protects against mechanical and electromagnetic interference. Multi-stage filters on both the AC and DC sides further ensure that mains interference is consistently suppressed – a crucial prerequisite for stable, interference-free sound.

The technical focus is also evident in the digital interfaces. In addition to I²S and dual AES/EBU outputs, a newly developed USB output is available, specifically designed for reduced noise and minimized jitter. For specific high-end applications, the system can also be expanded with an MSB Pro ISL module, opening up further integration possibilities.

In daily use, the N50 integrates seamlessly into modern streaming environments. Services such as TIDAL, Qobuz, and Spotify are natively supported, while Roon Ready certification enables stable integration into complex multiroom and high-resolution setups.

The sonic result is a direct consequence of this technical approach: a calm background, high detail, and a spatial presentation unhindered by artifacts. The Aurender N50 is therefore aimed at listeners who understand digital playback not as a convenience feature, but as a precise tool for music reproduction.

Generally

• Dimensions
  • With feet: 430 × 106 × 353 mm
  • Without feet: 430 × 93 × 353 mm
• Weight
  • Audio Unit: 14.92 kg
  • Server Unit: 14.16 kg
  • Power Unit: 18.61 kg
• Housing material
  • Triple-machined, precision-milled aluminum chassis

Display & Operation

• Front display
  • 8.8" IPS color display (1920 × 480)

Hardware & System

• CPU
  • Intel Quad Core
• RAM
  • 8 GB RAM
• System & Cache Memory
  • 480 GB NVMe SSD
• Library storage
  • 2 x 2.5" drive bays (user-installable)

power supply

• Power supplies
  • 1 × 80 W (CPU board)
  • 1 × 80 W (Digital Output Board, 4 separate power supplies)
  • 2 high-end toroidal transformers (audio grade)
• UPS
  • Yes (supercapacitors)
• Power consumption
  • Operating power: 40 W
  • Peak: 70 W
  • Standby: 3.5 W

Connections

• network
  • 7-way galvanically isolated Gigabit LAN module
• Data USB
  • 2 × USB 3.0 (rear)
• Audio USB
  • Galvanically isolated USB Audio Class 2.0 port

Digital outputs

• USB Audio (dedicated)
• Dual AES/EBU (OCXO-controlled)
• BNC Coax S/PDIF (OCXO-controlled)
• RCA Coax S/PDIF (OCXO-controlled)
• Optical / Toslink S/PDIF (OCXO-controlled)
• 1 × I2S module slot (optionally MSB Pro ISL or HDMI I2S)

Supported formats & resolutions

USB Audio Output

• PCM up to 768 kHz / 32 bit
• DSD1024 (native)
• DSD256 (DoP)

S/PDIF & AES/EBU

• PCM up to 32-bit/192 kHz
• Dual-Wire AES/EBU up to 32 Bit / 384 kHz
• DSD to DSD64
• Dual-Wire DSD128 (DoP)

I2S Output (Pro ISL or HDMI)

• PCM up to 768 kHz
• DoP up to DSD256
• DSD up to DSD512 (native)

Clock & Synchronization

• Master Clock Input
  • BNC 75 O
  • Supports 10 MHz, 12.8 MHz and 44.1–48 kHz (multiples of 1–512x)

Software & Features

• software
  • Aurender Conductor
• MQA
  • Core decoder upgrade available
• Compatible audio formats
  • DSD (DSF, DFF), WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, M4A, APE and others
• DSD-to-PCM conversion
  • Up to DSD512