Aurender A1000 DAC Review: Balanced Sound, Brilliant Design
Read Time: Approx. 16 min.
The High-Fidelity Hub for Modern Audiophiles
Aurender has done it again! Adding to their successful line of streamers, servers, and DACs, the A1000 Network DAC is the hi-fi unicorn you've been missing in your setup. The A1000 is the perfect choice for audiophiles seeking a versatile digital input/output system, combining the functionality of a music server, streamer, and DAC into one unit. So, whether you're looking for a preamp or a DAC to pair with your dedicated headphone amplifier, the A1000 is fit for the job. With a dedicated app, the Conductor app, to control it all, the A1000 is as effortless to use as it is incredible to listen to.
PROS
- Flexible system with versatile connectivity
- Dynamic, Articulate, and balanced sound quality
- User-installable storage for large music libraries
CONS
- Conductor app requires some learning if new to Aurender products
Design
The Aurender A1000 is a low-profile, easy-to-use component. It's got Aurender's signature minimalist styling with a large volume wheel, 6.9" full color display screen, and illuminated power button. You'll find just about everything you need to function the A1000 from the front panel: Power button, input selection button, IR Receive window, output selection button, LCD display, volume knob, display menu button, play/pause button, play previous button, and play next button.
As for the back panel, here's where all the magic happens. From left to right, the back panel features the following:
INPUTS/OUTPUTS
(1) BT Antenna
(2) HDD or SSD 2.5" Slot
(3) Analog Audio Output–RCA Right
(4) Analog Audio Output–RCA Left
(5) Digital Audio Output–Coaxial SPDIF (RCA)
(6) Digital Audio Input–Coaxial SPDIF (RCA)
(7) Digital Audio Input–Optical SPDIF
(8) TV ARC Audio Input
(9) USB Audio Input
(10) 1Gbps LAN Port
(11) 12V Trigger Output
(12) USB Audio 2.0 Out
(13) USB 3.0 Data Port
(14) AC Power Socket
(15) AC Power Switch
At 13.8" W x 14" D x 3.8" H, it's not the smallest DAC on the market, but compared to others, it's got a great size, and it weighs 18.3 lbs. Aurender cuts no corners when it comes to build quality. The A1000 sports a thick-cut machined aluminum chassis and heat sinks on the side. You get two finish options, black or silver, and having seen both in person, you can't go wrong with either. I want to quickly give some praise to Aurender for the display screen, because it's a bonus that they didn't have to include. It reproduces album artwork in vivid color–such a treat–as well as showcasing the artist, album name, and system status.
The included accessories are minimal. You get a Bluetooth LE Remote Control, which is nice for times when you need to quickly adjust the volume or skip a track and can't physically get to the component.
With a wide variety of connectivity options, the Aurender A1000 has no shortage of capabilities. You can use it as a network player via the digital audio outputs, as a streaming DAC via the analog RCA outputs, as a USB DAC via the USB inputs and analog outputs, and as a streaming DAC/preamp via the RCA outputs. To round it all out, the A1000 can serve as the digital hub in your home theater system via the HDMI ARC input and integrate with CD players, DVD players, game consoles, etc. It can also act as a server with your own 2.5" SSD card installed (supports a 2.5" SSD/HDD drive up to 8TB). While the A1000 does not have Wi-Fi, it does have Bluetooth with AptX-HD support and Google Chromecast Audio for wireless connectivity.
Sound
For my testing setup, I was stuck between our very own Dragon Inspire IHA-1 Tube Headphone Amplifier and the TEAC HA-507 Headphone Amplifier. While I love the warm analog sound of the Inspire, I ultimately opted for the TEAC amp to get the most accurate take on the A1000's sound quality. With the two components connected via a Silver Dragon Premium Interconnect Cable, I slipped on the Denon AH-D9200 Headphones (with the Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable) and opened the Conductor app on an Apple iPad. Now, I've reviewed Aurender products in the past, so I'm familiar with the Conductor app–it's fairly intuitive and easy to use–but if you're a first-time user, it will take a few minutes to get everything situated and get your bearings on navigating the app.
The sound quality of Aurender components never disappoints. They've mastered the art of articulation and dynamics. From hip-hop to EDM and pop hits, every song was incredibly dynamic and full of character. The Denon AH-D9200 Headphones are accurate and natural, which pairs beautifully with the A1000. And to that point, the A1000 is a very complementary component. Some components are brand-specific, meaning that they have the best synergy with devices from the same manufacturer. But that was not the case with the A1000. If you're someone with a large headphone collection, you can rest assured that the A1000 will sound great with each pair, be it analytical, natural, or warm and musical. That, plus its versatile connectivity, is what makes it worthy of being called a hi-fi unicorn.
The Aurender A1000 had no problem handling the ever-changing dynamics of Charli XCX's song Girl, So Confusing. This EDM hit is the girl anthem of the summer, with Charli XCX and Lorde channeling their inner punk, brat behavior. It delivers a balanced sound that, depending on the song and headphones, is either rich and full or articulate and accurate. Girl, So Confusing was fast, accurate, and dynamic, while Florence + The Machine's King was big, bold, and full of emotion. I absolutely LOVE the lead vocalist Florence Welch's singing style. It's passionate and raw, embodying everything you want from a female artist. The A1000 reproduced Welch's vocals with the same amount of emotion and power I'd expect from a live performance.
With an accurate, musical, and above all else, balanced sound quality, there is very little left to be desired with the Aurender A1000 Network DAC.
King
By Florence + The Machine
(Dance Fever)
Girl, So Confusing
By Charli XCX (feat. Lorde)
BRAT
Happier Than Ever
By Billie Eilish
(Happier Than Ever)
Bad Idea Right?
By Olivia Rodrigo
(Guts)
Features
- Roon Ready
- High-Performance Analog Output Network Player
- Variable-Output AKM4490REQ Dual Mono RCA Analog Outputs
- HDMI ARC input
- USB Digital and Coaxial Inputs and Outputs
- Convenient Bluetooth AptX-HD and Chromecast Audio
- User-Installed Storage, 2.5" HDD or SSD Hard Drive for System & Cache
The Aurender A1000 Network DAC is truly the chameleon of hi-fi components. With both variable and fixed outputs, like the single-ended RCA outputs and DAC-level lossless volume control, the A1000 can serve as a preamplifier for direct connection to power amplifiers. For those who already own a high-end preamp and integrated amplifier, simply disable the volume control on the A1000 in the Conductor app to convert the DAC to a fixed output, plug-and-play source component.
With an HDMI ARC input, the Aurender A1000 can serve as the ultimate component in your home theater system. Instead of relying on your TV's typically inferior internal audio processing, all audio from your TV gets routed through the A1000's premium AKM4490REQ DAC chip. Any device connected to your TV, like gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, or DVD players, will benefit from the A1000's audiophile-grade DAC processing.
Bluetooth AptX HD and Chromecast Audio bring wireless music streaming right to your fingertips. You can cast your playlists from your smartphone, tablet, or streaming device directly to the A1000. Wireless streaming does require a wired Ethernet connection to operate, so if you do not have an Ethernet connection, we recommend adding a Wi-Fi extender and/or mesh device. The included Bluetooth LE Remote Control is the cherry on top, so you don't even have to leave the comfort of your couch to change the song.
AKM 4490REQ Dual-mono DAC Chip & Quad-Core Configuration
At its core lies the formidable AKM4490REQ Dual-Mono DAC chip, renowned for its pristine sound reproduction. The impeccable performance of the A1000 wouldn't be possible without the Quad-core 2.0GHz ARM Cortex-A55 CPU, each fueled by dedicated low-noise linear power supplies, ensuring optimal performance and minimal interference. The use of separate power supplies is what gives Aurender components an edge over the competition. This approach minimizes the current draw on each transformer, thus generating much lower peaks and valleys with more headroom and less noise.
The Aurender Conductor App
Perhaps one of the best things about the A1000 and Aurender as a whole is its Conductor app. Aurender is one of the few hardware companies that have done a great job of providing a well-thought-out and powerful app for controlling your music library.
The Conductor app grants you exclusive control over your Aurender Music Streamers/Servers. Available for Apple iOS and Android devices, it allows swift and easy access to your music with an interface that is free of complexity and visual clutter. Within the app, you can access hi-res music from your own internally stored music library or from a subscription streaming service like Tidal and Qobuz. The A1000 is a Roon Ready device (great perk for Roon users), as well as Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, and Google Cast. You can easily create a playlist, and add/edit/remove content from your library.
The app's functionality goes beyond music listening. Within the app, you can access and adjust the A1000's settings and check for firmware updates. The A1000 is firmware upgradeable; there's an update button in the app. But don't worry, you won't miss out on an update. Each time you log in to the Conductor app, you'll be asked if you want to initiate updates.
A great perk with Aurender that you may not know is remote support technical assistance. If you experience a glitch or technical difficulty, you can put the A1000 into maintenance mode. Then, a technician will go in and troubleshoot remotely. (Remember that the company is based in South Korea, so depending on your time zone, this will most likely occur when you are sleeping!) This is a premium service that comes standard with any Aurender product. That type of convenience is just something that money can't buy.
User Installable Storage & Music Management
If there's one thing the Aurender A1000 DAC has no shortage of, it's storage. You'd be hard pressed to find an Aurender component without additional storage options. The A1000 features one 2.5" SSD/HDD drive slot for you to upload and house your own music files.
Where do those files go? When the time comes to play music off the drive, you can view every song on the Aurender Conductor app. This is also where you'll format newly installed disks, see the available space, and clear the contents of the disk.
Once you've got all your files pulled, either from the hard drive or external connections, they'll go into the caching drive. Aurender uses a high-speed NVMe storage to cache your music files.
Caching provides a more stable and reliable playback engine while optimizing audio performance by allowing the system to run as lightly as possible. With caching, there are some files that can be cached and some that cannot. Files pulled off a hard drive via USB or a NAS can be cached. As well as any files stored on the user-installable storage.
Dragon Cables
We recommend pairing the Aurender A1000 Network DAC with the Black Dragon Power Cable, Silver Dragon Network Cable, Silver Dragon Interconnect Cable, and Silver Dragon USB Cable (USB A to B). The Silver Dragon Network Cable will provide a stable ethernet connection to the Aurender A1000 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 RCA connectors can be used to connect the A1000 to other components in your existing audio system.
Our Silver Dragon USB Cable will provide the most stable connection for digital transmission between your source device and A1000. 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.
Generally, stock audio cables are manufactured with subpar materials, metals with impurities, poor geometries, and an overabundance of layers to make them look and feel like a fire hose. Inconsistency and lack of quality control in stock cables can lead to poor sound quality and a veiled sound vs. what the musician intended for you to hear and feel from the music. Dragon Audio Cables are handcrafted with the highest standards and made to order according to your specific needs. At Moon Audio, we create a custom cable for you using the highest quality UP-OCC silver or copper conductors that can be manufactured. UP-OCC metals are void of impurities and are optimized for signal transfer and sound quality. We have one of the largest collections of audio and headphone connection options available online and we create limitless audio cable options depending on your specific gear and needs.
Why Dragon Cables?
You’ve heard the saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, right? Well, the same applies to your brand new audiophile-grade headphone or other audio components. The weakest link, in this case, is your stock audio cable or the cheap interconnects the manufacturer threw in the box just to get you up and running. Why is the audio cable always an afterthought, when it’s just as important as the rest of your system? At Moon Audio, we use the purest and best raw materials in our cables to unveil your music. We believe that materials matter and your audio cables should have the same care and craftsmanship that manufacturers put into their audio components and headphones. Audio cables are ultimately the connection to your music. The fact remains that cabling is often considered the last priority to that of the main product and a means to cut down the overall production costs. It’s as simple as that. Dragon Cables elevate every note - as if you were hearing your favorite music for the very first time.
Verdict
So there you have it–The Aurender A1000 Network DAC is the perfect integrated solution for audiophiles who want high-quality audio playback but prefer a more streamlined, all-in-one single-box solution.
There's no denying the A1000's versatility in any hi-fi setup. One day it can act as the streaming DAC in your living room, and the very next day it can serve as the digital hub for your gaming consoles and DVD players in a home theater. Use it as a preamp, a USB DAC, or a server–the choice is yours. Pair it with one of our Dragon Audio Cables, like the Silver Dragon Interconnect Cable or Silver Dragon USB Cable, and you're ready to rock and roll.
The A1000 DAC offers a sparkling glimpse into the next generation of hi-fi components from Aurender with premium technology, wireless streaming protocols, and fully remote technical support. With a brilliant-sounding AKM4490REQ DAC chip and Quad-core 2.0GHz ARM Cortex-A55 CPU, the A1000 is dynamic, rich, smooth, detailed, and fast. There is truly little left to be desired when it comes to sound quality and performance.
Whether you're taking the first step in your hi-fi journey or adding to your collection, the Aurender A1000 Network DAC delivers on its promise of performance, reliability, and audiophile-grade sound quality.
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What's in the Box
- A1000 Network DAC
- Manual
- Bluetooth LE Remote Control
Specifications
Unit Dimensions: 13.8" W x 14" D x 3.8" H
Unit Weight: 18.3 lb (8.3 kg)
Shipping Dimensions: 19.6" W x 18.8" D x 10.2" H
Shipping Weight: 26.5 lb (12 kg)
Material: Machined Aluminum Chassis
Front Panel Display: 6.9" 1280 x 480 Wide IPS Color LCD
Front Control Panel: Power, Input, Output, Mode, Play/Pause, Next Track, Previous Track, Volume Jog
Remote Control: Bluetooth LE Remote control for full-featured control
Power Supply: Full Linear Toroidal
CPU: Quad-core 2.0 GHz CPU (ARM Cortex-A55)
RAM: 4GB DRAM
Library Storage Capacity: 1x 2.5"
SSD for System & Cache: 32G eMMC for System, 120GB NVMe for Cache
Data USB Ports: 1x for external storage
Software Suite: Aurender Conductor
Ethernet Port: 100/1000 (Gigabit)
Power Consumption: Play (150W), Peak (20W), Standby (1.4W)
ARC: 1x ARC-in for TV ARC port
12V Trigger: 1x for external equipment
Analog Outputs: RCA (unbalanced)
DAC Chipset: AKM4490REQ Dual Mono
Analog Outputs Supported Format: Up to 32-bit/ 768 kHz, DSD512 (Native)
Digital Outputs: COAX RCA, USB external DAC support
USB Outputs Supported Format: Up to 32-bit/ 768 kHz, DSD512 (Native)
Digital Inputs: COAX RCA, Optical/Toslink, USB Type B, ARC
Compatible Formats: DSD (DSF, DFF), WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, M4A, MQA, and others
Streaming Protocol Support: Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay
Chromecast Audio: Allows casting from: Qobuz, YouTube, Deezer, Bugs, Melon & others (up to 96 kHz/24-bit)
Bluetooth: up to AptX-HD
