Aurender - AP20 - All-In-One Digital Source / Integrated Amp

Aurender was founded in Seoul, South Korea in 2011 by a team of engineers who had grown frustrated with the compromises inherent in using a general-purpose computer as a music source. A laptop or desktop computer is designed to do many things simultaneously — manage network traffic, handle background processes, and respond to user input — all of which introduce electrical noise and timing inconsistencies that affect the quality of digital audio output. Aurender's founding insight was straightforward: build a device that does one thing, does it with complete precision, and does nothing else. The result was a range of music servers and streamers that redefined what high-quality digital audio playback could sound like.

ENGINEERING PHILOSOPHY

Aurender music servers load the audio file being played into a dedicated RAM buffer before playback begins, completely isolating the playback process from the mechanical and electrical noise of the storage drive. The custom Linux operating system runs only the processes required for audio playback — no background tasks, no operating system overhead, no network activity during the playback moment itself. The clock circuits used in Aurender's reference models achieve jitter levels measured in femtoseconds, an order of magnitude better than the clocks used in computer-based playback systems. The chassis are machined from solid aluminium and internally shielded to prevent the digital circuits from radiating noise into the audio signal path. Every design decision is made in service of a single goal: to deliver the digital audio signal to your DAC with the lowest possible noise floor and the most accurate timing achievable.

WHY THE AUDIO TAILOR CARRIES AURENDER

We recommend Aurender as the digital source in any serious system because the source is where the signal chain begins — and the limitations introduced at the source cannot be corrected downstream. If you are streaming music through a laptop or phone into an expensive DAC, you are not hearing what your DAC is capable of.

Roon Ready!

The Aurender AP20 is a premium Integrated Amplifier with the heart of an Aurender

Elegance. Finesse. Resolution. Grace.

If ever Aristotle’s adage: “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” is applicable in audio, it applies to AP20. And, given the quality and quantity of parts in this equation, that’s saying a lot.

AP20 delivers unprecedented audio performance from an integrated amplifier. It includes the world’s best Class D amp modules in a dual-mono configuration, an analog R2R relay-based volume control and preamp section, Aurender’s best DAC, a master clock input, a headphone output, a suite of digital and analog inputs and outputs, and the most sophisticated linear power supply block Aurender has ever deployed.

The result? An audio component that paints every musical timbre with full-bodied realism. With a delicate touch that’s backed up by enormous headroom for transients and dynamic swings, AP20 drives even the most demanding speaker loads and casts a soundstage that is both expansive and laser-focused.

All of this performance, with the heart of an Aurender.

Other integrated amplifier solutions on the market may offer support for app-controlled streaming, but in nearly every case, the user experience, library management, and software playback engine are an afterthought requiring third-party software and hardware to get the job done. In AP20’s case, more than 10 years of industry-leading experience has made Aurender the digital source component of choice in the world’s finest audio systems. Now, that same holistic digital playback engine and user experience is available from an integrated amplifier that completely removes the need for more components and cables.

Just add speakers, and enjoy a premium HiFi experience, without all the HiFi boxes.

Ultra High-Performance Class D Amplifiers

There’s Class D, and then there’s ridiculously good Class D. AP20 utilises the finest amplifier modules available. Designed by renowned engineer Bruno Putzeys, the Purifi Eigentakt 1ET400A amplifier is free of digital harshness, edginess, and grain. Featuring impressive specifications that are reflected in its extraordinary audio performance, AP20’s dual-mono amplifier section represents the state-of-the-art of Class D amp technology.

Dead-Quiet Linear Power Supply

Most Class D amplifier implementations utilise switch mode power supplies because they are efficient, cool-running, and inexpensive. However, this can introduce noise and distortion to the signal path, resulting in an audio presentation that lacks a sense of natural analog grace. So, in typical Aurender fashion, AP20 uses SIX discrete toroidal transformers to power the CPU, left & right DAC boards, FPGA processor, and power output stages, respectively.

Aurender’s Best DAC

Aurender designed the AP20 for those seeking the simplicity of an all-in-one unit without sacrificing a high level of resolution, transparency, and inner detail. Built around an integrated dual-mono AKM4497 DAC module, AP20’s best-in-class DAC section delivers high-resolution PCM, DSD, and MQA full-decoding at the highest level.

Analog Volume Control

In any system, the quality of the audio presentation is significantly impacted by the volume control mechanism of the preamplifier. Remarkably, AP20 employs an analog-domain volume control based on an R2R stepped-attenuator system. Volume control of this quality is utterly uncommon in digitally-equipped integrated amps, and it is a major reason why AP20 provides such a natural, open sound.

OCXO Precision Clock

AP20’s OCXO based precision clock generation system incorporates a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with sub 100fs jitter-reducing clock generator to precisely time digital audio data transmissions and minimise jitter to below negligible levels.

Analog Pass-Through Inputs

The AP20 provides a suite of analog inputs including 1X balanced XLR and 2X single-ended RCA, offering an ideal solution for integrating external analog sources into your audio system. Vinyl enthusiasts can connect their phono stage to an available analog input and enjoy pure analog pass-through without any A/D conversion in the signal path.

Digital Connectivity

With a variety of digital inputs including 1X RCA SPDIF, 1X BNC SPDIF, and 2X TOSLINK optical interfaces, AP20 is well-equipped to render external digital sources such as a CD transport, media player, or TV via its superior internal DAC.

Auxiliary XLR Output

AP20’s high-quality balanced XLR output allows the user to feed subwoofers with line-level input (XLR-to-RCA adapters may be required in some cases).

Users are supposed to select the “XLR + Speaker” option in the Aurender app, which enables both XLR and speaker outputs simultaneously to augment bass.

Master Clock Input

Although AP20 is equipped with an extremely precise OCXO clock system, jitter can be minimised further by connecting a 10MHz Master Clock signal generator such as Aurender’s MC10.

Dedicated Headphone Section

In addition to being a stellar amplifier for loudspeaker systems, AP20 also features a 1/4″ headphone output for quiet moments.

Hallmarks of Aurender

• Hardware <> Software Integration - A closed system. Aurender playback and control software is developed in the same building as its hardware. Superior integration means that Aurender’s software engineers are able to specifically optimise playback performance of the extremely robust hardware at their disposal.
• Caching Playback Engine - Other systems buffer. Aurender caches. Every Aurender model features a massive solid state memory from which all playback occurs. This important feature helps to minimise system resource requirements for enhanced audio performance and stability
• Low-Power High-Efficiency CPU - A powerful CPU is essential to making any computer run smoothly and quickly. However, with more power comes more noise. Aurender’s low-power high-efficiency Intel CPUs have enough headroom to run the machine while minimising the amount of current drawn in order to keep the noise floor as low as possible.
• Elegant Front Panel Display - Easy to read high resolution LCD display. Dynamic, elegant, understated.
• Double Isolated LAN Port - Two layers of transformer based isolation to filter noise out of Ethernet connection.
• Local Library Storage Capacity - Every Aurender contains either massive built-in internal storage capacity, or at least one slot for super easy user-installable storage options. Enjoy localised media storage, and ditch the cumbersome NAS or HDD.
• Integrated Streaming Services - The entire world of streaming music content is available to you within one great app. Enjoy integrated access to TIDAL, Qobuz, and Internet Radio. Plus Spotify Connect and AirPlay.
• Critical Listening Mode - Enable Critical Listening Mode to defeat the front panel screen, buttons, and all background computing activity that is not essential for playing music. CLM offers an even quieter, more transparent audio presentation.
• USB HDD and NAS Connectivity - The best user experience occurs when your music content is stored on Aurender’s internal storage. However, USB 3.0 data ports and NAS share connectivity are included in order to play or import content stored on a NAS, external USB hard drive, or thumb drive.
• Support for All Major Audio Codecs & Formats
• Remote Internet Technical Support - In case you should encounter any difficulty or problems, Aurender’s dedicated support team may log into your system remotely to diagnose and fix any issues. We take support extremely seriously, and we’re here to help!