I'm not sure if all of this makes sense to me
Please explain the following if you like:
- Did you listen to and compare both units in your own home and system? This would be the only way to really tell how they differ in performance.
I “owned” two N30SAs and a Taiko Extreme. I listened to them each in my own home. They were all in the same room and in the same system.
This of course was over a period of time. I first owned the N30SA. Then I heard the Taiko Extreme and enjoyed the sound more until they began software changes which IMO corrupted the sound. Then I sold the Taiko and purchased another N30SA. Maybe a diagram will help make sense of the streamer journey:
N30SA —-> Taiko Extreme —-> N30SA —-> in the same system/room/home
PS. Listening to something in the same system isn’t the “only” way to tell differences. You may also listen to other systems/rooms which you are familiar with and tell too.
Back when Ari (fantastic guy and service) was still with Aurender and I had my first N30SA, I demoed a MC10 for app. 3 weeks. While the sound was a little warmer (tube like), I felt that the MC10 reduced the sound stage (I didn’t like this aspect). So, I sent the MC10 back to Ari/Aurender.
After hearing the Pink Faun 2.16 Ultra I wasn’t interested in listening to any other streamer, including the N50. My search was over! Once you have true natural sound, once the original artists are there in your room, once it feels like audio ‘perfection’, once you’ve arrived, why would anyone bother? (as much as things may be ‘perfect’ or close to perfect in audio).
IMO, the Pink Faun 2.16 Ultra with the proper cabling is transformational in music reproduction. You need to try one with the cabling I mentioned earlier.
The Wadax Reference I heard in my friend’s room which I’m very familiar with. He has a great system with Dan D’Agostino, Wilson, etc. However, I enjoyed the N30SA in my own system more and the Pink Faun 2.16 Ultra more than all of them. He’s coming over for a visit at Thanksgiving (November in U.S.). Maybe he will upgrade to a Pink Faun 2.16 Ultra too.
