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microRendu review & snapshots of its internals (the guts) - pics

Posted by AbeCollins (A) on August 20, 2016 at 22:58:40

I created two listening scenarios.

Setup #1 - Mac Mini:
This setup uses a minimally tweaked headless Mac Mini to the Intona USB isolator driving my PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC.

The headless Mac Mini (quad-core i7 16GB RAM + SSD) is powered by an external regulated 12VDC 10AMP linear power supply. The space inside the Mac Mini that once contained its switching power supply has been replaced with a LC filter network on a slim PCB to provide additional filtering of the external 12VDC source. Several applications and unneeded processes have been disabled in Mac OS X 10.11.6 "El Capitan". I'm running Roon or Roon+HQPlayer on the Mac Mini out to the DAC and controlling it all with the Roon App on my iPad.

Setup #2 - microRendu:
Here the microRendu streamer is on a hardwired network direct to my cable modem / router.

The microRendu drives my PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC. The Mac Mini is also on my hardwired network as it contains my music library to be streamed to the microRendu over the network. It is the same Mac Mini that I described above but in another room a few dozen feet away. Power for the microRendu is supplied by the iFi iPower 9v power supply, one of many power sources on the microRendu recommended list. I ran the microRendu with Roon or Roon+HQPlayer, again using the iPad as the controller.

What I heard:
The microRendu sounds noticeably better than a stock Mac Mini running straight iTunes. It probably sounds better than a stock PC. The microRendu sounds much more like the tweaked Mac Mini running decent player software like Roon, Audirvana Plus, Pure Music, or HQPlayer. So out of the box the microRendu is clearly the winner over a stock Mac but with a tweaked Mac Mini they're much closer.

Against the tweaked Mac Mini running Roon, the microRendu sounds a little 'lighter' and more 'agile' but not quite as full bodied or dynamic. The difference is minute. I like the transparency and detail I'm hearing in the microRendu which is very similar to the tweaked Mac Mini but with a less bold presentation. Soundstage and imaging are comparable with a very slight soundstage advantage to the microRendu.

I have to conclude that I hear larger differences among the player software tested on both platforms vs the differences between the platforms themselves. Roon sounds excellent. Roon+HQPlayer are even better.... regardless if coming thru the microRendu or the Mac Mini directly to DAC.

For it's size, convenience, and reasonable price (in audio terms anyway) the microRendu is a real winner. I'd really love to get someone's take on it against streamers at 2x - 20x it's price. Features aside, what more do $1200 - $17,000 streamers have to offer sonically? I couldn't tell you but the microRendu is outstanding!

I have since kept the Mac Mini in my office listening setup and moved the microRendu down to the basement. All I need to control it is my handy dandy iPad Mini.

Because fmak hates pictures....

microRendu network streamer. $640 USD + the cost of a power supply, $6 - $600+ your wallet your choice.

microRendu out of its aluminum case

microRendu with SolidRun Processor board removed

The System on a Module by SolidRun (green computer PCB) with Freescale Semiconductor ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core processor 1GHz, Samsung DDR3L memory chips x4. The microRendu carrier board in blue includes a Linear Technology switch mode voltage regulator micro-module at its input plus a couple other voltage regulators, crystal oscillator, USB hub chip, microSD card for the OS, Ethernet jack with magnetics by Pulse Electronics, and a few other goodies. There's a significant amount of engineering on the microRendu carrier board (blue PCB) unlike some other streamers that put an Intel NUC in a fancy box or other mini-ATX motherboard or Raspberry Pi. Pretty impressive approach to use a general purpose System on a Module made by SolidRun placed on top of the microRendu carrier.

The software interface is also pretty cool and very simple for setup and changing modes. Just input the microRendu's DHCP assigned IP address in your web browser's URL field. Some screen shots of the BUI are shown below.

Because fmak hates pictures.....

• SONORE microRendu   (Open in New Window)

Edits: 08/20/16

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