Aurender A15

Aurender A15 – network player with dual-mono DAC and balanced outputs

The Aurender A15 network player is an all-in-one digital source component combining a dual-mono DAC, streamer and preamplifier — built by South Korean manufacturer Aurender as the successor to the legendary A10. The Aurender A15 network player pairs a dual-mono AKM4490 DAC configuration with balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs, four toroidal transformers and an FPGA clock architecture, housed in an elegant chassis with a 6.9-inch full-colour IPS LCD display.

Dual-Mono DAC with Four Toroidal Transformers

At the heart of the A15 sit two AKM4490 DAC chips in a dual-mono arrangement — each supported by its own discrete linear power supply. Four audiophile-grade toroidal transformers provide separate, shielded power to the music server, digital circuitry and DAC sections individually. This eliminates mutual interference and delivers a noise floor typical of components from a higher price bracket. Decoding covers PCM up to 32-bit/768 kHz and native DSD512.

FPGA Clock Architecture for Minimal Jitter

The Aurender A15 network player uses an FPGA-based precision clock system with a sub-100 femtosecond clock generator. This reduces jitter to negligible levels — a meaningful contribution to the musicality and rhythmic precision of playback. The Aurender Conductor app also offers a Critical Listening Mode that disables the display, front panel controls and all non-essential background processes for an even more transparent sonic presentation.

Versatile Connectivity and Storage

The A15 offers balanced XLR and single-ended RCA analogue outputs, configurable as a variable output for direct connection to a power amplifier. Two storage bays each accept a 2.5-inch SSD or HDD up to 8 TB — a combined 16 TB of local music library. Digital inputs are coaxial RCA and optical Toslink for external digital sources. Streaming is supported via TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify Connect and AirPlay.

Key Specifications

• Type: network player, streamer, DAC and preamplifier
• DAC: dual-mono AKM4490 with MQA full-decoder
• Processor: Intel N4200 quad-core
• Cache: 240 GB SSD
• Storage: 2× 2.5-inch SSD/HDD up to 8 TB each (optional, max. 16 TB)
• Power supply: four toroidal transformers (separate per section)
• Clock: FPGA precision, sub-100 femtoseconds
• Analogue outputs: XLR balanced, RCA single-ended (variable or fixed)
• Digital inputs: coaxial RCA, optical Toslink
• Digital output: USB Audio
• Streaming: TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, AirPlay
• Decoding: PCM 32-bit/768 kHz, DSD512 native
• Display: 6.9-inch IPS LCD full-colour
• Origin: South Korea

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Aurender A15 network player and the A1000?

The A15 adds balanced XLR outputs, four toroidal transformers and an FPGA clock architecture — features absent from the A1000. This translates to a lower noise floor, better channel separation and greater dynamic reserves. The A15 also provides two storage bays for up to 16 TB of local storage, compared to one bay on the A1000.

Can the Aurender A15 connect directly to a power amplifier?

Yes. The DAC-level volume control allows direct connection to a power amplifier without an external preamplifier. The outputs are configurable as variable mode via the Conductor app or the supplied machined-aluminium remote control.

Can I use the A15 as a pure streamer without local storage?

Yes. The storage bays can remain empty for a pure streaming configuration. Should you wish to add a local library later, simply install one or two 2.5-inch SSDs or HDDs up to a combined maximum of 16 TB.