AAM Auralic Aries Mini

[CDLehner]

Where is it already? :huh:

 

[Glareskin]

I am waiting for delivery since April! According to some people who seems to have more inside information Auralic screwed up and over promised with regards to readiness and availability big time. The latest word I have is November which starts.... tomorrow!! :snicker:

 

[CDLehner]

Hmm; wonder if that means, they're trying to work out last-minute bugs...even if it means a release delay. Or...if we're all going to be beta-testers for a while?

 

[asiufy]

I can't get a straight answer from them.
Could be as early as next week.
My order has been placed, so we'll see...

 

[CDLehner]

I can't get a straight answer from them.
Could be as early as next week.
My order has been placed, so we'll see...

Maybe they're busy...raising the price again?

 

[asiufy]

Hahaha yeah, hopefully they're just busy shipping the dang little things

 

[Mike]

I'm biting my tongue on this thread. LOL.

 

[CPP]

From what I got from their facebook page

" U.S dealers whom placed backorder before are getting stock in 2nd week of November."

"Press Release from RMAF says "Priced at only $549, the ARIES MINI also comes with a free one-year subscription to TIDAL HiFi’s® Lossless music library of 35 million tracks — a $240 value. (U.S. and Canada sales, only)"

 

[Glareskin]

My Auralic Aries Mini arrived yesterday. Here is my quick review.

First unpacking. Because of the ridiculously long lead time I had already prepared the BOTW power supply and the cabling in my stereo cabinet therefore the installation was a piece of cake. I learned that you should not connect the network cable before the installation because the installation part of the Lightning DS software had a perfect interface inclusive error handling. Within 5 minutes the music came out of my speakers

Here you see the Auralic Aries Mini with the Apple tv (3rd gen) on top so you can easily identify the size. It could have been the same size because if you want you can mount a hard discs in the mini! Anyhow a nice compact black little box that looks ok in the left section of my cabinet.

And now what its all about: how does it sound?
Let me be clear: a very good sound. I haven't tried it with the standard PSU but with the Best Of Both Worlds power supply what I hear is a very powerful yet neutral sound with a realistic holographic image. Nice punchy bass and very mature over all. I will have to get back to the sound when it has a couple of hundred of hours but cold from the box already really good..

And now the purpose where I bought the Mini for DSD. A little disappointing to find out that DSD only works with the volume control to 100% which is reducing the comfort a bit i.m.o. The DSD recordings I have on my server are good but not better than the 24 bit variations. I will have to download some native DSD recordings to give a better judgement here.

The beauty of Auralic is that they use, like Linn and Lumin, the Open Home variant of the UPnP AV protocol. And that is good because I don't like the Auralic Lightning DS interface. But the Lumin app and Linn Kazoo and Linn Kinsky plus many others work fine.


The mini shootout. How does it sound compared to the Linn? Well, that is not a fair comparison as the Linn as 12x the price of the Auralic. And sounds better as well. But of course Linn"s Space Optimization is active.

This DSP setting adjusts the streamer perfectly to the speakers and the room.

Conclusion: the Auralic Aries Mini is a perfect little streamer that offers great versatility and sound for less than 1000 USD (inclusive the BOTW power supply). It is not as plug&play as Sonos & Co but sounds a lot better so for anyone who can follow a software instruction and has some affinity to equipment this his a highly recommendable device.

 

[Randy Myers]

I admit to being a bit of a nooby at the whole digital HD audio world. I was out of hi end music for a long time and recently jumped back in. back when I was an audiophile it was all analog. So please be kind to me with my questions ...

Have been trying to figure out exactly what this little wonder is... From what I can see it is a DAC, right? And it does DSD...

As compared to my system where the DAC is built into my McIntosh but only does 192kHz... So this little guy lets you go into the higher levels... am I getting this right...

Currently I have my music server / Surface Pro hooked to the USB input on my amp and I let the Mc take care of it from there... so this little guy could be hooked through a processor loop if I wanted to go into the higher level of DSD... (I accidentally bought a couple albums in DSD and JRiver down converts them to play at 192kHz).

 

[CDLehner]

I admit to being a bit of a nooby at the whole digital HD audio world. I was out of hi end music for a long time and recently jumped back in. back when I was an audiophile it was all analog. So please be kind to me with my questions ...

Have been trying to figure out exactly what this little wonder is... From what I can see it is a DAC, right? And it does DSD...

As compared to my system where the DAC is built into my McIntosh but only does 192kHz... So this little guy lets you go into the higher levels... am I getting this right...

Currently I have my music server / Surface Pro hooked to the USB input on my amp and I let the Mc take care of it from there... so this little guy could be hooked through a processor loop if I wanted to go into the higher level of DSD... (I accidentally bought a couple albums in DSD and JRiver down converts them to play at 192kHz).

Randy...this is a both

- Streamer; so it would replace your Surface Pro, if you so chose. Plus, not only only does it stream and/or store your ripped files, if you like; but it has subscriber-play services, like TIDAL, integrated.

- DAC; that yes, does up to quad-rate (64, x2 is 128, x4 is 256) DSD.

 

[Randy Myers]

Nice.... how much storage space does it have? I assume I could copy all my HD, CD rips, etc., to it like I did with my Surface. Also, how do you control what you are listening to; does it have it's own interface like JRiver running on my surface?

It looks like it has standard analog outputs on the back.... I do not have (nor have any desire to have) an iPad, if it requires something like that for control.

I am wondering if there is a separate DSD DAC available, that could be hooked into a processor loop off my McIntosh so if JRiver sends a DSD signal through the DSD DAC could play it in it's full glory, by passing the one built into the McIntosh...

I am learning, I swear I am ....

 

[CDLehner]

Nice.... how much storage space does it have? I assume I could copy all my HD, CD rips, etc., to it like I did with my Surface. Also, how do you control what you are listening to; does it have it's own interface like JRiver running on my surface?

It looks like it has standard analog outputs on the back.... I do not have (nor have any desire to have) an iPad, if it requires something like that for control.

I am wondering if there is a separate DSD DAC available, that could be hooked into a processor loop off my McIntosh so if JRiver sends a DSD signal through the DSD DAC could play it in it's full glory, by passing the one built into the McIntosh...

I am learning, I swear I am ....

Well...depending on how you approach it; storage is "unlimited". You can either point it, at files stored elsewhere on your network; put an internal drive in it...I forget right now, if it takes 3.5, 2.5, SSD...but will confirm. Or, I believe...you can attach external USB storage as well. (and it doesn't have to be either/or; you can access files, from all 3...plus, don't forget services like TIDAL).

It has its own remote app...and I'm sure there are others that can control it (like JRiver); but yes...you would need, some kind of appliance to control it (whether that be your Surface Pro, just for control...or a phone, or a pad; which you say you don't want).

If all you want to do, is add DSD...and get a taste; a) just call MAC, and see how long it might be...before they update firmware to do it; right through your current MXA-70 (my guess, is it won't be long). B) there are DSD-only DACs, like this http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-idsd/ and this (the Schiit Loki, whatever the hell happened to it http://schiit.com/guides/choosing-a-dac)

You'd feed your Surface Pro signal into it, it would convert DSD into one of your MACs analog ins.

 

[Randy Myers]

Thank you so much for the clarification! I didn't think you could update a built in DAC to add DSD abilities. I know McIntosh recently released the D150 which is basically a separate digital pre-amp that has DSD built in.

It would be amazing if they do offer updated firmware that adds DSD capability! I am getting back into this and loving HD digital downloads...

Much appreciate the help!

 

[MRJAZZ]

I use the AURALIC ARIES. Can the LUMIN app be used to control the ARIES? I have the LIGHTHING APP at the moment being from a NAS. I checked the APP STORE on my APPLE IPAD, and can not find a LUMIN APP.

CHEERS..........

 

[asiufy]

MRJAZZ,

You can use the Lumin app to control the Aries, if it's in OpenDS mode (the default).

Glareskin,

Very cool report, thank you

Everybody ese,

Auralic US is receiving their first production units from China this week! We should have ours within 10 days or so.

 

[MRJAZZ]

MRJAZZ,

You can use the Lumin app to control the Aries, if it's in OpenDS mode (the default).

Glareskin,
















Very cool report, thank you

Everybody ese,

Auralic US is receiving their first production units from China this week! We should have ours within 10 days or so.

THANKS for the input. Where does one find the LUMIN APP? I use an IPAD, and went to APPLES APP STORE, and under LUMIN, there are many apps, but none (that I can see) pertain to the LUMIN APP, that controls streamers.

Thanks again............T.

 

[MRJAZZ]

THANKS for the input. Where does one find the LUMIN APP? I use an IPAD, and went to APPLES APP STORE, and under LUMIN, there are many apps, but none (that I can see) pertain to the LUMIN APP, that controls streamers.

Thanks again............T.

FINALLY found it. Can some tell me how to bring up the Tidal link and the RADIO link that shows up the Lighting App.
Thanks...

 

[asiufy]

Guys,

The Aries Mini is finally on US shores
This is what we've received from Auralic yesterday:

"We are sending this email to you due to your recent order for ARIES MINI with us. We are glad to inform you the ARIES MINI have arrived LA and are receiving customs clearing procedures. Since this is the first time for the MINIs to be imported into the U.S. with large quantity, it would take additional 1-2 business days to setup new certificate and clear all procedures. We will start shipping your order as soon as the ARIES MINIs arrives our LA warehouse.


We are sorry for the delay of this shipment and we appreciate your patience with us. "

Since we're close to LA, their warehouse, we expect to have ours later this week or early next week!

Again, if anybody's interested, speak up, as we have just a couple of units not yet spoken for!


cheers,
alex

 

[Glareskin]

FINALLY found it. Can some tell me how to bring up the Tidal link and the RADIO link that shows up the Lighting App.
Thanks...

For Tidal use the little cloud symbol with the music key in it and for radio click the radio. Both on the left bar in the DSLightning app....