Easiest way for computer audio streaming- Auralic Aries?

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KeithR

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I have used an AppleTV for years to stream audio from my Mac Mini. I'm turning my attention back to digital now that the Aries has been released. If I understand correctly, this basically allows me to use my hard drive attached to my Mac Mini in another room as well as streaming services off my iPhone (including hi res if I ever want to go that direction), right?

Is there any reason for people to build music servers and other complication now that such a product is out there? What is the Aries weakness as compared to its competitors.

Thanks!
 
Definitely not - unless you enjoy geeking out. I would check out the Aurender line of products too. The Digitbit Aria is also another line of product you may like as well (it has a built in ripper).


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I have been looking for a way to stream to my DAC and some friends recommended a MoCa and Powerline Network kits along with a NAS.

Actiontec

Both products work well without any degradation in sound. The powerline works by turning your home electrical wires into a network. You plug on into your router and then into a wall outlet. You plug another into the outlet next to your DAC and then connect it to your DAC. The kicker is that it needs to be on the same circuit. I have seen this in use and I was amazed that the sound was not degraded.

The MoCa works by connecting to your cable TV line.

The company also sells wireless extenders
 
There are also some Netgear solutions I recommended over in the Lumin thread.


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KeithR said:
I have used an AppleTV for years to stream audio from my Mac Mini. I'm turning my attention back to digital now that the Aries has been released. If I understand correctly, this basically allows me to use my hard drive attached to my Mac Mini in another room as well as streaming services off my iPhone (including hi res if I ever want to go that direction), right?

Is there any reason for people to build music servers and other complication now that such a product is out there? What is the Aries weakness as compared to its competitors.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Keith,

There will always be a reason. If there's a more complicated crowd than audiophiles, it's computer folk. Now, imagine computer nerds who are audiophiles :)

You get the part about the mini right. You'll need some kind of server software installed in it, though, such as JRiver (which is what I use). That will handle your library.

Think of the Aries as a purpose-built "mini"/embedded computer. Instead of having your Mac connected directly to the DAC, you have a device that was built just for that one thing, playing music off the network. And there's the benefit of it. Being a proper computer, Auralic can add "apps" to it, like the Tidal app.

Another feature that's not much talked about (maybe because it was added just a few months ago) is that now you can plug USB drives directly into the Aries, so no need for a computer anymore. It'll catalogue everything, fetch artwork, and present it. That's particularly cool if you have friends over. You can just pop the USB stick in, and play their songs, without having to add them to your library first, etc.

I love it that it's wireless. Not only that, but it gets excellent reception (5/5 bars anywhere in the store), out of a single Apple Airport base station.

The only weakness to the Aries, as I see it, is that it's less mature than its closest competitors, Aurender and Lumin. Both have their solutions in the market for longer. But Auralic has been playing catch up fast with the software updates, not only fixing issues but adding features as well (such as the external HD support mentioned above).


alexandre
 
The easiest way so far for me is the Lumin S1 with a direct attached USB drive. The 'hardest' part is either ripping CDs, or downloading from HD Tracks.

Before the Lumin, I had a Bryston BDA-1 file player, and an Auralic Vega DAC. With the Lumin S1, I replaced the BDA-1 with the S1, and removed the DAC, interconnect cable, and DAC power cable. Aside from less clutter, I think it sounds better.
 
No arguments here! An S1 + L1 is pretty darn easy.


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Alexandre, I love my Auralic Aries, but it's features (like no upsampling or converting PCM to DSD on the fly) are sadly lacking. I'm sure it's coming though.


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Mike,

You won't find me disagreeing here. As I said, the other solutions are just a tad more mature, with just more features, less bugs, or both :) But the cool thing is that since the Aries is a mini computer, new apps will come, and improvements to the existing apps too. Software is a pain, but it'll get there.

I also agree that a Lumin + local USB drive should be a straight up simple solution. But what it eliminates is actually the least problematic link in the chain, which is the streamer to the DAC. Personal preference here, but I prefer to have an outboard DAC. The Aries + local USB drive should be just as simple, and more flexible to boot, in terms of DAC pairings.

I understand Lumin has a model with no DAC, and that would be what I'd prefer, but that's just my preference. Having the streamer "outside the box" (DAC) allows for things like (great) Wi-Fi reception.

Oh, and since we're praising Lumin :) Their app is gorgeous, and works well too! After trying a few "control point" apps for uPNP, the Lumin was quite a sight for sore eyes...

alexandre
 
The Aeries is a simple solution and I use it in a secondary system in my own house. The interface does have some quirks to it, but with recent updates it sounds pretty good as a transport and not everyone is up to assembling computers--for them it is a solid option. I wish it had the option of converting PCM to DSD on the fly, but I've heard suggestion that that is coming.
 
Mike said:
Alexandre, I love my Auralic Aries, but it's features (like no upsampling or converting PCM to DSD on the fly) are sadly lacking. I'm sure it's coming though.


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Click to expand...

Does the Aurender or Lumin do on the fly PCM to DSD conversion yet?


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If by on the fly you mean selecting DSD instead of Native for 44k then the Lumin does that. I have been going back and forth trying to decide which I prefer.
 
cogt3 said:
Does the Aurender or Lumin do on the fly PCM to DSD conversion yet?


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Click to expand...

Yes. The Lumin definitely does and I've heard the Aurender does as well.


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asiufy said:
Mike,

You won't find me disagreeing here. As I said, the other solutions are just a tad more mature, with just more features, less bugs, or both :) But the cool thing is that since the Aries is a mini computer, new apps will come, and improvements to the existing apps too. Software is a pain, but it'll get there.

I also agree that a Lumin + local USB drive should be a straight up simple solution. But what it eliminates is actually the least problematic link in the chain, which is the streamer to the DAC. Personal preference here, but I prefer to have an outboard DAC. The Aries + local USB drive should be just as simple, and more flexible to boot, in terms of DAC pairings.

I understand Lumin has a model with no DAC, and that would be what I'd prefer, but that's just my preference. Having the streamer "outside the box" (DAC) allows for things like (great) Wi-Fi reception.

Oh, and since we're praising Lumin :) Their app is gorgeous, and works well too! After trying a few "control point" apps for uPNP, the Lumin was quite a sight for sore eyes...

alexandre
Click to expand...

Thanks Alexandre. I agree with your comments and the Aries is making strides with every update. It's already much better than when I first received mine and started playing with its iPad app (Lightning DS).

As for Lumin, no dacless Lumin - yet. I've discussed it with Li and others at Lumin, but it's not on the radar - yet. I'm also pushing them to consider a standalone ripper. So many things on my wish list. [emoji6]


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ModWright Sony HAP-Z1ES. It took me 5 minutes to setup and start copying all my music to the internal HDD and external drive. Once done, it doesn't need a computer or streamer to play. The only time I need a computer is copy new music to the player and that's automated too.
 
Aren't most of these approaches more expensive (in some cases significantly) than having someone knowledgeable build and set up a dedicated music server such as CAPS?
 
rbbert said:
Aren't most of these approaches more expensive (in some cases significantly) than having someone knowledgeable build and set up a dedicated music server such as CAPS?
Click to expand...

Not really. An Auralic Aries is $2500. MSRP. Similar pricing for some of the Aurender products. Less with discounts.

Build and setup is only half the battle. Dealing with Windows and all the other nonsense like JRiver vs whatever new program is a pain IMO.

I've had a full blown CAPS with red wine PSU. It wasn't worth the PITA factor to be honest. Minimal gains if any compared to an all-in-one solution like Aurender, Auralic, etc.

YMMV.


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o0OBillO0o said:
Mike can you defend to why we want upsampling? Definition here: Upsampling - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Video here for an viewpoint. https://xiph.org/video/vid2.shtml
Click to expand...

Defend? Am I on trial? LOL. The purpose of upsampling PCM to DSD on the Lampi was because the Lampi has, as I understand it, completely separate sections for PCM and DSD. The DSD on the unit I reviewed was well broken in and sounded incredible. So, to see if I could apply that magic to PCM files, I upsampled the PCM to DSD and the improvement wasn't subtle.


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