Auralic Aries (Hardware) - Impressions and Information

[miguelito]

Yes ... Oh, also a couple of W4S Remedy Reclockers and an Auralic Gemini 2000 Dac / Headphone Amp ... So 4 items in total (they are not clear from the photo as I was focusing on the Aries). I could get rid of a couple of layers, specifically the extra layers of Townshend Seismic pods ... But I have just been experimenting if adding extra layers would achieve further improvement (they don't).

My mini: Photo 6 of 10 from Ongaku

[pl_svn]

My mini: Photo 6 of 10 from Ongaku

 

you definitely belong to the *rigid* decoupling school

[Cornan]

BubbleDS Next is for Android only?

Yes, unfortunately so... You will still need the LightningDS on iOS when updating/changing settings/reconnecting etc.

[Cornan]

My mini: Photo 6 of 10 from Ongaku

That support looks like a Mini death trap. I am sure it works great though!

[Cebolla]

I do not know for sure why it sounds different (better IMO but might be worse to someone else). All I know is that BubbleDS Next is a light weight control point focused on music only (but do have some additional sound related features as well). It was recently updated with a smaller foot print and sounded better to me than before.

Interesting. How does the sound compare when using BubbleDS Next developer's (BubbleSoft/Bubbleguuum) other Android control point app, BubbleUPnP?

Also, where are you streaming the audio files from and with what UPnP/DLNA media server, in your comparisons?

[Cornan]

Interesting. How does the sound compare when using BubbleDS Next developer's (BubbleSoft/Bubbleguuum) other Android control point app, BubbleUPnP?

Also, where are you streaming the audio files from and with what UPnP/DLNA media server, in your comparisons?

 

I have not tried BubbleUPnP with Aries Mini yet...but knowing that BubbleDS Next is made in the purpose of being an audio control point only makes me less eager to try it out....but I will eventually ofcourse. I did try BubbleUPnP on my Windows 10 computer....but could´nt actually compare appple to apple since I was using Foobar2000>Bubbleguuum upnp>Jplay driver>etc and BubbleDS Next directly through JplayStreamer (OpenHome) etc. BubbleDS Next sounded better in comparison...but that could have been due to the differences in the setup.

 

As I meansioned in my first post the sound differences are made using Tidal as source. It is connected through OpenHome>Aries>Cloud>Tidal and not through UPnP/DNLA.

[Cornan]

Here is the news on the latest version 2.3 of BubbleDS Next if anyone is interested:

- app installed size is reduced by 40%, APK size by 30%

- first app run does not require the 'Please wait until initial setup completes' step anymore

- better compatibility with Android N

- support automatic backup of settings

- a TIDAL artist's Radio folder is limited to 100 tracks. Entering such radio folder always populate it with new tracks

- fixed track numbers in Qobuz multidisc albums

- fixed 4x4 widget not available on some phones

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Computer Audiophile mobile app

[Jay Tee]

Where can I download this BubbleDS control app for my Samsung phone? I can't seem to find it.

[miguelito]

you definitely belong to the *rigid* decoupling school

Trudat.

[Cornan]

Where can I download this BubbleDS control app for my Samsung phone? I can't seem to find it.

You can find it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleds2

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Computer Audiophile mobile app

[Duke40]

My mini: Photo 6 of 10 from Ongaku

 

That looks really great. Blends in very well with your SolidTech Rack of Silence Rack.

I admire the SolidTech rack, wish I had gone for something like that years ago rather

than buying glass & steel racks (have a couple of Schroers & Schroers racks).

 

John

[miguelito]

That looks really great. Blends in very well with your SolidTech Rack of Silence Rack.

I admire the SolidTech rack, wish I had gone for something like that years ago rather

than buying glass & steel racks (have a couple of Schroers & Schroers racks).

 

John

I've filled the solidtech's legs with sand. No blind testing.

[mikey8811]

For the first time since I have had it, I tried the Aries with ethernet as opposed to 802.11ac wi fi. I was surprised that wi fi sounded better - smoother, more open, less edgy. I was using just run of the mill Cat 5 patch cable, run directly from the router. The lengths were 2m each, patched to 4m via a connector as I didn't have a 4m cable. I don't know if this caused signal degradation or noise.

 

If I replace the Cat 5 with a BJC Cat 6a, will I get sonic improvements? If so would someone be so kind as to explain if this is due to the higher data transmission speed the Cat 6a is capable of? I understand from another poster here that the Cat 5 cable has ample bandwidth for sound - 16/44.1 is 1.14Mbps and hi-res is no more than 10Mbps.

 

I did this initially to accomodate getting a microRendu for comparison. At the same time I also got a Curious Regen Link to go from a W4S RUR, replacing the generic USB. The results were pretty good overall, with the wi fi and firmware Beta 4.04 so much so that I don't have as strong an inclination to try the microRendu as before as it only runs off ethernet.

[jelt2359]

For the first time since I have had it, I tried the Aries with ethernet as opposed to 802.11ac wi fi. I was surprised that wi fi sounded better - smoother, more open, less edgy. I was using just run of the mill Cat 5 patch cable, run directly from the router. The lengths were 2m each, patched to 4m via a connector as I didn't have a 4m cable. I don't know if this caused signal degradation or noise.

 

If I replace the Cat 5 with a BJC Cat 6a, will I get sonic improvements? If so would someone be so kind as to explain if this is due to the higher data transmission speed the Cat 6a is capable of? I understand from another poster here that the Cat 5 cable has ample bandwidth for sound - 16/44.1 is 1.14Mbps and hi-res is no more than 10Mbps.

 

I did this initially to accomodate getting a microRendu for comparison. At the same time I also got a Curious Regen Link to go from a W4S RUR, replacing the generic USB. The results were pretty good overall, with the wi fi and firmware Beta 4.04 so much so that I don't have as strong an inclination to try the microRendu as before as it only runs off ethernet.

 

Wifi sounds good with the Aries (better than ethernet from the router), but optically-isolated ethernet sounds best imho.

[kennyb123]

Wifi sounds good with the Aries (better than ethernet from the router), but optically-isolated ethernet sounds best imho.

 

+1

 

I found wired Ethernet to be on par with wireless. Optically-isolated ethernet eliminated hardness and also brought a tighter focus. Highly recommended with the Aries.

[2string1]

What is Optically-isolated ethernet?

[mjb]

What is Optically-isolated ethernet?

 

The latest "must have" fad. Galvanic isolation 'may' give a perceived improvement in certain circumstances and equipment configurations.

[mikey8811]

Do ethernet to fibre converters give you optically isolated ethernet? Or is that something else?

[One and a half]

The latest "must have" fad. Galvanic isolation 'may' give a perceived improvement in certain circumstances and equipment configurations.

 

Galvanic isolation is far from a fad, it had been sought since using USB wholesale. There needed to be a ground loop break for USB , galvanic isolation is the best way. FO can achieve the same ground loop break but of course is not USB protocols. The other issue with FO is the power supplies that drive the FO converters. This never stops does it.

[mjb]

The other issue with FO is the power supplies that drive the FO converters. This never stops does it.

lol, nope :-)

[2string1]

So what is needed to obtain Galvanic isolation. Link please...

[pl_svn]

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f22-networking-networked-audio-and-streaming/optical-network-configurations-24641/

[hornytoad]

Galvanic isolation is far from a fad, it had been sought since using USB wholesale. There needed to be a ground loop break for USB , galvanic isolation is the best way. FO can achieve the same ground loop break but of course is not USB protocols. The other issue with FO is the power supplies that drive the FO converters. This never stops does it.

 

Doesnt Ethernet cabling (regular cat ) already have galvanic isolation ?

[mjb]

Doesnt Ethernet cabling (regular cat ) already have galvanic isolation ?

Yes, but via transformers, not optically - therefore, if two (or more) devices share a common ground (highly likely) the 'galvanic isolation' is compromised and all bets are off.

[Booster MPS]

Looking for some guidance to get my Mac Mini out of my listening area and leverage Aries and Roon.

 

Question: In my office I would like to connect my Mac Mini via ethernet to my Netgear Nighthawk router and also connect a USB drive to the router. Keeping the Mini around to rip discs to storage. Would the Aries in another room "see" the storage on my network, as well as the Roon core that I would run on the Mini?

 

Thanks!