Auralic Aries (Hardware) - Impressions and Information

[baddog]

I look forward to seeing this next level Aries, I have always enjoyed the flagship model as well as the Aries Mini. And yes the investment in software and firmware has come a long, long way over the past few years.

 

All the best.

[McMaly]

+1, same with me.

 

Cheers

Matthias

[aki kumar]

According to the specs sheet listed above from Acoustic Sounds, it has USB 2.0 input for external disk. Should not be a problem using an HDD, load it up as much as you want, I may do the same thing at first since I'm not too great at understanding the networking aspect myself (only recently got a NAS and it seems to act a bit wonky sometimes). I would still like to see some reviews of this thing first before buying it as I am torn between this or just buying a Macbook Pro, which can obviously be used for a lot more, but still makes a pretty nice music server. The initial impressions I've read from Computer Audiophile seem to suggest the Lightning app is not up to par yet either, which is a pretty big concern.

[vortecjr]

Neither JRiver or Roon is a part of your product. The Internet radio and streaming integration are done by control software, your product can not use Internet radio or streaming without proper control software. The compare chart I upload is to compare the product but not product plus 3rd party software. I dont see any misunderstanding by describe microRendu's Internet radio and streaming service ability as: "Network endpoint only, supported features depend on compatible streaming protocol customer is going to use". If you believe microRendu should be listed with those feature supported, then I can say my $10 bluetooth headset also support everything because I can use other control software and stream to it.

 

When you use Airplay and Roon Ready don't you fall into the same category. You need 3rd party software just as much as I do and I have no objection to it.

[jtwrace]

I look forward to seeing this next level Aries, I have always enjoyed the flagship model as well as the Aries Mini. And yes the investment in software and firmware has come a long, long way over the past few years.

 

All the best.

 

+1

[Axiom05]

According to the specs sheet listed above from Acoustic Sounds, it has USB 2.0 input for external disk. Should not be a problem using an HDD, load it up as much as you want, I may do the same thing at first since I'm not too great at understanding the networking aspect myself (only recently got a NAS and it seems to act a bit wonky sometimes). I would still like to see some reviews of this thing first before buying it as I am torn between this or just buying a Macbook Pro, which can obviously be used for a lot more, but still makes a pretty nice music server. The initial impressions I've read from Computer Audiophile seem to suggest the Lightning app is not up to par yet either, which is a pretty big concern.

 

 

http://www.audiostream.com/content/auralic-aries-part-2#G4axjBH3sWabX3ir.97

[Axiom05]

The initial impressions I've read from Computer Audiophile seem to suggest the Lightning app is not up to par yet either, which is a pretty big concern.

 

I had an opportunity to use the Lightning app for quite a long time at a local dealer. I found nothing lacking in it, the app did everything that I wanted it to do. I didn't find it to be "not up to parr" with apps like MPaD or JRemote, and you at least know that the app will continue to receive support from the developer, you can't say that about MPaD or JRemote. I haven't used apps like Lumin or the Linn apps, so maybe there are better ones out there.

[hornytoad]

Well it's nice to see some competition between Sonore and Auralic, both very fine companies .

There is nothing wrong with supporting both companies by buying a mrendu for one room and an Aries for another .

[Doak]

I had an opportunity to use the Lightning app for quite a long time at a local dealer. I found nothing lacking in it, the app did everything that I wanted it to do. I didn't find it to be "not up to parr" with apps like MPaD or JRemote, and you at least know that the app will continue to receive support from the developer, you can't say that about MPaD or JRemote. I haven't used apps like Lumin or the Linn apps, so maybe there are better ones out there.

Completely agree that the Auralic's Lightening app is no slouch and NOT at all a "good reason" not to purchase.

[davide256]

Completely agree that the Auralic's Lightening app is no slouch and NOT at all a "good reason" not to purchase.

 

The nice thing about Lightning Server is it will also work with the Lumin controller app.

[Doak]

The nice thing about Lightning Server is it will also work with the Lumin controller app.

So please enlighten me as to the WHY part of your statement.

[kennyb123]

The nice thing about Lightning Server is it will also work with the Lumin controller app.

 

I preferred using Lumin as it responded more quickly after being returned to the foreground.

 

Lumin used to crash though if the queue contained any Tidal tracks.

 

Roon is my favorite of these.

[davide256]

So please enlighten me as to the WHY part of your statement.

I found the Lumin app easier to navigate my library with and visually more appealing than the Lightning controller. About the only Lightning feature I missed was sort by album import date.

[Doak]

I found the Lumin app easier to navigate my library with and visually more appealing than the Lightning controller. About the only Lightning feature I missed was sort by album import date.

Thanks.

I would not want to be w/o the "Recent Imports" window since I use it frequently.

 

Here's another question: What's the "big deal" about Aries doing NAA?

I'll assume it will allow it to be worked into a setup using HQP.

If so, why use an Aries to do that when there are many other and prob better ways?

[mikey8811]

Here's another question: What's the "big deal" about Aries doing NAA?

I'll assume it will allow it to be worked into a setup using HQP.

If so, why use an Aries to do that when there are many other and prob better ways?

 

Wasn't the HQ Player thing about it sounding better even at its basic mode without any upsampling?

[pl_svn]

About the only Lightning feature I missed was sort by album import date.

 

semi-OT but... one great feature of Roon is you can have it set import date to file/folder creation or modification date so, when I moved from Audirvana, years of import history were back

[Doak]

Wasn't the HQ Player thing about it sounding better even at its basic mode without any upsampling?

That may be the case, though to "do HQP" necessitates adding another computer/processor and complicating the simple/ultra-reliable aspect of the Aries.

Been there, done that, no thank you.

[mjb]

This is an interesting quote, and it probably applies to HQ Player as well.

I remember I mentioned before when answered some customers' question that I do not recommend people to buy ARIES if they just want to use it as a Roon endpoint. The Roon endpoint code is provided by Roon, you can not optimize it and every manufacutere's RoonReady device are pretty much the same on software side. A RPi with good power supply and USB regeneration circuit (Regen, jitterbug) will do similar thing if they know how to set it up. ARIES is for people whom want a simple setup, one stop solution product with audiophile sound quality.

[Doak]

This is an interesting quote, and it probably applies to HQ Player as well.

Yes, it is.

The dual computer, microRendu, HQP setup is the ONLY one sounded better, overall, to me than my optimized Aries.

It proved to be a BEAR to make it work/keep it working, plus to do it RIGHT is WAY more expensive than an Aries.

 

Mr. Wang didn't say but it is also a fact that the Aries will benefit from the Regen, or even better the Wyred Recovery.

[MNG]

Yes, it is.

The dual computer, microRendu, HQP setup is the ONLY one sounded better, overall, to me than my optimized Aries.

It proved to be a BEAR to make it work/keep it working, plus to do it RIGHT is WAY more expensive than an Aries.

 

Mr. Wang didn't say but it is also a fact that the Aries will benefit from the Regen, or even better the Wyred Recovery.

 

Yes, I found that the new firmware, which caches to internal memory, was an improvement. When I added a W4S and an Sbooster Ultra power supply, the sound quality from Aries was really elevated to a high level.

[Axiom05]

Yes, I found that the new firmware, which caches to internal memory, was an improvement. When I added a W4S and an Sbooster Ultra power supply, the sound quality from Aries was really elevated to a high level.

 

Would someone please tell me what the SBooster power supply does that the stock Aries LPS doesn't? Why is it better? Not challenging anyone, just really interested in knowing. The SBooster adds about another $600 to the price of the $1700 Aries.

[MNG]

Would someone please tell me what the SBooster power supply does that the stock Aries LPS doesn't? Why is it better? Not challenging anyone, just really interested in knowing. The SBooster adds about another $600 to the price of the $1700 Aries.

 

Same just better really. There is some detail here: Audio Ramblings - The Auralic Aries and SBooster Linear Power Supply - Positive Feedback

 

I also have an Aries LE so I can use the Aries LPS with that and get a benefit, so that helps with the added cost.

[Morph]

Well I must say I'm impressed with the V4.0 beta6 Firmware, I agree that it's a big step up in SQ coming from my Aries Mini.... really pleased! So pleased that I'm going to invest in the upcoming new Aries mentioned above by Mr Wang. Has anyone seen any information as to when the new unit will be available in the UK?

[hornytoad]

Anyone know when 4.0 will be released?

[drabbis]

awesome!

New Aries wish list:

SSD HD for internal storage

isolated usb3.0/3.1 output

faster processor

DSD 512 output (don't know why just sounds cool like my chord dave)

MQA (might as well just do this for bells and whistles)

beefier linear power supply

more refined exterior case