Auralic Aries (Hardware) - Impressions and Information

maniac · January 12, 2016

SQ-wise RoonSpeaker is better (less harsh treble) than Airplay

WilCox · January 12, 2016

Mini won't update to Version 3.0

The Mini should auto update to v3. Power off for a moment.

Tried powering off for several hours then reconnected and waited for an hour. Still no update. Then decided to start over and take the Mini through the Setup Lightning Device routine. Still no update.

My Mini is still at Version 2.10 and when I tap firmware refresh is says "Your firmware is up to date." I must be missing something simple.

Browsed through the online docs to see if there was any way to do a hardware reset, but didn't find any info. Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated.

digitalzed · January 12, 2016

Mini won't update to Version 3.0

Tried powering off for several hours then reconnected and waited for an hour. Still no update. Then decided to start over and take the Mini through the Setup Lightning Device routine. Still no update.

My Mini is still at Version 2.10 and when I tap firmware refresh is says "Your firmware is up to date." I must be missing something simple.

Browsed through the online docs to see if there was any way to do a hardware reset, but didn't find any info. Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated.

At this point I'd contact Auralic support. When I went to the app and looked for the update, it already said Firmware 3.0 ready for download.

Jimmypowder · January 12, 2016

Mini won't update to Version 3.0

Tried powering off for several hours then reconnected and waited for an hour. Still no update. Then decided to start over and take the Mini through the Setup Lightning Device routine. Still no update.

My Mini is still at Version 2.10 and when I tap firmware refresh is says "Your firmware is up to date." I must be missing something simple.

Browsed through the online docs to see if there was any way to do a hardware reset, but didn't find any info. Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated.

I have seen this with earlier versions . Have you completely turned off and Mini (unplug) and plug back in . This has worked for me in the past

kennyb123 · January 12, 2016

I believe there was a bug in the past where the workaround was to switch from wired to wireless and back (or vice versa) as this would allow the update to be detected. I believe they fixed it, but it wouldn't hurt to try this.

WilCox · January 13, 2016

I have seen this with earlier versions . Have you completely turned off and Mini (unplug) and plug back in . This has worked for me in the past

Thied this numerous times with no luck.

WilCox · January 13, 2016

A

I believe there was a bug in the past where the workaround was to switch from wired to wireless and back (or vice versa) as this would allow the update to be detected. I believe they fixed it, but it wouldn't hurt to try this.

Just tried this after bringing the Mini to my home office and connecting via Cat 6 cable. Switched back and forth between wired and wireless but still stuck at v2.10. I think it's time to contact Auralic

Duke40 · January 13, 2016

I had the same issue. What I tried was going into my wireless setting on my full Aries ... Then I changed my DNS server setting from Google DNS server to my ISP's DNS server. The Aries then displayed it was applying setting... Moments after coming back online, the Aries started downloading the new firmware.

John

Sent from my iPhone using Computer Audiophile mobile app

Leeuwarden · January 13, 2016

What is your DAC and connection mode to it ? Can you disable DSD over PCM and check ?

I'm using a diy dac with AK4490 chip ( AK4490 USB Dac with dsd support – Discrete DIFF/SE shield, PCM Filter setting | Mirand Audio - Solidstate designs ) connected through USB. When I start a DSD256 file I see time elapse on the Aries. With DSD over PCM I have total silence, With DSD over PCM enabled I hear a lot of noise.

Other people who use this dac can play DSD256 but all of them are not using an Aries. My guess would be the problem lies with the dac because Aries shows time elapsing.

scan80269 · January 13, 2016

I'm using a diy dac with AK4490 chip ( AK4490 USB Dac with dsd support – Discrete DIFF/SE shield, PCM Filter setting | Mirand Audio - Solidstate designs ) connected through USB. When I start a DSD256 file I see time elapse on the Aries. With DSD over PCM I have total silence, With DSD over PCM enabled I hear a lot of noise.

Other people who use this dac can play DSD256 but all of them are not using an Aries. My guess would be the problem lies with the dac because Aries shows time elapsing.

With DSD over PCM disabled Aries will convert DSD to 24/352.8K PCM to feed your DAC, so your DAC needs to support 352.8K sampling rate for PCM. With DSD over PCM enabled your DAC needs to be able to play DSD256 natively (without DoP). If your DAC has neither of these capabilities then it cannot play DSD256 coming from Aries.

I recall someone having suggested to Auralic to have Aries support user-selectable PCM sampling rate for the built-in DSD to PCM conversion (with DSD over PCM disabled). To be able to pick a sampling rate (e.g. 88.2K/176.4K/352.8K) would allow more DACs to play DSD content via conversion to PCM.

Leeuwarden · January 13, 2016

With DSD over PCM disabled Aries will convert DSD to 24/352.8K PCM to feed your DAC, so your DAC needs to support 352.8K sampling rate for PCM. With DSD over PCM enabled your DAC needs to be able to play DSD256 natively (without DoP). If your DAC has neither of these capabilities then it cannot play DSD256 coming from Aries.

I recall someone having suggested to Auralic to have Aries support user-selectable PCM sampling rate for the built-in DSD to PCM conversion (with DSD over PCM disabled). To be able to pick a sampling rate (e.g. 88.2K/176.4K/352.8K) would allow more DACs to play DSD content via conversion to PCM.

Hmm I just checked: It won't play 88.2-176.4-352.8 either... The dac is the "problem"...

Leeuwarden · January 13, 2016

Hmm I just checked: It won't play 88.2-176.4-352.8 either... The dac is the "problem"...

Oops did something wrong. It will play these resolutions...

One and a half · January 13, 2016

Other people who use this dac can play DSD256 but all of them are not using an Aries. My guess would be the problem lies with the dac because Aries shows time elapsing.

From my understanding of asynchronous USB audio, if the DAC doesn't receive data, it requests the host to send/repeat the missing data. If the host keeps playing regardless, then the host isn't communicating with the DAC at all, a one way street.

Also possible that there's no handshaking to begin with, so the DAC gives up. From what I have seen with HQPlayer and ASIO, if there's a slight hiccup with the config of the ASIO output device, HQPlayer grinds to a halt very quickly and play is stopped until the fault is rectified.

WilCox · January 13, 2016

I had the same issue. What I tried was going into my wireless setting on my full Aries ... Then I changed my DNS server setting from Google DNS server to my ISP's DNS server. The Aries then displayed it was applying setting... Moments after coming back online, the Aries started downloading the new firmware.

John

Sent from my iPhone using Computer Audiophile mobile app

I changed my DNS settings as you suggested and was hoping it would update overnight, but that didn't happen.

Got a response from Auralic Support: "ARIES MINI is for Sell and Use in China Mainland Only!AURALiC will not provide any service for the units used outside contracted territory."

My Mini was purchased in November from an authorized Auralic dealer in Green Bay, WI. It included the Tidal subscription and a US power supply. I will make an appeal to Auralic and get the dealer involved since I'm 100% sure this is a Mini made for the US market.

Thanks to all that have given me help.

Wil

kennyb123 · January 13, 2016

I was very impressed by how easy it was to get things going with RoonReady on my Aries last night.

I took advantage of the card that was included in my AudioQuest JitterBug that offered free 60-day trial of Roon. After redeeming the number on the card and creating an account, I downloaded and installed the Roon application onto my Mac Pro. I set it to only watch my iTunes library as a first step.

I next installed the Roon app on my iPad, set the Aries as a RoonReady endpoint, selected a song, and then music started playing (yay!). I didn't play with it much after that as I was wiped out from a long day of work. Before going to bed, I went back to the Roon app on my Mac Pro and configured it to watch my entire music library on my NAS.

I'm tempted to say that Roon will be worth the money to me simply because the iOS app returns me to exactly where I left it after it is restored to the foreground. (I wish Auralic could figure out how to get LDS to do that.) I know that Roon is so much more than that though after using it at a friend's. I'm very much looking forward to playing with it tonight.

This screen shot was captured from the Roon iOS app.

digitalzed · January 13, 2016

I was very impressed by how easy it was to get things going with RoonReady on my Aries last night.

I took advantage of the card that was included in my AudioQuest JitterBug that offered free 60-day trial of Roon. After redeeming the number on the card and creating an account, I downloaded and installed the Roon application onto my Mac Pro. I set it to only watch my iTunes library as a first step.

I next installed the Roon app on my iPad, set the Aries as a RoonReady endpoint, selected a song, and then music started playing (yay!). I didn't play with it much after that as I was wiped out from a long day of work. Before going to bed, I went back to the Roon app on my Mac Pro and configured it to watch my entire music library on my NAS.

I'm tempted to say that Roon will be worth the money to me simply because the iOS app returns me to exactly where I left it after it is restored to the foreground. (I wish Auralic could figure out how to get LDS to do that.) I know that Roon is so much more than that though after using it at a friend's. I'm very much looking forward to playing with it tonight.

This screen shot was captured from the Roon iOS app.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23340[/ATTACH]

Roon and Aries are a fantastic match. I am using both and a Roon subscriber. I looked at it more as a hardware purchase than just a library management tool in that I believe Roon will continue to evolve and be compatible in a variety of ways and with equipment that individual manufacturers software may not be. However I understand that the update to Lightning DS that is coming soon is a big step forward. And Auralic has constantly improved their product but just don't have the experience the Roon crew does at this point. Once the update (2.4) to the DS app comes out it will be interesting to see how much closer Auralic is.

dmormerod · January 22, 2016

Figured with the new firmware I'd take Roon up on the 14 day trial, and I agree it was easy to set up (my music is on a NAS) and on my humble system at least, there is a distinct sound improvement to my ears using Roon versus LDS 2.4. The question is whether or not it's worth the yearly fee plus a dedicated PC/Mac to run the Roon server. Now if Roon server ran on my Synology then the decision would be a lot easier!

pvanosta · January 22, 2016

Now if Roon server ran on my Synology then the decision would be a lot easier!

amen to that!!

kennyb123 · January 23, 2016

I used to feed myself random tracks using iTunes smart playlists when running A+. I lost them with the move to the Aries and never found a good replacement. Those smart playlists are looking pretty dumb right now relative to Room's Radio feature. This takes you on a journey through similar songs in your own library.

A Yes song lead to a Pink Floyd song which lead to a Moody Blues song which lead to a Jethro Tull song which lead to a King Crimson song.

Brilliant.

eligeorgia · January 24, 2016

Figured with the new firmware I'd take Roon up on the 14 day trial, and I agree it was easy to set up (my music is on a NAS) and on my humble system at least, there is a distinct sound improvement to my ears using Roon versus LDS 2.4. The question is whether or not it's worth the yearly fee plus a dedicated PC/Mac to run the Roon server. Now if Roon server ran on my Synology then the decision would be a lot easier!

Sorry. But I'm slow to digest these things. I have an Aries, a NAS, and an iPad. This isn't enough to enjoy roon at its full potential through the iPad app??

baddog · January 24, 2016

@eligeorgia -

Into the mix you need one computer that would run Roon (Core)/Server. Many options on what that might be. This component is the one that handles all the music library management and in turn can output to a DAC, or to a RoonReady device such as the Aries.

On your iPad you can also run Roon to control the music playback and selection.

TPiddy · January 24, 2016

Loving roon as well. Running on the only computer I have anymore - work laptop

I am having a weird problem with tidal and only with favorite artists. I can not scroll the list and if I click on any artist it jumps to somewhere else in the list, like pulling a scroll bar. Anyone else seen this?

I tried deleting and reinstalling the app on my Mac.

I posted to the roon forum, but it is the weekend...

baddog · January 24, 2016

@Tpiddy - is it possible you could post a picture of where the issue begins, might make it easier to verify....?

TPiddy · January 24, 2016

Good idea - thanks.

Speaking of Tidal, it is unavailable (or at least will not load albums, etc.) from my computer and phone. I turned off wireless on my phone and same thing. I am in LA.

Thanks!

baddog · January 24, 2016

So using the right arrow keys don't allow you to move through the list ? I assume if you view albums rather than artists this is not an issue?

So this is on your Mac, choosing Tidal-> Your Favorites ? In the Roon application not via a web browser?

I am in rain soaked Northern California. Tidal is available here.

Auralic Aries (Hardware) - Impressions and Information

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