Auralic Lightning DS App (Software) - Impressions and Information

[JbJordan]

Well, you have a great sounding piece of HW, with superior functionality, streaming own red book and hirez music flawlessly, plus TIDAL / Qobuz integration, and a pretty decent SW (LightningDS), working great on iPad, which is far better than fiddling about with a small iPhone screen! As I see it, lots of reasons to be extremely pleased with the product. Enjoy the music, I'm confident there are more pleasant surprises to come...

[kennyb123]

Well, you have a great sounding piece of HW, with superior functionality, streaming own red book and hirez music flawlessly, plus TIDAL / Qobuz integration, and a pretty decent SW (LightningDS), working great on iPad, which is far better than fiddling about with a small iPhone screen! As I see it, lots of reasons to be extremely pleased with the product. Enjoy the music, I'm confident there are more pleasant surprises to come...

 

+1

[Audio_ELF]

I have to say I'm pretty disappointed with the timeliness of Auralic's software development considering their dealers were saying last fall that the iPhone app would be finished within a month or two . That was

One of the deciding factors in me buying an Aries .

Its been my experience that you should NEVER buy anything based on manufacturer or dealers comments on what may be coming as upgrades or enhancements. Only ever buy based on what is possible now.

 

I can see the point: if you wanted to control it with third party applications (such as BubbleDS on Android tablet or Linn Kazoo on a desktop); the only way to set up is via the iPad application. If you were promised "oh we can help you and set it up with our iPad but soon you'll be able to make changes with your iPhone" then the fact the iPhone app didn't come along could be rather annoying.

[wanta911]

Well, you have a great sounding piece of HW, with superior functionality, streaming own red book and hirez music flawlessly, plus TIDAL / Qobuz integration, and a pretty decent SW (LightningDS), working great on iPad, which is far better than fiddling about with a small iPhone screen! As I see it, lots of reasons to be extremely pleased with the product. Enjoy the music, I'm confident there are more pleasant surprises to come...

 

Maybe no Qobuz after November 16......

[JohanS]

I guess Some might need an explanation... Is Qobuz Going Bust? | AudioStream

[Misterpete]

Hi, I am using Lightning DS on my Ipad to control my Aries mini but I am not all that keen on it. Can anyone recommend an alternative which will give me the ability to view the folders on my Synology separately. I have Flacs, MP3s, rips etc and I don't want to see them all in one view lumped together.

I would like something similar to JRiver or Squeezepad. or on the other hand is there a way to edit Lightning DS to show these views.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[RolandGo]

LDS has a folder view at the bottom right next to the library view. Have you tried that?

 

http://support.auralic.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/202269007/IMG_1059.PNG

[Misterpete]

LDS has a folder view at the bottom right next to the library view. Have you tried that?

 

http://support.auralic.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/202269007/IMG_1059.PNG

 

Brilliant, thanks. I missed it because when I clicked on it the left pane was full of headings like Album, Artist,Date genre etc and it was only when I scrolled down did I see "Folder view"

Your help is much appreciated.

[bengl3rt]

Its been my experience that you should NEVER buy anything based on manufacturer or dealers comments on what may be coming as upgrades or enhancements. Only ever buy based on what is possible now.

 

Yep! Exactly the reason I have not ordered my Aries Mini yet.

 

I have zero interest in owning an iPad and similarly zero interest in controlling an Aries using a suboptimal app that cannot access all of the features.

[Jimmypowder]

Its been my experience that you should NEVER buy anything based on manufacturer or dealers comments on what may be coming as upgrades or enhancements. Only ever buy based on what is possible now.

 

I can see the point: if you wanted to control it with third party applications (such as BubbleDS on Android tablet or Linn Kazoo on a desktop); the only way to set up is via the iPad application. If you were promised "oh we can help you and set it up with our iPad but soon you'll be able to make changes with your iPhone" then the fact the iPhone app didn't come along could be rather annoying.

I can't really recall a year back but I think some of this talk was coming from Auralic. Could be wrong though.

[JMack23]

Can I run Lightning DS on an IPad Touch? I too am disappointed that no full release was ever made on Android. Just wondering on whether it is worthwhile to pay for the full version of BubbleUPNP or get a past gen Touch and get use of the dedicated app. Currently using BubbleUPNP on Note4 but the limitation on number of songs able to add to the queue in the free version is annoying also find the resolution of the app annoying, no need for the display text to be so big, want to see more display listings on a single screen.

[Todd R]

When using the Lightning DS on an Android, is there a way to change the sort order? All my albums are sorted z-a and it needs to be a-z. I hit something once and the order changed and I can't get it back.

Thanks

[alandbush]

When using the Lightning DS on an Android, is there a way to change the sort order? All my albums are sorted z-a and it needs to be a-z. I hit something once and the order changed and I can't get it back.

Thanks

 

Select 'Settings' then Sorting' and choose appropriate order.

[Todd R]

Select 'Settings' then Sorting' and choose appropriate order.

 

Thanks.

I tried that in the past and it didn't work. Today, repeated taps on the Sorting button finally got me to the next page where i was able to re-sort.

[baddog]

Can I run Lightning DS on an IPad Touch? I too am disappointed that no full release was ever made on Android. Just wondering on whether it is worthwhile to pay for the full version of BubbleUPNP or get a past gen Touch and get use of the dedicated app. Currently using BubbleUPNP on Note4 but the limitation on number of songs able to add to the queue in the free version is annoying also find the resolution of the app annoying, no need for the display text to be so big, want to see more display listings on a single screen.

 

While iPads are supported I do not believe it will work on an iPod Touch ( I assume that is what you are referring to ) perhaps when software that supports the iPhone is released it will also work on an iPod touch.

[Jimmypowder]

Can I run Lightning DS on an IPad Touch? I too am disappointed that no full release was ever made on Android. Just wondering on whether it is worthwhile to pay for the full version of BubbleUPNP or get a past gen Touch and get use of the dedicated app. Currently using BubbleUPNP on Note4 but the limitation on number of songs able to add to the queue in the free version is annoying also find the resolution of the app annoying, no need for the display text to be so big, want to see more display listings on a single screen.

 

Full version of Bubble is excellent

[JohanS]

While iPads are supported I do not believe it will work on an iPod Touch ( I assume that is what you are referring to ) perhaps when software that supports the iPhone is released it will also work on an iPod touch.

Few weeks ago Auralic confirmed that the iPhone release works on iPod touch as well.

[Jimmypowder]

Few weeks ago Auralic confirmed that the iPhone release works on iPod touch as well.

 

Oh my oh my , iPhone app where art thou ?

[JohanS]

Oh my oh my , iPhone app where art thou ?

In China!

[JohanS]

Oh my oh my , iPhone app where art thou ?

End of November public test drive! (Source: comment from Auralic on Auralic Facebook)

[Ajax]

End of November public test drive! (Source: comment from Auralic on Auralic Facebook)

 

I'm about to press the button on purchasing a mini (maybe 2 or 3) but I am waiting for confirmation Lighting DS will be available as an iPhone app. I would like to use it to stream to my existing main hifi and also to form the backbone of a high quality multi room system replacing my existing Airport Expresses.

 

A couple of questions:

 

1. Can I use the mini as a traditional Pre amp / DAC and connect it directly to a power amp using it's RCA out. I appreciate it has its own internal DAC but can I use its Lighting DS software to control it's functionality in the same way you can control a preamp with a remote i.e. input selection, volume as well as library management. etc?

 

2. Does the Lighting DS app work the same way as apple airplay and "remote" app in as much as you can select different apple expresses (minis) in different rooms and stream files from your phone or use your phone to stream files from your computer via your wifi?

 

3. Is there any other compatible software that will be able control it?

 

 

Thanks in advance,

 

 

Ajax

[JohanS]

I'm about to press the button on purchasing a mini (maybe 2 or 3) but I am waiting for confirmation Lighting DS will be available as an iPhone app. I would like to use it to stream to my existing main hifi and also to form the backbone of a high quality multi room system replacing my existing Airport Expresses.

 

A couple of questions:

 

1. Can I use the mini as a traditional Pre amp / DAC and connect it directly to a power amp using it's RCA out. I appreciate it has its own internal DAC but can I use its Lighting DS software to control it's functionality in the same way you can control a preamp with a remote i.e. input selection, volume as well as library management. etc?

 

2. Does the Lighting DS app work the same way as apple airplay and "remote" app in as much as you can select different apple expresses (minis) in different rooms and stream files from your phone or use your phone to stream files from your computer via your wifi?

 

3. Is there any other compatible software that will be able control it?

 

 

Thanks in advance,

 

 

Ajax

Good to hear, you're about to buy 2 or 3 Mini's! The iPhone app will absolutely arrive within a few weeks from now. We've seen a working app during the RMAF Audio Show and with the annouced public testing it's almost ready for prime time!

 

1. Yes, you can. BUT output on the RCA has a high volune. This is why I asked Mr. Xuanqian Wang to have an option to limit the max. volume with a setting in LDS (this could be as easy as prohibiting the volume slider to go any further than a given value between 1 and 100, or to to limit the max output: '100' is - xdB).

 

2. Yes, you can chose different Mini's from LDS.

Stream from your phone: through bluetooth.

Stream from your computer / NAS: yes. Preferred is to use some kind of upnp media server (like MinimServer). You can connect to a file share directly (SMB).

 

3. You'll need LDS for initial set-up. Afterwards you can use control software on iOS, Android and your computer. Others have more experience. From what I read here: Kinsky, BubbleUPNP, ...

[jtwrace]

Few weeks ago Auralic confirmed that the iPhone release works on iPod touch as well.

 

It does.

[Ajax]

Good to hear, you're about to buy 2 or 3 Mini's! The iPhone app will absolutely arrive within a few weeks from now. We've seen a working app during the RMAF Audio Show and with the annouced public testing it's almost ready for prime time!

 

1. Yes, you can. BUT output on the RCA has a high volune. This is why I asked Mr. Xuanqian Wang to have an option to limit the max. volume with a setting in LDS (this could be as easy as prohibiting the volume slider to go any further than a given value between 1 and 100, or to to limit the max output: '100' is - xdB).

 

2. Yes, you can chose different Mini's from LDS.

Stream from your phone: through bluetooth.

Stream from your computer / NAS: yes. Preferred is to use some kind of upnp media server (like MinimServer). You can connect to a file share directly (SMB).

 

3. You'll need LDS for initial set-up. Afterwards you can use control software on iOS, Android and your computer. Others have more experience. From what I read here: Kinsky, BubbleUPNP, ...

 

Hi Johan,

 

Thanks for your replies to my questions .. all understood and very much appreciated.

 

I like the whole concept of the Mini and placed my order for one today. Initially I will use it for streaming to my main system, and will experiment with both the Mini's DAC, with analogue out into my Devialet 200, and also with the optical and coaxial out into the Devialet's DAC.

 

Based on the quality of the sound using just the Mini's DAC, and the usability of the software on the iPhone, I will then decide whether to by another one or two for a cost effective high quality multi room system. I have a couple of pairs of high quality older speakers unused, and can buy decent 5 year old power amps for around A$300 on Ebay, so it is not as expensive as it initially seems to use the Mini for a multi room set up.

 

Based on your answers, and the enthusiastic reports on the quality of the DAC, it should worked well.

 

FYI I paid A$699 = US$500 at around 72c exchange rate. Only two years ago we had parity with the US dollar, however, our exchange rate has now fallen 30% due to the slowing of China's economy which has resulted in a halving of our main export commodities - iron ore, coal and oil.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to help.

 

All the best.

 

Ajax

[Misterpete]

Hi Ajax,

 

I have found the best option to be USB into the D200. It sounds superb.