Basic updated intro to Auralic Aries, please?

[ChrisFromDublin]

I can't believe the amount of pages on this site on the Auralic Aries and its software and continual updates. I do like to read about computer audio, but this seems insurmountable.

 

My questions are basic:

Will I be able to play all audio from my laptop wirelessly through this streamer? That is, can I play system sounds, J.River Media Center, internet videos and iTunes without audio lagging behind video? Will it be as simple as now when a USB connection lets my Benchmark DAC1 PRE play anything without any fuzz? Will I need major changes and/or additional investments to make the Auralic Aries work?

 

The details of my system:

I have a Windows 7 laptop connected to a Benchmark DAC1 PRE via USB. The reason I intend to change this reliable and simple setup is that I plan to go digital all the way to my loudspeakers.

Soon, my new Genelec 8351A digital studio monitors will arrive. They accept analogue input, but analogue signals are converted to digital inside the speaker in order to make use of digital filtering and an elaborate digital room correction system. It seems “anti-audiophile” to let my signal be converted back and forth two times between analogue and digital.

Genelec 8351As only accept digital input in the form of AES/EBU, which my Benchmark DAC can’t provide.

 

(I don’t play esoteric hi-def files, I do like to have a volume control outside my PC so as not to accidentally blast my system – and ear drums – if there is a computer mishap. I’d love to get rid of that USB connection and go wireless, I don’t have an iPad, and my phone is Android.)

 

Auralic Aries seems to be the way to go in my situation. But am I missing something in the 100s of pages on this product?

 

Thank you, in advance

[ChrisFromDublin]

Audio_ELF, I have read the review, which alerted me to this product in the first place.

 

There are 132 comments to the review. Many of them listing problems, solutions, corrections and the evolution of software updates.

Computer Audiophile - Auralic Aries Review

 

There are 1947 comments to this discussion of the hardware

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f22-networking-networked-audio-and-streaming/auralic-aries-hardware-impressions-and-information-21261/

 

There are 820 comments to this discussion of the software

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f22-networking-networked-audio-and-streaming/auralic-lightning-ds-app-software-impressions-and-information-21262/

 

And then experiences with this product are also mentioned numerous other places on this site.

 

I just wondered if someone was capable of giving an overview of whether this product would work as I imagined, so I wouldn’t have to read 3000+ comments.

[ChrisFromDublin]

Thank you so very much, bplexico and miguelito! A huge help, and a huge effort from you to help me!

 

My music files are stored on my laptop. Yes, the Genelecs include DACs and ADCs. These loudspeakers go digital all the way to within the speaker.

 

It seems like I need to look at some other options.

 

I’m not looking for a music player, I’m just looking for a way to convert a signal from USB or (preferably) wifi into AES/EBU. On the CASH list there are converters to S/PDIF, but not to AES/EBU. I really need some recommendations, but this is the subject for a different thread.

 

So I’ve started one. Here it is.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f8-general-forum/universal-serial-bus-industry-standard-cables-connectors-and-communications-protocols-between-computers-and-electronic-devices-or-ethernet-audio-engineering-society-aes-world-wide-professional-society-devoted-audio-technology-european-broadcasting-union-ebu-professional-society-devoted-audio-technology-it-originated-europe-broadcasting-radio-and-tv-converter-23813/