Basic updated intro to Auralic Aries, please?

[miguelito]

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

 

Aries is a renderer. It has it's own player and is not meant to act as an USB audio card perse. You can send Airplay and Soundstream streams to it but this is not the way to use it.

 

In terms of your particular use as a source to your speakers, couple of things:

1- I don't know how you'd split the one AES output into two - one for each speaker.

2- How do you plan to control volume?

[miguelito]

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/

 

Firstly whatever you do, I think you'll need one of these:

 

http://m.markertek.com/product/ets-pa830/ets-pa830-aes-ebu-110-ohm-digital-audio-splitter-xlrf-to-2-xlrm?utm_referrer=direct%2Fnot%20provided#ath

 

Or similar. Secondly, there seem to be plenty of USB to AES bridges, and I bet there are SPDIF to AES converters as well.

 

As for AES cables, I use DH Labs' D-110 with Aries and it is great.

 

Aries is your ticket only if you want to use it as a player. In such case I recommend minimserver running on your laptop. Otherwise stick with wires.