Advance Announcement: AURALIC POLARIS

[Doak]

AURALiC Launch POLARIS Wireless Streaming Amplifier The All-in-One Solution for Modern HiFi System

RMAF 2016 - Denver, October 7, 2016 - AURALIC North America Inc. is proud to introduce the POLARIS Wireless Streaming Amplifier. POLARIS has seventeen inputs channels comprising streaming, digital and analog sources. The internal DAC, incorporating AURALiC Flexible Filters and Femto Master Clock, supports Quad-Rate DSD and PCM up to 32Bit/384K. The powerful internal stereo amplifier module can deliver 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 180 watts per channel into 4 ohms continuous power with exceptionally low distortion- sufficient for the most demanding loudspeakers.

“POLARIS defines the AURALiC brand: innovative technology, great sound, superb user experience, and excellent value. It is a wireless streamer, a music server, a DAC, a pre-amplifier and a stereo power amplifier – the ultimate solution for music lovers seeking high quality streaming from a single, compact audio component”

POLARIS utilizes AURALiC’s award-winning Lightning Streaming Platform. Launched in 2014, Lightning Streaming is industry’s first streaming solution that supports Quad-Rate DSD, PCM up to 32Bit/384K through Wi-Fi network. Lightning Streaming offers several innovative and unique features such as Gapless Playback, On-Device Playlist, Memory Cache and Bit-Perfect Multi-Room functions. This on-going platform is maintained, and continually developed by AURALiC’s in-house software R&D team to ensure customers are regularly updated with new features through the product’s automatic software update system.

The products streaming function is operated by AURALiC’s Lightning DS control App which is at the heart of all the companies streaming products and available on iOS platforms, with Mac and Windows versions in development. It is also compatible with other third-party OpenHome or UPnP control software for playback and also works as a RoonReady endpoint to use with Roon software, bringing you an alternative way in which to discover and listen to music.

AURALiC is introducing another innovative technology: Hybrid Volume Control for POLARIS. The Hybrid Volume Control uses both analog and digital volume control together for optimum audio performance and the best possible sound quality. The analog attenuators reduce the signal level in 12dB steps whilst the DAC's internal digital volume control handles small amounts of volume change within each step. By using this technology, the DAC chip always operates in the best performance range, bringing much lower distortion, better dynamic range and high sound quality at low volume levels.

POLARIS is equipped with two pairs of multi-function RCA connectors - these two stereo pairs of analog channels can be configured as a phono stage input, a line stage input or pre-amplifier output through the product settings menu. Digital inputs include AES/EBU, Coaxial, Toslink and a USB connection to a computer working as a standalone USB DAC.

When purchasing POLARIS from a dealer or AURALiC, you can specify a 1TB SSD for internal music storage as an option at extra cost, turning POLARIS into a fully functioning Music Server.

The retail price of POLARIS starts from $3799 or €3999/£3499 in Europe (including local VAT). AURALiC and its selected dealers will start to take pre-order mid-October, shipment is scheduled mid-November.

 

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[davide256]

Interesting, I wonder if they went class D for the amplifier section. Would seem the biggest question mark since they already have good DAC and streamer product

[ecwl]

Auralic has the Merak amp which uses Hypex UcD, so it would make sense that Polaris uses the Hypex UcD180HG module as the specs are the same.

[Doak]

Interesting, I wonder if they went class D for the amplifier section. Would seem the biggest question mark since they already have good DAC and streamer product

 

Wondering same, though since their well regarded Merak is a custom version of the Hypex UcD I'd bet on Class D.

 

Absolute Sound Merak review:

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/auralic-merak-mono-power-amplifiers/

 

 

[davide256]

Wondering same, though since their well regarded Merak is a custom version of the Hypex UcD I'd bet on Class D.

 

Absolute Sound Merak review:

AURALiC MERAK mono power amplifiers | The Absolute Sound

 

 

 

hmm, promising. I may need to look at the Merak as I've finally reached the point where the 60W of my Prima Luna with KT150's is no longer enough

[mikey8811]

hmm, promising. I may need to look at the Merak as I've finally reached the point where the 60W of my Prima Luna with KT150's is no longer enough

 

Yep I would think your Maggies need more current than the Prima Luna can put out although they must sound pleasant with the Maggies.

[Doak]

hmm, promising. I may need to look at the Merak as I've finally reached the point where the 60W of my Prima Luna with KT150's is no longer enough

 

POLARIS is rated 120/180wpc into 8/4ohms.