Article: AURALiC VEGA G1 Full Review

[The Computer Audiophile]

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[daverich4]

You forgot to mention that Tales Of America is also available as 24/192 MQA on Tidal. Probably just slipped your mind. 😬

[mrvco]

1 hour ago, daverich4 said:

You forgot to mention that Tales Of America is also available as 24/192 MQA on Tidal. Probably just slipped your mind. 😬

 

Not so relevant in context of this review since Auralic made a conscious and reasonable decision not to support MQA.

 

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the G1 compares to the Brooklyn Bridge.

[daverich4]

2 minutes ago, mrvco said:

 

Not so relevant in context of this review since Auralic made a conscious and reasonable decision not to support MQA.

 

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the G1 compares to the Brooklyn Bridge.

 

I think you took my post a little more seriously than it was intended. 

[mrvco]

3 minutes ago, daverich4 said:

 

I think you took my post a little more seriously than it was intended. 

 

haha, whoops 🤭

 

[bunno77]

Shame about the silver knob. Makes it look a bit crappy

[The Computer Audiophile]

25 minutes ago, bunno77 said:

Shame about the silver knob. Makes it look a bit crappy

That’s where the G2 upgrade comes in 😁

[mrvco]

2 hours ago, bunno77 said:

Shame about the silver knob. Makes it look a bit crappy

 

 

I'm sure someone on Etsy will crochet a knob cover for you in your color of choice 😏

[bunno77]

2 hours ago, mrvco said:

 

 

I'm sure someone on Etsy will crochet a knob cover for you in your color of choice 😏

Sounds nice to have a crocheted knob cover. 

[azupan75]

Thank you for interesting read. Could you please provide sources or links to audio brand market share from which you assesed increase of Auralic’s market share compared to other brands. I’ve never found any source that provides audio brands sales or market share but was also very curious how they compare. Thank you.

[firedog]

Good review. This sounds like a great centerpiece of an audiophile/network system for someone that wants simplicity and very good performance, without getting into the stratosphere price league of diminishing returns on the dollar.

[Ajax]

Hi Chris,

 

I have the Auralic Mini, in fact I have 3 of them, all with 500G SSD drives installed. I get immense pleasure using the lightning DS software (after a shaky start) and would jump at the G1, if I could install an SSD Drive. Reason being you can't always have an internet connection and its good fun to browse your favourites in hi res.

 

It would be silly to ask your thoughts on the sonic improvement of the G1 over the Mini as the price divergence is about 8 times. I am very happy with the convenience and sound quality of my minis, as I have local files on the SSD, plus Tidal and Spotify Connect, and I enjoy controlling them from my phone and iPad.

 

I am tempted to upgrade to the G1 for my main system but have two reservations, the lack of SSD and lack of galvanic isolation. In my research CA contributors such as Barrows stress the importance of having the streamer and DAC in separate boxes.

 

The alternative to me is a separate streamer and a second hand Benchmark DAC 2 or equivalent.

 

Anyone care to comment - am I on the wrong track?

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, Ajax said:

Hi Chris,

 

I have the Auralic Mini, in fact I have 3 of them, all with 500G SSD drives installed. I get immense pleasure using the lightning DS software (after a shaky start) and would jump at the G1, if I could install an SSD Drive. Reason being you can't always have an internet connection and its good fun to browse your favourites in hi res.

 

It would be silly to ask your thoughts on the sonic improvement of the G1 over the Mini as the price divergence is about 8 times. I am very happy with the convenience and sound quality of my minis, as I have local files on the SSD, plus Tidal and Spotify Connect, and I enjoy controlling them from my phone and iPad.

 

I am tempted to upgrade to the G1 for my main system but have two reservations, the lack of SSD and lack of galvanic isolation. In my research CA contributors such as Barrows stress the importance of having the streamer and DAC in separate boxes.

 

The alternative to me is a separate streamer and a second hand Benchmark DAC 2 or equivalent.

 

Anyone care to comment - am I on the wrong track?

Hi Ajax - You're in a good situation, even though there are questions and concerns about improving performance. The Mini is a wonderful product. I've even heard that Auralic made a mistake by releasing that product because it was so inexpensive (no money could be made on it) and it performed so well for the money. Anyway, the Mini is wonderful, but not the "height of living" as they say. 

 

For a main system in your environment I would look at the Vega G1 and Aries G1. It accomplishes everything you need and keeps you in the familiar Lightning DS ecosystem. I know it's substantially more money, but going from a Toyota to a Porsche is also quite a bit more money. Toyotas are wonderful cars by anyone's definition, but they are no Porsche. 

 

 

[firedog]

4 hours ago, Ajax said:

Hi Chris,

 

I have the Auralic Mini, in fact I have 3 of them, all with 500G SSD drives installed. I get immense pleasure using the lightning DS software (after a shaky start) and would jump at the G1, if I could install an SSD Drive. Reason being you can't always have an internet connection and its good fun to browse your favourites in hi res.

 

It would be silly to ask your thoughts on the sonic improvement of the G1 over the Mini as the price divergence is about 8 times. I am very happy with the convenience and sound quality of my minis, as I have local files on the SSD, plus Tidal and Spotify Connect, and I enjoy controlling them from my phone and iPad.

 

I am tempted to upgrade to the G1 for my main system but have two reservations, the lack of SSD and lack of galvanic isolation. In my research CA contributors such as Barrows stress the importance of having the streamer and DAC in separate boxes.

 

The alternative to me is a separate streamer and a second hand Benchmark DAC 2 or equivalent.

 

Anyone care to comment - am I on the wrong track?

In your case I'd see if there's a dealer who will loan me one or a seller who will give me a trial period. Then you will know if it is worth the big bucks to you. Maybe even compare with an external streamer. 

And nothing against Barrows, but he doesn't have your system or ears. There are few or no absolute rules about what works best - so what may be 100% true with someone else's system may not be with yours.

Something like the G1 may be a cost effective upgrade. Doesn't mean it is "the best" solution available - but what if it is "the best" combination of DAC/Streamer for the price? And if you like Lightning DS, then that means a lot: staying in a UI that you feel comfortable with can be just as important as getting that last little smidgen of SQ from your system that you might get with a different set of paired streamer/DAC separates. 

[Ajax]

20 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Hi Ajax - You're in a good situation, even though there are questions and concerns about improving performance. The Mini is a wonderful product. I've even heard that Auralic made a mistake by releasing that product because it was so inexpensive (no money could be made on it) and it performed so well for the money. Anyway, the Mini is wonderful, but not the "height of living" as they say. 

 

For a main system in your environment I would look at the Vega G1 and Aries G1. It accomplishes everything you need and keeps you in the familiar Lightning DS ecosystem. I know it's substantially more money, but going from a Toyota to a Porsche is also quite a bit more money. Toyotas are wonderful cars by anyone's definition, but they are no Porsche. 

 

 

Hi Chris,

 

Thanks for your thoughts. I agree 100% that the Auralic Mini is most probably the best $ for $ product produced in the last few years. For some explicable reason they went on sale he in Aus and were selling for the equivalent of only US$300. Such a versatile piece of kit and absolutely ideal for a second system.

 

The G1 is looking very attractive to me but is selling for over A$5k in Aus while it is available for only A$3.5k in the US. Allowing for 0.7 exchange rate we (as always) are getting taken to the cleaners and I'll source my from the US or UK.

 

Thanks again for your comments and insightful review.

 

All the best,

 

Ajax

 

[guerph]

23 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Hi Ajax - You're in a good situation, even though there are questions and concerns about improving performance. The Mini is a wonderful product. I've even heard that Auralic made a mistake by releasing that product because it was so inexpensive (no money could be made on it) and it performed so well for the money. Anyway, the Mini is wonderful, but not the "height of living" as they say. 

 

For a main system in your environment I would look at the Vega G1 and Aries G1. It accomplishes everything you need and keeps you in the familiar Lightning DS ecosystem. I know it's substantially more money, but going from a Toyota to a Porsche is also quite a bit more money. Toyotas are wonderful cars by anyone's definition, but they are no Porsche. 

 

 

 

To be clear, the Aries G1 doesn’t not allow for SSD installation, you have to move up to the Aries G2 for that. 

 

After having bought the Aries G1 to pair with my Hugo 2 and since then replacing the Aries G1 with a Vega G2, I’ll offer my two cents.

 

1) I miss having the ability of creating a Lightning Server that came with Aries. The Vega as Roon endpoint works and sounds great, but I found myself using Lightning DS over Roon while I had the Aries. I think it sounded a smidge better too. The Vega does not allow creation of Lightning Server. You need to use Minimserver, etc. So far I can’t get it to work, so I’m using Roon. 

2) I miss WiFi with Aries. Sounded better than Ethernet connection.

3) My comparisons between the Vega G2 and Aries G1 paired with Hugo 2, revealed that the Vega G2 is more analogue (and by that I mean more relaxed) sounding perhaps, but not necessarily better. Missing is the top end sparkle and depth that came with Hugo 2. I ended up keeping the Vega G2 in the end and sold Aries G1, but kept the Hugo 2 for a better headphone listening experience. The Vega G2 headphone out sounded muddy and completely flat using my Focal Utopias. 

 

I love the Auralic gear I’ve had and enjoying the Vega G2 in my system. But there are trade offs with both the Vega G1 and G2. As you said it can’t do it ALL. It can do most of what I need and very well indeed. 

 

I think the reviewer side skirts the Lightning DS functionality on the Vega G1 which I find a bit convenient if not disingenuous having tried to use it on both the Aries G1 and Vega G2. It only really works on the Aries. No such luck on the Vega G2. This needs to be made clear as it’s what most folks who’ve used Lightning DS in the past are likely interested in knowing they can continue using as a cheaper alternative to Roon. 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 minutes ago, guerph said:

To be clear, the Aries G1 doesn’t not allow for SSD installation, you have to move up to the Aries G2 for that. 

 

Correct. To use an SSD with Aries G1, just attach an SSD USB drive. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, guerph said:

I think the reviewer side skirts the Lightning DS functionality on the Vega G1 which I find a bit convenient if not disingenuous having tried to use it on both the Aries G1 and Vega G2. It only really works on the Aries. No such luck on the Vega G2. This needs to be made clear as it’s what most folks who’ve used Lightning DS in the past are likely interested in knowing they can continue using as a cheaper alternative to Roon. 

 

Thanks for the feedback. This is the first Auralic product, I've reviewed four or five over the years, where I didn't use Lightning DS. I figured it was time to try it in a different configuration. Lightning DS is excellent as I've said in all my other reviews and in the accompanying video to this review. 

 

What do you mean Lightning DS only really works on the Aries? I've used it with every Auralic product I've ever had in my system with the exception of the Vega G1.

[guerph]

21 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

Correct. To use an SSD with Aries G1, just attach an SSD USB drive. 

 

 

 

Thanks for the feedback. This is the first Auralic product, I've reviewed four or five over the years, where I didn't use Lightning DS. I figured it was time to try it in a different configuration. Lightning DS is excellent as I've said in all my other reviews and in the accompanying video to this review. 

 

What do you mean Lightning DS only really works on the Aries? I've used it with every Auralic product I've ever had in my system with the exception of the Vega G1.

 

From the horse's mouth,

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, guerph said:

 

From the horse's mouth,

That's kind of obvious. I thought there was something other than the published specs etc... No worries though. 

[mav52]

Nice review and thanks Chris. Any tonal comparison between G1 and these devices; the Aurender A100s and the Directstream.

[The Computer Audiophile]

10 minutes ago, mav52 said:

Nice review and thanks Chris. Any tonal comparison between G1 and these devices; the Aurender A100s and the Directstream.

I haven't heard the A100 and I haven't heard a DirectStream variant in a long time. 

[skatbelt]

@The Computer Audiophile I feel the urge to express a general feeling about your reviews. I've checked the last ten or so, just to make sure if I was not imagening things. But I didn't. The point is: I miss a critical attitude, I miss comparisons and references, I miss setup clues and depth I can relate to etc. etc. And if people - understandable - ask for these insight in the comments section, you are very political in your reactions. Everything you reviewed in the last years is more or less highly recommended. Is the weight of site sponsors this heavy?

 

I am sure the G1 is a fine piece of equipment. Other reviews of the same type already made this clear. I was hoping to get more context here. I found the latest contribution of @austinpop very refreshing. This is the level I would like the see much more. It is personal, it is highly informative and it really helps audiophiles in making decisions in their personal quests. This level could make this site really stand out from the rest of the community.

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 hours ago, skatbelt said:

@The Computer Audiophile I feel the urge to express a general feeling about your reviews. I've checked the last ten or so, just to make sure if I was not imagening things. But I didn't. The point is: I miss a critical attitude, I miss comparisons and references, I miss setup clues and depth I can relate to etc. etc. And if people - understandable - ask for these insight in the comments section, you are very political in your reactions. Everything you reviewed in the last years is more or less highly recommended. Is the weight of site sponsors this heavy?

 

I am sure the G1 is a fine piece of equipment. Other reviews of the same type already made this clear. I was hoping to get more context here. I found the latest contribution of @austinpop very refreshing. This is the level I would like the see much more. It is personal, it is highly informative and it really helps audiophiles in making decisions in their personal quests. This level could make this site really stand out from the rest of the community.

Hi @skatbelt Thank you very much for the honest feedback. 

 

I understand where you are coming from and the desire to learn more. You've given your time to read the review, you should be compensated for that time with something of value (information).

 

Hopefully you can appreciate me being quite candid here and I apologize in advance if this is too much information. 

 

You guys are incredibly smart and catch on to even the smallest change in writing patterns or attitudes. 

 

There are several things going on here. My time is extremely limited. Running this site and Superphonica have put a major burden on me that I didn't foresee, at least to this extent. My head is often wrapped around solving technical issues behind the scenes or the administration tasks of running a business. It's the opposite of what I like to do and what I did when I started CA over ten years ago. Bringing on new writers such as austinpop, josh m, and others has allowed me to keep some sanity, knowing that the quality of work published here will remain high. I'm very thankful for our team of writers. 

 

I've struggled to find my groove lately when writing reviews. The thoughts and ideas are inside me but I can't clear my head enough  and focus correctly to get it all out in the same manner I used to. I allow myself to be constantly side tracked by something that knocks me off task. The result of this is reviews that, as you've noted, aren't up to the level you want and the level you should expect. I get it 100%. You guys have given me your time, I owe it to you to give you something back. Something that will increase your enjoyment of this wonderful hobby.

 

That said, every review I've ever written on this site is 100% honest. Nothing gets a rubber stamp. I just can't write fluff reviews like some other publications. All the products I highly recommend, including the Vega G1 above, absolutely deserve to be highly recommended. My lack of focus shouldn't take anything away from the products under review. 

 

Two more items of note. 1) We must be careful not to get caught in the trap of seeking critical comments because they seem more reliable, believable, or honest. Negativity bias is real and tough to overcome, especially in this industry of glowing reviews. Writing a review is an art. We have many data points to choose from when crafting reviews and we have to cut out quite a bit of information, otherwise the review would be 12,000 words long.  2) The products I review are hand selected by me. I have no editor to hand out assignments to me etc... This means I often select products I know are good. It's no fun to spend quite a bit of time with a dud. I completely understand the value of critical reviews in that they help consumers avoid mistakes. I get it 100%. I'm not trying to justify things, just explaining what's going on. 

 

I guess the bottom line is I'm human just like everyone else. Sometimes I need a longtime reader such as yourself to leave constructive criticism in order for me to refocus and get back to doing more of what I absolutely love, and that's really digging into audio and music and writing reviews and articles that I'd want to read if I was in your shoes. 

 

Thanks again for the feedback. I hope this wasn't too much information and I didn't mean to drag you down if I did. Just want to explain what's up.