Article: Review | AURALiC ARIES G2.1

[The Computer Audiophile]

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[The Computer Audiophile]

2 hours ago, PeterG said:

Hi Chris,

 

Thanks for the great review.  I was expecting a $20K price tag at the end, but at "only" $5K this may be the solution I've been looking for to add streaming to my system.  I currently use a Naim Uniti Core for 100% of my listening--it is a purpose built CD ripper and server, local only.  I've tried streaming a couple of times, but on my primary system, Qobuz cannot match local files for the last little shimmer.  Did you compare Qobuz to local files on the Aurilic for sound quality?  Could you tell the difference?

I didn't do a direct comparison of local versus streaming. That's kind of a crapshoot. I stored all my content not available for streaming locally and streamed the rest while using the ARIES. Overall it's a fantastic system. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

There is no comparison that would satisfy the majority of people. All the products mentioned so far are different from the ARIES with respect to feature set. Thus, a comparison is quite strange. 
 

In addition, if this was consumer reports and we purchased all the products, we’d have all the freedoms we want. However, we request review samples. We don’t ask manufacturers to supply components for us to use indefinitely and compare to everything that comes in. Who wants their product to live at a writer’s house for purposes of comparison with unknown future products that may or may not be even similar products? No manufacturers that I know, even if the products are the best. 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

P.S. I compared the Auralic software platform to Bryston’s in this review, yet nobody was happy. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 minutes ago, audiobomber said:

But no mention of sound quality vs. the Bryston. I believe that is the objection. Slick operation is available at much lower price points.

As I said, there’s no pleasing people. There’s always something more to be compared etc...

[The Computer Audiophile]

Classifying products was easy when we had physical media. CD player, or CD transport and DAC. Now that we have everything under the sun, it’s much harder to classify components. 
 

I usually start with either D to A or D to D categorization. Then add stuff like streaming if it can accept audio from a streaming service, server if it can act as a server, etc... However, some servers have local storage while others don’t and some are hybrid. It’s really endless. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

52 minutes ago, George Hincapie said:

and was underwhelmed

Seems like that's easy to do :~)