Auralic Aries G2 or 2.1 with Auralic Sirius

[sgr]

Hi,
I currently own a Lampi DAC, Auralic Aries G2 and my music is stored on a CAPS inspired server running ROONserver, I use the upsampling feature in ROON’s DSP to upsample all files to DSD 256. The sound this way is amazing. 

I’m now thinking of purchasing an Auralic Sirius to do the reclocking and upsampling to DSD 256. I’m hoping that the Auralic Sirius would be better than using ROON to upsample. As ROON DSP doesn’t have the best rep. 
Since  I already own the Aries G2 and I’ve read a couple great reviews of the Sirius I’m very interested in this option.
The question that keeps troubling me  is whether the Sirius could beat the sound quality of ROON DSP in upsampling and of course can the Sirius outperform an additional PC and adding HQPLAYER to my current server. Unfortunately there is no way to use HQPlayer to upsample and send the data to the Aries. 
Does anyone have any experiences with the Sirius as an upsampler vs my server or other ideas hoof the Sirius willbe an upgrad
I’ve also read about and am considering the TaikoExtreme Server. It is supposed to be amazing as well. 
I’d sure be glad to hear your thoughts. 
Thanks 
Steven 

[shizuma]

I've compared roon, HQ, Sirius. There's no doubt that Sirius is the best.Sirius is not only an upsample converter, but also a digital processor

[sgr]

Thanks. You’re the first person I know that’s tried this and reported. 
 

Any idea how the Auralic stack of Aries G2 and Sirius might compare to the Taiko Extreme? 

[zerung]

Hans review here, with the Terminator is very disturbing, making me to think about the Sirius and the Terminator together.... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXaPM1VE5nU

[sgr]

Thanks. I just watched the video. Very interesting. I’m assuming I’ll get great results with my Lampizator DAC. 
 

I am concerned about how well the Sirius does with DSD. Some users report some bad experiences with Sirius and upsampling DSD 256 or 512. They actually have to input the hdmi connection between Sirius and Aries and play DSD files. 
 

Any of you experience this? 
 

[zerung]

On 1/19/2022 at 11:18 AM, sgr said:

Thanks. I just watched the video. Very interesting. I’m assuming I’ll get great results with my Lampizator DAC. 
 

I am concerned about how well the Sirius does with DSD. Some users report some bad experiences with Sirius and upsampling DSD 256 or 512. They actually have to input the hdmi connection between Sirius and Aries and play DSD files. 
 

Any of you experience this? 
 

 

The Sirius has no such issues with GG. My GG has DSD 128 only. The Auralic Aries G2.1 Leaves the Mac Mini with HQP way behind. The Sirius elevates the sound that much more. I understand that the sweet spot of Sirius is DSD256? I am looking to upgrade my Lampi now.
Also upgrading your Aries to a new LPS will pay dividends too! 

[sgr]

Thanks. I’m looking forward to Sirius arriving!!! 
Thanks for answering. 
 

Ny best friend recently acquired a Sirius and it sounds amazing. Can’t wait to hear 👂 me in my system. 
 

The Aries G2 is a wonderful piece of equipment. It really transformed my system. So much better than any streamer I owned before. 
 

Do you live in USA? It would be fun to discuss our systems. Let me know and I’ll send my phone number. 

[zerung]

@sgr, I am on the opposite side of the pond.

 

Please let me know how it goes.

My GG only supports DSD 128 from the Sirius. Even thought it sounds amazing, I am looking to upgrade the DAC. Or atleast the digital section.

  

 

[sgr]

Sure. I have my Pacific connecting to Sirius and Aries playing 256 and 512 and all other DSD and PCM resolutions. 
 

Thanks I’d contact Yoda at Lampi I don’t believe any of their digital engines limited one to DSD 128. That met were all 256 at least. 
 

You might need to reflash your DAC’s firmware. 
 

Let me know how I can help. 

[sgr]

Hi,

I have received my Sirius. I’ve been trying different settings. So fr best Sunday with Lampi Pac DAC upsample to 512 DSD highest setting in PCM. Both sound great. 
 

Set Sirius to Precise, Master, and the highest upsample in PCM or DSD you can try. 
 

The volume is much lower with DSD. Not sure why. 
 

But with those settings the sound is amazing. 
 

The HDMI cable you use between for the Lightning link makes quite a difference. I tries using the one supplied with the Sirius. It was clearly inferior to an inexpensive 8K cable I had on my TV. It was well broken in. I’m going to try the Audioquest Dragon this week. My friend has one between his Aries and Sirius. I’ve heard it at his his. Amazing sound. I didn’t get to compare it to the one I had but one could tell it made a difference. 
 

I believe you should upgrade the HDMI cable. I thing you’d be very, very, happy. 

[zerung]

On 2/14/2022 at 8:18 PM, sgr said:

Hi,

I have received my Sirius. I’ve been trying different settings. So fr best Sunday with Lampi Pac DAC upsample to 512 DSD highest setting in PCM. Both sound great. 
 

Set Sirius to Precise, Master, and the highest upsample in PCM or DSD you can try. 
 

The volume is much lower with DSD. Not sure why. 
 

But with those settings the sound is amazing. 
 

The HDMI cable you use between for the Lightning link makes quite a difference. I tries using the one supplied with the Sirius. It was clearly inferior to an inexpensive 8K cable I had on my TV. It was well broken in. I’m going to try the Audioquest Dragon this week. My friend has one between his Aries and Sirius. I’ve heard it at his his. Amazing sound. I didn’t get to compare it to the one I had but one could tell it made a difference. 
 

I believe you should upgrade the HDMI cable. I thing you’d be very, very, happy. 

Awesome @sgr!!

 

I managed to upgrade the firmware and now do DSD 256, which is far better to me.

Personally I do prefer the smooth filter, more body and brighter, Yes the DSD volume is lower. But you can add the gain to offset this. 
I tried the digital volume control and it is quite good, possibly not as efficient as I need to use the app to control the volume, perhaps I will get the IR remote, which should do the trick.
 

I immediately upgrade the HDMI to AIM PAVA-FLR007MK2R, which is indeed great cable IMHO.

 

I am now looking to upgrade the DAC.

[sgr]

Great news. I just received the Audioquest Dragon. Even though it was quite cold and hollow sounding it was easy to hear it’s potential. I listened this morning and it sounds much improved after running all night. 
 

I like the Smooth setting too. I switch between the Precuse and Smooth. 
 

When  I first set up the Sirius I connected it to the Aries with an old HDMI that I’d used in my video system. With that cable one really noticed the lower volume that occurred when playing DSD. 
 

But when I switched from it to a high quality 8k cable I bought from Amazon the difference in volume when playing DSD was almost unnoticeable. 
 

The longer that 8k HDMI cable was used to connect the the Aries to the Sirius the better DSD sounded. With my Pacific DAC upsampling both PCM and DSD to 512 sound amazing. 
 

My Legacy Audio (Bohmer) Wavelet DAC selecting upsampling to the highest PCM resolution sounds best. Wavelet can’t process DSD but converts DSD to PCM 352/384 and that’s clearly the best setting for Wavelet. 
 

The Sirius is an amazing piece of equipment. I’ve not experienced anything like it in digital. If any of you haven’t tried it it’s worth seeking out no matter what streaming or DAC options you own. 

[sgr]

Another option I selected inside ROON was to select AUTO volume leveling. While not the best option as it enables Roon DSP and has a small effect on sound quality. 
 

I’ve switched back and forth between using the Auto Volume Leveling function both rapidly with in the same audio track and have listened to Auto for a week or more and then switched it off and listened. There is a small impact sonically which far out weighs constantly have to adjust the volume from selection to selection.