AIR

[Georgethesixth]

I used to use USB or AES/EBU via Stello U3 DDC as I experienced frequent dropouts with AIR. Recently I retried AIR wifi with iTunes and found no dropouts and sound quality is superb. I also like simplicity of AIR with no need for cable.

Only downside would be I need to turn on AIR App when listening. As I use headless Mac mini, this is an additional procedure compared with AES/EBU. Also Apple remote is less convenient than Jremote.

Now that AIR is stable, what is a rationale to get Aries or other players? Any advantage for such separate players in terms of sound quality or usability?

Under Windows, you can select 'always stream ... Etc.'. This solves the issue that you have to logon to a headless device. If music is played, and the AIR or Ethernet source is selected, you hear music. I hope you have the same functionality on MAC OS

You could have a look at the Auralic Aries topic. One of our 'colleagues' mentioned a review that asked exactly the same question as you did : what is the rationale for a dedicated player ?