24-Mar-2015, 17:02
(This post was last modified: 24-Mar-2015, 17:02 by GuillaumeB.)
(24-Mar-2015, 16:32)PhilP Wrote:(24-Mar-2015, 12:52)IanG-UK Wrote: I am borrowing a DAC-less streamer and that may well be the outcome Samurai. I know it will sound great, as does AIR when it works. Were I less stubborn, I would just do that and forget AIR altogether!
I would also buy a DAC-less streamer if I could find one that offers:
- Excellent SQ
- Integration with Qobuz (and/or Tidal and/or whatever lossless service Apple launch )
- Good quality, robust control app which runs on iPad
- Choice of outputs including BNC, XLR, USB
- Does not have optical drive
- Does not have an internal HDD
- Is a reasonable price...
- Looks good and comes in a half-size box
The Auralic Aries probably ticks the most boxes but from reviews on here appears to under-perform in terms of SQ and so is a non-starter. Most others miss out because they don't have Qobuz/Tidal integration. Once Tidal integration is sorted the Aurender N100 would also come close but I'm not really happy to have just a USB output. The N10 would be much better in that respect but is likely to be significantly over-priced.
Hi Philip, I think you should try and borrow an Aries and decide for yourself. I agree with you it ticks most of the boxes. It's a great little package with a good UI/CP.
Give it a try you might like it!
Guillaume
Industry disclosure: UK distributor for Shunyata Research
220 PRO, totaldac d1 server with additional external power supply, totaldac d1-seven, Echole PSU for Totaldac, Wilson Audio Sasha 2, Shunyata Research cables, Shunyata Hydra Alpha A10 + DPC-6 v3, Various Entreq ground boxes and cables, Entreq Athena level 3 rack, 2 X SOtM sNH-10G with sCLK-EX + 10MHz Master Clock input + sPS-500 PSU, i5 sonicTransporter w/ 1TB SSD
UK