13-Aug-2014, 15:26
Hi - this thread prompted me to have another go at streaming - some of you know that I currently use a SBT with my D200, and am awaiting delivery of an Auralic Aries as a potential replacement. I really can't get my head around having a PC in my living room (and, I know I could hide it - but I'll know it's still there ...!).
So, I downloaded AIR onto the PC in my study (3 flights of stairs up from my listening room); configured the audio output on MediaMonkey (which I use purely for ripping and tagging); downloaded the WASAPI add-in for MediaMonkey, and selected a track to play - fully expecting nothing to happen. Amazingly, it all works perfectly - have been using AIR faultlessly now for over 2 hours and, I have to say, it is considerably better than the SBT. Errm, it sounds more AIRy - with amazingly clear (but not the slightest bit harsh) midrange and treble - so vocals sound excellent. Everything just seems bigger and more spread out. Now, I'm not recommending this set up (it was just an experiment on my part - apart from anything else, running up and down 3 flights of stairs at my age is not conducive to relaxing and listening to music ...), but it's got me thinking again. A £300 notebook with 2TB disk, in a kitchen cupboard, with JRiver and JRemote is about 1/4 of what I'll pay for the Aries. It also got me thinking if Devialet could make AIR available for Linux and support a few NAS devices, I could probably live without uPnP streaming.
ATB, Ken
So, I downloaded AIR onto the PC in my study (3 flights of stairs up from my listening room); configured the audio output on MediaMonkey (which I use purely for ripping and tagging); downloaded the WASAPI add-in for MediaMonkey, and selected a track to play - fully expecting nothing to happen. Amazingly, it all works perfectly - have been using AIR faultlessly now for over 2 hours and, I have to say, it is considerably better than the SBT. Errm, it sounds more AIRy - with amazingly clear (but not the slightest bit harsh) midrange and treble - so vocals sound excellent. Everything just seems bigger and more spread out. Now, I'm not recommending this set up (it was just an experiment on my part - apart from anything else, running up and down 3 flights of stairs at my age is not conducive to relaxing and listening to music ...), but it's got me thinking again. A £300 notebook with 2TB disk, in a kitchen cupboard, with JRiver and JRemote is about 1/4 of what I'll pay for the Aries. It also got me thinking if Devialet could make AIR available for Linux and support a few NAS devices, I could probably live without uPnP streaming.
ATB, Ken
Auralic Aries G2 > Kii Control > Kii Audio 3 BXT
