AIR 3 Beta for Mac

[IanG-UK]

I am just about to buy an Antipodes DS Server.

Should I hang of and see if the new AIR 3 (after beta testing is finished) is up to the task, or would a dedicated server always be better (looking at going AES Antipodes to AES on my D-Premiers).

I've had an Antipodes DX for a while - though with the SSD and power supply options I'd guess a DS gives you the possibility over time to transition it into something pretty much the same as the DX.

I was a huge supporter of AIR even though it never quite worked in its standard AIR2 guise (AIR1 did not last long but might have been theoretically better but less flexible), so I eventually bought the DX. Partly in exasperation.

I like the Antipodes approach because it is a ripper, power supply, storer and player all in one box. And the owner Mark Jenkins is hugely helpful. And they are just about to embody Roon. And you know that Antipodes care only about sound replay whereas Apple do not. For what it is worth Stereophile rated the Antipodes as an A+ product, a level rarely conferred.

So were we still in the AIR2 era I would suggest you buy one.

Early evidence of AIR3 (albeit beta) changes that. Even diehard player users like Guillaume (TotalDac) and Rufus (Melco) are saying glowing things about AIR3. And in some ways this is more pertinent from Rufus, who has an Expert 200, whereas Guillaume has an Od'A which may embody a new AIR board as it was only released in January. This is an unknown and Devialet are understandable tight lipped on Od'A and forthcoming changes.

So I would hang on for a while.