Auralic Aries digital bridge set to hit the streets
Have you ever kept your computer in a room that wasn’t the same location as your audio rig and wished there was a way to seamlessly connect to the two? The new Auralic Aries aims to bring the solve for that digital conundrum as a music streamer and digital bridge for your music library. Its not a DAC (outputs are digital only) but the Aries can be easily paired with their outstanding [VEGA digital processor].
An big additional key feature is its ability to control playback from an iPad or iPhone from its own Lighting DS app. An Android version will be available by September and computer desktop versions by the end of 2014. Files can be sourced from computer, attached hard drive or even a streaming service. The Aries plays nice with DSD, double DSD, DXD and of course 24/196 output. The new digital bridge even allows for USB output (via Aurlic’s patented ActiveUSB technology) to remotely located DAC.
The steamer will be available in the US in June in two versions, Aries and Aries LX. The Aries includes two Fetmo clocks and a superior PSU for $1,599, while the Aries LE version has a standard external PSU and USB clocks for $999.
Does this have an ethernet cable connection so you can connect to your network?
Does this have server software to run on your PC or MAC?
Does this have a remote control? If it’s ‘you pay a grand and have to use your iPad or phone’ FORGET THAT. I’m not paying a thousand dollars for a source device with no remote control. I DON’T HAVE AN IPAD AND I’M NOT ABOUT TO BUY ONE. Or a smart phone either.
Is there a display screen that shows you the album art?
In other words, is this a more than twice as expensive replacement for the Logitech Touch but doesn’t have all the features that $350 device had?
I’m encouraged that someone FINALLY is doing a streamer without making you buy their DAC. But have lots of questions. And ‘no display’ and ‘no remote’… that’s a deal-breaker right there.
Your questions are all answered on the Auralic Facebook page. The Aries comes with its own remote. On top of that, you can control the device with an iPad (so you can access your database with album covers), iPhone or Android device. Later this year, there will also be apps for Mac OSX and Windows. And no, the Aries’ display itself will not show album art. Nor did the Logitech Transporter, which was much better than the Touch.
So it is more expensive than the Touch, but you get some things Touch cannot deliver: playback of DSD files and a much better sound quality.
This is about an accurate / well timed signal and usb out, the squeezebox touch is/was an excellent product, and with EDO and spdf or usb out to a good DAC is sounds very well.
But this new product is an new level of performance and dsd capable.
I would definitely like to try is as an logitech replacement / or dedicated PC replacement
Pingback: The Auralic Room – T.H.E. Show Newport 2014