smodtactical
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2012
- Posts
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- 1,473
They should add support for plexamp.
Hi,Can you tell me the firmware version after the upgrade?I see the new firmware patch addresses the stuttering issue by muting the unit instead of resolving the problem of why it is stuttering, I see this as a interim fix and maybe they are holding out to become Roon ready and are using Roon‘ SDK and hoping it does not stutter. Asking a manufacturer to support a format to support 1% of their user base is not a good investment on their part.
Hi, do you still use the Auralic Aries?... last year (2022) I bought a second hand Auralic Aries streamer (the 2015 version).
Since last year it got firmware updates - still, althought Auralic announced "no more updates". I guess they found a way to still maintain this device.
Even if I shouldn't get any more firmware updates, the device streams everything, is a roon endpoint (which I don't you), can do Airplay (which I use from time to time), accesses my NAS for local files, and so on.
I don't see a reason why the new Denafrips streamer should turn into a paper weight anytime soon.
=== edit, shortly after initial reply ===
Surprise, surprise - my Auralic vintage streamer just got an update to the very latest version 9.2 . B-i
Yes, I still do use the Auralic Aries femto.Hi, do you still use the Auralic Aries?
I have the Femto version since 2015 and I love it, but I wonder if more modern streamers even offer more in sound quality.
Did you ever compare it with something like the Eversolo?
Thanks
Thanks for the detailed answer. That makes a lot of sense.Yes, I still do use the Auralic Aries femto.
Before I bought it 2nd hand last year I borrowed the Auralic Aries MINI, the G1 and G1.1 .
The MINI (with LPS) was slightly worse (Aries--USB-->DAC) compared to the G1 and G1.1 .
Between G1 and G1.1 I couldn't really tell a difference.
That's why I concluded: The Aries femto might be good enough.
In the meantime I upgraded from Ares II to Venus II. And I also got me the Gaia, which made a significant improvement - yet again.
TL;DR:
If you look for better SQ with your existing and / or future DAC and you could live with one box more in the stack, I honestly would recommend getting a DDC instead of a new streamer. Hermes probably would do... I went Gaia only b/c I wouldn't take no chances.
IF you get a DDC make sure the I2S / HDMI cable is a good one. There are silver strand HDMI cables on AliExpress that sound better than $$$ Audioquest HDMI cables. Best of all: Instead of $$$ these only cost $$.
Cheers!
P.S.: And no, I did not try others streamers since. Happy now.
Can I ask what kind of improvement was presented by the Gaia, used between the Aries and the Venus II?
I'd say the sound is now more coherent, more precise.
Things that Gaia made better are imaging, and the precision of percussion. Treble is smoother without being rolled-off - sharp edges are reduced. Bass is better defined. Also fascinating for me is to almost "feel" (not only hear) how strings are plucked, e.g. electronic bass guitar. Big fun.
Sometimes I'm somewhere else (kitchen, bathroom) while music is playing and I think "dang, THAT sounds real!". Funny side note.
I also tend to listen at louder volume levels now, simply because the sound has so little "stress elements" to it any more that the only reason to limit volume is respect for my neighbours.
From what I experienced before with different kinds of streamers as SPDIF or USB input: The better the streamer's signal, the better the DAC's output.
As simple as that. The problem is: Unless you heard something "better" in your system, it is really hard to imagine what should be better... and when you heard it, you don't want to go back.
Simply putting another expensive box into the chain is probably not enough... I upgraded everything in my chain now since I started into higher-end audio 2022, by getting the Aries II.
Most important steps were "audio hygiene" measures, like described by Hans B. (see link below).
Clean AC power (where needed), good cables, maybe speaker cable risers, signal grounding... and maybe a DDC. Ah, and think about decouplers for speakers, like e.g. IsoAcoustics make.
The pity is there is no single contributor in the chain that's made superfluous by others (say you'd want to skip signal grounding by adding a DDC) -- that doesn't work in my experience. Everything potentially adds up.
The only thing I didn't want to touch - yet - is the network input. I simply let the Auralic stream via WiFi from my internet provider's supplied FritzBox (router).
One could spend thousands in audiophile ethernet switches, cables... but I am reluctant to do so and pretend to myself it could not possibly have any positive influence in my chain.
I read you have a Pontus DAC at the moment.Many thanks, that helps a lot
I too, use wifi from my internet’s provider router to the Auralic and sounds very good.
So, let the search for a DDC begin…
This is good choice. I`ve replaced Kabeldirekt with BJC and it is slightly better. Kabeldirekt is really decent cable for it`s price.. The Blue Jeans EF hdmi