@fabelstruck - I get your point, but I could also revert the question: cost of buggy, limited in functionality software? but you are right: Lumin costs a lot even with a discount. However you get a software and a hardware in a package. Even Poly is a few years of current Audirvana Studio subscription (assuming they will not increase pricing eventually). It is a perfect solution - no. Does it work for me - yes it does. In a long run I do prefer paying for a product that delivers what is promising instead of paying small fee monthly to finance somebody playground in software development.
Good Audirvana substitutes?
fablestruck
1000+ Head-Fier
I quite agree with your comments on Audirvana studio but my question was straightforward. I was just asking about the cost which I do not know.
@fablestruck - depending on your location and possible discount official price for new one is around 2k+ USD/Euro.
gimmeheadroom
Headphoneus Supremus
foobar2000 plays anything and is free. It is not a music UI though and no support for conglomerating streaming services.
You could see if a Node 2i would work for you, or maybe a NAD with a BluOs card. There is no monthly fee and the software is quite good.
You could see if a Node 2i would work for you, or maybe a NAD with a BluOs card. There is no monthly fee and the software is quite good.
fablestruck
1000+ Head-Fier
I currently use Audirvana Studio for my laptop and I don't mind much about the subscription though I do not like the idea.
The problem is that the software is glitchy and crashes my windows every now and then. It is really unacceptable that they haven't yet addressed this issues once and for all. I mean how difficult is it to make a stable upgrade?
But I stream tidal and I have yet to find a cost effective alternative.
The problem is that the software is glitchy and crashes my windows every now and then. It is really unacceptable that they haven't yet addressed this issues once and for all. I mean how difficult is it to make a stable upgrade?
But I stream tidal and I have yet to find a cost effective alternative.
If you are streaming from tidal why not use Tidal app directly? Roon is more stable from my experience than Studio but still DSD output maybe problematic.
fablestruck
1000+ Head-Fier
I noticed that there is a significant difference in SQ between the Tidal app and UAPP on my Android devices.
I assumed something similar might be the case with windows. But I haven't really A/B Audirvana and Tidal app very carefully to tell you the truth. You believe it is the same?
feelingears
100+ Head-Fier
In my experience with my Auralic Aries Femto Network Bridge, I get very inconsistent network connections and most of the time the music will just stop 10-20 seconds in, requiring a power cycle of the hardware and a software reset using Auralic's own Lightning DS software. It's a total pain in the ass and I'm told it's because Auralic doesn't do UPnP correctly. Of course, they think they do and point fingers at Audirvana. But basically, Audirvana is unusable in my network and with my hardware.
Bottom line: if your hardware works, consider yourself lucky as Audirvana's sound quality is excellent, almost like having a tube preamp...almost. But if you have problems with networking, you're SOL (crap out of luck). People have complained about this for years and it's nobody's fault, really. Tech companies, software especially, aren't big on being consistent with consumer standards except for a few exceptions. Anyway, Audirvana is probably best used connected via USB.
Just my $0.02. YMMV and all. Good luck. For the rest of us, there's Roon (no thanks), and other hardware/software combinations (like Aurender, dCS, etc.) or Raspberry Pi things with open source software (you just have to invest the time and effort).
Bottom line: if your hardware works, consider yourself lucky as Audirvana's sound quality is excellent, almost like having a tube preamp...almost. But if you have problems with networking, you're SOL (crap out of luck). People have complained about this for years and it's nobody's fault, really. Tech companies, software especially, aren't big on being consistent with consumer standards except for a few exceptions. Anyway, Audirvana is probably best used connected via USB.
Just my $0.02. YMMV and all. Good luck. For the rest of us, there's Roon (no thanks), and other hardware/software combinations (like Aurender, dCS, etc.) or Raspberry Pi things with open source software (you just have to invest the time and effort).
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