Article: Serving Up Audio today - Three real world examples (Intro)

[ted_b]

You can view the page at http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content.php?r=602-Serving-Up-Audio-today-Three-real-world-examples-(Introduction)

[firedog]

Ted-

 

Good Intro. Can't wait for the next installment.

[REShaman]

Dear Ted,

 

Thank you for installment one and for helping me understand a region of this hobby I have avoided for some time in part because I did (do) not understand the sum of the parts that make the Whole System. My present system (hardware/software) is good enough (my two-word singular perspective for enjoying the music). Yet I am eager to understand, and, if possible, appreciate other solutions. Your presentment is making it easier for me to comprehend what the sum of the parts are. Hence my appreciation for the information. Actually hearing what is delivered through these various solutions is an experience I may want to make happen, if only as a spectator.

 

With appreciation,

Richard

[tranz]

Thank you Ted!

 

Your time invested and sharing is much appreciated.

 

Are you using a linear PSU on the NAS?

 

Are you using a LAN isolator (e.g. EMO, Acoustic Revive)?

 

Cheers

[DaQi]

Looking forward to next installments as you have wetted my interest on this as I have been dabbling and wish to learn more.

[Typhorn]

Dear Ted,

 

Just to mention, the AURENDER (I have the S10 model) has also streaming capabilities: for example online music streaming with the mandatory iPad through Airplay or stored music streaming from a computer over Lan and iTunes.

 

I currently listen to my system that way because of a hardly acceptable iOS 8 compatibility issue. This incident not yet solved by Aurender and Apple highlights a new type of problem that a non-specialist user can encounter due to an imposed reliance on external providers. I am keen to read your experience and opinion about such side-effects in the parts of your article to come.

[Vinh]

Ted

Sounds like answer to the questions I wanted to ask many times! Just looking forward to reading this as comparative reviews are just what is really expected from less experienced readers. Ordinary users do not have time nor possibility to compare. But what about Chord Hugo review you promised to publish long time ago? When this is due? Are you going to publish it?

[krass]

Ted B thank you !

just today I posted elsewhere (DevialetChat) asking about X100 and Aries.......

good timing that man

[jhwalker]

On a personal note . . . you're not the only one who had an issue after what was supposed to be a "routine" 'scope.

 

I was on a cane for a year, and still walk with discomfort four years later. As your doctor says, it all depends on the individual - my surgeon basically had to remove all of my meniscus, so there's just not much cushion left

 

Hoping for a better outcome for you

[Ajax]

Hi Ted,

 

Like most I am seeking a hassle free high quality digital play back system for my family who just want to listen to music without the fuss... so your reviews are timely.

 

With regard to your knee IMO the major factor in recovery is your age as attested to by my 15 year old son who is currently attending a school known as "Timbertop". It's a special year based on the outward bound program and is located in the Australian Alps (OK hills), where 220 kids live together in units of 14. Along with normal schoolwork there is a weekly diet of outdoor activities including hiking, long distance running, canoeing, skiing (winter) etc. It teaches life skills such as resilience, leadership, teamwork etc. etc.

 

There are 4 terms and my son broke his foot at the beginning of the 2nd term (playing the fool) and after 5 weeks in a cast, followed by 5 weeks of rehabilitation, he was as good as new. He then fell over on ice in a car park and dislodged some cartilage in his knee. After an MRI scan the surgeon decided it needed to be removed.

 

After another 5 weeks of rehabilitation he is now home for the holidays and I asked him to go for a run yesterday to start re-building his fitness in preparation for the last term and hopefully salvage something from the year after missing two terms of activities including the skiing.

 

He ran 5km and on return I nervously asked him how the knee was. He looked at me kind of strange - "its fine". Is it swelling at all? "No". How's the foot - "no problem". "Stop stressing Dad I'm fine".

[fabiodeluca]

Great, Ted!..... The courage to compare...this is what we ask for...eagerly waiting for next installment

[Jon L]

Things are so much more complicated due to different servers and DAC's implementing wide-ranging quality of USB and spdif modes. As maligned as traditional CD audiophile transports are, IMO it is still very difficult to beat a good CD transport, especially if some sort of I2S implementation is used.

 

The way this intro article is set up, with the dual-CAPS/Win Server 2012/JCAT listed last, I am afraid it might be the winner overall, which would be unfortunate because the total costs (hardware, software-darn Win Server 2012) and man-hour needed is out of reach for most normal human beings

[Ben-M]

The way this intro article is set up, with the dual-CAPS/Win Server 2012/JCAT listed last, I am afraid it might be the winner overall, which would be unfortunate because the total costs (hardware, software-darn Win Server 2012) and man-hour needed is out of reach for most normal human beings

 

Ted said from the beginning though that all 3 represent top tier approaches. Even if one does turn out better, it's not like the others are last place.

 

As for cost, even the Aries is already pricy, and the Aurender even more so. Put that with having to connect them to a NAS(+$), a DAC(+$), an amp(+$), and speakers/headphones(+$), and that's besides room treatment and an array of many, many other possibilities, and you can see right away that this is a pricy thing to get involved with anyway. I think the only way to avoid that is to get a Peachtree or PS-Audio/Sprout + speakers/headphones.

 

As long as you take this in increments it's doable. The DualPC Jplay approach can start as a single PC with just windows and you can add in from there. That's exactly how I started out and I've just tacked on pieces little by little. I don't make huge paycheques right now, but I haven't felt the heat too much. I'm to the point now where I've opened a Group Buy on here for an all Linear ATX PSU to hopefully take mine and anyone else who's interested's Single & DualPC setup to the next sonic level.

 

The thing is, there's no set take on the DIY approach; though there seem to be some best practices. You can start with better software or hardware, it's your call. Even the setup that Ted will list will just be his own flavour, and it'll be different than mine.

 

Anyway, I'm just trying to say it's doable and listenable all along the way :-)

[Jon L]

For me, the biggest reason I have stuck with computer audio is the instantaneous and easy access to ALL my music at my fingertips, largely due to numerous Foobar 0.8.3. playlists I have made over MANY years. I cannot give this up, which is the reason I abandoned the whole CPlay thing. Win 2012 server with AO in core mode destroys the very reason I am in computer audio; I might as well break out my old CD jewel cases and pop them in one at a time. I will make do with Foobar 0.8.3 with Jplay on Win 8.1 for now with all the easy access intact via playlists.

 

I also stopped adding up my computer front-end costs (software, hardware, linear power supply, battery PS, etc) because it has gotten huge, probably rivalling the ultra high-end transport/DAC combinations of yesteryear (Spectral, Levinson, Krell, etc).

[ErikM]

Ted,

I really hope you can give these units a through investigation. I mention this because at least with the Aries there are numerous choices. Wired or wireless

(Auralic seems to think wireless is better? ) Server software.. Minimserver, or Audio Station or Jriver.. Then we have USB, Coax, AES, and Toslink.. Seems that lots of folks listening to and commenting on the Aries are using USB.. I'm not so sure that's always the best choice for SQ.. and I imagine that the choice of output will depend on the Dac.. likely some Dac's will sound better with one or another.

 

As far as the Aurender goes it only has USB so that makes it a bit simpler to configure. And the Caps is another kettle of fish, one I'm not all too interested in.

 

Anyway I'm really interested in your findings, I'm on the fence about what direction to go since go the Aries and the X100 both have pluses and minuses.

[krass]

very interested to know if you have a timetable for releasing parts 2 etc Ted ?

[Birddogthecat]

It is my understanding that the the Aries cannot stream DSD (on its own) via USB until a new firmware is released within the next 60 days or so. Is this true?

[firedog]

It is my understanding that the the Aries cannot stream DSD (on its own) via USB until a new firmware is released within the next 60 days or so. Is this true?

 

Not sure quite what you mean, but the Aries is designed to play DSD over USB. Will play it.

[miguelito]

Not sure quite what you mean, but the Aries is designed to play DSD over USB. Will play it.

 

Will it play it without conversion to PCM? That is, if a DSD-capable DAC is connected (over DoP).

[Birddogthecat]

I spoke with USA importer and was told that the following configuration will not work for DSD at this point in time until new FW that is to be released in the very near future:

 

External HD>Aries (USB in)>Aries (USB out)>DirectStream (USB in).

 

I am staffing at RMAF and plan to chat him up during the show.

[firedog]

Guys, you are talking about 2 different things here. Yes the Aries will play USB without conversion (DOP mode, which isn't conversion) over USB to a DAC designed to accept it, if that DAC is compatible with the Aries. Presently that means the DAC needs to be driverless in order to be compatible with the Aries.

 

Mr Wang of Auralic has written on one of the Aries threads here that they are going to add support for a few other devices, such as the Mytek 192 DSD DAC and the old M2Tech hardware that need drivers. Then those will work over USB also.

 

The external USB HD is a separate issue - that capability will be added in one of the firmware updates in the near future. At present, the Aries won't work with any external USB HD, just with a NAS or external server of some kind over a network. Nothing to do with DSD or PCM playback in per se.

 

The Aries has 2 USB ports: one is for sending playback output from the Aries to a DAC - that presently works with the right DACs. The other is for connection of an external USB HD instead a server connected over the network. That's for file transfer from the external USB HD storage to the Aries. In other words, doing the same job that a server (storage) connected over the network does at present. That external USB HD function doesn't work at the moment - for any format - with the present firmware. Not until the previously mentioned update takes place.

[Birddogthecat]

Guys, you are talking about 2 different things here. Yes the Aries will play USB without conversion (DOP mode, which isn't conversion) over USB to a DAC designed to accept it, if that DAC is compatible with the Aries. Presently that means the DAC needs to be driverless in order to be compatible with the Aries.

 

Mr Wang of Auralic has written on one of the Aries threads here that they are going to add support for a few other devices, such as the Mytek 192 DSD DAC and the old M2Tech hardware that need drivers. Then those will work over USB also.

 

The external USB HD is a separate issue - that capability will be added in one of the firmware updates in the near future. At present, the Aries won't work with any external USB HD, just with a NAS or external server of some kind over a network. Nothing to do with DSD or PCM playback in per se.

 

The Aries has 2 USB ports: one is for sending playback output from the Aries to a DAC - that presently works with the right DACs. The other is for connection of an external USB HD instead a server connected over the network. That's for file transfer from the external USB HD storage to the Aries. In other words, doing the same job that a server (storage) connected over the network does at present. That external USB HD function doesn't work at the moment - for any format - with the present firmware. Not until the previously mentioned update takes place.

 

A clear, concise answer directly on point. Again, thank you!

[htalpaert]

I am also keen to read the next episode of this comparison. The Aurender and the Aries both hold a strong appeal, but the price difference is also significant. When can we read sequel to the intro?

[miguelito]

When is the Aries review coming?

[Antoine]

Someone is testing our patience here!!

 

In any case, I'm looking forward to parts 1 to 3 even if they appear in 2015. 2016 would be a bit too late though at the speed of technology changing!