Living Room: iMac 27" Roon Core / TP Link Powerline Ethernet Adapters / Allo DigiOne / Coax input on Marantz 6005
Secondary endpoint tested today, iPad Pro / Apple HDMI to Lightning adapter / HDMI input Marantz 6005
Headphone: Here’s where it gets interesting. iMac 27" Roon Core / Wifi to iPhone 6s+ / CEntrance Hifi-Skyn DAC and Amp in case / headphone as line out with Morrow Audio mini to RCA cables to Yulong A100 headphone amp. The CEntrance Skyn was a cool little (actually big little device) that has a licensed Apple lightning input so there’s no need for any adapters. It’s battery powered and can play and charge at the same time and the wifi router is in the same room. Really sounds great.
Seems to be a number of people encountering problems with Aurilac kit. Lumin is the dog’s IMHO. Difference from my previous ultraRendu is literally night and day.
In my case it’s hopefully only an esthetic problem with my Aries G2. Still annoying though. The aluminum started to get discolored on the top of the unit. Looked a bit sad and could be some kind of heating issue.
You indicate that the Aries G2 (mine is black) in silver is discoloring (from heat?) and I gather that you have nothing stacked upon it. I know a fellow with a lesser Auralic and that his also runs very hot. Mine does not. I gather yours (like his) was not a venting issue.
What DAC are you using. It is reported that the USB->Macintosh (DA-1) DAC module has a problem. My G2 is not plugged into the McIntosh.
Just received from Auralic Support the news that with the McIntosh DAC Series C and D the problem is to lie with McIntosh in the exchange of data and is disconnected to McIntosh DAC’s of the USB outcome of auralic G1 and also with G2. Get my board switched from auralic now, but with McIntosh the problem remains!
Actually, an indictment of an apparatus of this price range.
Would like to take the view and the actions of others who experience a McIntosh Dac with auralic G1 or G2.
I think it’s bad news for McIntosh to get a bad news of Auralic.
Mine is also black and the black is now in shifting darkness almost like smudged by fat. But it’s nothing like that and I have never used anything but a lightly damp cloth to wipe it. Also never been anything stacked on top of the unit — or anything near that generates anything more than lukewarm heat.
Sounded great so I’m hoping it’s just some case work thing.
I hope that Auralic can address that discoloration and that you can continue to enjoy. I know that one of the purposes (internally) of the G2.1 was a problem with USB compatibility. I shall check my system when I leave the office to find out if I am also having the discoloration.
@John_Kaster I am likely lost in the weeds. I was saying that part of the reason for the Auralic Aries 2.1 is more compatibility with USB. I gathered that there was a problem with McIntosh (reported) on their forum as I quoted above. My own (the other concern mentioned) Aries G2 does not have discoloration mentioned above. I have a mid-fi system (see in my Profile). I do not use the McIntosh built-in DAC. I use an external DAC.
I looked at your system quite a while ago. You are using the McIntosh MA9000 which is a fine unit. Everyone chooses how they want to set up their system. I’ve asked the Roon/McIntosh community if they are having problems because I would like to know (see the latest topics list). I have no interest in the discoloration issue and I hope the company stands behind their product.
I’m wondering if I’m missing something or have done something wrong with my Allo Usbridge Signature with the Shanti power supply. It just doesn’t “sound” any good. It’s ok but my UpTone mod Mac mini “sounds” slightly better.
The Allo Usbridge Signature is running Ropieee and I can’t find any settings that should effect playback quality.
I bought this to later be setup in my office and using I my main system while waiting for my Auralic Aries G2 to be fixed. Now considering returning the Allo unless there is something that I’m missing.
Can you say a bit more about how you are using it? Source material, DAC, any other factors? I don’t have one of those but I’ve heard good things about it, and in my experience USB sources make very small differences for good DACs.
I just picked a Stack Audio Link II. It’s a usb only streamer so focus is on clean usb output. I’m sending into my mscaler/Dave combo. The more I listen the more I notice the improvement over using MacBook Pro as an endpoint. And the MacBook was already a noticeable improvement over the Mac mini I was using. The Mac mini usb output must be very noisy since even with the mscaler the music was lacking weight and highs could still be slightly harsh. The Link II sounds smooth and immersive.
I was talking about the Mac mini being noisy. I edited to make that point clearer. The mscaler usb input is galvanized so that should take care of a lot of noise but the Mac mini is anemic. I wasn’t sure digital sources mattered until I switched from the Mac mini to the MacBook Pro. Once is heard a significant improvement I decided to find a dedicated roon endpoint that was plug and play and within a reasonable price. The MacBook Pro was old and the battery was dead. It also occasionally lost connection.
The Stack Audio Link II has a usb cleaning feature where I could pass another source like the Mac mini thru it and then have a clean usb output. Have not tried that feature since the point was to use the Link II as an efficient roon endpoint.
The streamer in my system is a Linn Klimax DSM in an Exakt system.
As this will not play surround files, I some times take HDMI out of the core directly into the DSM. The core is a ROCK NUC in a fanless case with a linear power supply. It amazed me how close the sound quality of the NUC playing FLAC files came to that of the DSM alone.
Better quality still was obtained using Linn Kazoo and dBpoweramp Asset by passing Roon completely. However, the functionality of Roon is much better and it wins out in all other respects.
Allo Usbridge Signature --(USB)–> Chord M-Scaler --(BNC)–> Chord Dave
This is a somewhat “temporary” setup waiting for my Aries G2 to come back from a warranty thing. Before I sent in my Aries G2 I once again did a lot of testing with the Aries vs. my old Mac mini. The Aries was a clear winner. With Allo Usbridge Signature vs. Mac mini I must admit I only barely distinguish any differences and it’s unfortunately not in favour of the Allo. In the past I’ve been surprised of the differences a dedicated streamer can bring, but here I’m more underwhelmed. I had hoped using the Allo in my office setup later but now I will probably send it back.
That only tells me that the M-Scaler’s USB receiver is not state-of-the-art in digital electronic design. In my experience, well-designed recent USB receivers handle a wide variety of sources with very little variation in sound quality.
