I'm no audiophile. I've never purchased and amp or spent more than $100 on headphone. However, I find this pretty interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing what devices you add next to this setup. Very cool Quinn!
Terrific video - excellent presentation and easy to understand. I’m a 2 channel old school audiophile but I’m ready to make the jump to a server ! Your video has helped in my decision making process - thank you!
Like your honesty on the idea of the product, unfortunately i can't spend that value, i do around 150€ (+- 170$) not more. You're right about Tidal, in fact i like web browser more that the app, Tidal needs to redesign the app, its pretty dull.
hello. i currently have the oppo udp-205 DAC, should i just get the Auralic Aries Mini instead of the Aries instead? i'm thinking on replacing my Squeezebox. i'm also considering the Arcam rPlay
Hi I'm new to your channel and some what tech limited. I have all my cds ripped onto iTunes library that's on my iMac do I need an external dac and software program like JRIVER to optimize my digital audio iTunes library that is compiled of apple lossless files ? I also have a iPad will this all come together with my Hint 6 Intergrated Amplifier ?
Great video Quinn, I have something very similar The Cambridge Audio CXN. It to has a very nice app and also a touchscreen display on the front of the receiver (may seem over kill but it is very fluid). Does your Network Receiver up sample the quality of the source? I did see the promo description of this one you reviewed here but with no Spotify it was quite let down for me (I'm not upto Tidal yet, though I should be) so I went to the CXN, maybe one day speaker wires and connection leads will soon be non existent.
dills18 Ah, yes! I've seen the CXN. It's very nice. People lambast Cambridge for their "up sampling" implementation and marketing, but I've always found their stuff to sound quite nice. This doesn't offer up sampling of sorts, but does offer DSD for hi-res files. Sounds amazing. :D
Snazzy Labs I can totally agree. I have been a big fan of Cambridge systems ever since I've been growing up and have never understood the negativity against them even with the 4-5 Star reviews on sites such as What HiFi nevertheless I can't wait to see the progression of your Audiophile Setup. Keep Snazzy.
Hey, lookup the Airport Express by Apple, does the same thing, but it has an integrated DAC if you don't have an external one, and it's a router as a bonus, 100$. My setup is: iTunes (ALAC) -> Airplay -> Airport -> Toslink Optical Digital out -> DAC -> AMP -> Headphones/Speakers.
Sure, its 1/5th the price - the issue is sound quality via the Toslink connection. I admit that I havent heard the current model but Toslink has never wowed me - YMMV. As with anything, DBT is the only way to know for sure - bring it on - but dont assume that Auralic owners (they make several models using this technology) are being ripped off because you have similar functionality for less. Ignoring the audiophile checklist atm - Roon, TIDAL, MQA etc - the big question you have to ask is 'will I still be as happy with this in 12 months time when they're releasing better streamers ?' - it never ends ;)
Andre Cruz I love LP! I have a VPI Prime on the way and I'm going to use a Dynavector 17D3 cart with a Hagerman phono stage. I'm more excited about that than anything else-been having vinyl withdrawals for the last 3 months. :D
So I've been looking for a good sub-100 headset with a mic, and it seems that the SteelSeries Siberia v3 is a good choice. Do you think that this would be a good choice? Or do you have any other recommendations?
dCotnijoeb Nope. I plan to do a video in the future about balanced in the future. It's mostly a fad and marketing BS. Had a great chat with a cable manufacturer that makes balanced cables, but only because people want them-they argued that there was zero advantage and provided some very convincing evidence. I'll be sure to share in the future. Thanks for watching!
I'd probably still go with a sonos connect into a dac and out to an amp or pair of active speakers. More functionality, a third of the cost and the ability to add a few above mediocre modular speakers where that's all I need. Get a fax that has a nice tube headphone amplifier as well as a few other analog outputs and your good. Idk just my opinion.
slosher Unfortunately, none of the SONOS provide the ability to use your own DAC. They have TOSLINK and a few other options, but you'd have to get a separate receiver. More than marketing mumbo jumbo, I do believe that the fewer things from your source to your output, the better. As for my headphone amplifier the AURALiC TAURUS Mk.II, it's absolutely remarkable. Solid state, yes, but it beats just about every other amplifier I've heard. Period. Even the ridiculously priced ones. Best purchase I ever made.
Confused what you mean by separate receiver. And to comment on your statement about fewer components being better, I don't think it would be any less effective than than say playing digital files from the computer into a desktop dac then to a headphone amp and finally to some headphones. I might have the wrong understanding but I don't think there would be any degradation when dranfering that file via toslink. Finally, after reading it seems like the sonos connect has a pretty good dac in it. Anywho curious to hear your thoughts. ttyl
Wow, $1500?! Ouch! Makes me glad I jumped on a bunch of Squeezebox Touches before Logitech killed the line. Dont care too much about high res audio and the Squeezebox system has been amazing!
Yep, the Squeezebox was a pioneer in this space. The Touch did support HiRes (up to 24bit/96kHz). I think the difference with these high end units are that they support up to 24bit/384k PCM, as well as DSD, double rate DSD and DXD. If you are one of the few people who are into those, then you'll care. Also, it's designed for very low jitter, which can effect music quality. It has Femto clocks, and a linear power supply.
Wait, you have a digital connection from that thing to your DAC, right? Then why in the world do you need a 500$ power supply? it is all just digital, you could have a cheap chinese 3$ powersupply and it should sound abolutely the same (given it works). Digital signals don't get polluted by crappy powersupplies, analog signals do...
muh1h1 Ready for your head to hurt? LOL. Technically, you're not quite correct. USB audio is isochronous. Even though data is buffered, USB audio devices need a PLL to estimate the master clock rate used by the transmitter (the computer, or in this case, the Aries). A buffer alone is not enough. These inconsistencies against the master clock rate introduce what's called "jitter." Now, unlike common misconception, jitter is not an error in receiving digital packets-so you're right, any computer should be able to transmit the packets without any problem. Jitter is *the variation in timing between said packets.* So, the linear PSU inside of Aries isn't just a power supply, but also integrate two (very expensive) Femto clocks for the USB audio host to help eliminate jitter. Now, to the part where I agree with you: I think that jitter is a *very* minute and it's important to keep things into perspective. I don't have bionic ears, nor do I have $100,000 worth of equipment, so I don't think that I'd notice much of a difference _if any at all_ with/without the linear PSU. Additionally, most modern (and high quality) DACS (including the Concero HD that I showed on video) reclock their input, significantly reducing the effects of jitter-to the point where it's probably not even a real problem any more. So do I agree with your statement that it's unnecessary and a over the top? Yes. Do I totally discredit the use for creating one? No. Do I think that there are people with good enough equipment and ears to deem one necessary? Perhaps. Thanks for watching!
muh1h1 Honestly, I'm not as familiar with SPDIF, and most DAC manufactures have moved away from it. Now, to my understanding (and I may be wrong) SPDIF is real time; any fluctuation in the clock of the sender translates into input jitter. So, it's even worse than USB.
you just said you don't need a computer or ipad for streaming music, then you pull out an ipad with a dedicated app. so you DO need an ipad/iphone anyway right? lol
Brian Hom I have an "update" video coming on Monday about what's coming soon to the channel and there I'll announce the giveaway winners. Sorry for the delay!
ok thanks Quinn, also just wondering how has your teclast x98 air ii been working for you? I bought mine in January and recently i think the battery shorted or something because it won turn on.
Brian Hom I have had issues with that, but I think it's the boot loader. I think I remember getting it to boot while leaving it plugged in and pushing the up/down volume buttons while holding the power button.
Snazzy Labs I had just tried that and it still didn't work, do you think this is worth getting repaired if possible or should i just invest in something like a Surface Pro 3 (or 4 if it comes out during summer)
Architecturaly AirPlay including Airport is just horrible. In those setups a host device has to play a stored or streamed media decode it in the host then RePackage it into a raw package to be sent over the network. Decoding & Sending over network multiple consumer equipment which is frankly weak and poor quality. In this case the iPad is just a remote control, it can be turned off and music continue playing. The stream box like Aries, Sonos, Squeezebox play the files LOCALY dumping the digital PCM right into the DAC. Much more direct and cleaner method.
I do not understand why you would want a headphone setup to be wireless. If you're sitting in the same place anyway, and if there's a cable going from your headhpones to your amp anyway, why not just have a cable going to your dac from your laptop/iPad as well? With speakers it's a whole different story of course, but like this I don't see the point. Quinn, explain yourself! :)
Nils Westhoff Thanks for the comment! Again, I didn't want to have to mount a monitor or sit with a laptop, etc. I want something stationary that can stay there. :) And, after doing some testing, the power supply does seem to eliminate jitter-the sound is a little better than my laptop. Not $1,000 better, but a little better.
Or you buy a bluetooth speaker .. Lol wtf what a waste of time and money! - you still need an app and the iPad?! Literally the stupidest thing to spend money on dude.
Loving this. Your channel got me into audiophilia and I'm glad you've actually upped the game since you came back.
Abheer Beastie Rai I'm glad I've corrupted you! LOL. Thanks so much for watching!
Among all the tech channels on youtube, you are the guy who knows sound the best.
Excited to see more of this setup. Thanks for posting!
I like the style of this video, very old school thatsnazzyiphoneguy feeling, very classic, very snazzy.
gn0015 Thanks for watching! The new style I'm going to adapt will be a hybrid. Me talking, but with some nice pans/etc too. Mixed all together. :D
Keep the facial hair bro
***** LOL.
I'm getting the amp soon for review. Can't wait!
***** You're going to fall in love with it.
I'm no audiophile. I've never purchased and amp or spent more than $100 on headphone. However, I find this pretty interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing what devices you add next to this setup. Very cool Quinn!
Evan Nakagawa Thanks for watching, Evan!
When are you doing the update on the product? Your full review etc.
Terrific video - excellent presentation and easy to understand. I’m a 2 channel old school audiophile but I’m ready to make the jump to a server ! Your video has helped in my decision making process - thank you!
Nice video man, looking forward to seeing you here again!
How is this in 2023? Looking at a good used deal.
I wonder how this compares to the nVidia Shield. Also, can the GUI be displayed on the TV while playing on the home receiver?
Why not use a Roku or something similar to connect to your media server instead? Not sure if this device is worth the high price tag
Like your honesty on the idea of the product, unfortunately i can't spend that value, i do around 150€ (+- 170$) not more.
You're right about Tidal, in fact i like web browser more that the app, Tidal needs to redesign the app, its pretty dull.
hello. i currently have the oppo udp-205 DAC, should i just get the Auralic Aries Mini instead of the Aries instead? i'm thinking on replacing my Squeezebox. i'm also considering the Arcam rPlay
i liked seeing the listening setup again after seeing it on Setup Addicts ;)
Hi I'm new to your channel and some what tech limited. I have all my cds ripped onto iTunes library that's on my iMac do I need an external dac and software program like JRIVER to optimize my digital audio iTunes library that is compiled of apple lossless files ? I also have a iPad will this all come together with my Hint 6 Intergrated Amplifier ?
Great video Quinn, I have something very similar The Cambridge Audio CXN. It to has a very nice app and also a touchscreen display on the front of the receiver (may seem over kill but it is very fluid). Does your Network Receiver up sample the quality of the source? I did see the promo description of this one you reviewed here but with no Spotify it was quite let down for me (I'm not upto Tidal yet, though I should be) so I went to the CXN, maybe one day speaker wires and connection leads will soon be non existent.
dills18 Ah, yes! I've seen the CXN. It's very nice. People lambast Cambridge for their "up sampling" implementation and marketing, but I've always found their stuff to sound quite nice. This doesn't offer up sampling of sorts, but does offer DSD for hi-res files. Sounds amazing. :D
Snazzy Labs I can totally agree. I have been a big fan of Cambridge systems ever since I've been growing up and have never understood the negativity against them even with the 4-5 Star reviews on sites such as What HiFi nevertheless I can't wait to see the progression of your Audiophile Setup. Keep Snazzy.
Hey, lookup the Airport Express by Apple, does the same thing, but it has an integrated DAC if you don't have an external one, and it's a router as a bonus, 100$.
My setup is: iTunes (ALAC) -> Airplay -> Airport -> Toslink Optical Digital out -> DAC -> AMP -> Headphones/Speakers.
RemX405 Same idea, but not as seamless. :)
Not as seamless? How so? Oh and its 1/15 the price haha
Sure, its 1/5th the price - the issue is sound quality via the Toslink connection. I admit that I havent heard the current model but Toslink has never wowed me - YMMV. As with anything, DBT is the only way to know for sure - bring it on - but dont assume that Auralic owners (they make several models using this technology) are being ripped off because you have similar functionality for less. Ignoring the audiophile checklist atm - Roon, TIDAL, MQA etc - the big question you have to ask is 'will I still be as happy with this in 12 months time when they're releasing better streamers ?' - it never ends ;)
Can it communicate with wireless speakers?
Wifi , bluetooth?
Interesting my dad got one of these. Does yours have the upgrade ( I think for the clock)
?
Is this setup going to be strictly digital based?
Or are you gonna have an LP setup on the side?
Andre Cruz I love LP! I have a VPI Prime on the way and I'm going to use a Dynavector 17D3 cart with a Hagerman phono stage. I'm more excited about that than anything else-been having vinyl withdrawals for the last 3 months. :D
So I've been looking for a good sub-100 headset with a mic, and it seems that the SteelSeries Siberia v3 is a good choice. Do you think that this would be a good choice? Or do you have any other recommendations?
The Bengineer Haven't tried that one. The Hyper X Cloud from Kingston is pretty great though and I think it's only $70ish.
Snazzy Labs Alright, I'll check those out. Thanks for the reply!
I love your chair! What brand it is?
Arturo Pedroza It's a replica of the Herman Miller Eames chair from a company named Rove Concepts. :D
no plans to go balanced with the taurus?
dCotnijoeb Nope. I plan to do a video in the future about balanced in the future. It's mostly a fad and marketing BS. Had a great chat with a cable manufacturer that makes balanced cables, but only because people want them-they argued that there was zero advantage and provided some very convincing evidence. I'll be sure to share in the future. Thanks for watching!
what is the brand of chair, Snazzy Labs you have one and i have seen one on Unbox Therapy channel
Shane Randall Mine is a 1:1 copy of the Herman Miller Eames chair. It's from a company called Rove Concepts.
came for the audeze, not disappointed
Quinn, did you find your iPad or is that a new one?
SxC KrYpT0nItE Found it. It was in a drawer at the ***** office. :D
I'm glad you found it :D
It's play everything except ISO files.that hold me back.
Are those records I see? What record player do you own?
Angel Gomez They are! I'm currently transitioning from an entry-level Pro-Ject Debut III to a VPI Prime with a Dynavector 17D3 cart. :D
Where's the follow up videos?
I'd probably still go with a sonos connect into a dac and out to an amp or pair of active speakers. More functionality, a third of the cost and the ability to add a few above mediocre modular speakers where that's all I need. Get a fax that has a nice tube headphone amplifier as well as a few other analog outputs and your good. Idk just my opinion.
slosher Unfortunately, none of the SONOS provide the ability to use your own DAC. They have TOSLINK and a few other options, but you'd have to get a separate receiver. More than marketing mumbo jumbo, I do believe that the fewer things from your source to your output, the better.
As for my headphone amplifier the AURALiC TAURUS Mk.II, it's absolutely remarkable. Solid state, yes, but it beats just about every other amplifier I've heard. Period. Even the ridiculously priced ones. Best purchase I ever made.
Confused what you mean by separate receiver. And to comment on your statement about fewer components being better, I don't think it would be any less effective than than say playing digital files from the computer into a desktop dac then to a headphone amp and finally to some headphones. I might have the wrong understanding but I don't think there would be any degradation when dranfering that file via toslink. Finally, after reading it seems like the sonos connect has a pretty good dac in it. Anywho curious to hear your thoughts. ttyl
Herman miller eames chair?!
Wow, $1500?! Ouch! Makes me glad I jumped on a bunch of Squeezebox Touches before Logitech killed the line. Dont care too much about high res audio and the Squeezebox system has been amazing!
Yep, the Squeezebox was a pioneer in this space. The Touch did support HiRes (up to 24bit/96kHz). I think the difference with these high end units are that they support up to 24bit/384k PCM, as well as DSD, double rate DSD and DXD. If you are one of the few people who are into those, then you'll care. Also, it's designed for very low jitter, which can effect music quality. It has Femto clocks, and a linear power supply.
Woah nice Lions main :)
Wait, you have a digital connection from that thing to your DAC, right? Then why in the world do you need a 500$ power supply? it is all just digital, you could have a cheap chinese 3$ powersupply and it should sound abolutely the same (given it works). Digital signals don't get polluted by crappy powersupplies, analog signals do...
muh1h1 Ready for your head to hurt? LOL.
Technically, you're not quite correct. USB audio is isochronous. Even though data is buffered, USB audio devices need a PLL to estimate the master clock rate used by the transmitter (the computer, or in this case, the Aries). A buffer alone is not enough. These inconsistencies against the master clock rate introduce what's called "jitter."
Now, unlike common misconception, jitter is not an error in receiving digital packets-so you're right, any computer should be able to transmit the packets without any problem. Jitter is *the variation in timing between said packets.*
So, the linear PSU inside of Aries isn't just a power supply, but also integrate two (very expensive) Femto clocks for the USB audio host to help eliminate jitter.
Now, to the part where I agree with you: I think that jitter is a *very* minute and it's important to keep things into perspective. I don't have bionic ears, nor do I have $100,000 worth of equipment, so I don't think that I'd notice much of a difference _if any at all_ with/without the linear PSU. Additionally, most modern (and high quality) DACS (including the Concero HD that I showed on video) reclock their input, significantly reducing the effects of jitter-to the point where it's probably not even a real problem any more.
So do I agree with your statement that it's unnecessary and a over the top? Yes.
Do I totally discredit the use for creating one? No.
Do I think that there are people with good enough equipment and ears to deem one necessary? Perhaps.
Thanks for watching!
Snazzy Labs Thanks for your detailed answer. How about the SPDIF? Do you get simular effects, or is it uneffected by the PSU?
muh1h1 Honestly, I'm not as familiar with SPDIF, and most DAC manufactures have moved away from it. Now, to my understanding (and I may be wrong) SPDIF is real time; any fluctuation in the clock of the sender translates into input jitter. So, it's even worse than USB.
Hey which camera u use ?
Haris Zahid Panasonic Lumix GH4. Thanks for watching!
you just said you don't need a computer or ipad for streaming music, then you pull out an ipad with a dedicated app. so you DO need an ipad/iphone anyway right? lol
dity Valid. I meant to say not using an iPad to use Remote Desktop. :D
Nice recliner
Who won the giveaway?
Brian Hom I have an "update" video coming on Monday about what's coming soon to the channel and there I'll announce the giveaway winners. Sorry for the delay!
ok thanks Quinn, also just wondering how has your teclast x98 air ii been working for you? I bought mine in January and recently i think the battery shorted or something because it won turn on.
Brian Hom I have had issues with that, but I think it's the boot loader. I think I remember getting it to boot while leaving it plugged in and pushing the up/down volume buttons while holding the power button.
Snazzy Labs I had just tried that and it still didn't work, do you think this is worth getting repaired if possible or should i just invest in something like a Surface Pro 3 (or 4 if it comes out during summer)
Architecturaly AirPlay including Airport is just horrible. In those setups a host device has to play a stored or streamed media decode it in the host then RePackage it into a raw package to be sent over the network. Decoding & Sending over network multiple consumer equipment which is frankly weak and poor quality. In this case the iPad is just a remote control, it can be turned off and music continue playing. The stream box like Aries, Sonos, Squeezebox play the files LOCALY dumping the digital PCM right into the DAC. Much more direct and cleaner method.
Damn that's hot, I want to come over and test it!
Let's collab Quinn!
Tomas Villegas Come on over!
I do not understand why you would want a headphone setup to be wireless. If you're sitting in the same place anyway, and if there's a cable going from your headhpones to your amp anyway, why not just have a cable going to your dac from your laptop/iPad as well? With speakers it's a whole different story of course, but like this I don't see the point. Quinn, explain yourself! :)
Nils Westhoff Thanks for the comment! Again, I didn't want to have to mount a monitor or sit with a laptop, etc. I want something stationary that can stay there. :) And, after doing some testing, the power supply does seem to eliminate jitter-the sound is a little better than my laptop. Not $1,000 better, but a little better.
the...the hair epic
randomrazr LOL. Why thanks, ya.
This looks sweet! Make more videos you Bum! Haha
Danny Winget Haha. Thanks for watching, Danny. More are on the way!
Don't think Sonos are worried just yet!
dat beard
Lol "sonos killer"
Or you buy a bluetooth speaker .. Lol wtf what a waste of time and money! - you still need an app and the iPad?! Literally the stupidest thing to spend money on dude.
First!?!!?
first!
Ohhhh...aaaarrggh!!
Korn Anutarasoti w00t!