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The latter is comprehensively applied on the unit's mainboard where the clock, digital transmission and main processor sections are all isolated.ДЄll this has been achieved for a relatively minimal price increase over the G2 model вЂ“ the Aries G2.1 is ВЈ300 more expensive.

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Also new for the '.1' is greater power for the USB HDD connection, in order to allow it to work with more storage devices, an enhanced USB DAC compatibility plus improved galvanic isolation to keep noise at bay. In addition to this, the new model uses a double-layer enclosure, with an inner layer of copper within the aluminium outer, and a high-mass base on multi-spring isolation feet. The company's latest version of its Lightning OS is just part of the enhancements involved in the creation of this '.1' design вЂ“ at the heart of this new model is the latest generation of the company's hardware platform, Tesla G2, which offers twice the processing power of, and is 50% faster than, the original version.

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Neither does this unit shirk on the streaming front, for in addition to its ability to play music from a shared folder or UPnP/DLNA server on the home network, it can also handle Tidal, Highresaudio and Qobuz Sublime+ streaming services, plus Internet radio, AirPlay, Bluetooth and Songcast. Auralic is front and centre on the Roon Labs partners list, so all you need is a Roon Core on your computer or a standalone device, and you're good to go. There's no such qualification on the Aries G2.1's Roon-ready certification. Er, right вЂ“ so it does it, but not officially, and if you're minded to read more on the background to all of this, click through to us./pages/auralic-vs-drm for a fuller explanation of the company's beef with MQA.

Auralic has no official relationship with MQA and its allies'. This technology is not an MQA-created or MQA-licensed process. It's worth noting here that, unlike some similar products whose 'enhanced' digital output, courtesy of onboard digital signal processing, is only available on a specific connection вЂ“ such as Grimm Audio's MU1 вЂ“ the Aries G2.1's onboard processing feeds all its output options.Д¬ompatibility with MQA is claimed, with the caveat that 'Auralic streaming devices are capable of decoding MQA files using Auralic's proprietary resampling and de-blurring method. The limitations of the S/PDIF outputs mean they can't handle these higher-rate formats, though it is possible to output DSD64 converted to PCM in the DoP format, and the unit will also downsample higher rate PCM if the DAC is limited to, say, 192kHz. The Aries G2.1 will handle the lot from 384kHz/32-bit to DSD512, although of course these upper limits are only available when connecting to a suitable DAC via the USB port or the Lightning-Link into an Auralic DAC. Neither is there any shortage of format compatibility here. My time with the Aries G2.1 suggests there's no sound quality difference between wired and Wi-Fi connections, but if you have a fairly busy wireless environment in your home then I'd opt for the wired Ethernet for hi-res audio. Networking is achieved via Gigabit Ethernet and tri-band Wi-Fi, with two antennae being provided for the latter.

It's also possible to play, or rip from, an external USB CD drive with optional internal 2.5in HDD or SSD stores installed inside the Aries G2.1 by way of creating an integral library. This is an all-digital device, with outputs on USB, coax, optical and AES/EBU, plus an HDMI port hosting a proprietary Lightning-Link (not to be confused with Apple's Lightning connector) which offers a clock-synchronised audio connection as well as system control, direct to the company's other units.ДЄs well as its network capability, it can also play content stored on USB drives. The Aries G2.1 is for those who already have a high-quality DAC in their system but want to add extensive network audio capability. In the new lineup there's the Vega G2.1 streaming DAC, at ВЈ5999, the Sirius G2.1 upsampling processor at the same price, the ВЈ7999 Leo GX.1 master reference clock, and the product we have here, the ВЈ4199 Aries G2.1, described as a 'Wireless Streaming Transporter'.

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Now housed in a 'chassis within a chassis', featuring an uprated USB interface and slicker Lightning OS, Auralic's G2.1 series kicks off with the Aries streaming transportДЄt first glance, Chinese company Auralic's range looks baffling, such is the choice of similar-looking units вЂ“ and it's becoming more so with the arrival of new 'second generation' G2 models, confusingly distinguished by the addition of a '.1' suffix on its product designations.

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