It is not very uncommon to launch a streaming product nowadays. Therefore, it is very encouraging to notice that some companies not just tags along, but go ahead with innovations.
Let`s start with the most obvious - the design. AURALiC Aries is simply no A4-box, but an elegan designed item that may be associated with some of product lines from Linn.
Strange that I should mention Linn, by the way. For the streaming technology AURALiC have developed, stems from the Linn DS concept. Linn has worked on streaming since 2007, and expanded in its day UPnP technology to make it sufficiently functional. They called it OpenHome, and it is this technology AURALiC retrieved. And built on, for AURALiC giving the option for streaming DSD64, DSD128 and DXD. They also worked with the direct implementation of online streaming services like Wimp, which Linn currently holds back on. On the other hand, one should not conceal that Linn's Songcast provides excellent opportunity for streaming of these services but then through other UPnP-Renderers, like a PC, Mac or iOS / Android.
Cooperation with and similarities with Linn's DS system also makes it a partial compatibility with Linn's excellent app Kinsky. Kinsky can be used to operate Aries, but still has limitations in terms of the extended functionality Lightning DS products have. So when AURALiC also developed its own app, as well as the usual functionality will be user interface for operating online streaming.
Aires comes in two editions, where the basic version called Aires LE and a more lavish version called Aires. Slightly opposite what one would expect, but I warned that AURALiC stand out. They do this by the way also in that they do not have built in DAC. This is a pure digital streams or streaming bridge. In return, it appears that AURALC focusing on very high quality and capacity in the streaming part, which is necessary to stream DSD and DXD.
The difference between Aries and Aries LE can be seen in the table below:
We promise a review if we scould succeeded in getting hold of a test sample at some time. Aires will otherwise be shown in Munich May 15 to 18.
Norwegian distributor is DUET audio .
More information at AURALiC.
