AirLens Reviews

Network Audio
107

One of the things I have noticed is the $400-1300 range is jam packed with tons of choices. Then there seems to be a big gap in price and $3k has a few and a ton at the 4-5500 range. I think the people with those are not going to waste their time comparing the AL to what they have. Especially since most of those have software. I know one person who said their Auralic (with better LPS) was very noticeably better.

If I had a MK1 I would say this is the device for you. USB input is not that good as we all know. You can drop the DDC and poof… great sound. But as I said above I believe the USB input on the MKII is so good (noise wise), its leveling the playing field of streamers. You will see much of that here on the forum. I really think the MKII is doing what the AL has built in and thus making it redundant.

I am letting mine burn in to about the 250 hours mark before I make my decision to keep or send back. If its not bettering the Eversolo by then, I will probably send back and wait till spring to decide what end game streamer I want. Probably G2.2 or Rose 130. Unless a bunch of MU1’s go on the market for cheap when their owners upgrade to MU2. Either way I just cannot see the improvement I was hoping for when matched with my MKII. Any DAC with noisy USB that has a I2S this thing would be a great match I feel.

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108

That’s a pretty good analysis. I think you’re right that the streamer sweet spot is the range you mention, though I’d drop the floor to $400 (instead of $500) to include the Zen Stream.

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109

You might be best served to reach the comparison conclusions you desire is to try them yourself.
All of the conditions you require would be confirmed in your system, no caveats. Since most of the units in question are relatively low cost and/or have return policies, the barriers are low. Be the master of your own search.

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110

That is exactly what I would say and do. I have moved on once I found out how great the USB input on MK2 is, and there are tons of streamers out there with great USB outputs.

For folks like me who ended up with a streamer that costs more than double of Airlens, there is no reason to try it becuase it is unlikely the SQ will be vastly superior, not to mention its limited functions.

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111

You know I would consider this if I wasn’t all ready vested in my matrix/farad/diamond usb/ eversolo. The problem in my own situation is selling is a pita - and I have more function and future proof scenarios with my current setup. Plus I’d have to bring my laptop in the mix with the air lens again right?

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112

if you dont have roon that is correct.

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9 posts were merged into an existing topic: PS Audio AirLens

114

Please remember this is a AirLens review thread.

115

Sorry. I mistakenly thought that helping someone operate the AirLens was important to their ability to review it.

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116

Setup issues should be addressed in the main thread.

We are trying to keep this thread a source of easily referenced reviews rather than a broad generic discussion of the AirLens.

It is very kind of you to help.

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117

No

118

I have found that the AirLens definitely benefits from extended break-in, especially in the bass. I’m about two weeks in so far.

I’m using it as a Roon endpoint in my system.

I have mentioned that I also found the USB input on the Mk2 to be really good, such that the AirLens, with cabling at almost two and a half times its cost is only slightly more um, forceful, a bit more open, with a slightly bigger stage, and superior in bass extension.

If you’re happy with the Mk2’s USB input, I can say that you might well stop there at least as far as the AirLens is concerned. I cant say anything about other Roon endpoint options.

Best I can do so far.

YMMV, of course. That said, in my setup, I clearly prefer the AirLens in my Mk2 input path given that I already had shelled out for most of the requisite cabling from when I had the Holo Audio Red in my system.

AIrLens is clearly superior to the Red, by the way…

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119

2 posts were merged into an existing topic: PS Audio AirLens

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  1. Has anyone compared the AL to SoTM sms200 ULTRA NEO ?
  2. When not used, do we need to turn off the AL or does it have a stby mode ?
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121

I am still trying to understand what review material is and what is not review material. This is a follow to my Post 16 on August 25.

To see my complete system please go to the following link: https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/members/tony-plachy.1886/

I have compared the SQ of three different paths using the same music ( a DSD64 file ) to my DS DAC Mk2:

A: With the file on a USB drive, inserting it into the PST and then I2S to the DAC,

B: With the music file on the NAS, Ethernet cable to the AirLens and then I2S to the DAC,

C: With the music file on the NAS, USB cable to the DAC.

Details

Both I2S HDMI ports and the USB port on my Mk2 are set to “Lifted” ( which means galvanic isolation ) and the USB port power setting is ‘Auto”.

I matched volume levels using my SPL meter. I set A at 24 on my preamp for a comfortable listening level of about 70 dB SPL. The preamp had to be set to 25 for B and C. On my preamp each level increase is 0.7 dB. At this time I am not going to drive myself crazy trying to figure where the 0.7 dB loss occurs.

My fidata NAS has three ports. Two RJ45 ports with one designate for the Network and one designate for Audio. It also has one USB A 2.0 port.

For path B, I used the RJ45 Audio port. For path C, I used the USB A 2.0 port. Only the cable in use was connected at any given time. All cables are WireWorld Platinum Starlight 8 0.5 meter length. Since I am playing a DSD file the uSB connection used DoP to transmit the file.

The music is used was the Eagle’s “Take It East” from their Greatest Hits album. I made a DSD64 recording of my vinyl album using a TASCAM digital recorder.

SQ Review

I started by comparing path A to path B. After switching between the two three times I thought the soundstage, the acoustic image of where the singers and instruments are and the overall tonal balance of the music was the same and excellent for both Path A and B. I did feel that there was a very slight improvement in the background noise when using path B. I want to emphasize how slight this improvement was and that it was only noticeable because I could A to B the two paths so quickly.

I then changed the cable on the NAS and compared Path A to path C. In every way mentioned above the SQ was identical!

Conclusion

Music played through the AirLens produces excellent SQ with no degradation in SQ what so ever. Also I agree with Brian in his Post 81 on August 31 that the USB port on the Mk2 produces very high SQ.

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122

Thank you for the effort putting this together!

123

Hi, my thoughts on the AirLens, after around 200 hours of playing time and comparing how it sounds and operates in comparison with another streamer with galvanically isolated outputs, the Lindemann Limetree Bridge II, feeding the DS2.

The Lindemann fed the DS1 in the past and provided a noticeable upgrade over the PS Audio’s Bridge II for the DS1.

Sound: The stereo shop asked me how I found the AirLens, my answer: Wow! What an upgrade.

Connecting the AirLens via a Cardas Clear HDMI cable to the DS2 has given my system a substantial upgrade. The music is just so much more realistic. I’ve been streaming Fred Smith, a local folk singer and it feels a lot like going to one of his small scale concerts at a local venue.

There has been a small change from under 100 hours, where it was a bit more forward, where I felt glued to the spot, not wanting to move thinking - what’s next, this is incredible!

A bit like @pandahead, I’m struggling a little to get the right words to describe the nature of the change right now. I think the AirLens has helped to really bring out the low end sounds and with that, the overall presentation has lifted considerably. Further, there’s an ability to hear instruments, their vibrations and decay in a way which wasn’t there before. I feel I’m hearing a whole lot more in my system than before and it’s a keeper. The Lindemann is great, but this takes things up again.

Aesthetics: the silver version looks great to me, has a nice low profile. The temperature of the chassis has remained cool, even though it has been on 24/7 for many days now.

Firmware: I found that I was able to update the software on the AirLens remotely via Mconnect’s app. Great to have this capability.

Cons? or maybe I just haven’t figured it out yet – the unit doesn’t turn on or off via PS Audio’s remote, or via Roon’s remote. The unit, and the blue light on the unit is permanently on, even if there hasn’t been a signal for many hours. I get I can reach around the back to turn it completely off. Has anyone found a way to put the AirLens into standby like other PS Audio products? This is one area where a small change would be welcome.

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124

I am not aware of a firmware update for the AL. Will you please elaborate?

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125

Thank you for the detailed write up. Your experiences with the AirLens are very similar to mine; the AirLens is definitely a keeper in my system.

Regarding standby: I raised this issue a few weeks ago in the beta test forum. Paul replied that the AirLens has no IR receiver so it cannot turn off remotely. Apparently there is no standby mode for this unit. It is a bit annoying to see all the blue lights go out except for one.

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126

Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed review.

1 Like