I tried the Lumin app per your suggestion and although it looks like a much better solution then LDS, I couldn’t get any music to play with it. It saw and loaded my JRiver library just fine, and when I changed the Aeris back to OpenHome it appears to see and select it as well. However when I select something to play…nothing.
Before I commit anymore time to it right now, what are you seeing as benefits of OpenHome vs UPnP through JRiver/JRemote?
Thanks,
T
Frode,
Any update on how the Hydra-Z is performing? I’ve been considering one for my Aries->DS.
Thanks,
Vic
I am sorry for being so late with the Hydra-Z (H-Z) impressions.
The main reasons are that during the test, there are so many parameters that changed, so it was hard to do sensible comparisons.
I removed my preamp and went direct from the DAC to my amps and then I got a new preamp and have tweaked sensitivity and gain stages ever since. I have also updated firmware on several sources in that period - I guess you get the messsage.
But anyway, the impressions I got is that the sound from the H-Z is extremely clean. Maybe on the verge of being tight and slightly anemic in the bass region when going direct with no preamp. However with a preamp in the loop there is increased bloom that matches it very well. The funny thing is that the USB output of the Aries actually feels quite warm (maybe tightened up a little on the latest updates). For those who think the Aries USB output is too soft, I can assure you that the H-Z compensates for this. Note that it was only the I2s output towards the DirectStream that was used during the test.
I have a hard time believing that you can have a source with a more expressive sound in the treble and precence area without being overpronounced or aggressive. You get a feeling that every sound is released from your speakers and I can tell you there is absolutely no sign of muffled sound. Still, I would say that a preamp brings more ‘foot tapping’ enjoyment into the listening session, especially during prolonged listening at higher volumes.
So, to summarize the biggest difference from going Aries USB direct is similar to going from the PWD MKII to the DS. The sound is tighten up and the bass is more articulated. The difference in perspective, imaging, soundscape, timbre, etc is not that noticable at first listening, but the sound reproduction is extremely distinct.
I plan to have some HIFI buddies in for a listening soon. When I visit others, I really miss my sound…
The technical aspects with the H-Z has been virtually flawless so far. I am running it passively powered from the Aries.
There are no latency or pops or clicks of any kinds that seem to origin from the H-Z itself or the result of hooking it up.
More impressions to follow later…
Thanks for the update Frode. I’m kind of torn between getting a Hydra-Z for the Aries or getting a Signature Rendu.
It would be nice to compare technical data for both, e.g. jitter figure and the noise floor level.
The Rendu and the Hydra are two different animals, though. The Rendu takes Ethernet while the Hydra takes USB. I would guess the Rendu serves those who don’t have a music server/bridge better. The Hydra is CE approved for sales in Europe.
Anyone tried the H-Z converter with a CAPS 3.0? I am running Dirac so I need a full blown PC upstream. Worth the upgrade? Any way the converter can be had on trial?
Guys, I’m considering the Aries but would like to know if any of you stream Tidal with it and, more specifically, I want to hear from those who are using the service in the U.S. The reason for my question is that, right now, Tidal’s performance on devices using Logitech Media Server in the U.S. is very unreliable. Apparently, getting LMS, and Tidal to play nicely is very tricky and challenging. Tidal and the third party developer, IckStream, are working on a solution, but it is very daunting. I and a number of other users in the U.S. experience frequent buffering drop outs and interruptions.
I was hoping that streaming Tidal with the Aries might be more reliable. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences you’ve had.
Vance
vhiner1 said Guys, I'm considering the Aries but would like to know if any of you stream Tidal with it and, more specifically, I want to hear from those who are using the service in the U.S. [...] I was hoping that streaming Tidal with the Aries might be more reliable. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences you've had.Vance
Your mileage may vary
I live in the U.S. – central Pennsylvania – and I stream Tidal to my 2009-era iMac at work via the native Mac application by way of the university’s 2Gbps Internet connection. That circuit is shared with many others, of course, but reaches a maximum usage of ~1.1Gbps only during student NetFlix hours later in the evening. Music delivery is occasionally a little choppy, a condition for which the application apologizes and suggests I elect to specify lower-quality streaming.
At home, streamed through my ARIES connected wirelessly to my comparatively horrifically slow 1.5Mbps DSL, I experience absolutely nothing but smooth delivery unless my backup-to-the-cloud software is running at the time. The ARIES continues to be an impressive piece of kit.
– Chris
vhiner1 saidComputerAudiophile just released their Aries review, said Tidal streaming was very good.Guys, I’m considering the Aries but would like to know if any of you stream Tidal with it and, more specifically, I want to hear from those who are using the service in the U.S. The reason for my question is that, right now, Tidal’s performance on devices using Logitech Media Server in the U.S. is very unreliable. Apparently, getting LMS, and Tidal to play nicely is very tricky and challenging. Tidal and the third party developer, IckStream, are working on a solution, but it is very daunting. I and a number of other users in the U.S. experience frequent buffering drop outs and interruptions.
I was hoping that streaming Tidal with the Aries might be more reliable. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences you’ve had.
Vance
erikm said Also to add what Gordon is speaking about regarding sorting in Minimserver. The trick he mentions to get "The Beatles" to sort as "Beatles,The" will only work if the Album Artist metadata field is blank.. Typically at least for me, I use XLD, there is both an "Artist" field and a "Album Artist" field.. if one has The Beatles in both fields it will still sort The Beatles. One needs to remove "The Beatles" from the Album Artist field also. Since the filter only affect the Artist field, and frankly Album Artist is rather redundant.Album.sortTags={Album, Artist}, artist.ignore.*={The}
Album.sortTags={Album, Artist}, Artist.ignore.={The}, AlbumArtist.ignore.={The}
flenser55 saidChris,Hi, Vance.
Your mileage may varyI live in the U.S. – central Pennsylvania – and I stream Tidal to my 2009-era iMac at work via the native Mac application by way of the university’s 2Gbps Internet connection. That circuit is shared with many others, of course, but reaches a maximum usage of ~1.1Gbps only during student NetFlix hours later in the evening. Music delivery is occasionally a little choppy, a condition for which the application apologizes and suggests I elect to specify lower-quality streaming.
At home, streamed through my ARIES connected wirelessly to my comparatively horrifically slow 1.5Mbps DSL, I experience absolutely nothing but smooth delivery unless my backup-to-the-cloud software is running at the time. The ARIES continues to be an impressive piece of kit.
– Chris
That’s exactly what I was looking for! Looks like there may be an Aries in my future.
vance
Guess I better start saving up. Hope my tax return is better than last year. 
Thank god for this thread. Just got my Auralic Aries today, and the dearth of documentation on how to get it setup is disconcerting. After fumbling for 30 minutes, I stumbled on this thread and got up and running within 10 minutes
Now I’m sitting here streaming Tidal on my Aries onto my DirectStream DAC. I have been waiting a decade for lossless digital streaming and associated supporting hardware to hit this point. Sound is fantastic. I have a upgraded USB cable coming in from AudioAdvisor tomorrow, but it sounds good even with the garbage USB cable I’m using now.
Lossless streaming of 1000’s of titles onto my DS, controlled with my iPad… YES!!
Hello everyone
I am new to this forum. I have recently purchased a Directstream and own an Aries. I have used without a problem the DSD feeding of the Aries to the Directstream via USB without problem. However, the same identical DSD feeding via a Hydra Z and I2S connection to the Directstream results is no sound. The Hydra Z is recognizing the DSD file but the Directstream does not seem to get any input (in fact the little icon on the I2S input selection is red). non DSD files are normally played without a problem on the Directstream with the same setup. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your help!
gvalente said Hello everyoneI am new to this forum. I have recently purchased a Directstream and own an Aries. I have used without a problem the DSD feeding of the Aries to the Directstream via USB without problem. However, the same identical DSD feeding via a Hydra Z and I2S connection to the Directstream results is no sound. The Hydra Z is recognizing the DSD file but the Directstream does not seem to get any input (in fact the little icon on the I2S input selection is red). non DSD files are normally played without a problem on the Directstream with the same setup. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your help!
Guys, you don’t need to open the Hydra. The Hydra is also polarity insensitive on the LVDS and is compatible with the DS.
The most probable reason is that you have to go into the Lightning DS setting and select the Hydra in your Output channel, after hooking it up.
I reckon the Aries powers the Hydra over USB, so check that the two LED’s in front of the Hydra is lit (USB and PCM or DSD). If not, power recycle the Aries leaving the Hydra connected.
I have not toggled the DSD over PCM slider.
Also check that the USB cable in use supports power over USB.
Use the DAC output on the Aries USB.
Make sure the right I2s input is invoked on the DS.
This should work like a charm.
Waiting in suspense for your verdict 
I am just about to install my Aries so have read through all of the posts here. If I read correctly I can use my JRiver Media Center however I will need to install the DS app in order to set up the Aries. I do not own any Apple devices and had hoped the Android app would be available by now.
Is my install possible without an Apple device? Thanks for the advice.
No it isn’t. Suggest you borrow or buy a second hand iPad. You can use JRiver as a server but if there is a way to use JRiver to control the Aries I haven’t heard about it.
I don’t know of any way to do the set-up without the iPad app but once the Aries is set-up (and set to UnP instead of Open Home) JRMC should be able to see it and and you can play to it with an Android control app.
Thanks for your advice. I am a bit put off by Auralic’s website statement to have an Android app by December, then January, and now March.
So if I get things set up using an Ipad then JRMC should be seen using an Android app. Gizmo is JRiver’s app for android phones. Should it work or is there a different one that I should investigate. Thanks again.