Why don’t you try it, but make sure you unplug the diamond usb before you listen to the xlr and visa versa
I’ll switch them back and forth for sure but for now I want the USB cable to burn in.
I?ll try it both ways for sure but I want the new AQ Diamond USB cable to get some good play time. My WW Platinum XLR is well used.
So I think that the streamer with the USB cable sounds in the same league as my PWT with I2S connection to my Directsteam dac. I’ll give the WW Platinum XLR a go later.
I don’t understand why you do not try a Matrix. You have the proper USB and HDMI cables already. All you need is the Matrix and a good power supply for the Matrix. My streamer with the Matrix using an Audience FrontRow USB cable and a RAL HDMI cable which is better than the WW PS7 HDMI cable is a game changer. It blows away my DMP to DS with the same HDMI cable!! Without the Matrix, the DMP outperforms the streamer. With the Matrix, it comes close in sound quality to my analog system, which is a mind blower!!!
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I would require a matrix, power supply,power cable andHDMI cable. That could be costly.
You have a AQ Diamond USB and a WW Platinum HDMI already. Just use the Matrix without a power supply and a regular power cable in the beginning. It will outperform your present setup anyway. You can upgrade when you can afford.
Maybe in the future. I 2ould actually need another HDMI cable as the one I have is between my PWT and DS.
It would cost me around $2000
What you have now is fine. Stick with it for a while your Aries isn’t even near broken in yet. These guys love spending other peoples money but it’s better if you do it on what you want to do when your are ready. Your not starting out with something that needs fixing.
I must say I’m getting some mighty fine sound already. As I’m using my AQ Diamond USB to burn it in some the sound is spectacular.
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I did not find there to be much improvement when I hooked a Matrix up to an Aries G1. The G1 puts out a pretty nice sound over AES/EBU or XLR.
It might not help as much as you might think.
(But perhaps you already know better, could be just me)
Al, weren’t you using a Shunyata Sigma USB to a Matrix and RAL HDMI to the DS?
Pretty nice is a bit of an under-statement. I thought the system sounded great with the Bridge, but with the Aries and using the XLR input, it’s insane how good it sounds; and the Aries isn’t even broken in yet. Settled on using the Aries in wireless mode. For now, the Matrix is on the backburner, especially with Aangen’s comment.
Yes sir, I am. But not from a Aries G1 or G2.
I have two Matrix setups that I strongly believe the Matrix helps quite a bit.
My point is, when I added a Matrix to an Aries G1 (borrowed) I was surprised at how little improvement it made vs coax or AES/EBU to the DSD. I attribute this to the quality of the G1 and I like to believe also exists with higher up models.
I love my two Matrix boxes. No doubt.
(The other setup is Front Row USB and RAL HDMI thanks to you!)
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Yes, a maximized Matrix setup can sound mind blogging good. It was quite a surprise and unexpected when I first tried one even without the best cables and no power supply.
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I switched back to my WW Platinum XLR and I find I have more width to the soundstage with the XLR but the USB has a richer sound. Both ways are nice.
Giving my PWT a listen for a change I definitely notice it sounds better since I removed the Bridge II. If I wanted the best sound from my transport I would remove my tuner out of my system. I like my tuner so it’s a bit of a trade off.The Aries sounds very good and it will improve over a couple of hundred hours.Both the USB and the XLR cables sound good.
I find I must go wired or else I keep getting cut off. I may check into getting a better modem but my Ethernet cables are nice so I’m okay. The sound between transport and streamer are very close.
I’ve had my G2 for about a month and never had an issue with drop outs using WIFI. I don’t believe the issue is on the G2 side, so you might want to look at your router. If you solve that problem, you can probably save some money on that Ethernet cable.
It’s for sure the router. I had problems with my Bridge II and mconnect with drop out. We will check about getting a different better router.