Not sure why comparing streamers has to be done with WAV files from a local streamer. The AirLens is just as likely to be used with Qobuz, Tidal, Roon and uPnP that are onboard the CDM4140 processor in the AirLens. Lumin, for example has the same functionality and could’ve be compared.
You then run in to problems because the AirLens has limited outputs, hardly any streamers use I2S, and it doesn’t have usb because, according to Paul, usb was too noisy. To the contrary, the Lumin U2 is optimised for usb, so is Innuos Zen, Zenith, Auralic, even SGM Extreme. Using different outputs may invalidate comparison.
So you can’t do very accurate comparisons, hardly anyone will bother, apparently many of the beta testers haven’t used dedicated streamers before, so people will buy this product based on brand loyalty or some other reason.
Functionality is probably more important than sound quality, because of the lack of usb.
International pricing makes a massive difference. The Innuos Pulse has a lot more going for it, but in the USA costs $3,250, so 60% more expensive than AirLens. However, in the UK (and probably the EU as Innuos is from Portugal) the Pulse is 10% cheaper than the AirLens.
I’m beta testing some audio software at the moment and the main thing it to identify bugs.
Lots of companies make complimentary products. This is obviously an external I2S Bridge III complimentary to the Mk2 DAC. Given the Bridge II was about $800 in 2015, $2,000 for this in 2023 seems perfectly reasonable, plus of course $10 for an HDMI cable.