The USB on the MKII supports DSD256 and I stream from my Roon via USB or through my Cambridge CNX V2 via optical or coax. So I’m not clear as to what I am missing?
Folks, it aspires to be a great streamer that will provide a RJ45 type Ethernet input and preferential digital outputs.
If you don’t need a streamer or don’t like the limited type of outputs, then the AirLens isn’t/won’t be for you.
It’s a design serving a very specific purpose, and I’ll wager the AirLens will outperform similarly priced kit and may even best some pricier gear serving the same purpose.
I am having trouble with some of the speculative hand wringing, in that I just don’t understand it.
No offense, @dchang05 - your post just happened to be the latest in a string of posts, some of which seemingly agonize over the use case for, and benefits of, the AirLens.
There are a few Lumin users on the thread. Just put Lumin in the search above. May be mostly earlier posts though, back when we knew less and therefore were less confused but wrong.
None taken. I am just wondering in my case if an AirLens would improve my streaming SQ. I still plan to get one to find out.
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Thanks scott’s 1 My main interest in the AirLens is if it will provide me with any SQ improvement in my system. I don’t know since the MKII inputs are galvonically isolated whether the ethernet isolation would matter.
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You probably won’t “hear” anything obvious, like noise, with any USB source. It’s kind of like Vantablack. We all know what the color black (or really the absent of color) is. We can describe it. There is a scientific definition of it. But, until you’ve actually seen something like Vantablack in-person it’s impossible for you to have a reference when something has that low a reflectiveness. No longer is black black.
Same for a source. The Nucleus is just a PC in a nice case. In some respects, it’s worse than a Raspberry Pi 4 on the other side of your network. Roon reference architecture separates the Core and the Endpoint across the network. There are many reasons for this but even starting there is a step in the right direction. Then you set budget and philosophy on what a “good” streamer is to use as an endpoint. On paper, and specifically for your environment, the AirLens would be an excellent choice.
What will you hear different? Too many factors for anyone else to tell you. All I can guarantee is, much like my Vantablack description, it will be different as every source sounds different.
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Thank you so much ipeverywhere. That makes sense and I will definitely explore the AirLens option. Less expensive than most cables!
The proof of the pudding will be in the eating.
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“They” say everything matters. 
.
We will have to wait for the animal to be encountered in the wild in order to know what’s what.
Should be fun.
Personally, I would like to better the Bridge II’s performance (which is very good and I enjoy trouble free) with my DS MK I. The AirLens might be just the ticket.
Cheers.
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And there will be lots of enthusiastic beta testers giving their feedback, just as soon as the units go out. Now sounding like it will be January. So, if you are on the fence, just stay tuned for the beta thread!
Just remember it’s not a 1 for 1 feature parity. Make sure the AirLens supports how / the services you’re using on Bridge II. In not all cases can you drop an AirLens in for a Bridge II.
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If this has been covered please point me to the right spot. Is the only input to the AirLens going to be an Ethernet cable? Or will there be another input connection?
I believe this is still accurate:
It will accept the input data stream through:
- RJ45 Ethernet
- Wi-Fi
It will output the data stream through:
- I2S
- Coax SPDIF
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My brother did the comparisons and he couldn’t find that much difference between the MQA and the DSD 64 or the 24 bit 192k versions of the same recordings. They all were very close with the MQA maybe slightly more up front or forward. But the DSD 256 version beats them all with better clarity and detail. If you want the best SQ, I think DSD 256 is still the way to go.
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Interestingly I would agree After all my power cable tweaking, fuse.tweaking and absorber tweaking. There is virtually little difference between Qobuz and Tidal HiFi snd the MQA first unfold is great sounding too! That was not the case at first. I kept Tidal HiFi for the songs and Albums. Qobuz didn’t have though gap has closed on Tidal only songs.
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My brother also say that he don’t think there is that much difference between the first unfold or the last unfold. As far as he could remember, they seem about the same. but it is really by memory since the first unfold was done some time ago but with his then Aurender N10. He say then the difference wasn’t that great either just like now.
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Thanks - that’s great to know. That sounds quite achievable.
This is interesting:
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A MQA certified DAC does all the work. Most DAC chips are MQA certified. They are produced in large numbers and once a MQA unfolding circuit is designed, it’s easy to copy it to other or next gen chips. So only MQA certification and license fees apply, but can be spread over a large number of chips.
MQA unfolding only happens in the PCM domain. For custom FPGA solutions as the DSDAC adding MQA unfolding means that the PCM signal needs to be funneled through an additional function block before it can be modulated to the Direct Bit Stream signal and that would only add more complication. The art of the DSD PGA DACs is to do as less processing as possible in the PCM domain.
They could add the MQA unfolding in the FPGA. Apart from SQ considerations there is a financial one as well. The low numbers don’t justify the development cost and MQA certification and license fees.
MQA chips make it also into high end equipment, as well. But the you don’t get the benefits of features that the PS Audio equipment offers.
DSD vs. MQA reminds me of the analog video tape format competition. Where the lower quality format made it to the mainstream market. The main reason: - Cost to consumer.
You can buy a <1k MQA certified DAC, hook up a regular streamer or regular CD transport (player with optical or coax digital output) and the MQA DAC does all the MQA unfolding for you if you stream/play MQA media.
- Another feature of MQA media is, it will play the music even without MQA certified DAC’s. On any DAC as a matter of fact, just not in its intended high resolution.
I love the fact that my equipment offers me the possibility for reasonable money. I don’t insist playing MQA, I just noticed how good it sounds via an internet radio station and want to explore it more.
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Interesting indeed! Out-specs my Mano Ultra 2 streamer, at lower cost. Specs are one thing, but there are other factors of course, like power supply etc. wonder how it would compare. My Mano Ultra 2 out-performed the Bridge II, which is now removed, but I’m sadly missing out on DSD256, so the Mano Ultra II will eventually find a new home. Watching this space….
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