I still have zero complaints with the U2. Still very impressed with it’s very low noise and fantastic SQ. I chose the Lumin for a few reasons. Fiber optic input (I have a converted single-mode fiber LAN) being the biggest reason. The built in LPSU was an added bonus but I wouldn’t mind if it was a separate box either. And lastly, I run Roon exclusively and Lumin is a great product to use with Roon. Lumin has great after purchase support. Constant updates and Peter Lie (Lumin firmware lead) is very active in several forums.
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Lessons learned from the last Beta test I assume.
I was with you and heard it the same way, the sonic difference between the PST and the AIrLens was not subtle. Hopefully the PSA Team can eek more sonic improvement out of the AirLens.
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I wish I could have been to AXPONA to hear it myself. As one who has the PST and DS DAC MK2 in my system and it my digital source. I can attest to the very high bar that the duo sets for SQ. I too hope that team at PS Audio can improve the AirLens
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It is probably unrealistic to expect streaming to be better than physical media, fwiw. Ask almost anyone with high-end systems, and they will usually tell you that even with top-of-the-line streaming setups, top physical media setups will still win on SQ. So I don’t think it should be a disappointment if what Paul predicts comes true - that’s what most would expect, I’d think anyway.
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No problem if it finally turns out like that, there’s just a ton of preconditions to ensure a meaningful apples to apples comparison and we still know non of them
Same HW assumed, there’s no logic reason for me to think streaming could be more than equal (in case all noise a disc doesn’t produce is blocked).
For the people who stream, the reason to do so is a different one anyway. Convenience and that they can listen to mostly hires where disc fans can just listen to CD quality or a comparably limited repertoire of SACD‘s.
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I’ve burned a gazillion DVDs with hi rez files to play through my PWT. It is 100 percent worth it to me, the sound is so much better than streaming from NAS no matter what setup I have tried over the years.
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For me the magnitude of the difference was the surprise.
For a second I thought that was a can of paint! 
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I hope you own stock in Amazon. 
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Happy cake day Tony!
For me that would exactly be the reason why (AL) streaming should be aimed for being as good as the PST. So, CD and SACD versus redbook and HiRes. Especially if we’re talking about single, double or quad rate DSD.
Edit: the latter two aren’t supposed to make up for lack of SQ quality of the streamer, are they? I suppose that would defeat the purpose of recording in DSD256, for the likes of Octave, to name a recording company.
Thank you
Why, precisely? I came to the complete opposite conclusion over a decade ago.
I guarantee you that if the Octave Server had come to fruition, it would have been lauded as being as good as or better than any transport.
The unfortunate reality for western designer/manufacturers and streaming is that:
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Asian manufacturers have largely beaten them at their own game, with the likes of Auralic and Lumin making what are perceived as high end products but which are very affordable. For years I used the Aries Mini, which cost $500.
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Streamers are inherently cheap to make. Even with premium brands like dCS, whose DACs cost anything from $30,000 to $100,000, their Bridge Streamer cost only $4,000 - and was hugely popular.
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The main cost of streaming is software development, which is vastly cheaper in Asia.
Not clarifying Paul‘s preconditions means endless posts without knowing if (hard disk) streaming vs. disc was compared or a mix of it combined with different technical design or file format or online streaming variants. And there are endless similar threads. It could be so easy to know…or nebulous and superficial.
But if any disc vs. Streaming comparison could be done, then with the PSA units…as I understood, the lens technology of both is the same or very similar.
A key feature of the PWT apparently is its buffering. Earlier Innuos devices did not buffer all sources, apparently all sources are now buffered. Once it is in the buffer, all that can really matters is how it is sent to the DAC.
The specification of the AirLens is unknown other than the limited I/O options and the use of the (apparently excellent) ConversDigital card, earlier versions being used as Bridge I and Bridge 2. Limited I/O options are fine if they suit you. The current ConversDigital card is Roon Ready, so AirLens should be Roon Ready.
ConversDigital make the MConnect software, which is very cheap and good (unless you have WAV files and will not get artwork, or use Android as it only works on iOS).
Quite what else is in the AirLens is unknown. Hopefully something, because the same ConversDigital card is offered by Ayre (also from Boulder, Colorado) as a £750 plug-in option to their EX-8 box, whereas the AirLens is provisionally priced at £2,500.
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Happy Cake Day Tony!
True when comparing various buffered mechanical disc drive influences, but not true when comparing streamers to disc drives, because streamers have a network connection and more chip based processing than disc drives, both of which causes noise. If galvanic isolation fully blocks this, it would be equal…if it’s not equal, not all is blocked in my understanding (or unwanted precondition differences overrule the comparison)
I think we can assume that there will be a difference between a quite pure converse based network card and a standalone unit like the AL, including PSU, casework, galvanic isolation etc. (but Paul would have to argue here)
It’s unfortunate that there’s not streaming-Ted equivalent available for specific exchange in the forum
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The reduction of processor noise has been a feature of the streamers and servers I’ve used since 2010, excluding anything unnecessary. Innuos scores best on that, not even having wifi or Bluetooth (AirLens does). There are extremely low noise power supplies, isolation and an ethernet data port (i.e. galvanically isolated data transmission). Products like HiFi Rose try and do everything (and have huge capability), but are probably quite noisy.
If the ConversDigital card was in the same box you wouldn’t need another PSU, case or galvanic isolation (because there would be a common ground), as I says last week I might well have bought one, but I bought a Lumin instead. It did not help that UK pricing went from £3,800 for the Mk1 to £8,000 for the Mk2, with streaming on top. I think the increase was less in the USA and they have trade-in. I spent the extra money on ceramics, made my wife happy, it’s London Craft Week. Like Lumin, we bought from a Korean potter.
https://www.londoncraftweek.com
No, Yes and Yes.
Remember that the A Capella III is ROON Ready and entirely ROON focused. It does not have any other way to play. So, whatever ROON supports, it plays. So, no Spotify but definitely Tidal and Qobuz. And of course it supports your local music library in multiple ways.
I think one of the reasons the AC III is so clean and dynamic is this focus. No app to load or learn. It works with ROON only and does that beautifully! I use mine exclusively with I2S, but it supports USB, AES, and SPDIF.
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