I swapped out the 11 AWG Shunyata Viper Zitron power cord that I was using on the AirLens (and the Holo Audio Red before it) for a Synergistic Atmosphere Euphoria Level 3 power cord I purchased used.
First off, let me say that the AirLens responds quite favorably to the use of a better quality power cord. I use Synergistic Atmosphere and Galileo cables and Purple and Master Fuses throughout my system.
Compared to the admittedly lower list price Shunyata, the Synergistic cord sounded better across the board. The background was quieter still, providing additional micro-detail. Bass was deeper, more forceful and better defined. Vocal and instrumental images had more body, and the soundstage became deeper and better layered in particular. Live recordings took on much more of a “you are there” quality to them.
I see the AL as more of niche product for the PS Audio community (will integrate nicely MK1/MK2 DACs via the I2S port), as some outside the PS Audio paradigm might require/desire other connectivity options or product features. On the topic of I2S, I did notice that the HiFi Rose RS150B has an I2S output. Has anyone tried this streamer?
Looks like they just upped the anti with the HiFi Rose RS130 Network Transport (Upscale Audio is promoting it) - it has an HDMI I2S output which might make some folks happy.
The folks at Upscale are saying on SQ only the Aurender N150 edges out the RS130 at less money but the RS130 has all the bells and whistles with a big screen. They’re also saying the RS130 can not compete with the N200.
It says in the AirLens manual that Spotify is covered from their app, like Tidal is from their app. Not sure about Pandora, but the licensed version of the BubbleUPnP app should work.
Spotify is native and I’ve verified it on my AirLens. I believe Qobuz native is close at hand with a firmware update, pending licensing resolution. Unsure about Pandora.
Thanks for your guidance all. My next question is I would like to send AIFF files from my MacBook Pro. I am sure that is another ball of wax. Any suggestions there would be appreciated as these are my considerations before buying.
TIA
Most folks use some sort of music library management and rendering software.
For example, my music is stored on my iMac and a NAS. I point Roon and JRiver Media Center (two different music management software programs) to my music files and the AirLens.
Roon allows me to piggy back Qbuz and Tidal internet streaming subscription services to play via the Air Lens along with my local files, while JRMC only “grabs” local files to play.
There are many other music management software packages out there. Hopefully others will chime in with additional examples they like to use.
Have fun.
PS, when I rip files from CDs AIFF is my format of choice as well.
Yes that is how I am using both devices. But something is marking the usb loose lock and this drop it from roon into I switch the input back to usb. Could it be the auto setting on the MKII. Maybe I should try setting to on. See if that makes it stick.
That would seem logical in that if you switch to I2S it would shut the USB off and it would need time to reactivate. If you leave them both on should solve the problem you would think.
You have a DSD MkII? Might you have your USB input set to Auto?
Perhaps - and this is only a guess - the MkII is disabling the USB input when you switch to I2S?
Same thing happens to me with USB out from a Holo Audio RED.
Sorry - I replied immediately I read you post and now see you’ve come to the same conclusion.
icon go?