You’ve got me confused with somebody else. 
The guy you’ve actually just quoted I happen to disagree with. He’s missed the entire point of the AirLens design: those LPS, DC and USB cables are irrelevant with AirLens. You’ll still want to experiment with different I2S cables though.
But I’m pretty sure my explanation of which DSD rates the AirLens will support, and how, was on the money.
If you have a DS DAC Mk I then you’re limited to DSD256 max regardless of what you do. I mean, you can still have DSD512 files somewhere and press “play” but something prior to the DAC will need to downsample from DSD512 to a lower resolution in order for the DS DAC Mk I to take it in.
Anybody who buys AirLens and DS DAC Mk II cares nothing about USB because you’ll have ethernet into the AirLens and I2S into the DAC and no USB in sight. You won’t have to fork out the money to discover whether that combo supports DSD512… when they’re shipping the specs will be published.
The DS DAC is just a DAC. The AirLens will give you a network connectivity option for that DAC with very high sound quality, supporting the maximum resolution that the DAC does. If that’s not what you want, don’t buy it?
Right you are…my apologies.
But I still have questions.
And your response was informative…
Paul is focused on DSD and higher-rate DSD appears to be increasingly all the rage.
So, my question remains (for @Paul):
Will and how will the AirLens transmit higher-rate* DSD to PSA and/or other DACs?
*Which I will now define as DSD128 and higher.
Cheers.
Yes got it. I just need a reason to get the AL and can shoot out some mumbo jumbo when my wife asks me the hard questions. So now it’ll be “but honey, this way the DS DAC has a network in with the AL!”
Now I need these. Hopefully they cost less than tubes.
Got those from a Korean market. $25 each and it’s a great deal!
All these talks about 512. Luckily, I have only two albums and never hear one note out of them.
I am going to head up to our local Korean Market, H-Mart, this weekend and see what they have. I really like going there but just like a good record store I end up walking up and down every aisle geeking out. A good bit of the time is spent with Mr. Google deciphering ingredients.
software is a serious advantage in lumin. Unfortunately, the disadvantage of bridge2 is that it does not have software. I’m afraid the same disadvantage will apply to airlens. I hope not.
I’d have to disagree with you there - Lumin software is really bad, especially compared to Auralic and Naim apps for example. It’s slow, clunky and doesn’t have any features (similar artists, add to favorites, bio, etc.)
The reality is AirLens is going to need Roon to be viable IMO - sure you can use bubble upnp and some other apps but Roon is the best of the 3rd party options. Downside is another box is required for Roon (to your point at least Lumin has an app at all) Upside is if it blows the competition out of the water in terms of SQ - then Roon is a great UI and will do the job quite nicely.
I’ve said it before - LMS and squeezelite images are open source, well used (including as the “higher SQ alternative to ROON” on some or other streamers/servers), with a variety of controller apps available for iThing and android.
Real missed opportunity there if the AL can’t use them (and I don’t think it can).
Has there been specs provided on the maximum length recommended for the I2S HDMI cable connection to the DAC?
I have read that other makers have specified very short lengths of HDMI.
I have also read that streamers such as the Metrum Ambre allow much longer lengths over their ethernet (UTP) I2S connection.
LUMIN app is perfectly functional and works well. It’s free and just does the job. I wouldn’t criticize it.
No experience with Roon and no interest (not criticizing anyone who likes Roon of course)
Edit: I’ve used Roon at dealers for demos on their iPads so I have experience at that level just never paid for subscription
I had no experience with or interest in roon until I did. THEN IT CHANGED MY LIFE.
I get it. Many love it. And as I clarified above I’ve used it for demos so I know what it does. Who knows. Never say never I guess.
My main point was LUMIN app works flawlessly to search on album, title, artist, whatever, group and make playlists to heart’s content, album covers etc. The basics that are needed work flawlessly in my experience (and I’ve used many that don’t)
Its so funny that in a hobby where people drop 2k on a cable with no hesitation, and balk at a $10/mo sub for software that is amazing. You can build a top notch Core for $600 and buy lifetime sub for $700. A total of $1300 all in. That is not bad at all for its functionality. We all have old crap in closets and boxes that cost more than that. its not a large investment at all. Most who do not have it have no clue what it can do. DSP, mutli-room/zone, and the discovery of new music it offers is 2nd to none. And by the way, I know roon does not like it, but you can sell your sub by changing email if you dont like so both the core and sub can be sold if you end up not wanting it. I for one tried it in a month to month… 5 months later I dropped the 700 and never looked back.
I do see many (maybe its a few that keep repeating themselves) that SQ is not good. I for one have not seen that, but I have not spent 10k on a streamer DAC / Server that many have. Sure a streamer with HQ dacs on board keeping everything local in one box has its advantages. No network / noise issues to deal with. The manufacturer took care of that and you just sit and play. Never heard one, especially how it sounds in my room so I have no say in which is better. But I do see how an all in one could have advantages. Never used any of the software mentioned above as I do not have any of those streamers. But it just seems they all have limitations and the users just say I am not paying for sub to get what I have for free. Power cords come for free too with equipment…
I for one thing its the right business move on PS Audio to offer Computer app control for those users and Roon certification for those users. Writing apps is not easy, and you need a staff to maintain. Seems they are making a nice unit that matches their DACs and other companies that like the I2S (which all say following I2S PS Audio standard). I am not sure they have the staff/space to make thousands of units a year like BlueSound. He is not going to outsource to china to make his products. I cannot wait to try.
Hmmm, except they already have, see FR30. I don’t take issue necessarily with it, but facts are facts.
And Sprout? Sprout done in China for cost reasons to achieve an entry level yet awesome system. FR30, as has been explained elsewhere, done in China due to lack of quality suitably priced domestic partners. No big deal.
I have to agree here about the Lumin software. It’s pretty basic and clunky. I use Roon.
True, but they don’t have wood facilities there in CO so I get that one. Even VSA and their big boys send their wood to china
