LUMIN just released a $2400 streamer U2 mini in last month with Airplay, DSD512, and an app. Competitive market.
I doubt most buyers consider Airplay essential, but I think most streamers over $1500 probably support. Age demographics might determine desirability of feature like Airplay. My dad wouldn’t care - my son definitely would, and I’d prefer it for sure but maybe not a dealbreaker (but would be conspicuous absence at the price tier I think)
My excellent Lumin T2 supports airplay as well (plus DSD256). I don’t use airplay for serious listening, but when streaming bbc radio 3 256kbps stream while working it’s incredibly convenient. Otherwise I’d have to do it through Roon which is annoying.
Also use airplay for streaming 16/44.1 from Idagio. That would be a real bummer with the air lens. I’d need another piece of equipment just for that.
I hear ya.
I don’t use it for serious listening either, but it is (for me) great when entertaining and showing your system to friends and such. Because they always want to hear something odd and that is easiest and quickest way without slowing down the party
Okay so here is a dumb question for anyone that wants to reply. I have not been streaming long, i have a bluesound node using wifi and coax to DSJ, also using qobuz. If the Airlens will be roon ready and i subscribe to roon will i still need qobuz or just roon? Will be going I2S at that point, i have a dragon in the box just waiting for the airlens. I can hear the laughter already.
If you’re streaming from services that are integrated with Roon like Tidal and Qobuz then you’re fine—the AL is a Roon endpoint and can it send the DSD/FLAC/etc data to your DAC through i2s or (God forbid coax).
But if you’re like me and use specialized service like Idagio that isn’t integrated with Roon you’re SOL—you’ll need another equipment plugged into your preamp or DAC that does airplay. Or I guess you can use some other input on the AL, but you still need an airplay/ethernet-connected device to that input. But I don’t know what all inputs AL has, so…
Thanks but im still confused by all this. Can i just use Qobuz or will i need something else like roon to stream to my dac.
You need something that takes the Qobuz input and feeds to the dad. It can be a computer, a roon endpoint , or anything else that can stream Qobuz.
And if the Qobuz device—like my Lumin T2 roon endpoint—already has a dac) then you just need to connect to your preamp since it outputs analog.
With the AL you need a DAC because AL works as a streamer only, it only processes digital and outputs it. Something has to concert to analog that can be finally sent to your amplifier—amplifiers can only handle analog.
Well, you still need the Qobuz or Tidal subscriptions while using Roon, if you want to stream music from Qobuz or Tidal over Roon. Myself, I buy files from Qobuz and others like Bandcamp and NativeDSD. Roon can then pull the files off my NAS… though I use HQPlayer myself actually… just as Roon can stream music from Qobuz or Tidal. Generally I recommend streaming to folks. I really do not recommend my NAS approach to anyone who doesn’t say themselves first that they want to go this way. Streaming is much easier and is still excellent.
Roon costs money though if you do not already have a life license.
Back when PS Audio forecasted to launch the (not yet so named) Air Lens two years later in 2020, I got rid of an Antipodes running Roon and opted to live with a Node 2 and a digital coax cable for what was expected to be two years. I could not wait any longer this Spring and got a new I2S streamer (a Silent Angel M1T). I was so happy to leave the dull Node coax sound behind. Admittedly my Node was no longer a new model. But it was at least a Node 2.
Coincidentally, as your posting come across the line, I was checking out how coax sounds from the Silent Angel. It was also lifeless. So it was not just the Node that was the problem. I switched back to I2S right away.
I expect you will be very happy with I2S over HDMI. Be it a Dragon or a George model!
I don’t know what the Dragon or George is, but here’s a very simplified diagram. There are other ways, but these are the most common.
Personally I don’t use either Q or T so my requirements are different. I use a Mac as a Roon server that sends audio files from my NAS to the LuminT2 Room endpoint (bottom arc in picture) and it can do airplay for my specialized needs.
Thanks for the diagram 
Thanks so much for your input. Greatly appreciated.
You were probably joking, but even the $399 ifi zen stream supports airplay (as well as roon, dsd512, and native tidal/qobuz), so airplay isn’t a $600 feature : )
I would love to experience a shootout between these three:
T2 is both dac and streamer. would need to add DAC to 2 and 3
I’m planning to do a shoot out between the AL+DSDAC and the Lumin T2 once the AL comes out! Of course don’t forget that part of the reason that T2 is so much more expensive is that they have a very good DAC in there.
Dunno about Pi + HAT + …
good point. I’ve got a Denafrips Pontus II for options 2 & 3.
Still, if the Lumin blew the others away, I could repurpose/delete the Pontus II.
That better be a landslide given msrp’s!!!
The thing about this Pi combo is that I had a Jay’s CD2-MK3 in there for a while, and I could not justify its existence in my system. Either the Pi + HAT + HQP sounds that good, or my system (or ears) aren’t resolving enough to discern the difference.
(Luxman L509X + Pontus II DAC + Harbeth 30.2 XD)
I find this a bit surprising. Bear in mind that for Roon users using wireless devices that are not Roon Ready, AirPlay is the only other broadcast alternative in Roon. I used it for 6 months before my units became Roon Ready.
My units are a complete streaming audio and lighting system, wireless, Roon Ready, AirPlay, Spotify, Amazon HD, Tidal, Alexa, Bluetooth and Radio onboard, have a great app and are the size of 330ml can - and cost $500. It’s by people with high-end reputation, who make speakers that cost twice as much as FR30. The is simply that good streaming can be done very cheaply.
I just can’t get my head around how sometimes the hifi industry struggle with procurement, logistics, design and pricing. I usually put it down to a lack of focus, doing too many things at once. Does this product have a true USP that’s going to make it widely popular? AirPlay is just basic for streaming. It’s just a complete mystery to me. Would it be better to wait for AirPlay and do Roon Ready?
Is Chromecast considered Roon Ready?
