You need to specify the year.
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Why do you feel you need both the Zenith and the Air Lens? What functionality does it give you adding the Lens?
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The AirLens is an endpoint.
You need a streamer to play to it.
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From what I can see four and a half years later the AirLens is nothing more than a Rendu with a “galvanic isolation” I2S output. I’d put my money on the Zenith/Phoenix combo. Great hardware with a known track record and first rate software package. If he feels the need to keep using the Matrix then he already owns one.
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So if you’ve already got a streamer/server like the Zenith, adding the Air Lens just doubles up a job the Zenith can already do, right? And do to a very high standard. What am I missing?
I suppose my question really is, what can the AirLens do that the Innuos can’t do?
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From an “inside” source - received overnight:
Quote …
And we are in final stages of the airlens! We have the final prototypes in the factory and are getting ready for beta. Fingers crossed we’ll have good news on those in the next 30 days!
Unquote
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ooo…
Tease.
Good question!
I’m realizing at the point I am at this moment there are two possible options ahead:
A) betting on Innuos combo: ZENith + PhoenixNET + PhoenixUSB. Considering a few well known products already tested from lots of audiophiles and mainly based on USB connection and their ability to manage the digital signal (network, server/streamer, reclocker and software). Eventually not totally excluding the I2S performance, keeping in the path a converter from server/streamer to dac like the actual Matrix.
The AirLens would be out of the chain in this case, with some more boxes and cables and an LPSs in.
B) betting on PS Audio combo: AirLens + DS DAC MK II. Considering the incredible superior quality of the I2S connection, the genius of Ted Smith and the synergies between 2 products designed specifically to work together at the highest standards tested under the supervision of an expert and competent second genius called Mr.McGowan. Even if not existing yet, these products would get the heredity of the well known combo PST + DS DAC MK I bringing the same sound quality into streaming world, an act of faith in Paul based on his promises (and what he realized during the last 50 years for the audiophile community), which is the reason why this forum exists and we are all here debating on this and that. The PhoenixUSB and the Matrix (with its LPS) would be out of the chain in this case, and relatives\ more cables, too. Like Vince uses to say, a less-is-more philosophy. Not to mention a further more step on the horizon already well declared by Paul about a server once called Octave and his dream (project) to close the circle not only of the digital rig but also of the entire process of the music recording (Octave studio) and reproducing. His reputation, it is important to keep well impressed in our mind, comes not only from digital products but from generations of analog stuffs and regenerators and the ability to let all the components dialog together with each others achieving the best sound possible. A larger viewpoint, experienced during a vastly range of time and trusted by a community of music lovers that is immensely bigger compared to that one recently formed around the Portuguese company.
Which option guys do you prefer if you were in my shoes?
Without any further hesitation I go with Paul! Patience is needed, I know I know.
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I think one option or the other would serve you well. Going the full PS Audio route would, as you say, bring to bear the full vision of one king standing ing company. You know what you’re getting with PS Audio and you know it’s going to be excellent.
You can always redeploy the Innuos in another system or sell it.
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I would stick with option one without hesitation rather than count on two pieces that don’t exist. You’re looking at still months at least on one piece and who really knows on the other including Ted. If you’re are determined to stick with the I2S route then sell the low cost Matrix and power supply and buy one of the higher level Denafrips DDC’s with their own high quaility internal power supply. You could also in a couple of months sell the Zenith and the Phoenix and buy a new Pulsar which has a Phoenix built in with a Sean Jacobs designed power supply. I’m even tempted to try the new Pulse after it has been on the market a bit and has a track record. Not unhappy with the Auralic’s but would be an interesting experiment. You seem determined to do option two however no matter any contrary opinions.
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A streamer hosts the music and the software and streams it to an endpoint. An endpoint has no software, no storage, no way to play music unless it is sent to it. So the endpoint receives the music from the streamer and sends it to the DAC.
Some Streamers can also act as endpoints.
Endpoints cannot act as streamers.
The reason for the existence of the AirLens is to receive the music from the streamer via Ethernet and convert it to I2S in order to feed the DSD MKII. The DSD MKII will not have an Ethernet connection. With the MKI this job was done with the Optional Bridge 2. The Bridge 2 was designed and built and controlled by another company. PS Audio did not have total control of the Bridge 2 software or hardware. This was an issue. The AirLens is designed to solve these issues for the MKII DAC. I believe it could also be used with the MKI DAC. I might be wrong about that.
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Yes I confess I tend to trust more in PS Audio, even in not yet existing products, let me thank you anyhow for your opinion and advice.
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And that’s your option to do so. I on the other hand tend to trust in actual products that exist and not in marketing promises. You are basing your decisions on one end of life product and one that doesn’t exist yet with no actual release timetable. As I have owned a DS for years and had it modified I appreciate Ted’s talent and what he is capable of, but I also understand that just like the first time the “bean counters” can change the parts choices Ted makes based on cost or availability. Not how I chose to build a working system in real time but in the end those choices are yours to make based on your philosophy. I would however suggest you trust your ears and not those of others who don’t have to live with your actual system and environment.
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Thank you, your point of view is impeccable.
My option 2 at the moment means: keep calm and do not buy anything, not a big risk at all! I bought since 1 week the ZENith and the PhoenixNET is still in its box until I come back home from short vacation (today!). So next weeks I can enjoy new toys, experiment with cables, fuses and have fun for a while.
In the meantime I hope in September the AirLens will be clear when finally comes. Optimistically I can add it to my chain with the old DS DAC and actual new gears. After a few more months (within the end of year?) adding also the new MK II without any pressure.
I agree with you in case the AirLens project will be pushed further for some reason, I can pull the trigger and experiment with the PhoenixUSB and other actual components for a few months, while waiting for Godot!
Just want to keep in my mind the mid-time horizon, this is PS Audio oriented without any doubt.
So if one owns a current Innuos there’s no reason to buy an AirLens, except to feed it via Ethernet from the Innuos so that it can convert that to I2S.
It seems the AirLens will be an excellent addition to a system that is perhaps currently fed by a laptop, in which context it’s bound to provide a very very big upgrade.
I’d be really interested to know if NAS + AirLens outperforms a Zenith.
A NAS + AirLens = a Fish + Bicycle. I don’t think you a grasping the concept of what a Streamer does. A Streamer + NAS can feed an AirlLens. The AirLens on it’s own has no way to connect to a NAS. The AirLens has NO SOFTWARE.
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In a PS Audio environment, starting from an hi-fi built server streamer and ending in an excellent DS DAC, I suppose the choice is between the USB path or the I2S path.
The USB path may also include more step in between (DDS or reclockers) to improve the signal or to provide different end connections to DS DAC (I2S last mile, coax SPDIF etc).
The I2S path tends to prefer ethernet on USB and to be shorter or simpler without any other step in between.
I feel confident in what Ted and Paul may decide to achieve the best possible sound at the end of the day, almost in a PS Audio environment/system.
And don’t tell me anymore that analog like vinyl reproduction is too much complicated by numerous variables!
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I am not quite with “NAS + AirLens = a Fish + Bicycle”, since a NAS with UPnP and a free app like BubbleUPnP can make it work. It is just not so very nice. It is very DIY and I could not recommend it to non-technical audiophiles (I think Luca won’t take offense) or to premium-product buying friends who otherwise would buy into PS Audio based on the appeal of a Rocky Mountain brand as well as brand Paul.
BTW, if I am not mistaken, Network Attached Audio has not been mentioned here. I am having lots of fun with HQPlayer. But I expect AirLens does not support. Anyone from PS Audio is welcome to provide an update!
PS: But Tidal or Qobuz app direct to AirLens I could recommend to non-technical friends if supported
Then my question returns, why own it? Seriously, if you have a streamer/server like an Innuos, there’s no need for an AirLens, correct? That’s a yes or no question isn’t it?
This says it’s a streamer. What’s it streaming from? Ethernet, yes? So it’s got software of someone kind? Does one stay in the native app for tidal, Qobuz etc and cast to it? I know AirPlay won’t be a feature.
So the AirLens performs the same function as an RPi (just way better) and is hence a good addition for the Roon users amongst us, yes?