I will be surprised if you cannot use iPad/iPhone to control it by using McontrolHD.
The whole point of the AirLens is to feed music from an Ethernet (network) source in the form of a digital stream to a DAC.
I don’t think I can explain it more simply.
This is, at its heart, a form of “computer audio”.
Maybe someone else following this thread can jump in to help.
If you use Bridge II now, then you should know AirLens will have the same function. It is designed to be paired with DS II which does not have a slot for Bridge II card.
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I never used the bridge in my DS JR. Using Node via Wi-Fi that has BluOS and using Qobuz. Don’t need a computer for this set up. Sorry I’m so confused. Sounds like in order to use Airlens you will need a computer/laptop which I don’t want to use. If that’s the case it won’t work for me. That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I would hate to keep waiting for it to come out if it’s not an option for me. Thanks for your help.
Yes, I understand that. Even if I hang onto my DSD Mark I for a while, I hope the AirLens will do the two things that I mentioned (higher rate DSD and overall improved sound quality due to isolation).
You need to direct these questions to PS Audio. AirLens support for various streaming services will be a necessity when launching in a competitive market. PS Audio will probably announce what services are available upon finalizing firmware…pretty sure hardware is finalized.
Thanks, I was planning on calling Monday.
My understanding is the AirLens will accept a Wi-Fi, connection.
At least that was the plan at one time.
FYI.
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Correct. As Paul has explained in a recent video. I would recommend (if they have not done so or are soon to release) a system diagram showing all input/ output connections and source compatibility. What it does and does not do I think could more easily be explained with a pretty picture.
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We are sure that you do not need a computer to stream music to the AirLens. And I think it was @scotte1 who explained in April or so how it should be possible for Tidal and Qobuz apps to be used for this, without needing to involve other third party apps like BubbleUPnP or MConnect. BUT I expect the conclusion was that we need to hear this from PS Audio. So when you call, please do try to pin them down on whether streaming of Tidal or Qobuz will be possible using only the Tidal or Qobuz apps… without needing to have Roon or BubbleUPnP etc.
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If this is to beta in September as predicted (September is little over 2 weeks away), all of these answers should be well established internally at a minimum
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Willing to place a bet on this? I am not sure what magical method you can get the AirLens to play Qobuz or Tidal on a device that doesn’t have a mechanism to login to such services. It doesn’t have a screen or remote with controls. How would you accomplish this without a computer or streamer.
How would you make the AirLens become aware of your NAS? How would you pick songs to play?
It is an Endpoint. So many of you don’t seem to understand what this means. This thread recently has been just chock full of “I guess everything just works out because I believe that would be a good thing”. Sigh.
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Are you saying AirLens acts as Bridge II simply managing a galvanic isolation to signal path, going from some box (call it server/streamer) with the help of some software able to store/stream/play music to the DS DAC (I and MK II)?
If I understand well the AirLens main purpose is:
- cleaning the signal (galvanic isolation)
- using input only by ethernet or WiFi
- providing the I2S last mile connection to PS Audio DACs
Like a Matrix (or other unit) has input USB/output I2S instead the AirLens aim is to convert LAN input into I2S output to work perfectly in a PS Audio environment with DS DACs, especially the MK II.
All what comes before AirLens would eventually be disgned in future as Octave project, while at the moment is intended to come from other brand components/softwares.
They are now focusing more on the signal (I2S) input path than streaming world in general, in order to achieve the best sound quality for their DACs.
This is what I’m figuring out about it, in my total ignorance.
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The inputs on the DS Mk 2 are also galvanic isolated so why the need for AirLens. It’ll be of no use to me. However, I’d still like to know what will make it better than other things, e.g. amazing clocking.
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I thought that the AirLens was a streamer that will isolate itself from the ethernet and communicate with your DAC via I2s. If you are happy with your streamer then you don’t need AirLens.
@aangen: I did not say it would be pretty or any sort of wonderful user experience. But we were told on 7th March that although… “There is no app at all. You can feed it with Roon, using it as an end point. You can feed it anything using UPnP/DLNA. You can feed it with AirPlay.” Now, I am not sure after the posts the other week about chip unavailabilty how much of that last item, AirPlay, is still there for high resolution. So if things roll backwards. UPnP/DLNA would be the next to go. Hopefully someone from PS Audio chips in soon and/or answers when @msaladino22 calls them.
@magister0: As long as UPnP is there, one should be able to get DSD64 and maybe up to DSD128 from a NAS to the AirLens without Roon by using Docker to run Twonky on a NAS. It would not be all that pretty though. And I am not going that way myself. I am running HQPlayer on an old gaming rig left behind by a departed teenager. I run this up to DSD512. Though bear in mind that the PS Audio approach is not to go above DSD256.
Maybe PS Audio considers the DAC’s I2S input preferable and able to outperform USB and RJ45? Even if all their inputs (just in MK II) are already isolated.
Maybe PS Audio wants a full control of the signal going to the DAC’s I2S input? Think about PST, it provides a superlative quality and I keep it even if DAC’s input will be all isolated.
Maybe PS Audio is going to offer a better product, sonically speaking, than Bridge II and during the design process they stated that a LAN to I2S connection offers more flexibility and quality and cleaning signal, so they wanted to create a proprietary unit to achieve it?
Even if on the market already exist other brand products (streamers/DDCs) they are confident to do better, launching their challenge to control digital reproduction following the signal in the opposite direction of the path: from DAC to streamer (AirLens), from streamer to server/core until the router (future Octave project).
Time will tell…
Just my thoughts.
AFAIK, this is NOT true. I expect an in-home network with Tidal and Qobuz (or other) apps on iPads and iPhones will work with AirLens to form a streaming network.
If you do call PSA to ask questions please let us know what you learn.
Regards.
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Aangen is correct. It is an end point and you need something to send data from though it doesn’t have to be a computer (as in PC or Mac). For example, if you want to use Roon you most certainly need a computer to run Roon. Or, it has Tidal connect built in allowing you to connect directly to Tidal’s servers without going through a computer but you still need something computer-like to control what it is you wish to play on Tidal. Or Spotify.
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Will it be Qobuz compatible controlled via iPhone or iPad Paul? You mentioned Tidal but not Qobuz.