Why wait? Get one now! Get all three now!
5 Likes
while you 
?
To state the obvious, and perhaps clear up some of the confusion, the Summus Endpoint appears to be, more or less, exactly what the AirLens aspires to be (if my quick read of their website is correct).
FYI.
The original Signature Rendu (not the SE) has I2S, but it was not around for long before the SE replaced it as top dog in their line and with that they swapped to USB. Not sure why they did not add USB instead of swap. For $4500+ you would think they would do that. I added the matrix with a small green computer DDC for I2S and really did not notice a difference, but I did not invest in higher quality DC and power cables. I decided to wait for Airlens before doing that.
I am not sure about that. Their endpoint is closer match, but seems to be a computer. Need LPS and all the cables that go with it. Both the endpoint and server even though they are two devices, they both run computer chips. They are isolated from themselves, and just talk about “Within isolated, noise free area”. It does say galvanic isolation from computer lines, but if I were to guess the Airlens galvanic isolation is different. its isolating the entire output stage from the input stage (Paul may have better wording that).
IMO, the Euphony is more like the Sonore Line which uses optical isolation for galvanic separation of the computer lines. Euphony is its own operating system, similar to SonicOrbiter.
I for one am trying to get away from another operating system and more noisy chips (server and endpoint both have i3 intels). I love my Sonore, but it does come with its quirks. It looses track of the DAC every so often and takes a few reboots in perfect order for them to get in sync. Got to love software based things. Euphony could be better, but I am going to see the Airlens if it can sonically beat the Sonore (or at least be as good as).
I for one do not blame a hardware company that is running from supporting software. Euphony clearly is a software company using mini computer setups as their devices. it works well, but I am not interesting having to buy 2 boxes, then 2 more LPSs with DC cables and 4 power cables. I am trying to get away from that with the Airlens.
If you don’t want Roon or Require USB, the Airlens probably is not for you. Seems pretty simple to me. PS Audio has decided that they are not a software company and clearly have been the champion of the I2S and have picked that path for this product.
The other requirement of Roon is that it is. I look at Roon as a another component. I built a NUC Rock for about 600. I bought lifetime for 700. We spend more on cables than that investment. People get so put off by the subscription, look at lifetime as part of the Roon component. Pretty simple way of trying to decide if you want that investment. Again, if you want free software, add $1400 to the cost of the Airlens and say that is the real cost as it requires roon. If that pushes you to the point of a G2, or Euphony or one of the other companies that has their own software no you are comping apples to apples.
As for this thread I agree with Al, if you are not interested then why post? Most of us have The DS DAC which mates up well with the Airlens. And most of DS DAC owners also have Roon. PS Audio is a hardware company. This is not their only game like Sonore and Euphony. If it was I am sure the end result would be much different.
4 Likes
No, that’s probably the only reason for you. For me, its absolutely brilliant. I have a pi2aes raspberry pi on my main system, a node 2i on my small system, and a couple sonos speakers elsewhere. I can control each of them with the same system, Roon. In addition it seamlessly presents my large local music coming from my NAS as well as my Qobuz favs all in the same place as one collection. In addition, it makes discovery of new music easier. In addition, it automagically fixes a lot of metadata issues with my local files, especially the classical.
Worth the price to me. Just not to you.
4 Likes
That’s likely true, especially since AirLens per Paul lacks a USB output, where USB input is often cited as the best-sounding input on many non-PSA DAC’s (or certainly better sounding as compared to RCA input on most non-PSA DACs, where RCA is the only non-i2S output of AirLens). And this synergy will probably be enough for most to overlook that AirLens is not a streamer (to the extent that may be important to some).
Agreed.
I still like to cherry pick favorite ripped or downloaded files for playback via JRMC (they sound a smidge better as compared to Roon, IME), but Roon is the superior music library management software.
My extensive library of stored tracks and my Qobuz and Tidal subscriptions are seemlessly made available at my fingertips with a great user interface.
Roon Radio is frosting on the cake and, as others have raved, a fantastic way to be exposed to and find new music.
Is it perfect software? No. But I agree with the “absolutely brilliant” descriptor.
If you do a lot of intranet and/or internet music streaming and have not yet given the software a trial run, give it a try.
I committed to the lifetime subscription many moons ago.
FYI/FWIW.
2 Likes
You can feed the bunnies till you get a pony.
2 Likes
Having a pony can interfere big time with the Hi-Fi budget. Unless that is, the household partner is more likely to allow a bigger Hi-Fi budget so long as they get their pony.
2 Likes
I am for one waiting for the release of the AirLens. I have recently added a Matrix to connect Auralic Mini that was sitting in a closet and I like what I hear. The Mini-Matrix gives increased resolution and slightly tighter bass compared to Bridge II. However, I hear pops with PCM-DSF transition and I suspect it’s the Auralic mini causing this. I looked at Innuos Zen/zenith but innuos cannot handle native DSD and I don’t need a another server. Summus endpoint is another option but it requires an external power supply not to mention that the company doesn’t have a specific return policy. AirLens will be customized for DSD l/ll via I2S without the need for a power supply. Sure there are cheaper options but this will be the simplest. I expect PSA will offer 30day trial on AirLens and if I don’t like it, I can return for a refund and look for something else.
IME, and I think this is a settled matter, the DS DAC is the culprit in this instance; and there are no plans to fix this.
(Assuming you are referring to what I think you are.)
As do i.
It works so well that my initial interest about the AirLens (or similar streamers/endpoints like the Lumin U2 Mini, etc…) has been severely tempered. Funny thing too, I’m kind of exhausted by this thread these days! 
But if you wind up getting an AirLens to replace (or compare with) the Pi2AES, i would really be interested to hear your thoughts.
2 Likes
I was afraid of this. So does everyone using a DDC to feed DS dac via I2S get popping sound during the PCM-DSF transition?
Just to be clear, AFAIK, a DDC in the signal chain has nothing to do with the phenomenon.
It is rooted in PCM-DSF file/format transition.
Regards.
Sure. Me too. Of course Qobuz will work though not directly as in you’ll need some way to choose what tracks you want to listen to. The choices there would be Roon, Audirvana, River or any such program that is network connected. As long as you can connect over a network (Ethernet or WIFI locally) then the AirLens will be perfect.
7 Likes
Will you be including Squeezelite as an option (alternative to Roon)? If so, Logitech Media Server has a Qobuz plug-in that works nicely using the iPeng control software (iPeng costs a few bucks but the rest is free since they are open source).
1 Like
I might be missing something here, but I am inclined to differ.
As long as AirLens is a true DNLA/standard networking (I think I got the acronym correct) device, there is no reason to expect it won’t work with the Qobuz (or Tidal) application.
I have subscriptions to both and their apps work just fine with the Bridge II. I never use them though because I prefer the Roon user interface which piggybacks seamlessly with these services.
@Paul, please correct me if I am mistaken.
Cheers.
2 Likes