I am looking into buying AirLens, running Roon on an older (2017) MacBook Pro. I also have on my home network a pretty new Mac Mini. Everyone talks about doing a separate NAS server, but could Roon see the external drives connected to either of the Macs? I know I would have to enable File Sharing in my Mac OS, but would there be any downsides to doing it this way? I realize that an isolated NAS server might perform faster, but my library tops out at 96/24 for audio, so I’m thinking that would be plenty fast enough when AirLens pulls it through to the DAC. AirLens doesn’t care if it’s all ethernet, right? The external drive is USB-3, but I could go to a Thunderbolt drive if that might be smart. There wouldn’t be any noise issues, right, since the AirLens gets rid of it if it’s there? Thoughts?
Consider that every device, especially digital ones, contribute distortion to your source signal. Bits aren’t just bits…
If you were not in Roon, I’d say keep your files as close to (or in) the streamer as possible.
Everything in your chain should be noise-free (to the max).
Please, also refer to forum topics like the Grimm MU2, EtherRegen and high quality Ethernet cables to at least be surprised how much these high quality solutions benefit your/others user experience. Hopefully this way, you can make an informed decision on overall quality, involved devices plus cabling, impacting of course cost.
You can get your digital right, but expect the next rabbit hole doing the required investigations if you want to learn going along the way. Others in this forum have gone before you, so you could circumvent some pitfalls. 
Trying to learn more about AirLens and digital signal degradation/distortion.
Isn’t the purpose/benefit of using an AirLens to filter out ethernet noise? So how much does the ethernet interface matter when using the AirLens which uses galvanic isolation to keep network noise at bay?
My digital streaming chain is as follows:
- DSD and FLAC files stored on a home server NAS
- Ethernet is hardwired using common RJ45 cables and routers
- Roon server is a 2012 Mac mini modified with the DC-Conversion / Linear Fan Controller Kit from Uptone Audio powered by an HDPlex liner power supply
- The USB out from the Mac mini is fed to a Matrix Audio X-SPDIF 2 USB Interface
- converted to I2S and inputted to DSD MKII
So an upgrade to AirLens in my system would replace the Martix X-SPDIF 2
Questions
- In my current digital streaming chain is it likely that my standard network cables and routers introduce noise?
- If an AirLens replaced the Martix X-SPDIF 2 and I used the same wired network is noise still an equal factor?
Hi Tom, it appears to me that you have done (a lot better) what I’ve tried to do - clean up the Mac and its connections. I’m taking the leap to the AirLens to hopefully avoid all that. As I understand it, as long as you can get clean data to the AirLens, it passes it along to the DAC as the DAC really appreciates, no noise and the bits and bytes re-clocked and all that stuff I don’t understand a word of.
So all the Mac and Roon are doing is making sure the data gets to the AirLens. My question is whether Roon instructing the data to come from a separate NAS server would be any different or better than Roon instructing the data to come from an external drive hanging off the Mac. Something tells me there would be more hardware involved in the Mac-drive scenario, but as you said, " Isn’t the purpose/benefit of using an AirLens to filter out ethernet noise? So how much does the ethernet interface matter when using the AirLens which uses galvanic isolation to keep network noise at bay?"
Hi,
Per my anecdotal experience, within the context of the AirLens, DS-DAC MK2, and Amazon-purchased Ethernet cables, there was no audible difference when I shifted from Roon running on a MacBook Pro with an external hard-drive to the Roon Nucleus One server with an external hard-drive connected to it. In terms of file-size, no issues encountered, including up to DSD256. The external hard-drive was connected via USB.
Overall, the audio system is very revealing of any component/cables changes, consisting of Pass-Labs components and FR30 speakers.
My interpretation highlighted the AirLens’ notable degree of galvanic isolation in filtering noise.
I hope this helps.
Take care,
Guy
I run my setup in way you basically described. I use Roon with a 4TB SSD drive connected to a new Mac mini. That is connected to the AirLens. It runs and sounds great without any noise issues.