Erik, I now have the Aries and it is very good. This was a surprise for me....

agear August 28, 2014 23:55

Any update? How is the Devialet working for you?

jaxwired August 28, 2014 17:55

Very kool. Keep us posted. From a design and engineering standpoint, that stuff is spectacular.

agear August 12, 2014 12:22

We'll I've sold both my Ayon amp and the Directstream waiting on the funds from the Ayon sale, and plan on getting the Devialet in a week or so. I'm going to go put a deposit on one today and listen a bit too.

erikminer August 12, 2014 11:22

Great point Erikminer...thats why I am reluctant to say a component is better than another. This whole hobby is so subjective its impossible to say. Now all kidding aside, I agree with you about just enjoying the music. I have slowed down my component swapping and tweaking. I know just do little things that I find interesting. The goal isnt to reach some holy grail but rather just have fun. I tweak (not twerk) because its interesting instead of for some pursuit of an unreachable goal.

I will be very interested to hear your thoughts on the Devialet.

tboooe August 08, 2014 17:00

I've been an audiophile for years..But I grow tired of the tweaking.. Frankly I want to just listen to music.. If I can't get the built into the Devialet AIR streamer to do what I want I'll get an Aries.

Also as a audiophile I also like to just try different stuff every so often.. If the Devialet sucks I'll move on, and as an audiophile I'd rather try new gear than endlessly tweak.. I find that for me that everything changes the sound but that it's frequently not better, just different...

erikminer August 08, 2014 16:49

Erikminer, have you auditioned the Devialet? What happened to the Aries?

And I am with Mattmiller, a big part of being an audiophile is constantly tweaking! Thats how I am with my DIY music server PC. I keep playing with OS, power supplies, usb cards, internal wiring, etc. Its fun!

tboooe August 08, 2014 15:12

08-06-14: Erikminer
Well I do have a bit of an update.. I am VERY strongly considering a move to a Devialet 200! If I do and I'm about 95% that I will, then I'll have no need of the Aries..

I really like the idea of no tweaking.. no more software updates to the Dac no more tube rolling, just a nice killer super simple system.. I'm hoping that it will lead to just listening to more music and listening to less hifi :-)

Very interesting. I agree with your sentiments and have thought about the Devaliet when it first came out. I used a French Wifi streamer for many years and it was very good. Is the current iteration of the Devaliet still resolution limited? No DSD, etc?

agear August 08, 2014 13:46

O and I love your system btw. Great job, Ill bet it sounds awesome too.

mattmiller August 08, 2014 03:33

Don't do it !!!! you will get tired quick of nothing to do....you have to keep changing and tweaking otherwise you grow stagnant...it happened to me. I though like you...Simple. NOW, I spin vinyl and I'm so busy :-) LOL.

mattmiller August 08, 2014 03:32

Well I do have a bit of an update.. I am VERY strongly considering a move to a Devialet 200! If I do and I'm about 95% that I will, then I'll have no need of the Aries..

I really like the idea of no tweaking.. no more software updates to the Dac no more tube rolling, just a nice killer super simple system.. I'm hoping that it will lead to just listening to more music and listening to less hifi :-)

erikminer August 06, 2014 21:32

Updates on Aries?

agear August 04, 2014 18:57

Not that the Sistrum is ugly, but not aesthetically pleasing to me :-) Of the all metal racks I like the Symposium, and Grand Prix audio racks.. but again I wanted an all wood rack.. loved the old Zoesthus and Ricks Rax too.

erikminer July 08, 2014 18:23

Nothing beats "dialed in"! :^)

Lovely setup. Enjoy!

mapman July 08, 2014 14:08

Fair enough. I don't think the Sistrum stuff is ugly, but I also have a dedicated room.

agear July 08, 2014 11:24

I got the Box rack for two reasons. First it's all wood and it's beautiful! Second it's supposed to sound great.

The sistrum is in my opinion not all that attractive. A silver metal rack in my room would look weird.. I'll be honest I don't care how good it might sound it just doesn't do it for me aesthetically, and that may be audio heresey but I gotta look at it :-)

I like the Finite Element racks but they are really expensive even more than the $3200. Box rack and I didn't like the silver aluminum side pieces.

erikminer July 08, 2014 04:40

Hmm. How much did you spend. Why not Sistrum?

agear July 07, 2014 20:40

@Agear.. I was supposed to get it like this week, I'd put my name on the list when it was first announced.. In the mean time I pulled the trigger on a Box Furniture Rack (ouch) so as soon as I recover from that expenditure I'll get an Aries..

erikminer July 07, 2014 20:20

Erikminer, very well put together system. I am also considering the Auralic Aries or building a CAPS server. Right now I am using an old Atom based PC I had laying around connected to a linear power supply with great results. The PC replaced my Sonos ZP 90. One thing about the Aries I am not sure about is whether it's interface will allow me do some of the things that full blown media management software like JRiver MediaCenter allows like song ratings, smart playlists, etc. That being said the Aries is definitely on my list of alternatives to bullding a CAPS.

tboooe July 06, 2014 14:37

Erik, when are you slated to receive your Aries?

agear July 06, 2014 11:35

Thanks Jaxwired.. I really like your system too, room looks great..and love the acoustic panels!

And Rhanson739 your wait for the DS will be worth it.. just give it lots of burn in.

erikminer June 10, 2014 16:07

Nice. I have to wait until July for my PSA DS to replace a PWD II. Glad to know you're enjoying your new DAC.

rhanson739 June 07, 2014 12:35

Like your speaker choice. Superb.

jaxwired June 07, 2014 03:26

Thanks for the kind words.

Rgbeach.. It's actually not a Faux plant but a weird dried thing my wife found out in the woods!

Metralla.. The DS is amazing, yes just Redbook right now, waiting on my Auralic Aries.

And I just ordered a Box Furniture rack to replace the Quadraspire.. should have it in a couple of weeks..

erikminer June 06, 2014 20:45

How do you like the PS Audio DirectStream? Are you just sending it Redbook rips?

Regards,

metralla June 04, 2014 04:21