Auralic G2.1 Digital Stack

T

tino27

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I currently use an Auralic Aries G1 streaming transport with a Bryston BDA-3 DAC and have been very impressed with the sound once I figured out quirky networking peccadillos of the Aries G1. I am thinking of replacing this current stack with an all-Auralic one consisting of the Aries G2.1 + Vega G2.1 and was curious if anyone out there has had any experience with the pair, knowing there is also the Sirius upsampler and the Leo master clock should I decide on further upgrades in the future. There are plenty of reviews out there on the individual G2.1 products, but not much out there on the synergy between Aries + Vega when used together.

TIA!
 
You're going to hear a different sound character with the Vega G2.1 versus the BDA-3, so I think that will really be the primary consideration.
 
I have a three stack, Aries G2.1, Vega G2.1, Leo GX.1. Have to say its a very satisfying combo. Vega is rock solid as a DAC, great detail, very low noise floor, blackest of black quiet passages, beautiful inner detail and delineation between instruments, great soundstage.
Got the Aries after the Vega, made an incremental positive difference (as the Vega already has streaming capability. Leo made a large difference on some music, less so on others.

Just for reference, I serve local hirez files from a NAS as well as stream from Qobuz. Have also been feeding the analog input from a t/t. Don't subscribe to or like any other streaming services. Generally use Auralic Lightning DS software on the iPad to control things, this is very good. Also subscribe to Roon, but rarely use it, LDS seems to give marginally better quality.

Hope this helps
 
mjs said:
I have a three stack, Aries G2.1, Vega G2.1, Leo GX.1. Have to say its a very satisfying combo. Vega is rock solid as a DAC, great detail, very low noise floor, blackest of black quiet passages, beautiful inner detail and delineation between instruments, great soundstage.
Got the Aries after the Vega, made an incremental positive difference (as the Vega already has streaming capability. Leo made a large difference on some music, less so on others.

Just for reference, I serve local hirez files from a NAS as well as stream from Qobuz. Have also been feeding the analog input from a t/t. Don't subscribe to or like any other streaming services. Generally use Auralic Lightning DS software on the iPad to control things, this is very good. Also subscribe to Roon, but rarely use it, LDS seems to give marginally better quality.

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

mjs --

Thanks for the response! That does indeed help. While I have your attention, have you ever tried feeding SACD / DSD (as DoP64) into either the Toslink/Coax inputs of your Vega? I ask because this is explicitly stated in the literature to work on the Sirius, but there is no mention of this feature being supported on the Vega. I've asked on the Auralic support forums, but haven't gotten much in terms of a response yet.

Final question concerns Lightning Link. I know that the G2.1 series come with an HDMI cable used for their Lightning Link technology.

A. Is it just a regular old HDMI cable?
B. Can I use any HDMI cable in its place?

Thanks!
 
No, I have never tried feeding SACD/DSD (DoP64) into the Toslink/Coax inputs after splitting. I have seen your post on the Auralic support forum. Really not sure if this would work, I guess one could try, I might be able to do this over the weekend as I have an Oppo BDP95 and a (cheap) HDMI splitter providing Toslink audio.

I understand that the HDMI cable provided by Auralic for LL connection is a relatively standard cable. You can use any HDMI cable provided it is reasonable quality, I happen to use RuiPro 8K copper HDMI cables, not hugely expensive but test well. You can pay drug money for HDMI cables of course (or any cables for that matter). Return on such investment is questionable.
 
mjs said:
No, I have never tried feeding SACD/DSD (DoP64) into the Toslink/Coax inputs after splitting. I have seen your post on the Auralic support forum. Really not sure if this would work, I guess one could try, I might be able to do this over the weekend as I have an Oppo BDP95 and a (cheap) HDMI splitter providing Toslink audio.
Click to expand...

That would be awesome if you could take the time to try it out. Sadly, this would rule the Vega out for me if not supported.
 
tino27 said:
That would be awesome if you could take the time to try it out. Sadly, this would rule the Vega out for me if not supported.
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Well, just partial success I'm afraid. I have a splitter that is at least four years old and I am not sure of the specs. Also don't have my Oppo hooked up to a TV, so its hard to check the menu settings. Anyway, playing an Allman Bros SACD. Display says HDMI out, PCM Multichannel, going via HDMI to a splitter with Toslink out. Vega G2.1 picks up the signal and plays, but the display says 44.1, sounds ok.

I suspect the splitter is only capable of outputting 44.1 PCM, I know more recent ones have higher specs. I guess the good thing is at least I got something to the Vega and it recognised it.

cheers, Malcolm
 
Just an added 2 cents

I first purchased an Aries G2 from a dealer used and it did not function correctly , he gladly took it back and I went to an excellently priced demo unit of the Aries G2.1. It made an incremental improvement sonically and a large improvement with options my server (Innuos Zenith III) doesn’t have. It was originally hooked into a Metrum Pavane level 3 dac and it was great. I took a flyer when the dealer had a Vega G2.1 demo come up for sale and bought it.
I can honestly say with this Auralic stuff the sum is much greater (better) than it’s accumulated parts . The combo is sonically a force.

My Clayton monos are just on the dark side of neutral and the Auralic pairing is just a bit on the lit up side of neutral to come together and make some fantastic music.

I really like this combo and feel like I will likely bring the Leo clock into the mix before long
 
Also

I upgraded the HDMI cable from stock to the AudioQuest Dragon .75 metre long between my Aries G2.1 and Vega G2.1. It’s an improvement albeit an expensive incremental one.
The quantifiable sonic additive is soundstage depth increases a lot. Not much else in the mix changes.
 
tino27 said:
Darn! Well, thanks for taking the time to give it a try, Malcolm ...
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@tino27
Just noticed your equipment sig, see you have Pass Labs. I have a pair of X260.8's being delivered on Monday and an XP22 coming in about four weeks. I'm looking forward to hearing the result.
cheers, Malcolm
 
ADCO said:
Just an added 2 cents
I can honestly say with this Auralic stuff the sum is much greater (better) than it’s accumulated parts . The combo is sonically a force.

I really like this combo and feel like I will likely bring the Leo clock into the mix before long
Click to expand...

Yes, the synergy is evident. I think the general consensus is that the Leo provides more benefit for hi-res files and the Sirius more benefits Redbook level files.

By the way, I haven't yet gone the AudioQuest route for HDMI LL interconnects, I am using Ruipro 8K Copper HDMI interconnects, they seem well regarded and very good value. Sound outcome is very good, albeit that it's only ever going to be incremental if that.
 
mjs said:
@tino27
Just noticed your equipment sig, see you have Pass Labs. I have a pair of X260.8's being delivered on Monday and an XP22 coming in about four weeks. I'm looking forward to hearing the result.
cheers, Malcolm
Click to expand...

Malcolm -- Yes, I do have the 250/22 combo ... and what a combo it is! Power, finesse, musicality -- and I'm using them to drive relatively insensitive speakers (87db/1W/4 ohms minimum). The amp continues to impress me with its power reserves. Plus, unless I'm listening to music full-on, most times I'm drawing so little wattage that the amp will continue to operate in class A.

Hope you love your new combo, too!
 
tino27 said:
Malcolm -- Yes, I do have the 250/22 combo ... and what a combo it is! Power, finesse, musicality -- and I'm using them to drive relatively insensitive speakers (87db/1W/4 ohms minimum). The amp continues to impress me with its power reserves. Plus, unless I'm listening to music full-on, most times I'm drawing so little wattage that the amp will continue to operate in class A.

Hope you love your new combo, too!
Click to expand...
Thanks, I’m driving Magnepan 3.7i’s, I’m sure it will be a good match
 
I would personally buy dCS Bartok. A friend of mine has sold his complete Auralic stack (incl the Leo clock) and bought the Bartok - could not be happier.

MSB Discrete is another solid choice, but with a bit different (warmer) sonic perspective.
 
Elberoth said:
I would personally buy dCS Bartok. A friend of mine has sold his complete Auralic stack (incl the Leo clock) and bought the Bartok - could not be happier.

MSB Discrete is another solid choice, but with a bit different (warmer) sonic perspective.
Click to expand...

I have actually sold my Leo GX.1 and about to sell the Vega G2.1 Now looking at replacing with a Mola Mola Tambaqui. dcs Bartok undoubtedly good, but probably a few too many $$$
 
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