Auralic Aries G1 with Qutest, SN2 and HiCap

Streaming Audio
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Just got a hold of a Wireworld Supernova 7 glass optical cable to compare it to the QED Performance (plastic). I wasn’t expecting much difference as I felt that optical were pretty much the same… it would appear I was wrong.

The sound is fuller in the the lower end but without making it feel muddy… in fact, it seems like a big improvement in clarity. Normally if I was to hear more detail with a BNC cable, it would often mean extra noise getting in and I was hearing was false detail. The soundstage and imaging is improved, more depth… maybe slightly narrower but definitely more depth and height. Notes, instruments seem to have a more distinct edge to them and better resonance, timbre. Very realistic sound, natural with impressive clarity and detail.

Now for the bad/negative side. The cable is noticeably more heavy, thicker (compared to the QED) and if the cable hangs straight down from the back of the Chord Qutest, it pulls the plug out of alignment. There seems to be more play with the plug even after it’s pushed right in. The plug in the Auralic Aries G1 is more anchored but still has a bit of movement. This had no affect right until I reached 24/192 where you would get dropouts or, no sound at all.

After a quick call to the tech guys at the place I bought it from, they advised it isn’t uncommon but it can be resolved by simply moving the device further onto the shelf and provide some support to the back of the cable.

I had some kayak foam that can be easily shaped so I made a little block with a V shape cut out in it to grip the cable and hold it straight… bingo, problem solved. I guess it wouldn’t a problem at all if more of the cable was support by the shelf but a little bit of support resolved it.

Is it worth the effort? Definitely, I did not want to send this cable back, it really was a superb finishing touch to my system.

The Aries G1 is now mine. It turns out the demo unit was only 10 days old… an order that didn’t go through. So, 1st registered keeper, full warranty and a couple of hundred saved off the RRP. Very happy. Loving the extra control, screen and being able to use the Naim remote to control it and of course, amazing sound quality. Happy days!

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I’ve had the Stack Audio Link for about 9 months. It’s paired with a Chord Qutest DAC and for me is a significant step up from the ND5XS I had previously. The blurb says it does nothing but move an unadulterated signal from the source to the DAC and based on my experience I concur.

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An update:-
I have tested the Atom pre-amp out into my main system (matched non-Naim pre-amp and power-amp) and it is foot-tappingly good in terms of ‘PRaT’ although the SQ in terms of detailed accuracy isn’t there compared to a higher-end streamer playing via the TT2 - as per many reviews.

So the Atom is ideal for daytime listening (and dad-dancing!) along with the Qb2 on Naim Multiroom or roon, delivering sound through my small house. The Atom would not be amiss as a main system in it’s own right, especially paired with a Powerline and a power amp.

THEN:-

I have been analysing my sound quality issues with the DigiOne Sig playing roon, using RopieeXL into the TT2; from previous and current sources I am more than content with the TT2. I have an Ortofon 2MBlack and Graham Slee phono stage on my Thorens as an analogue comparator (excellent on older albums mastered for analogue).

I compared on the Atom playing roon vs the same music processed via Asset as a UPnP server - running from the same NUC and storage - and this seemed ‘better’, and I obtained a further step up just connecting the same (Samsung 850) SSD and a USB stick directly into the Atom.

So I decided to try dropping roon/RopieeXL from the DigiOne, and I installed & configured Mo0de instead as a ‘non-roon’ player. This was a bit of a faff, but doing some RT*M on the setup guide, and a reboot on the Pi/DigiOne got me ‘there’. The process of downloading the software and burning it to a reformatted SD card, using Balena Etcher, is common to all RPi ‘builds’.

I moved the SSD and a USB stick with HiRes to the RPi and rebuilt the music database (MPD) in Moode. To access & play Qobuz I have had to open up MConnectHD (BubbleUPNP and Linn Kazoo are alternatives) on my iPad to connect to Mo0de using UPnP.

The sound quality and dynamic result with Mo0de on the DigiOne Sig is excellent from directly attached storage and possibly even better from Qobuz. The evening’s testing has covered a sample of tracks from the Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, through Roxy Music’s Avalon, to Madrugada, to Eva Cassidy Sarah Mclachlan and Natalie Marchant - my own ‘Radio Paradise’ style playlist.

I feel I have ‘got my main system back’, since having to sell off my ND5 XS2, Melco N1ZH/2 and Mutec, thanks to Covid (I am back in work now, hence it is audio playtime again).

So, after 48 hours of actively considering alternatives such as the Meridian 210, the Stack Audio Link, back to the ND5 XS2, or even swapping in the TT2 for the proven NDX2, my wallet can now relax, for a while at least.

The next candidate for change is probably to get a dedicated NUC or equivalent to run roon (ROCK) as a dedicated device, rather than the general purpose and heavily used NUC on Win 10, ditch the USB storage, and reactivate my NAS - maybe an Innuous Zen Mini III will arrive from Santa in a few months time.

A long write-up, but since the forum has become like a village newspaper during these lockdown times, I thought I would write an article too !

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Thanks T-elmi, great write up.
I’m considering an R-Pi front end into a decent dac and this is helpful.

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Hi Toon artist. A couple of things make sure the Toslink cable snaps into place. Also the Wireworld ends actually rotate to make it easier to line them up

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Have you tried the Qutest with a PSU?

I am reliably told adding an Sbooster MkII plus there extra box (probably an LT3045 or similar) takes the performance up very nicely.

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Yeah, snapped right in. It’s just the actual weight of the cable hanging straight down pulls at the connection. I just moved the Qutest in a 3-4 inches and placed the foam support on the cable behind the plug and that sorted it out. Stopped the cable pulling on the plug.

I did have the iFi iPower 5v supply but returned it. I’m currently using a 20100mAh Power Bank from Anker. I have a couple of them for work. They sound a lot better than the power supplies and of course are completely isolated from mains electric noise. On Head-Fi, a lot of users commented that linear supplies added more noise into the DAC compared to the standard switching supply and a power bank which doesn’t add any noise.

That said, some people prefer the sound of the linear supplies as the added noise gives the impression of extra brightness, false detail. This is ok as it all depends on the balance of cables/gear to give the sound you like. That used to be me… but since moving over to optical, zero noise (power bank) and 3v input on the Qutest has really made a big difference. The noise floor has dropped massively, slight reduction in soundstage width but a big improvement to depth and height. Silences are inky black.

I’ve really enjoyed the experimenting over the last couple of months with new gear coming in… and going out… and more coming in :joy:

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I agree with this - with badly designed PSUs, SMPS or LPSU; BUT that is not my experience with SBoosters. By using the battery pack you have this angle covered …if the charging becomes a pain then you could try one.

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I have my system on at least 7hrs a day and I can comfortably get 2 days without charging… but, I just recharge it overnight at the end of each day. At some point, I will look for a power bank that can handle the DAC and possibly the M Scaler (thinking for the future). Seen a couple of 50,000 mHa supplies that have usb c fast charging…3-6 hours to fully recharge. Something like that would be good!

Edit… just to add. If anyone decides to use a power bank, use a separate cable from the DAC to the power bank and detach it from that cable to recharge it with another cable. Don’t keep unplugging / replugging the cable into the DAC as you run the risk of wearing out the contacts on the Micro USB socket on the DAC itself over time.

3 Likes
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I’ve got an sbooster powering a Qutest, which goes into the DIN analogue input of my 272. The Sbooster is an improvement over the standard Qutest PSU IMO – the main thing I found was that it sounds smoother. Not less dynamic, but a bit less “grainy” I suppose – in general things like brass are easier to listen to (sort of a bit less shouty) and I think sound more natural. Sboosters are well made using high quality parts and I think they are a worthwhile upgrade but they are a bit expensive! I have got an Allo USBridge Sig running Moode audio as my transport and I have another Sbooster powering that, so no SMPS in my stack. I could afford the Sboosters during lockdown as I have not been going out as much! There is also the Allo shanti (linear) and the new Nirvana (apparently very high quality SMPS), both of which are cheaper than the sbooster.

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I have just ordered one of those for my Allo USBridge Signature to replace a cheapy SMPS. I intended to buy a preloved LPS but I wasn’t lucky — so I went for the Nirvana. At a later stage I will compare that one to a good quality LPS. :smiley:

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Hi SJT,

Have you added the extra Sbooster MKII box on the end of the power cable? I am told it is another nice step up.

M

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I would be interested to hear opinions about the SQ contribution of the Nirvana. Based on the reading I have done about its development (on diyaudio) my guess is that it will be good.

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No I just have the sbooster, not the optional thing on the end of the cable. My sbooster is a MK II, just to be clear. There is a site called arts excellence that has a review which compares the sbooster with the optional box on the end of the cable to without. They are a dealer so make of that what you will.

Also there are MCRU Linear PSUs as well - I haven’t heard them but people on head fi seem to like them with the Qutest. They are cheaper than sbooster and look about the same quality.

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Absolutely – I will report my impressions. But I am coming from a cheapy SMPS – so it has to be uphill… :joy:

[If not, something might be seriously wrong with my hearing, and should probably sell off the expensive gear and get a couple of Arcam boxes…]

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And I’m looking forward to receiving it!

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