Packets in, digital audio out.
The Auralic ARIES G1.1 Wireless Streaming Transporter has a seemingly simple job to do—accept data from your network over Ethernet or WiFi and convert it to digital audio, up to DSD512 and PCM 384, to send to your DAC of choice.
But the Roon Ready ARIES G1.1 has a few more tricks up its sleeve with up to 2TB of optional internal storage and the ability to rip and store CDs by attaching a USB CD drive to the G1.1’s HDD port around back.
Inside reside dual Femto clocks, dual Purer-Power linear power supplies, and Auralic’s G2 Tesla processing platform among other bits and bobs. You can control the G1.1 using Auralic’s (free) Lightning DS app, Roon, any OpenHome compatible control software and/or opt for the optional Auralic hand held remote.
I reviewed the Auralic ALTAIR G1 in 2021, so I’m curious to hear what the 1.1 has changed. According to the company, the main changes for the 1.1 series include support for AirPlay 2 and the high-mass base previously only found on their G2.1 series products.
Off the bat, I like the looks of the ARIES G1.1 better, the silver base adding a touch more visual interest. I look forward to firing up that 300ppi 4-inch true color in-plane switching display with some favorite albums. Stay tuned.
Auralic ARIES G1.1 Wireless Streaming Transporter
Price: $3249 | $3649 w/2TB of internal storage
Company Website: Auralic
Specifications
Streaming File Formats
Lossless: AIFF, ALAC, APE, DIFF, DSF, FLAC, OGG, WAV and WV
Lossy: AAC, MP3, MQA* and WMA
Sampling Rates
PCM: 44.1KHz to 384KHz in 32Bit**
DSD: DSD64(2.8224MHz), DSD128(5.6448MHz), DSD256(11.2896MHz), DSD512(22.57892MHz)***
Control Software
AURALiC Lightning DS for iOS
AURALiC Lightning DS for web browser (device settings only)
OpenHome compatible control software (BubbleUPnP, Kazoo)
Roon (Roon Core required separately)
Streaming Inputs
Network shared folder, USB Storage, USB CD Drive, Optional Internal Storage, UPnP/DLNA Media Server, Amazon Music Unlimited, HighResAudio, KKBOX, Qobuz Sublime+, NetEase Music, TIDAL Connect, Spotify Connect, Internet Radio, AirPlay 2, RoonReady, Bluetooth
Audio Outputs
Digital Outputs: AES/EBU, Coaxial, Toslink
USB Output: USB Host to compatible DAC ****
Network
Wired: Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n/ac Tri-Band WiFi
Power Consumption
Sleep: <10W
Playback: 50W at max.
Dimensions – W x D x H
13.4 x 12.6 x 3.2 in. (34cm x 32cm x 8cm)
Weight
16.3 lbs (7.4kg)
Product Finishing
Anodized aluminum case in matte black
Contents
AURALiC ARIES G1.1 Wireless Streaming Transporter
2*External WiFi antenna (2pcs)
Power cord
User’s guide
* AURALiC streaming devices can act as a passthrough for unaltered MQA files to a customer’s own MQA-certified DAC for downstream processing.
** 352.8KS/s and 384KS/s and 32bit are supported through USB Output only
*** By ‘DoP V1.1’ or native DSD protocol
**** ‘Compatible DAC’ means a DAC not requiring a driver for Linux system