Auralic Aries Mini or Bluesound Node 2?


How do these two compare? I'm looking for something to use with Roon, Tidal and have the ability to add an external HD. I'll be using it with a Yamaha 1060 AVR (used as a preamp w/HT ability) with a Parasound A23 Halo powering my mains.

My Yamaha 1060 doesn't support Roon or Tidal AFAIK and to add an external drive I'd have to connect through the front USB port. I'd prefer something that has back panel USB unless there is some sort of USB->HDMI or coaxial converter that would work with good results.

Thanks for any input.
asahitoro

Showing 3 responses by ghosthouse

If Roon is important to you, forget the Aries Mini.  It streams Tidal just fine but Auralic went with their own software (DS Lightning) and the Mini is not "Roon-ready"...nor will it be, I don't believe.  I own a Mini.  Very happy with it.  Sound is great...noticeably better than when I played ALAC files from an external hard drive via Macbook Air.  Those same files on the same hard drive sound better with the Aries Mini (USB out to MF V-Link 192 to Gungnir DAC via DH Labs D-750 digital coax).  Plenty of people here do like the Bluesound Node 2.  If it's got the functionality you need, doubt you would be unhappy.  

Haha - I can blame jon for owning the Aries Mini :-)  He's the one that made me aware of it.  Audio Advisor was selling them at the time with a year of Tidal.  They have a 30 day return policy too, so no real risk there.  I think I agree with Jon recommending an outboard DAC.  I tried using the Mini with the internal DAC.  I didn't think it sounded that good.  Even outputting to the Gungnir, it was only when I put the V-Link USB/SPDIF converter in between that the sound quality took a big step forward. Not sure why that should be the case but it was and not in a subtle way.   Power supply is another variable you can obsess about.  Good luck.

(Underwood HiFi has the Aries Mini at a slight discount right now).


@asahitoro 
My advice is do one thing at a time.  Don't buy a V-Link or any other USB/SPDIF converter until you live with the Mini (or Bluesound Node) stock as it were.  Your reply post reminded me...yes, I had tried digital coax out of the Mini into the Gungnir first.  It just sounded kinda thin to me.  I had a hunch about trying things with the V-Link (my Gungnir was purchased withOUT a USB port; previously I used the V-Link between my MacBook and the Gungnir).  The V-Link turned the sound around...from disappointment to happy.  Not saying that'll be true for anyone else though I am pretty certain about what I heard.  Haven't looked back since.  Anyway, don't spend your money unless you have a connectivity issue or a performance problem you think a converter will fix.  Get it from some place (Audio Advisor, Music Direct that has a return option; the V-Link is no longer made by the way). Because I am a stubborn cheapskate about audio, I opted for an iFi iPower AC/DC converter.  It is still a switching supply but supposedly has a ton of filtering to make it quiet and prevent contaminating your AC circuits with noise (or so the dogma goes about the evils of switching power supplies).  Anyway, there's a lot of discussion on Computer Audiophile about the iFi wall wart.  ALSO - check out Audio Asylum, "Duster" has posted some good looking linear power supply stuff from China.  Another option for you.  
ONE FINAL THING - in the interest of full disclosure, my CDs were ripped as ALAC files into an iTunes library.  The Mini plays them fine and displays correct metadata for all (track sequencing, times, etc.) BUT for whatever reason, album art is hit or miss.  Some covers show.  Some don't.  Tidal is perfect.  Stuff streamed from there shows everything.  Just an issue with my iTunes ripped CDs.  Have fun.