streamer Lumin U1 or Aries G2.1

I just ordered the Aries G2.1 to go between my Nucleus and Tambaqui!

You heard it before? I red that G2.1 can sound HI-FI compare to Lumin.

Are u planing to upgrade power supplay?

I added an Acopian linear power supply ($140 on ebay) with a power supply board ($115) to my Bluesound Node 2i streamer ($430) and it sounds incredible for $685, total.

I’m not sure why I’d pay $2100 for the Lumin or $5700 for the Aries G2, but perhaps you have certain needs for higher rez outputs that I don’t have.

Some of the best audiophiles I know in my area (Denver/Front Range) use Raspberry Pi with linear power supplies. I like the interface and ease of the Bluesound, but wanted to upgrade the sound, and the advice of these folks was, basically, "spend good money on a DAC and make sure you have a linear powersupply for your streamer."

I have heard unmodded Aries G2.1 and it definitely enhances Nucleus.

I am also told modded with different power supply is another step up.  For now, I will see what the Aries can do for me, but I did get upgraded pc and usb cable.

Did not think I needed a separate streamer at all, but now that I have heard it....

@fastfreight 

I was told by the distributor of the Tambaqui that the Aries G2.1 is a better source than using its built in function.  I have compared my Aries to Lumin U1, Aurender (N100 which I owned), Node 2i (which I own in another system) and Simaudio’s Mind2 built into their 680 DAC and, to my ears (and the dealers showing the other gear), the Auralic was better. It’s a good unit.  I feel even more so than the DAC.

To the OP and others, I will note also that Auralic has taken a different approach to system building.  I originally purchased the Aries and used a nice USB cable into my DAC.  But, I started to explore upgrading DACs and ended up purchasing the Vega G2.1.  I originally connected them via USB but tried their stock lightning link connection which allows the units to share resources.  The Vega is a good DAC via USB.  However, It’s a very good DAC when connected to the Aries via LL. Or, is it that the Aries is a better streamer when connected to the DAC via LL?  I don’t know.  BTW - nice improvement was gained when trying better lightning link cables. Again - I was skeptical. Easily heard improvement. 

I recently purchased the Sirius upsampling processor and put it in system via LL.  I was skeptical having tried Roon upsampling and found it wanting. But, reviews were good on the Sirius.  Resources are again shared. It’s taken my digital front end up another level.  Auralic’s approach can lead you down the path of one manufacturer.  But, I have to say it really works well.  I have more invested in my front end than I even thought I would but having compared it directly to an even more expensive front ends, I find it to be good value.  

Yes - how you serve your DAC matters.  Greatly.

My $.02.

Have never heard the Aries but have a Lumin and love their soundstage.  Also,  Lumin has a great app. Good luck and keep us posted!!

USB sucks! It doesn't surprise me that another input sounded better. Not sure what people think they are going to get out of a dedicated music server over a nicely setup server running Roon? You should not have any server in your music room or you shouldn't use usb, so that relieves any pressure on getting a particular server that is more quiet or has a better usb setup. I used to use the AURALiC Aries years ago and that software (ds lightning) was far superior than any other music server at the time, both SQ and GUI. But when I decided to get a great dac with ethernet, then there was no need for the AURALiC and my system sounds better, easier to support and setup, and much simpler.

If you add external disks to any of these servers, how are you going to backup this disk? How about restoring this disk? How about replacing the internal drive? If you look at the user manual, there is no reference to any of these questions, but this is true for all proprietary music servers. I like AURALiC overall, but you can do the same functions with the same sq and the same or better functionality for a lot less and you have the right dac.

All the Lumin devices are surely outstanding. But -as noted earlier - even a well implemented Rpi with a dedicated hat board can render incredible results. Just kind of puts things in perspective. I’m running an Allo Digione with Volumio, with just an iFi switching adapter. Sounds pretty amazing. Of course, the OS can be a bit glitchy! But it’s also very fun to learn how to get into the OS to optimize/tweak the raspberry Pi to operate more quietly when steaming. And those added hacks really make a difference.

There’s also a guy doing insanely good design work on DDC’s with his company  Pi2 designs. He’s run out of parts for his very positively reviewed Pi2AES. But is about to roll out a new streamer that should be insanely good for the $$ Mercury Streamer

I’ve also heard a Lumin streamer before…and…wow…

But point being, if you want convenience and outstanding s/q, not entirely necessary to go too far past that $500 to $1k mark.

Why tidal?

I have an Auralic Aries G2.1 and it sounds great. I also have a LUMIN U1 mini that is currently sitting on the side lines. But may put it back in to compare. I have sold the Sonore UltraRendus that I used to own. 

Thank you all.

I am going with Aries G2.1 and will upgrade power suplly later..

I own the ARIES G2.1 and absolutely love it. The app is superb and the connection to wifi has never failed me, which was a big part of my streaming needs. It’s built like a tank, and does everything I need from it with no fuss, which again is a major part of what you want from a streamer. Very much a fit and forget product, other than how nice it is to look at.

I too was looking at the Vega G2.1 because of its superior connection to the ARIES, however the Chord TT2 is much better value and provides all the sound quality through USB, despite some peoples assertion it’s a terrible connection. Speak to any dealer, I speak to plenty, none of them state USB isn’t a good connection. 

If you have a link to the power supply upgrade I’m interested in that, I haven’t seen anything on it before.

In addition to the Lumin and Auralic products, also have a look at Matrix Audio's line.  The Matrix Element X and X Sabre Pro get excellent reviews (as Lumin products do). FWIW, the Element X measured a little better in ASR testing than the Auralic Vega. I don't know if ASR has tested Lumin products.  However, the Element X does use the more advanced ES9038PRO chip than the ES9028 chips used in the  $10K Lumin P1. I'd expect all these devices to sound good, so you might want to focus on price and the specific features that matter (or don't matter) to you.  Then there's the warranty plus after-purchase service/support.  

Gerrie- I agree, why Tidal?  Spending all that money to use an inferior streaming service when Qobuz is available almost everywhere.

Lumin U1 to Tambaqui via Synergistic Research Gallileo Sx USB each having SR  Gallileo SX power cords is fantastic. Soundstage is enormous and so so clear/detailed. I love this front end and you don't have yet another step using roon and buying more cables and tinkering with the whole outboard third party power supply. Sometimes it seem to me like it's being stated by some retailers " BUY MORE, BUY MORE AND BUY MORE" and you might be getting there... or then the goalposts just gets moved again. Don't forget to enjoy where your at.....

My 3 cents

If Tidal, my vote is for Lumin cause Auralic has some strange and unusual way to decode MQA. 

Hello,  So I received my Aries G2.1 and inserted it between my Nucleus and DAC, with ethernet input and usb out to my Tambaqui DAC.  I got very nice cables, KS realization power cord and usb. The rest of my cables are KS Elation.  But, I installed it with stock power cable and usb cable to see what I got. 

Super easy to set up, using it as Roon Endpoint.  

Wow.  my wife and i were immediately impressed.  Much richer and organic sounding.  More lifelike, more palpable if that makes sense.  Bottom line, it sounds better and to me is worth it.  Can't wait to try the nice cables to see where it goes...

If bits are bits my new bits sound better. :)

So my Aries G2.1 has settled in nicely with the new cables.  It definately sounds better going form Aries (network attached) to Tambaqui via USB than prior with my Tambaqui connected to the network.

@fastfreight How do you modify the power supply on the Auralic Aries G2.1?

I have a Tambaqui on order. Looking forward to seeing the differences in my system. 
 

Hi @kingbarbuda, I have not modded power supply.

Bill at GTT has told me about doing it with a Sean Jacobs power supply which needs to be hard wired inside the Aries.  Pricey but he says it is amazing.

Gerrie- I agree, why Tidal?  Spending all that money to use an inferior streaming service when Qobuz is available almost everywhere.

If one thought Tidal was bad UX, Qobuz takes the cake. The sound quality is OK - it's loud, not necessarily better. Tidal sends higher resolution, and has nearly 96% of Spotify's library now. Qobuz has about 50%. 

Even though you are responding to a 1-year-old thread I thought I would respond. I've had both Qobuz and Tidal off and on for a year now and just canceled Qobuz for the last time. Honestly despite what many are saying Qobuz does not sound better than Tidal to me. Also, many if not most of the music I listen to is only 44K CD Quality at Qobuz. I could care a less about the whole MQA discussion and just go on what sounds best to me. 

Yes. Go with what sounds best. It is interesting how some folks think Tidal sounds better and some think Qobuz sounds better. We don’t know if the entire sample of respondents are using DSP. Also don’t know anything about their systems. Perhaps one service can sound better than another on a particular rig and vice veraa. For me, Qobuz sounds better. For what I listen to, Qobuz’s library has never failed me. As for the streamers. I have a new Tambaqui that I am breaking in. I am using its streamer. But I also have an OpticalRendu and an Aries G2.1 and will compare at some point.