What to buy....Auralic Aries, Sony Hap-ZES, or Auralic Altair?

Sony. Probably the best audio buy I'll ever make. Had mine for 2 yrs and runs, looks and sounds flawless. 

So one odd thing, despite Android phones dominating the market, many streamers, including Auralic, do not have Android control apps. That's a complete non-starter for me.

I'd have to go with a Rasberry Pi with Squeezebox emulation and fancy clock mods.

Best,

Erik

Thanks everone, there really are so many options, that is why I am trying to find out as much as I can...I don't want to make a mistake after I spend the $$. The Sonore does look very interesting. I am still going to do more investinging!

Given OP's budget and "great sound" as a criteria, even if you love the Aurelic Lightning DS app, you're not getting great sound vs. the Aries with LPS within his budget. The LPS makes a big difference. Mini is targeting a lower budget and includes a mediocre built-in dac so it can be used in lower cost rigs without a separate dac. 
The Bluesound and Sonos mentioned IMHE aren't at the level of the Sony or Aurelic Aries sonically. The Sonore is head and shoulders above all of them and it isn't close. I have interest except spreading the word on what is IMHO a real game changer in this category. Read the 2 big reviews by Computeraudiophile and Michael Lavorgna and watch the video review by Hanz Beekhuyzen. They all come to the same conclusion I did. That doesn't happen too often. Cheers,
Spencer

I have the Sony HAPZ1ES music player/server and am very happy with it.  It has everything you are looking for and I have never, ever had any software glitches.  This is one piece of equipment I will be keeping for a long time.

Auralic Mini is IOS only.  The Mini has the ability to act as both a Streamer and a Server.

Others to consider are BlueSound or Play-Fi.  Play-Fi is available from many manufacturers including Martin-Logan, Paradigm, Polk, Definitive Technology, etc.  On the cheap, there's the Google Chromecast2 that supports up to 24/96.  

I have 3 Play-Fi devices: One built into a Receiver, one built into a Processor and a stand along Definitive Technology unit.  The Play-Fi app is very simple and easy to use like the Sonos used to be.  

I have five Squeezeboxes: 2 Touch, 1 SB2 and two SB-Booms.  I use SqueezeCommander to control them and have a dedicated Gigabyte Brix music server.  

I have 2 Sonos units: Connect:amp and Play5.  The sonos App used to be soo simple but has become "crowded" as no features and services have been added. Also, don't waste your time trying to get the units to work on your wifi; very unreliable.  Buy a Boost and hang it off your Router.

I have two Google ChromeCast2's.  I use one to Cast in the Master Bedroom and for occasional music.  I use the other in the Garage plugged into a Denon table radio.  Real easy to use and it will also run off off any USB battery.

I've been wanting to get my hands on a Buesound unit.  They support up to 32/192, have lots of input and output options, and can be controlled by IR.

Off all the units I have, I listen to my heavily modified SB2 and SB Touches the most.  The Play-Fi devices are my second choice. 

Some one on audiogon is selling NOS Squeezebox players for a song. :)

same as Johnd, went from dedicated laptop to Aries mini and haven't had any issues at all

I just went from a Sonos Connect to an Auralic Aries Mini and really like it, the Lightning DS app is a pleasure to use and it sounds better than my Sonos. But the biggest difference to me is the Aries can run on the 5ghz band, the Sonos was stuck on 2.4ghz and that band is just to crowded where I live. Since switching to the Aries, about a month ago, I have not had a single dropout. With Sonos I had them daily. Very highly recommended.

Check out the Sonore microRendu reviews on computeraudiophile and stereophile.com It sounds amazing, is easy to use and very flexible to system setups & preferences. It is a real bargain and game changer in many ways IMHO. Cheers,
Spencer