News from Auralic: With the Altair G2.1, the manufacturer is sending a multifunctional device into the race that combines streamer, preamplifier and D / A converter in one housing – even a phono input is on board.
Auralic Altair G2.1 technology
First a few words about connectivity: The Altair G2.1 can stream via LAN and WLAN, but also has two analog (high-level RCA and Phono-MM) and four digital (USB, Toslink, coaxial, AES / EBU) inputs on board as well as a USB port for storage media. On the output side, the device has a symmetrical (XLR) and an asymmetrical (Cinch) tap. And on the front there is also a headphone connection.
Particular attention has been paid to low distortion and noise: the pre-stage is implemented using an analog, passive resistor ladder design. The analog incoming signals remain analog during the entire process, there is no digital conversion.
A dual femtosecond clock generator should deliver precisely clocked signals with the least possible jitter. The Altair G2.1 can be controlled via Lightning DS (iOS) and other OpenHome-based control software and is also “Roon Ready”. High-resolution streaming services such as Qobuz and Tidal are already integrated, with more to follow.
Tidy interior with a powerful toroidal transformer: the Auralic Altair G2.1
The Altair G2.1 follows the box-in-a-box principle: a low-noise aluminum housing encloses a copper sub-housing, which is intended to protect the internal electronics from interference as well as possible. The sixfold sprung foot system does the rest to keep mechanical vibrations away.
The Altair G2.1 will be available from May 2021.
Price Auralic Altair G2.1: 4,999 euros
