Hi everyone, I just bought a second hand Auralic Aries Mini (with an iFi noise cancelling power supply) and have been comparing it to the Linn Majik DSi as a digital transport.
Both were wired to the dac via their coaxial outputs with identical cables. My cynical, long-suffering girlfriend and I tried a few different tracks - her listening blind. Each time we set both units to play the same song, one 5 seconds ahead of the other so we could hear the same section repeated on each.
It was a really close run thing, and took careful listening to establish the differences. I really wanted the Auralic to win as I was hoping for a bargain... but we both preferred the Linn.
The Aries Mini sounded colder - slightly more compressed and digital. The soundstage was smaller and less 3D. As my girlfriend put it, the sound projected less into the room. There was also less separation between instruments.
The Linn sounded warmer, more fluid, emotional, analogue and musical. There was greater tonal variation within notes. Each had a beginning, middle and end; where the Aries Mini gave a flatter, less nuanced rendition. The Linn was also more detailed, catching the gravel in Johnny Cash's throat, the resin on the bow of The Oscar Peterson Trio's bass, and greater emotion from the Berlin Philharmonic's violins.
This might be an odd metaphor, but if the Linn's sound was well used oak and leather, the Auralic's was steel, glass and concrete. Both have their place, but I've always preferred the lived-in look.
I plan to buy a linear power supply for the Aries Mini in a last ditch attempt to grab a bargain, but right now, our hearts are with the Linn.
I didn't really think anything upstream of a DAC would make a difference, but now I'm a believer.