AURALiC VEGA S1 Streaming DAC

AURALiC VEGA S1 Streaming DAC

Overview 

AURALiC’s S1 series products are crafted to deliver unparalleled sound quality within their price range. Drawing inspiration from the esteemed G2.2 reference products, these machines inherit premium audio technologies that set new standards in the industry.

Powered by the cutting-edge Tesla G3 streaming platform, the S1 series leverages AURALiC’s innovative Direct Memory Access (DMA) and Direct Data Recording (DDR) technologies. By seamlessly recording incoming audio data into the Tesla G3's system memory and transmitting it directly to the low-level audio hardware. With the inclusion of Dual 60fs Femto Clocks and Galvanic Isolation, the S1 series achieves an unprecedented level of noise reduction. 

The meticulous attention to detail in the S1 series ensures that clock jitter and signal distortion are minimized to an extraordinary degree. The result is a remarkably smooth and natural sound character that faithfully reproduces the nuances of the original audio, providing an immersive listening experience that captivates the senses. 

AURALiC S1 offers a seamless streaming experience via Ethernet using its proprietary Lightning DS software, Apple AirPlay 2, TIDAL Connect, Spotify Connect, Internet Radio, and a variety of digital input channels including USB audio, Coaxial, and Toslink. AURALiC’s Lightning DS seamlessly integrates popular streaming services like Amazon Music Unlimited, TIDAL, Qobuz, TuneIn, KKbox and more. Additionally, S1 can play music stored on NAS drive, USB drive and CD drive. The S1 will be Roon Ready upon completion of Roon certification.

VEGA S1 - Streaming DAC

The VEGA S1 represents the pinnacle of AURALiC's state-of-the-art DAC technology, showcasing excellence in both hardware and software realms. At its core lies AURALiC's proprietary Fusion DAC, a groundbreaking innovation that seamlessly integrates the finest elements of discrete ladder and Delta-Sigma DAC designs. 

In addition to this advanced DAC technology, the VEGA S1 incorporates Analog Volume Control and Analog Preamplifier features derived from the acclaimed VEGA G2.2, ensuring a listening experience characterized by unmatched detail and precision. 

Breaking new ground, AURALiC introduces two pioneering technologies in the VEGA S1: PureDAC mode and Tone Mode adjustment. PureDAC mode empowers the VEGA S1 to disable all streaming and network-related functions, dedicating all resources to digital signal processing and conversion tasks. In this mode, the VEGA S1 utilizes Direct Data Recording technology to store music signals from any digital or USB input in the past hour to Tesla G3’s system memory, allowing users to replay music from any point at any time. 

Furthermore, the Tone Mode adjustment refines the output sound character of the DAC by incorporating harmonic elements into the music signal, based on a model rooted in auditory psychology. This innovative feature enhances the listening experience, elevating the VEGA S1 to new heights of audio excellence and musical enjoyment.

Lightning OS V10 - Ever Powerful Streaming

AURALiC's celebrated Lightning Streaming platform commemorates its 10th anniversary with the much-anticipated release of version 10.0 firmware. This milestone update brings new features like PureDAC mode, Tone Mode to enhance sound sound quality. Lightning OS V10 will be available through Over-The-Air updates for compatible products by the end of April 24, marking a significant leap forward in audio performance and functionality for AURALiC users worldwide.

CD Playback and Ripping

• Still have some love for your old CDs? Not to worry; you can plug a generic USB CD drive into your VEGA S1 then choose to play a CD, rip a CD while playing, or just rip. As with AURALiC’s Lightning file streaming, our unique CD playback feature uses the same advanced, jitter-reducing Memory Playback technology. CD data is first read, and compared several times for accuracy into the system cache before playing. The result is elimination of potentially induced jitter from the transport, canceling any negative effects from the quality of your chosen CD drive, potentially improving performance beyond what’s offered from competitors’ CD players.

Tone Mode Adjustment

• Tone Mode adjustment refines the output sound character of the DAC by incorporating harmonic elements into the music signal, based on a model rooted in auditory psychology. This innovative feature enhances the listening experience, elevating the VEGA S1 to new heights of audio excellence and musical enjoyment.

Dual 60fs Femto Clock

• With a dedicated, low-noise 0.8uV power supply to minimize phase noise and keep it as quiet as it is accurate, our 60 Femto Master Clock is amazingly precise for less jitter, and immaculate sound. Its 60 femtosecond cycles — that’s 60 quadrillionths of a second — set a new standard for signal timing. Temperature-regulated for consistent performance, this clock is always there to keep things rock-steady.

Galvanic Isolation

• One of the VEGA S1’s high-speed galvanic isolators lies between the Tesla processing platform and its highly sensitive DAC circuitry. Data can flow across the isolator, even while it physically separates and shields the DAC from interference. The result is a whopping 80% reduction in noise levels compared to the original VEGA DAC.

Tone & Filter Mode

• Flexible Filter Mode gives you a nuanced level of control over your audio output. Its various modes were developed using a combination of objective data models and subjective testing, with each mode offering a unique array of filters to match the sonic quality of the source. Tone Mode adjustment refines the output sound character of the DAC by incorporating harmonic elements into the music signal, based on a model rooted in auditory psychology.

ORFEO Class-A Module

• Inspired by classic analog circuit designs, ORFEO is capable of driving an array of loads to match the characteristics of a variety of amplifiers. Using small signal components with excellent linear qualities, thermally balanced and biased into Class-A, ORFEO has the power to drive loads as low as 600 ohms while keeping noise low — open loop distortion comes in at less than 0.001%.

Smart-IR Control

• Smart-IR Remote Control lets your AURALiC device map its functionality onto any remote you’d like. Just let the device know which remote you prefer, and all of its operations (play/pause, volume control, track select, etc.) can be assigned to buttons just the way you like them.

Dual Purer-Power

• The Purer-Power linear power supply reduces DC current noise by as much as 90dB with its power purification module. Using a specially designed transformer and unique wiring that minimizes vibration, noise from Purer-Power is kept below 1uV across the audible spectrum, leaving you to discover the details in your music, down to the last bit.

Benchmark

• Frequency Response: 20 - 20KHz, +/- 0.1dB*
• THD+N: < 0.00012% (XLR); < 0.00015% (RCA), 20Hz-20KHz at 0dBFS
• Dynamic Range: 130dB (XLR), 20Hz-20KHz, A-weighted

Streaming File Format

• Lossless: AIFF, ALAC, APE, DIFF, DSF, FLAC, OGG, WAV and WV
• Lossy: AAC, MP3 and WMA

Sampling Rate

• PCM: 44.1KHz to 384KHz in 32Bit**
• DSD: DSD64(2.8224MHz), DSD128(5.6448MHz), DSD256(11.2896MHz), DSD512(22.57892MHz)***

Control Software

• AURALiC Lightning DS for iOS
• AURALiC Lightning DS for web browser (device setting only)
• OpenHome compatible control software (BubbleUPnP, Kazoo)
• Roon (Roon Core required separately)

Audio Inputs

• Digital Inputs: Coaxial, Toslink (2), USB Audio
• Streaming Inputs: Network shared folder, USB Storage, USB CD Drive, UPnP/DLNA Media Server, Amazon Music Unlimited, HighResAudio, KKBOX, Qobuz Sublime+, Netease Music, TIDAL/TIDAL Connect, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, TuneIn, Internet Radio, Roon Ready

Audio Outputs

• Balanced: XLR (6V / 2V user selectable, output impedance 5ohm)
• Unbalanced: RCA (6V / 2V user selectable, output impedance 50ohm)

Network

• Wired: Gigabit Ethernet

Power Consumption

• Standby: <0.5W
• Sleep: <10W
• Playback: 30W at max.

Dimensions - W x D x H

• 20.7cm x 29cm x 8.5cm (8.1 x 11.4 x 3.3 in.)

Weight

• 4.0kg (8.8 lbs)

Product Finishing

• Anodized aluminum case in matte black

Contents

• AURALiC VEGA S1 Streaming DAC
• Power cord
• Quickstart Guide

UK Delivery

• FREE delivery via DPD Local By 12pm on orders to value over £300, including one hour delivery window service 'Predict & Follow My Parcel'.
• Royal Mail Special Delivery By 1pm costs between £5.00 - £10.00 on orders to value under £300, dependent on weight.
• Saturday or Sunday delivery available upon request for supplemental charge.

EU Delivery

• £25 delivery charge 'Flat Fee' via DHL Europe by Road service (5-7 days) which provides comprehensive tracking of shipments online.
• £50 delivery charge 'Flat Fee' via DHL Europe by Air service  (2-3 days) which provides comprehensive tracking of shipments online.
  Receiver is responsible for the payment of local Duties and Taxes.

USA & Canada Delivery

• Services based on your order being shipped to the U.S. and Canada are calculated as follows:
  £100 delivery charge 'Flat Fee' via DHL international 'Day Definite' service per parcel.
  Receiver is responsible for the payment of local Duties and Taxes.

Exceptions

• Not all products are available for order into Europe, USA & Canada

WARRANTY

• Full manufacturer's warranty on all new purchases. Standard warranty is typically 12 months to 2 years with some goods coming with 6 years manufacturer's warranty.
• Goods purchased in UK and EU are covered by the Consumer Contracts Regulations.