Стримеры — AURALiC VEGA G2.2

The VEGA G2.2 from AURALiC is a streaming DAC and digital preamplifier that was unveiled at the 2023 Munich High End Show as the successor to the VEGA G2.1 of 2020. It combines a network player, a converter, a line stage and a headphone stage in one box, and it runs on the company's Tesla G3 streaming platform.

Key specs that matter

The unit decodes PCM from 44.1 kHz to 384 kHz at 32 bit and DSD from DSD64 up to DSD512. File support covers FLAC, WAV, ALAC, APE, AIFF, OGG, DSF and DIFF, plus lossy MP3, AAC and WMA. AURALiC quotes a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 0.1 dB, THD+N below 0.00012% on the XLR outputs and below 0.00015% on RCA, and a dynamic range of 130 dB A-weighted via XLR. Digital inputs are Lightning Link, AES/EBU, coaxial, Toslink, USB and HDMI eARC, and a single analogue RCA input offers a theater bypass. Each output pair, XLR and RCA, can be set to 6 V or 2 V, the XLR output impedance is 5 ohm, and the front panel carries a 6.35 mm headphone socket. The case measures 34 x 32 x 9.6 cm and weighs 9.3 kg, and power draw is 50 W maximum in playback and under 0.5 W in standby.

Engineering and use context

The Tesla G3 platform uses a 64-bit architecture with 4 GB of DDR4 memory. With Direct Data Recording, incoming audio is written into that memory and then clocked out by dual 60 femtosecond clocks, while galvanic isolation separates the digital section from the conversion stage. The converter follows AURALiC's Fusion DAC design, and the maker claims an 80% reduction in noise level against the original VEGA DAC. Volume is handled in the analogue domain by a ladder resistor attenuator feeding Class A ORFEO output modules, and the maximum output has risen from the 4.4 V of the previous model. Power comes from a large toroidal transformer in a purely linear supply with a proprietary purification module.

Pairing

AURALiC's own Lightning DS software, for iOS devices and web browsers, is the main control app, while Roon Ready certification and OpenHome support open the player to other ecosystems. Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Netease and KKBOX are available as built-in services. Because the volume stage is analogue and the outputs are strong, the VEGA G2.2 may run directly into power amps or active monitors, skipping any extra preamp, and the HDMI eARC input lets a television share the same system.

Alternatives

The AURALiC ALTAIR G2.2 is another streaming DAC from the same G2.2 generation of the brand.