A Complete Digital Source
ALTAIR G1
Digital Audio Streamer
$2,889.00
The new ALTAIR G1 distills AURALiC's proprietary technologies and features in to a high-performance DAC and streamer built to exacting standards within a substantial aluminum case. As an entry point to the AURALiC ecosystem, the ALTAIR G1 offers a comprehensive number of features and functions. Music can be sourced from virtually any source - locally stored files on your network, Internet radio, Airplay™, Bluetooth, USB drive, an optional integrated hard drive or a playlist of favorites from a subscription-based streaming service such as Qobuz or TIDAL. Control is via either the proprietary Lightning DS app, or the manual intuitive control on the front panel with all functions clearly shown on the high-resolution 4" colour display. Completing the ALTAIR G1's extensive feature set: full wireless utility, smart IR control learning, and an advanced digital volume control.
We designed the ALTAIR G1 to provide a comprehensive solution for the discerning music enthusiast. As a DAC, preamplifier, server, wireless streamer, and storage device, the ALTAIR G1 delivers high performance in a wide variety of system configurations. Digital COAX, TOSLINK and AES/EBU inputs, plus single-ended RCA and balanced XLR outputs allow multiple connections to the unit. Also included is a front panel stereo headphone output should a dedicated high-powered headphone amplifier be required.
Designed for ease of use, crystal-clear sound and a highly flexible system configuration, ALTAIR G1 brings high-performance, cutting-edge technology, and incredible value to any high-fidelity music system.
Turn Your Wi-Fi into a Music Streaming Ecosystem.
We developed Lightning OS to be the highest-quality streaming environment you’ve ever heard. A meticulously-crafted software architecture designed specifically to work hand-in-hand with the powerful Tesla hardware platform found in AURALiC streaming products, Lightning OS is full of cutting-edge innovations that bring your music to life like never before. Connect to all your of high-resolution sources, take control with user apps like Lightning DS or Roon, and meet true audiophile streaming.
Display Brilliance
A 4.0-inch true color in-plane switching display with a resolution of over 300ppi provides complete operational feedback: playback status, configuration settings, and a full library view for browsing your collection.
Next Level Processing
In facilitating the ALTAIR G1's substantial and powerful processing capability, it should come as no surprise that the processor at the heart of this system would need to act as a next-level solution. As a result, the product harnesses the power of a Tesla G2 processor. No task will be too difficult, be it serving, streaming, decoding or playback. DXD upsampling features as standard and an extensive range of DSP filters provide broad choices to suit personal preferences. The network streaming functionality is well-proven in terms of ease of operation and excellent sound quality. Networking capability operates at up to 32-bit, 384khz and DSD512, supporting all major lossless codecs, DSD in DoP format and native DSD.
37,500MIPS
Processing Speed
CPU performance that’s 50% faster than the original Tesla G1 processor.
200%
Memory & Storage
Twice the system memory and data storage means fluid audio signal processing and support for advanced features.
1GB
Memory Cache
An enormous memory cache means reduced network noise and dramatically reduced open circuit time for improved sound quality.
Flexibility to Explore
The ALTAIR G1 offers nearly universal connectivity for access to all your digital sources. Tri-band Wi-Fi and Ethernet open your system to UPnP/DLNA media servers, shared network folders, high-resolution Internet Services, and Internet Radio, as well as RoonReady, Bluetooth, AirPlay, and SongCast control.
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 ALTAIR G1 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.
Dual 72fs Femto Clock
With a dedicated, low-noise 3uV power supply to minimize phase noise and keep it as quiet as it is accurate, our 72 Femto Master Clock is amazingly precise for less jitter, and immaculate sound. Its 72 femtosecond cycles — that’s 72 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.
1GB Memory Cache
Open network connections and data fetching are prone to noise that can hurt the quality of your audio signal. The Tesla G2 hardware platform dedicates a whopping 1GB of RAM to the task of caching, lowering the frequency of open circuits and helping your music sound better.
Flexible 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. Whether it’s modes to tweak in-band ripple, out-band attenuation, ultrasonic filtering and more, you’ve always got the power to dial in the performance you want.
ActiveUSB
The second generation of our ActiveUSB provides more than just asynchronous control over USB data for enhanced accuracy and precise re-clocking to reduce jitter. It also bypasses the USB power stream, using its own Purer-Power linear power supply instead. That means dirty USB power — and the EMI noise that comes along with it — is kept as far from the music as possible.
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.
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.
Specifications
Benchmark
Frequency Response: 20 - 20KHz, +/- 0.1dB*
THD+N: < 0.0002% (XLR); < 0.0003% (RCA), 20Hz-20KHz at 0dBFS
Dynamic Range: 124dB, 20Hz-20KHz, A-weighted
Streaming File Format
Lossless: AIFF, ALAC, APE, DIFF, DSF, FLAC, OGG, WAV and WV
Lossy: AAC, MP3, MQA** 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: AES/EBU, Coaxial, Toslink, USB Audio
Streaming Inputs: Network shared folder, USB Storage, USB CD Drive, Optional Internal Storage, UPnP/DLNA Media Server, native TIDAL, HighResAudio and Qobuz Sublime+, Internet Radio, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Songcast, RoonReady
Audio Outputs
Balanced: XLR (4.5Vrms at 0dBFS, output impedance 10ohm)
Unbalanced: RCA (4.5Vrms at 0dBFS, output impedance 50ohm)
Headphone: 6.35mm Headphone Jack (output impedance 5ohm)
Network
Wired: Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n/ac Tri-Band WiFi
Power Consumption
Playback: 50W at max.
Dimensions - W x D x H
13.4 x 12.6 x 3.2 in. (34cm x 32cm x 8cm)
Weight
15 lbs (6.8kg)
Product Finishing
Anodized aluminum case in matte black
Contents
AURALiC ALTAIR G1
2*External WiFi antenna (2pcs)
Power cord
USB Cable
User's guide
* Tested under Filter Mode Precise for all sampling rate
** AURALiC streaming devices are capable of decoding MQA files using AURALiC’s proprietary resampling and de-blurring method. This technology is not an MQA-created or MQA-licensed process. AURALiC has no official relationship with MQA and its allies.
*** 352.8KHz and 384KHz and 32bit are supported through streaming and USB inputs only
**** By 'DoP V1.1' or native DSD protocol through streaming and USB inputs only
Press Awards
"For my money the Auralic Altair G1 is an all around excellent digital audio streamer that I happily recommend to my friends and would purchase myself if I wasn't awash in audio components. The Altair G1 is the right product for a large percentage of music aficionados and those who like options that not only enhance one's experience but may also elongate the life of a component. Auralic has delivered once again on its value proposition. CASH Listed."
"A headphone amplifier with in-built DAC and in-house developed network streamer, all wrapped in an attractive aluminium chassis with colour front panel display? That’s the second generation ALTAIR – the G1 (US$2699) – from Auralic that serves as a tasting plate for the Chinese/American company’s ever-expanding range of digital audio products. Watch our short film on the ALTAIR G1 here."
"Such is the build quality and versatility of AURALiC’s Altair G1 that it’s easy to forget it costs just $3,795 (in Australia) – and its fine sound bears little relation to the modest retail price, either. As such, it represents cracking value for money in this increasingly crowded market. One of the most impressive products at or near its price, this is an essential audition for value-conscious audiophiles who are serious about streaming."
"What this all adds up to is the most compelling member of the G2 series we’ve seen so far. The Altair might not be able to match the effortlessness of the Vega G1, but given the price difference it is closer than the price difference it is closer than you might expect. Auralic has tweaked the specification for this latest iteration and - minor quibbles over the removal of the USB DAC output aside - the result is a product that offers pretty much everything you need and little that you don’t. The result has to be seen as one of the best, if not the best streaming front ends you can buy for under £2,000."