Media Server Reviews

I wonder if it can drive a typical 'line' input to reasonable levels? My iPad can't. Nor will its 'Lightning' output at a high enough level into a USB port. You can't really tell from the specs.

So for the future it might be helpful if you could try this and tell us. (I was too tight-fisted to order the optional Burmester audio in my car so now need an external player.)

AR? I've still got, and use, their turntable, later copied by Linn. Bought it from the local branch of Laskys. Do you remember them too?

In terms of function this is approaching perfect, with PCM, DSD and Tidal, but the omission of MP3 and AAC to me is a bit heartbreaking, I still have some music in those formats that I cannot get otherwise. I am really hoping to have just one portable player for everything. In the review, you said one AAC file actually played fine, any chance you could please test a 320KB MP3 and verify that it would play properly? Thanks, and very grateful for this review!

I spent about an hour listening to the M2 at a local dealer, with my own headphones and music. Aside from generally good clarity and lack of obvious grain or sibilance, its most appealing aspect was its spacious soundstage, which is hard to give up once you've gotten used to it. But at the same time, the soundstage seemed sort of artificially "inflated," and its excellent bass likewise seemed a little boomy or artificially inflated, and the sound was slightly "dry." (And the Alps potentiometer was making noise as it turned.) The guy in the store also told me that downloads of gapless capability aren't available yet for the general consumer, even if they are for John Atkinson--and gapless is a VERY fundamental feature that should be standard on every player.

The Fiio x7 doesn't have that wide open soundstage, but it has a slightly more liquid, full-bodied, and rich character, with equally good clarity and freedom from glare or sibilance. Bass is equally good, and more natural. It also comes gapless out of the box. At about two-thirds the price, I have to consider the Fiio X7 an equally good player and a better value. Combined with the clarity, balance, and full-range response of my single dynamic driver NuForce NE-800M, it sounds marvelous.

Chord Electronics Mojo DAC + Samsung Galaxy S7
4.8 Volt 0.7 Ohm Output Impedance
(Will work perfectly with all the headphones on the market)

Acoustic Research AR-M2
3.7 Volt 10 Ohm Output Impedance
(Will work properly with 100 Ohm or more Headphone Impedance)

Chord Mojo has 10db less distortion and 10 db less noise at all frequencies has better oversampling filter will work with every headphone there is, can be a DAC for your home system and for the same amount of money you can buy top of the line smartphone and Mojo DA instead AR-M2

PS. I am no way affiliated with Chord Electronics or Acoustic Research I am just parroting reality.

I wish all reviews would identify if the unit will output balanced audio and to what extent/format. Esp at this level of player. For example the Pono provides this functionality at 1/4 of the price here...and yet this was not tested or used as a benchmark. I wish it was.

I was very interested in the AR product when I first stumbled across it on Head-fi, and came very close to dropping $800 on the 2nd gen AK100 but the sheer number of units (from dozens of different manufacturers) up for sale on Head-fi classifieds, on a given day, leads me to believe the product type, while attractive, doesn't have much staying power with people once the whole consumer cycle has been completed and the drugs have worn off.

I would love to see something along these lines that was a larger screen, like an audiophile tablet so to speak, but with the same mechanical transport controls like these smaller units have.

So far the closest I have seen is the Nativ player on Indiegogo but that one is tethered to the wall via mains power so is a different animal.

I do think a lot of people have an aversion to using their phone or their tablet for music delivery. It's pretty clear considering how robust this segment is. I just think a bigger screen would draw you in a bit more. The phone form factor doesn't do it for me.

Either way. A very interesting device and a very good review. I do appreciate your take on this.

Respect,

The Fed

John,

Thanks for the review. I'm considering the AR-M2 primarily because of Tidal support. I currently have the QP1R and I'm more than satisfied with its sonic abilities albeit with crappy UI, no streaming and doggy scroll wheel.

Since your review of the AR-M2 came after the QP1R I'm interested to know your comparisons purely from sound qualities. Bluetooth, WiFi and streaming are "nice to have" for me so I'm not willing to compromise sonic qualities with these features.