Auralic Aries Mini vs Bluesound Node ll vs Sonos

My vote goes to the Aries Mini. The number one reason why I like it: it has an USB digital out which feeds right into my Halo Integrated. You may sarcastically say "big deal". But this allows full integration with the DAC as I now can feed the DAC with its highest supported formats (in PCM and DSD). Just in hardware alone the Aries shows itself superior:

-benchmark ESS DAC

-latest wireless AC protocol - connected to my AirPort Extreme 5Ghz band and it's as good as as a wired connection. In fact this is the primary connection type suggested by Auralic

-quad core CPU

-double the Node 2's ram

-ability to add a internal storage drive. Added a 512 Gb mechanical drive that I had laying around the house and it works flawlessly!

these factors alone are worth the $550 admission price! Throw in a free 1 year subscription ($240) on top of all that - sign me up! 

The new iPhone interface looks beautiful and is extremely easy to setup and use.

You will not find anything close in terms of hardware and functionality at the Aries Mini's price point.

Sonos modified by W4S with linear power supply as an addition. Best interface and SQ tested. 

It best the Auralic aries Premium by a large margin.

I only use Tidal hirez and it is on par with RBCD.

Auralic's Android app was a total let down and totally unuseable for me.

Boy was i surprised and was hoping that the Aries could replace the Sonos in terms of SQ!

If you are running a NAS or HDD storage, then i cannot comment as i do not stream files of my own.

Come on Auralic, please come out with an Android App.  

I have the original bluesound.  The software is crap.  It jumbles my cd covers, need to re-index my files when there's a software update, and is laggy.  When it works, it works fine, but definitely not what i'd call user friendly.  If auralic had an android option i'd go that route. 

@ justtubes2 that is the direction I am headed I have talked to others who basically echoed what your saying about the wyred modded sonos.