Reviews:
1: Excerpt from Computer Audiophile Review by Chris Connaker:
The Auraliti PK100 is a finely tuned well designed computer file player. It's simple user interface that requires no tweaking is a major benefit to many computer audiophiles. The fact that users can't adjust any settings and obtain bit perfect playback automatically cannot be emphasized enough. this is a big deal. In my experience the most common cause of dissatisfaction with computer based sound quality is lack of bit perfect output. The PK100 completely solves this issue. Potential PK100 purchasers should ensure they've considered all the features this player offers and does not offer. This player is not a one size fits all music server and will not help complete one's taxes before April 18, 2011. The PK100 is capable of changing the way one listenings to music with it's highly refined minimalist feature set and simple operation. My tagline for this CA recommended player is, The Auraliti PK100 connect, select, and play.
2: Excerpt from Vade Forrester review in Soundstage Hi-Fi
The SACD promised sound quality superior to that of the Compact Disc, but to my ears, cheap SACD players from Sony and other manufacturers didn’t sound appreciably better than CD players. It was only with substantially higher-priced players that SACD distinguished itself -- listening to a good SACD on an EMM Labs player was one of the more ear-opening moments in my digital listening experience.
If you’re worried that the modestly priced Auraliti PK100 won’t let you distinguish hi-rez audio files from their CD counterparts, don’t -- it will. The PK100 is much simpler to set up and use than a computer-based server, and lets you select how much storage space you want to invest in. Most other music servers at or below its price range won’t play 176.4 and 192kHz files, so getting the Auraliti is one way to future-proof your investment. And if you want even better sound, you can buy a better DAC.
But there’s actually no need to rush to the DAC store -- the PK100’s own DAC is listenable. You can wait till your wallet recovers from buying the PK100 to start searching for a better DAC, if you even feel the need for one. Of course, if you already have a good DAC with an S/PDIF input, so much the better.
If you haven’t yet begun using computer audio files because you’re uncomfortable with a computer, or don’t feel like buying an extra computer for storing and playing music files, the Auraliti PK100 is an easy, inexpensive way to get started -- and it has the legs to be used in an advanced high-resolution audio system.
3: Digisound Blog review:
Auraliti PK 100 - finally a real digital music player for audiophiles!
The PK100 file player is a computer underneath it's understated black metal housing. The PK100 is a file player that requires no setup. In fact it cannot be setup by the end user. The PK100 arrives from Auraliti pre-configured and set in a read-only state of operation. When I connect music via USB hard drive to the PK100 the music appears in one of the many remote control applications and starts paying when I hit the play button within the app.
Auraliti File Players
How we make it easy to find the Auraliti Player on your local network:
We use a utility called zero-config which is called "Bonjour" by Apple. This utility is from the open source community. Apple wisely chose to use a compatible version for OSX to ease connection of devices on a network by using names rather than strings of numbers. All Apple devices have this utility pre-installed. This utility works very well so we have decided to use it.
Customers with Windows computers are encouraged to go to the following address: http://www.apple.com/support/bonjour
From this page you can download Bonjour Print Services for Windows.
After you connect the Auraliti to your audio system, either via the analog or digital outputs, and then to your local house network via Ethernet connection, plug in the power supply to an AC outlet. Then power up the unit by pressing the button on the front.
Allow about one minute and you should be able to connect to the Players home page by typing the following URL in your web browser: auraliti-player.local
Note: As stated above, customers with Windows computers need to download and install the Bonjour utility mentioned above.
On the home page you will find more information about remote control clients to manage music playback.
User Interface: MPoD over customer suppled iPod and several MPD free-ware clients available for PC and Mac
Return Policy: No returns after 30 days.
Warranty: Two years on parts and labor. Shipping not included
Assembled and tested in California, USA
For more information:
Auraliti-Simplified
PDF document about the development of Auraliti audio file playback.
Quick Install Guide
PDF document with back panel image showing connection scheme.
FAQ
Can I use this device in my home wi-fi network?
Yes, but not if you plan to use a server to feed the player high
resolution files from another room. If you plan to connect volumes (HDD
or SSD) via USB and only use Wi-Fi for control purposes then everything
will work just fine. To add Wi-Fi we recommend either the Trendnet or
DLINK Travel Router. This device is easy to configure with your laptop
or desktop computer and then connected via wired Ethernet to the PK100.
This keeps WiFi noise outside the player and eliminates the need for a
monitor and keyboard needed to type a WiFi password. The elimination of
all things extraneous to music playback helps ultimate sound quality and
system reliability.
Will it recognize my files on my storage device attached to my Windows laptop on the network?
No. A server running NFS and configured to use Bonjour or Zero Config is
required. We are introducing a comparably priced server with this
functionality along with services that allow you to easily connect and
load files from you PC or Mac.
What are the details and quality of the internal DAC?
It is a 24 BIT AKM DAC that is capable of playback at sampling rates up
to 192 KHz. We modify the analog stage a bit and think it sounds pretty
good.
Can I attach an outboard DAC?
Yes, PK100 connects through a transformer coupled 75 ohm BNC SPDIF Coax
connection. While we prefer BNC connections, there are many instances of
well done RCA terminations and cables or adapters are available for use
with both.
Do you recommend any particular DAC?
There is an internal DAC in the PK100. Try it first to establish a
performance benchmark. Then sample other DACs at home. When you hear
something that blows away the internal DAC you may have found something
worth buying.
How does the player recognize my music library held on my hard disk attached to my computer?
You disconnect the drive from your computer and connect it to one of the
PK100 USB ports. The PK100 will recognize the drive and build a
database of the contents. This database is then made available on you
network so you can select albums and control playback from any device
connected to your network that has a web browser, be it a laptop, iPod
or smart-phone.
How do I control my music library?
You can connect to the PK100 internal web page using any device with a
web browser or use any of a multitude of MPD remote control clients such
as Minion which runs within the Firefox browser or MPoD which runs on
any iPod or iPhone. For Android devices our current favorite is MPDroid.
More info can be found here: http://mpd.wikia.com/wiki/Music_Player_Daemon_Wiki
Any preferred file format?
FLAC is great! We recommend use of FLAC.
