Mac Music Players

Foxman, ok I see, well yes it can, although I have not tried this into the NDAC, but I have played into the macbook pro internal DAC (although it is shockingly poor - even compared to the iPad)

Many thanks Simon, friend is passing on a mac mini so would like to compare this with the chord Hugo compared with the NDX. New it would work via USB but didn't realise it could act as a streamer.

Graeme

Good to hear

Dave

On a mac itunes as a minimum in conjunction with bit perfect to set the audio output depending on the file

a few folks say that playlist on Audirvana sounds better than the iTunes integrated mode. I will have to try that this afternoon when the local lawn mowers die down a bit.

Audirvana is supposed to have an iTunes type interface in the works so you can dump the Apple product and still use the iPad.  Last time I looked it was in beta testing.

That's all I use. I don't really hear a sonic difference with BP (a little louder which makes A/B harder), but I like the on-the-fly, file dependent, bit-rate and word-depth switching. Otherwise, switching is a complete PITA with iTunes and OSX.

Hi Nick 

I am running LMS or Squeezeserver as some like to call it via Vortexbox 2.3 as miniDLNA is no longer part of the package.  Both Mac and PC versions seem to be problematic.

Tog

iTunes integration works fine but ITunes will start to stumble with large libraries. At present I have kept my flac library and uses A+'s proxies.

Tog

Gees.  I'm pretty sure this sounds different.  Listening to a Nora Jones rip off vinyl With Audirvana playlist mode  It's less forward and in your face, but it's also sort of cooler, less warm.  It's more delicate, piano rings more, more air and less forward.  I will have to try this mode for a day or two before switching back.  See what the conclusion is.

its certainly less user friendly.  Like vinyl in that you have to get up.   It will be interesting once the amps warm up properly (My CJ gear uses tubes and Teflon caps, the Teflon takes at least an hour with further improvements after a few hours, the naim DAC et al is always on)

I've tried Fidelia, Audirvana Plus, Pure Music, Bit Perfect & Amarra (in fact, they all still reside on my computer) & there's little to choose between them. You can jiggle around with the settings in Audirvana Plus/Amarra & change the sound in various ways, and using their playlist modes I thought sounded a wee bit better. But not enough to make me want to sacrifice the convenience of iTunes integration & the iPad app.

If it wasn't for the wonderful iRC room correction available with Amarra symphony (a real game-changer) I'd probably have stuck with Bit Perfect or maybe Audirvana+. And if I didn't have music with different sample rates I'd probably be content with iTunes.

Tony, do none of the applications you mention come with ipad control software. I would have thought this would be a requirement almost. Would like to try out computer audio, but its so confusing

Graeme

Spoke to a mate that uses A+ last night.  He said something similar toTonym ( not much difference). With hifi it's funny how initial differences seem to almost evaporate over time. In the longer term you are struck by the similarities it would seem.   Results are also system dependent, some setups are more resolving than others.  I know that because in the last 6 months my system has gone from so so resolving to much more resolving, mostly because the digital signal path needed cleaning up.

Listening to some old and new music last night and the balance is different, instruments sound a little more like what they are, vocals are more present and in a space, bass initially seems less but when it comes through its articulate, weighty and tight.  It's pretty much what would expect from losing a layer of noise or smearing or whatever you call a less accurate articulate sound.  It does add to emotional engagement and it make the music more interesting because more is going on. I haven't played any really poor recordings yet.  if they sound awful I can always just switch player settings for those albums.  I am also finding that I can't locate some albums so until I locate them physically on the hard drive I will miss the iTunes interface.

I think you need to upgrade to the latest version of JRiver.  I've found it to have excellent functionality, usability and stability.  [It now looks like a OSX application too.]

Agree that there isn't much difference between using iTunes integrate pd mode or Audivarna's play lists.  I switch between these modes, depending on whether I am listening seriously or casually.  In the case of Audivarna, the play list remains in RAM, which is helpful when switching.  In either mode, there is no need to worry about the sample rate if the files being played back.

Jude 

For FWIW, it's worth noting what bitperfect actually is https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...99#34230452845926099

Jude 

Interesting Briz, is the improvement you are experiencing mainly down to the linear PSU on your Mac? 

Jude 

LMS on a Mac Mini is working fine, controlled by N-Stream on an IPad.

JRMC on the Mac Mini works fine as a DLNA renderer, recognising the Qute2 with no problems. I usually don't bother though as I generally use LMS.

I sometimes use BubbleUPnP on my nexus 5 phone, as well as Namote to control the Qute. 

My preference is for N-Stream direct to the LMS as if I chop and change I sometimes have to reset the Qute to regain control of the UPnP.

tried Jriver & Audirvana plus on a MacBoor Air; didn't hear much of a difference.  The advantage of Jriver is that it can work as an UPnP-server for mac (like Asset does).  My Superuniti saw it immediately.  It also has an Iphone control app...

If I've asked this before please bear with me. If it's yes perhaps I could be pointed to relevant thread or webpage.

How do you get iTunes/Bitperfect to play hi-res tracks?

I do have a few needle drops and other downloads mainly 96/24, FLAC mostly.