Audirvana vs JRiver MC19 for Mac with V1
Posted by: Jude2012 on 10 March 2014
Just been comparing these players on my Mac Mini and V1 and I thought I would share my thoughts and would like to hear from others who have done the same. I realise that this will all be down to preferences, but some insight nevertheless 
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The test was blind using two songs that I know very well (Santana Black Magic Woman and Bee Gees How deep is your love). Both tracks were CD rips via XLD to AIFF.
a) Audirvana (v15.12) with iTunes Integrated Mode, using Izotope 64bit SRC as the audio converter
and with no EQ or sound effects active. This is my normal set up and is the baseline.
b) Audirvana, as above, but direct playback through Audirvana (i.e. no iTunes integration)
c) JRiver MC19 with core audio, integer and 'hog' mode.
Repeated listening over two days showed that Audirvana in either mode (i.e. a or b) had more clarity and dynamic range. This was more so in Direct mode (b) than with the iTunes integrated mode (a). However, the differences were slight, needing critical listening to reveal differences (i.e. when listening for pleasure, differences were not apparent).
JRiver MC19's sound was warmer and slightly more fuzzy (reminded me a bit of my previous Arcam based systems) in comparison with either Audirvana mode (albeit that the Audirvana iTunes integrated mode also had some of these qualities to it but not to the same extent).
Other factors regarding usability ....
Controlling JCRiver and in Audirvana in direct playlist mode required navigation via a remote laptop (i.e. a keyboard and mouse/trackpad). In Audirvana's iTunes integrated mode, the Apple Remote app on an iPad was used as normal.
Some final thoughts:
1) The DAC V1 may not be sensitive enough to reveal the complete differences between these
players, compared with with a DAC like the NDAC.
2) JRiver need to continue to develop the audio aspects for Mac, perhaps integrate iZotope and not
just port over a Windows programme to Mac, iron out the bugs in the user interface, and think that
the job is over.
3) So far on the V1 Audivirna is more accomplished sonically and could be developed to include its
own library and remote app.
It would be good to hear from other V1 users and NDAC users on their findings and experiences
Jude
Just a quick note - JRiver does have a remote app that's quite nice. I like it a lot for controlling a (non Naim) streamer. They also just upgraded the sound output controls for Mac, so check it out. I haven't compared the two with a direct output, so obviously use your own ears. But, generally, I've found JRiver much more flexible.
Interesting stuff, but I thought I was downloading the latest JRiver beta. Overall, don't see any reason to use JRiver right now as AV sounds better, even with the iTunes integrated mode.
Perhaps if I was using a more 'highly specified' DAC such as the NDAC differences between the two players could be more apparent. Hence the reason for asking whether anyone has used these players with the NDAC.
Also, I don't feel 'closed in' with iTunes, as the downloaded files are backed up separately and there is the flexibility of internet radio and purchase of music from the iTunes for tracks and albums where I am not concerned about quality.
J 