arjan2856

Hello DonW, Thanks for the info! No i haven't tried the latest 192k version yet, that would be great if this version solves my problem. I will try it out next few days and report how it goes. If this doesn't fix it then i will have a look into your registry edit method.

Hi Phil, I wanted to ask if you have managed to ever try Dirac under the AO. the Dirac Audio Processor doesn't start up anymore after optimising the system. After resetting the AO it starts up again. I'd like to use Dirac to integrate my Sub with my main speakers since Dirac not only corrects for room acoustics but also corrects the timing between Sub and main speakers so it's a very worthwhile program for me to use. Kind regards, Arjan

You can switch easily between server modes with the AO Service tool. However switching modes makes big changes to the operating system and is not something i would do every time you want to use video. I think minimal server mode is the best compromise if you want to use your server for both audio and video. If you really must use core mode for audio then i think a dual boot is the best way. However i really like the convenience of being able to play music or a movie without doing any reboots or making any changes. With JRiver in theater mode it's really a seamless multimedia experience that my whole family can operate.

That would be great, Dirac's sound quality improvement by reducing my room modes is by far the greatest improvement from all other audio tweaks.

I'm using JRiver on a MacMini for both audio and video with AO and works great. JRiver's video quality with Red October HQ is amazing. I'm running in minimal server mode without problems, haven't tried core mode but as Phill said this will probably not work. Video performance under Win Server 2012 is much better then under Win7 which i used before, probably due to much less running processes on Win Server. All the video stuff is automatically installed during Jriver's installation so i don't think it degrades audio performance by using video as well. Unless you haven't installed a video driver which might improve audio performance but i never compared this. JRiver makes a great Multimedia platform and it's great to be able to control my music, movies and photo collection all via JRemote.

Is anyone using Dirac room correction with the AO? I'm running Server2012R2 in Minimum Server with JRiver Wasapi to Dirac Audio Processor where everything runs fine. But after running the AO script and reboot, the Dirac Audio Processor doesn't load anymore. I've tried several options during running the AO but no luck so far. Is there a way to fix this? Arjan

Strange, i run Windows Server 2012r2 on my MacMini 2012 as well. Both the Microsoft generic drivers and the Apple Bootcamp drivers work for my ethernet controller. Just the wifi and bluetooth doesn't work with bootcamp but i'm not using those.

Hello Phil, Thanks for the info. Would it be possible to trial your optimisation script and give it a try to see if there's any benefit for me. I'm doing some tests with OSX and Win7 at the moment so i can give Win server a trial install as well and see what i prefer. Regards, Arjan

Hi guys, I'm a total newby to windows server but am reading up on this threads to see if it would benefit for me. I have a Naim audio system which includes the Naim DAC and use a 2012 MacMini as a source using Jriver MC19 in Windows 7 with all my music stored on a NAS. I've read windows server can give quite a sound improvement especially with the optimisation scripts. My question is i use my MacMini as a multimedia player so also to play ripped DVD's and Bluray's. Would the Video function of JRiver still work as well under Windows Server in GUI/Minimal/Core mode? Regards, Arjan

I've compared as well last week the difference between Amarra iRC and Amarra Dirac and find as well that the Amarra implementation sounds a lot better. The Dirac audio processor still makes the sound 'flat' on my system while Amarra maintains the original sound quality far better. I guess in Amarra iRC the Dirac filter is used as a DSP plugin while Amarra it self deals with the sound output where in my opinion a lot of difference can be made as it shows between different software players. The Dirac audio processor on the MAC is just behind what other players can do by now. I like of course that with Dirac i can use the correction filter for different sources but right now the sound quality is still too far behind Amarra iRC.

Hi Flavio, Thanks for your point of view, all very valid points. Of course i will take the overall benefit of the Dirac package into consideration and not only base it on the performance of the Dirac Audio Processor. I was merely giving some feedback about the relative performance of the DAP compared to other OSX players on my system and i've seen the same being noticed by others as well on different forums. Maybe it's as well my curiosity about why there is such a difference between software players, when i started a year ago with computer based audio i laughed at stories that different software can sound different as i was convinced that as long as all the bits arrive at the DAC it should not matter. I still cannot get my head around why different players that all claim to transmit bit perfect output sound different on my Naim Dac that completely buffers and re-clocks the incoming data. Yet is does and Audirvana definitely stands out compared to others i've tried, and we're really not talking about subtle changes. Maybe my description about the difference in sound quality is not accurately called dynamic range. Maybe transients or leading edge definition and detail is more appropriate. In Audirvana the keystroke of a piano has more body, the plucking of a guitar string is more noticeable, voices are more detailed. DAP sounds more flat in comparison. I'm pretty sure i don't play near loud enough that clipping is a factor here, my Naim amp can handle 400VA transient power and dynamics is one of Naim's key qualities. Maybe Audirvana is not playing fair and they are doing signal processing as well to create a sound that makes their player stand out. According to the developer it only has to do with optimising the audio path what ever that means. Any way i take your overall point of view into account and listen for a few days to Dirac and see if the improved bass response in the room makes up for a bit of loss in detail that i hear. I will also listen to the Amarra implementation of the Dirac filter and see which one i prefer. Thanks for all your replies, it's much appreciated! Regards, Arjan

Hi Flavio, Thanks for letting me try the new 1.04 version. This morning i've tried the new DAP compared to playing direct via Audirvana+ and Jriver MC19. By setting the DSP gain to 0dB the sound is quality is closer to playing direct via the other players so the volume reduction was definitely part of the issue. Can you share some information about what kind of volume control is used by DAP, is it a Dithered volume reduction? From the dithered volume controls i've heard i think the iZotope MBIT+ dither used by Audirvana+ is the least decremental. Still playing direct via both Audirvana and Jriver sounds a little more open, more detailed and more dynamic then playing through the DAP without any filter or volume reduction selected. So there is still some room for improvement there on the MAC platform compared to these players. So a VST or AU plugin would still be a nice option i think if this is technically possible. This afternoon i will do a full new measurement of my room and use the volume reduction within Audirvana and see how i like the overall sound with room correction filter in place and will compare with the Amarra symphony iRC as i think Amarra should probably sound closer to the performance of Audirvana then the DAP. You mentioned the introduction of a new player using the Dirac technology, any information which player this is? Is it a software or hardware player? Regards, Arjan

Hi Flavio, Thanks for letting us know about the coming update. I am certainly curious to test the new DAP. If my idea is correct then playing with a 0dB gain should make it clear if my perceived difference in audio quality comes from the current volume reduction or something else. Hope it will become available while my trial version of Dirac still works. Regards, Arjan

I played a test noise track and used an SPL meter and adjusted my pre-amp volume control to the same level. For the rest all digital volume controls from Audirvana and the OS are disabled.

Hi Retro, I can understand this explanation, however on my system playing through the Dirac Audio Processor WITHOUT any filter loaded so no correction, it sounds not as good as playing direct via Audirvana or Jriver. This is the issue that i'm trying to find out what's causing it. I agree that Dirac does for the rest a great job in improving the room response in an easy to use package.