RBFC

Hi, all. I just updated my Amarra to 2.5. I use a MacMini with OSX 10.6.6. I have been playing files from my external hard drive directly through Amarra without launching iTunes. The latest update will not allow me to access my external drive unless I go back and launch iTunes. I'm unaware of any configuration problem, as this is the same group of settings that I've used for several previous versions of Amarra. Any thoughts as to how I can play files without having iTunes running? Thanks, Lee

I also own a Mac Platform from Atomic Audio Labs. I have a fairly nice system and heard a substantial positive difference immediately upon installing the Platform. I am also not using the washers. George put a lot of work into this piece and it has satisfied me that it is easily worth the asking price. Lee

I have been experiencing the same ticking with Amarra and high-resolution (24/176.4, 24/192) files as is described above. I examined my CPU usage with my 2010 MacMini (Mach2Music) remotely controlled via a new 13" MacBook Pro. I tried turning off scaling, turning off ScreenShare, and both in sequence and saw very little change in CPU usage. However, when I minimized the Amarra player and playlist windows, my CPU usage dropped by a factor of 8!!! No more ticks. No other player I've tried (iTunes, PureMusic, Audirvana) takes up anywhere near this much CPU. The courteous folks at Amarra took my information as another data point in their quest to correct this issue. I understand that there may be another update to Amarra (currently running 2.1.1) soon. Hopefully, this issue will be corrected in this version. It would be nice to be able to add tracks to the playlist while music is playing. With the windows minimized, there is no way to manipulate the playlist without enduring the ticking on high-resolution material. The CPU usage, by the way, is also high with redbook files. It's just not high enough in my system to cause ticking on 16/44.1. Lee

No, not yet. Once I get the opportunity, I'll be happy to check it out. However, the whole idea for us here is to be able to choose our music and control everything without having to jump up and down, and without any cables from the listening position to the equipment rack. Lee

I purchased a Mach2Music Mac Mini a few weeks ago. I have a rather large audio system with Krell electronics and B&W speakers. I've been an active audiophile for over 30 years. Most of my collection is classical music, with some of the other genres as well. I've found the Mach2Music Mini to perform extremely well. I use a new Macbook Pro w/ Thunderbolt to control the Mini via Screen sharing. I appreciate the tiny profile of the Mini in with my audio equipment, and the relatively "sealed" enclosure is a bonus here in NM (dust). Comparing a warhorse "standard", the Solti recording of Das Rheingold, on the Mach2Mini vs. the redbook CD, the differences were not subtle. The sense of space and clarity of the soundstage was NOTICEABLY improved via the Mini. I've heard this recording hundreds of times.... Ultimately, it depends on how much fiddling with the equipment one wishes to do. I'm very pleased with my purchase. It has a great ripper with robust error correction schemes preloaded (XLD), and contains scripts for PureMusic and Amarra which prepare you to use either of those players if you wish. Having the disc drive contained in the small Mini is very convenient and simplifies my setup. I would see little advantage in going to a larger form factor (towers, etc.) unless space and aesthetics are of no concern. I'd also like to learn more about why the larger computers from Mac may sound better. I'd venture a guess that the power supply noise could be the culprit, so plugging the Mini into a good power filtration device may well eliminate any perceived advantages of the big models. There. That's a short rant that may set the bar against which other Mac models and server configurations will have to be measured. Disclaimer: I have never met Darrell from Mach2Music who posted above. I paid their retail price for my Mini, so I have no affiliation with them. I am very pleased with the results! Lee Aldridge

Congratulations, Chris. You definitely have something to be proud of. I hope that CA continues to grow exponentially!<br /> <br /> Lee

www.acousticsounds.com has listings for HDAD discs and DVD-Audio discs. Perhaps you'll find something you want there. www.elusivedisc.com is another source. Lee

For organ music, which will test the bottom end and dynamic range of your system, I'd recommend the following: "Pipes Rhode Island" Riago CD RIACD101 available from www.elusivedisc.com "Pictures at an Exhibition" Dorian CD http://www.dorian.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=5519 These are just a couple of really good ones. There are many more. Lee

Chris, Very cool to hear that you got it to your computer at native resolution. I've got a few colleagues who will be able to help me sort things out with high-res files, it just took a lot of asking around, etc. One's bringing a MacBook Pro and a Minerva. :-) Lee

The Classic Records 24/192 reissue of "Folk Singer" is tremendous. You can hear the acoustic signature of the room in which it was recorded. Recommended. Warning, it only plays on DVD-A players. http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=14909 Lee

Tim, You're welcome. However, I'm NO expert. Learning about the classical repertoire is a life-long endeavor. There are so many works, so many sub-genres, it's impossible to hear/collect it all. I'll be glad to help with whatever I can, though. Lee

Pink Floyd's "The Wall" on 2 disc set from MFSL is very good. Prokofiev's "Ivan the Terrible" is amazing, but it is a multichannel release (4.0) if that's a problem. Lee

Here's some various Shostakovich symphonies that are well performed with good sound: Shostakovich 1 & 7 Leonard Bernstein/ Duetsche Grammophone Shostakovich 4 Vladimir Ashkenazy/ Decca-London Shostakovich 11 Alexander Lazarev/ Linn Records *#11 holds the unofficial title of having the wildest outburst of percussion in any "major" symphony. This is truly spectacular if you like this genre of music. Others: Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony Chung/ Duetsche Grammophone * This set my personal record for loudest symphonic performance attended live. I saw the Cleveland Orchestra perform this under Esa-Pekka Salonen almost 20 years ago. It blew the roof off Severance Hall! Salonen also has a version on CBS Masterworks that's pretty good. Malcolm Arnold: Overtures Arnold/ Reference Recordings *This is available as a CD, but is being issued as a 24/176.4 HRx high-res file as well. Something completely different: Kroumata Percussion Ensemble BIS232 * This was BIS first CD release, and had a warning about dynamic range and speaker damage on the front cover. La Folia Paniagua/ Harmonia Mundi *Taking a classic "folia" (dance) theme and running with it, Paniagua adds chain saws, Land Rovers, and other effects to turn this into a riot. These are serious ancient music performers (with several excellent "straight" releases to their credit) that just cut loose and have fun with this one. These should provide an interesting start. With about 1000 classical CDs in my collection, there are MANY more awesome pieces to be heard. I'll try to get back and post some more soon. Lee

emw, Thanks for the suggestions. I do have a pretty high-end audio system, with the only exception being the Denon AVR4806 that I use as preamp/processor/surround amplifiers for the system. However, the Denon has an IEEE1394 input jack on the back (which is 4 pin Firewire, I believe), so that I may try to run a Macbook's Firewire output directly into the Denon. The receiver has 24/192 DACs (Burr Brown 1796, if I recall) for all eight channels. I will be testing this application with a friend's Macbook Pro in the next few weeks. If it works, it may mean that I only have to buy the Macbook (which I plan to purchase anyway) and wait until the right preamp with 2-channel passthrough comes out. The new Krell S1200 is rumored to be a great fit for this role. Then I'll pick up an appropriate DAC that will compliment the system. I was also looking at the Apogee Mini-DAC as a stop-gap until the dust settles on this whole computer-based music server thing. With its external volume control, I could run balanced XLR cables directly into my Krell EVO 403 amplifier to the B&W 801Ds and bypass the use of a preamp. Although I'm researching this aggressively, and asking lots of questions to a certain beleaguered forum owner, I won't jump on something until I find the right combination. And I've got 3 of the Chesky DVD-R 24/192 master file copies sitting here just waiting to get played! They're hand-made, one at a time, from the master files. Chesky also sent me the matching SACDs for comparison. My good fortune for being a loyal customer for almost 20 years... The sound quality of the stereo layer of the SACDs is very good, so I am naturally anxious to hear the full resolution experience. I hope that answers your questions about where I'm at with all this. Bought nothing yet, and still contemplating. Lee

Well, this is where I'm at. I don't have quite as much computer savvy as you, though. If I get an external hard drive for storage (Seagate, Drobo, etc.), do I hook it up sequentially via Firewire from the Macbook->Storage->DAC? The Drobo has two Firewire ports, so is that how they can function, as an in/out pairing? Or, do I simply download files, save them on the hard drive for storage purposes, then load them back into the Macbook for playback? Having never done this stuff, I don't have any idea about how to convert an HRx, etc. file into AIFF, or any of the manipulations/settings/hookups that are required. Chris recommended the White MacBook, too. Sounds reasonable to start. I was looking at the Apogee Mini-DAC Firewire as an entry point DAC. Is there any resource that explains all of the foundational information and starts at the beginning? I only have so much time to read every day on this, so any condensed primer would be appreciated. Thanks, Lee