Opsman

Is there a fix for this? What "your other programs"? thanks

I have several Reference Recordings HRx music files. Before learning that WAV files sound better than other formats, I translated all my RR WAV files to AIFF, and have been playing them this way. iTunes displays all the tags that are of interest to me; e.g., artist, album, song. Having discovered the superior sound of WAV, I would like to play all my RR music in this format. iTunes will play the files, but, except for the title of the "song", iTunes doesn't display the other metadata, and, worse, will not allow me to enter it manually. The following procedure works, but doesn't make sense to me: Translate the RR WAV files to AIFF, then translate the AIFF files back to WAV. Strangely enough, the result is that iTunes displays the metadata and allows me to change it, if I want to. Can anyone explain what is going on here?

In an earlier post, I noted a small, but significant improvement from using a Black Lion Audio MicroClock II with the Weiss 202 (e.g., more extended treble, better differentiation among voices and instruments). I have since replaced the MicroClock with the Grimm CC1. The difference between the Grimm and the Weiss internal clock is stunning. The treble is even more extended than with the BLA, but, in addition, the musical presentation is considerably more dynamic and the bass is both deeper and tighter. Bottom Line (so far): If you have a high-resolution system, then you owe it to yourself to try out the BLA clock ($600 with 15-day return priviledge). But, if you are crazy (like me) audition the Grimm or other high-end clock.

I don't know in general, but the Weiss allows users to select an internal or external clock

In his Positive Feedback review of the Weiss DAC202, Nicholas Bedworth described a significant improvement from using the Grimm CC-1 external clock (circa $3,000). Since I use the Weiss 202, I was interested in auditioning an external clock in my system. Since the Grimm was out of my price range, I auditioned the Black Lion Audio MicroClock II, priced at $600 with a 15-day return privledge. The BLA clock provided a small, but easily recognized improvement in treble clarity and differentiation among instruments. Since the power supply of the BLA is a .5A/9V wall wart, I substituted, first, a 1 amp wall wart and then a 5 amp regulated power supply. Each improvement in the power supply improved the sonics. Now, with $600 invested in the BLA and $30 invested in the power supply, I am enjoying the kind of upgrade that I would have been willing to pay $2K for if, for example, it were a revised 202. So, a heads-up for my fellow computeraudiophiles already using a high-quality DAC. And, a question: What is going on?

Has anyone auditioned the Weiss DAC202 with an external clock (e.g., Grimm CC-1). If so, please share your thoughts.

The results I reported used Pure Music, not Amarra. I haven't done an A/B test using Amarra yet. The results that I reported involved HDTracks FLAC downloads converted to AIFF using Max. I did not write that I was "thrilled" with the improvement, but FLAC sounded better in the dimensions I described. I don't know how PM manages the native FLACs, but if you download from, say, HDTracks, then the files get stored on your computer in whatever file/folder you desire as a FLAC

In my system, flac downloads (e.g., from HDTracks) are quieter than flac downloads translated to aiff (using Max). This provides more musical detail and a bit more air.

(With apologies: I guess that there is a post out there that answers these questions, but I can't find it.) A good friend has an Esoteric SA-50 as a CD player (for serious listening) and a Mac Mini with iTunes to play back ripped CDs (for background listening). The Mac Mini is hooked up to the Esoteric's DAC via USB. I was able to successfully install Pure Music software on his Mini, but this set-up is evidently limited to 44.1. What sound card is recommended to be able to play 24/88.2 and 24/96? Anything besides a sound card? Extra Credit: If his DAC had a firewire input (e.g, the Weiss 202) could he simply use the firewire output on the Mini and forget about a sound card?

Many thanks to Chris for his review of the Weiss 202 DAC. I purchased the Berkeley Alpha before reading Chris' very favorable review of the Alpha. (Isn't it great to read a laudatory review of something that you already own?!) So,I was intrigued that Chris reported being so happy with the Weiss' functionality and, evidently, tickled by its sonics.<br /> <br /> So, I asked Mike Kay, owner of Audio Archon, for the opportunity to audition the Weiss in my listening room. Mike told me that I would buy it. I did.<br /> <br /> For starters, both of these DACs have wonderful sonics. Yes, I bought the Weiss; but that doesn't mean that you should.<br /> <br /> Although I enjoy A/B testing, I began by listening exclusively to the Weiss for a couple of days, using the firewire output of my G5. A few things struck me initially and remain today: wide soundstage, excellent transients, detail, and treble extension. In combination, these things mean that it is very easy to hear different voices and instruments.<br /> <br /> Then I fired up the Alpha, using the Lynx soundcard as the source, via the Sonore cable. At first listen, I thought: Oh, oh: the Alpha is better?! But, after adjusting for gain and learning the quickly switch between DACs, the Weiss prevailed. Indeed, the Weiss prevailed in every dimension: bass depth and impact, soundstage, dynamics, treble extension, more natural timbres, etc., etc.. <br /> <br /> In combination, it was easy for me to decide to buy the Weiss and sell the Alpha. The king is dead. Long live the king!<br /> <br />

I have also experienced one song at a time using Pure Music in Memory mode. I have had two conversations with Rob Robinson(?) at Channel D. He has attempted to help but believes that it is something unique to my computer. However, I have found that if I reboot the computer when I start getting one song at a time, then things return to normal. Keep an eye on the memory indicator: In my experience, when the green slice (available memory) gets very small, one song at a time begins happening.

Based on Michael Fremer's recent Stereophile Review, I downloaded a (full) demo version of Pure Music 1.6 and have been A/B testing it vs. Amarra 2.0. Here is what I've heard after about 10 days of listening. I would appreciate the comments of others. In native 16/44 mode, I hear only small differences between Pure Music and Amarra. However, Pure Music has two capabilities that Amarra doesn't. First, it is capable of upsampling to 24/192. This feature has transformed every 16/44 disc I have tried: deeper, better-defined bass, more immediate-sounding vocals, better separation among musical lines, more air. The overall impression is that I'm listening to 24/88 or 96! Another valuable feature of Pure Music is its ability to transfer music to memory and play it from there. In my system, using this function seems to reduce noise (or am I only expecting it to?) and remove at least half a veil from the music. (I have hi-res music stored on an internal solid-state hard-drive and 16/44 stored on an external (spinning) hard-drive. The effect is about the same, regardless.) In native 88/92 mode,the differences between Pure Music and Amarra diminish, but still favor Pure Music. And, in these modes, memory play and upsampling make the same kinds of improvements as above, but they are smaller. Finally, in 172 and 192 modes, memory play in Pure music seems to be quieter and to remove half a veil. Given all this, not only is Pure Music superior to Amarra, but, at only $129 it is a huge bargain. And, again, the demo is free. Glitches? Yes, a few, but no more and no worse than Amarra. I haven't used the help line for Pure Music. I haven't had to. My experience with Amarra's help-line has been VERY positive.

I appreciate your explanations about both items.

I recently installed Amarra 2.0 on my G5 running 10.5.8. As suggested in the information about 2.0, playing music using the Amarra Playlist instead of iTunes yields better sound. Can anyone explain why? And, can anyone provide instructions for dummies about how to load, unload, and manage music using Playlist?

Based on Chris' (laudatory) review, I decided to try out Get Digital's ripping/tagging service. So, a couple of weeks ago, I drove my (precious) 700 CD collection to Get Digital's headquarters in Indianapolis. <br /> Doug and Brian know their stuff and are great to work with. Not only did they rip my collection and provide classical-music metadata that was otherwise not accessible to me, but they helped to resolve a problem with the Thecus NAS that I brought to them for storage of my music (and they held my hand every step of the way).<br /> If you have a precious collection of CDs and want someone to handle your collection (and you!) with tender loving care, then Get Digital.<br />