New Amarra 4

[DancingSea]

10 minutes ago, tipunch said:

Thank you DancingSea,

But, how are the SQ with DSD files (via DOP)?
Best regards

 

My supply of DSD files is limited to American Beauty, Workingman's Dead, and the entire 2016 Dead & Company summer tour.  They sound very good in A4 Luxe, keeping in mind the first two are nearly 50 year old recordings, and the summer tour is live stuff that was not remastered properly, instead just taken straight off the soundboard and posted for download the next day - which is to say they aren't the pinnacle of sound quality to start with - though still good.

 

I assume the Luxe trial will be available fairly soon - or not (g).  Will be interested to hear your thoughts.

[copy_of_a]

18 hours ago, DancingSea said:

Two large, and I find helpful differences are the EQ and the iOS remote - both of which work fairly well.  I like being able to easily tweak sound with the EQ, and the iOS remote saves me a trip across the room.  For that reason, I will upgrade to Luxe.  The caveat being it remains an idiot savant with many afore mentioned functional shortcomings.

But you are aware that you get the same functionality with A+? The A+ iOS remote is pretty decent. And EQ ... well, preQursor2 is excellent not only to sweaten the overall sound but of course also as a full-blown EQ ;-)

Too, you have the choice to use an EQ in real time or you can deactivate the real-time setting. In the latter case (which is the default) the processing chain is: file-decoding -> uspampling (if engaged) -> AUplugins -> load into RAM. So A+ first renders all effects before it plays back the (processed) music from RAM with some time offset... which by design contributes to a better sound.

[DancingSea]

4 hours ago, copy_of_a said:

But you are aware that you get the same functionality with A+? The A+ iOS remote is pretty decent. And EQ ... well, preQursor2 is excellent not only to sweaten the overall sound but of course also as a full-blown EQ ;-)

Too, you have the choice to use an EQ in real time or you can deactivate the real-time setting. In the latter case (which is the default) the processing chain is: file-decoding -> uspampling (if engaged) -> AUplugins -> load into RAM. So A+ first renders all effects before it plays back the (processed) music from RAM with some time offset... which by design contributes to a better sound.

 

Yes, I am aware of those things.  As mentioned, I like the A+ preQursor2 combo, but still feel Amarra 4 sounds better thus have no plans to abandon it.  Also, as I've written a few times in this thread, I have an Amarra 4 system I devised which uses Amarra 4 as a player only which bypasses many of the functionality shortcomings of using A4 as a library manager.

 

I'm breaking in the new PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC for the next few days.  Once broken in, I'll return to evaluating the A+/ preQursor2 combo to decide is spending another $69 makes sense.  If I go for it, will still use Amarra regularly and have the other around as an alternative.

[quark]

 It's 9 June and my audiophile senses are tingling, anyone got any news on a release yet? 

 I'm desperately looking forward to using IRC again 

[DancingSea]

6 hours ago, quark said:

 It's 9 June and my audiophile senses are tingling, anyone got any news on a release yet? 

 I'm desperately looking forward to using IRC again 

 

Write to Ralph and ask to added to the beta test group.  I'm sure they'll help you.

[GregWormald]

7 hours ago, DancingSea said:

 

Write to Ralph and ask to added to the beta test group.  I'm sure they'll help you.

 

I'm in the beta test group and haven't had a communication in over a month. I wonder what I did wrong. Maybe they didn't like my feedback--or maybe it's a bug in their software.

 

Greg

[DancingSea]

1 hour ago, GregWormald said:

 

I'm in the beta test group and haven't had a communication in over a month. I wonder what I did wrong. Maybe they didn't like my feedback--or maybe it's a bug in their software.

 

Greg

 

The new version came out about a week or so ago. 

[Progisus]

Anyone heard when Luxe will be released?

[DancingSea]

Not sure, but can say the beta window was just extended.  My guess would be release towards the end of the summer.  Sound quality remains stellar, the the library management system remains inadequate.  The program is very stable though.  Last night I compared SQ to A+, Fidelia, and Bit Perfect.  Luxe remains the SQ champ.

 

It would be very nice to have an iTunes integration mode, like Audirvana has.  That way one could choose whether or not to hassle with the problematic in house library setup.  Amarra Hi Fi achieves iTunes integration with few issues, so it can be done.  I just see little light at the end of the Amarra 4 library system tunnel.

 

Back to A+, I added the  Voxengo Tube Amp plugin to the Preqursor2 plugin.  With initial listening, it sounded even more to my liking that the Preqursor2 alone.

 

Does anyone know of other tube amp plugins that work well with A+?

[Pack66184]

I would share that Amarra (3) symphony using iTunes as the controller works the best for me. Looking forward to the new version of Luxe. I've seen a number of posts discussing building PC based versions of music servers, has anyone come across a mac version? I went to the YFS folks for an upgraded power supply and that worked well with the mini, I was just wondering if a server specially built for Amarra might be a possibility. 

[DancingSea]

Yes, I really hope Sonic Studios hears our simple feedback - to please not force us to use their utterly inadequate library management system.  Sure, give it as an option, but also provide an iTunes integration mode.  The A4 library system is so woeful, that this weekend I plan to audition 5 or 6 tube amp Audirvana plugins (to go with the Preqursor2 EQ) to get the A+ sound close enough to Amara that A+ can become my player of choice.

 

Having an A4 Luxe iTunes integration mode - that works well - would alleviate my need to explore Audirvana so thoroughly.  The Preqursor2 plugin costs $70, and I'm seriously considering buying it after the trial.  Yes, willing to spend more than the cost of the Luxe upgrade on a plugin for A+.

 

I think I need an intervention...

 

 

[ddalmas]

hi sea dancer...i suggest to you not to buy for now preqursor2 as i believe i have found something equal or better and ....free!! tomorrow i will investigate test them and i will come back to this forum...for now i have had sound that seems to me even better that a4 but i not still sure! ciao ciao

[Vinbob]

Hello all - is there an Amarra 4 Luxe beta out there for one to play and test with? I am currently an A+ user but would like to see how the two compare in terms of sound quality etc. 

 

Cheers,

Vin.

[DancingSea]

48 minutes ago, ddalmas said:

hi sea dancer...i suggest to you not to buy for now preqursor2 as i believe i have found something equal or better and ....free!! tomorrow i will investigate test them and i will come back to this forum...for now i have had sound that seems to me even better that a4 but i not still sure! ciao ciao

 

Aloha our Italian Friend,

 

Awesome!  Yes, I have been hesitant to buy Preqursor2 - its awfully expensive.  When listening to it with A+, even though I think it sounds very good - I run into the same problem I aways have with A+.  Relaxed, easy going, smoother music sounds wonderful.  Rock music is way way too aggressive in A+ while much more palatable in A4.

 

Ciao,

John

[DancingSea]

47 minutes ago, Vinbob said:

Hello all - is there an Amarra 4 Luxe beta out there for one to play and test with? I am currently an A+ user but would like to see how the two compare in terms of sound quality etc. 

 

Cheers,

Vin.

 

There is.  Just write to Ralph and Sonic Studios, say you are from CA, and ask him to set you up.  There is a beta for A4 Luxe and the Remote.  As has been expressed ad nauseam, A 4 Luxe SQ is excellent, stability is good - library management is woeful.

[Vinbob]

26 minutes ago, DancingSea said:

 

There is.  Just write to Ralph and Sonic Studios, say you are from CA, and ask him to set you up.  There is a beta for A4 Luxe and the Remote.  As has been expressed ad nauseam, A 4 Luxe SQ is excellent, stability is good - library management is woeful.

 

Much appreciated and will do! - What are the issues with the library management? That's a real shame just when things are looking a lot sexier than the previous version/s... 

[DancingSea]

13 minutes ago, Vinbob said:

 

Much appreciated and will do! - What are the issues with the library management? That's a real shame just when things are looking a lot sexier than the previous version/s... 

 

I suggest reviewing this thread from the start.  The issues are well covered.

[Vinbob]

29 minutes ago, DancingSea said:

 

I suggest reviewing this thread from the start.  The issues are well covered.

Good idea - Thanks and will do! 

[copy_of_a]

11 hours ago, DancingSea said:

When listening to it with A+, even though I think it sounds very good - I run into the same problem I aways have with A+.  Relaxed, easy going, smoother music sounds wonderful.  Rock music is way way too aggressive in A+ while much more palatable in A4.

Harshness + "digital" sound... I agree!

Apart from the use of plugins to massage the sound I feel A+ sounds remarkably better and smoother with 1.) Direct Mode disabled (to utilze MACs native integer mode, not Audirvanas own driver), 2.) overall gain reduced to at least -3db (independend of the DAC used) and 3.) a decent USB filter (I for one use the Intona USB isolator... and would regard it as one of the most worthwhile upgrades to my system). (And 4.) the SRC settings play a role in case you are upsampling).

Even if you don't use any other plugins I also feel A+ sounds less harsh if you apply 24bit Dither (TPDF will do) in the AUplugin section of A+ (at least when your DAC is 24bit).

If you use plugins they typically work at 64bit internally and in this case applying Dither after your plugins is more or less mandatory. So if you think about using preQursor2 and/or tube/warmth simulation plugins you should also look for a 24bit Dither plugin.

 

[ddalmas]

hi folks...i started to listen to some plugins and suggest everybody to try this and then post his impressions...then we'll walk to a further step...i will tell after my own impressions just for not suggestioning you with my feels

ciaociao

try this : TubeDriver_v_1_3.dmg....and it is completely free!!

[ddalmas]

TubeDriver_v_1_3.dmg

[ddalmas]

then try this :lkjb_Luftikus.component  and tell me

I am only talking about the first step of the possible  chain

lkjb_Luftikus.component.zip

always free obviously

[Progisus]

Perhaps all this talk of how to make Audirvana+ sound bearable should be taken to A+ threads. This thread was about the A4 release and the upcoming Luxe.

[DancingSea]

2 hours ago, mancolh said:

Perhaps all this talk of how to make Audirvana+ sound bearable should be taken to A+ threads. This thread was about the A4 release and the upcoming Luxe.

 

A reasonable suggestion.  However, several of us Amarra 4 users have been discussing how to make A+ sound like Amarra - as a sort of mental health measure to cope with our struggles with A4.  Thus its a very specific discussion related to getting the great Amarra SQ out of A+, which very well may not be possible.  The straight up A+ folks would be even more offended by our ongoing discussion and say "why don't you take this to the Amarra thread."  

 

So yes, we're bending the thread topic police rules a little bit.  But there's really no other place for us to go.  And the topic of getting A4 sound out of the far more functional A+ has endured for several weeks now.

 

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we resume our regularly scheduled program.

[DancingSea]

4 hours ago, ddalmas said:

TubeDriver_v_1_3.dmg

 

2 hours ago, ddalmas said:

then try this :lkjb_Luftikus.component  and tell me

I am only talking about the first step of the possible  chain

lkjb_Luftikus.component.zip

always free obviously

 

 

5 hours ago, copy_of_a said:

Harshness + "digital" sound... I agree!

Apart from the use of plugins to massage the sound I feel A+ sounds remarkably better and smoother with 1.) Direct Mode disabled (to utilze MACs native integer mode, not Audirvanas own driver), 2.) overall gain reduced to at least -3db (independend of the DAC used) and 3.) a decent USB filter (I for one use the Intona USB isolator... and would regard it as one of the most worthwhile upgrades to my system). (And 4.) the SRC settings play a role in case you are upsampling).

Even if you don't use any other plugins I also feel A+ sounds less harsh if you apply 24bit Dither (TPDF will do) in the AUplugin section of A+ (at least when your DAC is 24bit).

If you use plugins they typically work at 64bit internally and in this case applying Dither after your plugins is more or less mandatory. So if you think about using preQursor2 and/or tube/warmth simulation plugins you should also look for a 24bit Dither plugin.

 

 

Good work ddalmas, will give them a try.  Will also try the copy_of_a tweaks.  Thanks to you both.