(24-Aug-2014, 19:10)PhilP Wrote: [ -> ] (24-Aug-2014, 12:52)Kunter Wrote: [ -> ] (24-Aug-2014, 11:52)PhilP Wrote: [ -> ]3. Have you noticed any difference between vanilla AIR on the Macbook versus AIR with A+? I'm still not sure how A+ can improve the sound when AIR + itunes is bit perfect?
In my experience, A+ makes a difference. More air, more involvement.
The effect is more so when the volume is high enough so that the volume of A+, strangely enough active, reads 0 db.
Cheers...
Ok, interesting. How do you find the useability of A+? I really want to be able to control all my music from an iPad. That includes both CD-quality and Hi-Res (don't care if its FLAC or AIFF or whether its on a NAS or USB HDD), Qobuz and internet radio. My current understanding is that I can currently only do this from a streamer like the Aries or NAD M50. Or is it possible to do this seamlessly from A+ or JRiver?
Thanks,
Philip
Sound is great but usability sucks for A+. Yes it can be integrated with iTunes, even put proxy files for FLAC on iTunes, and play them using remote on iPad but this loses some of the magic to my ears so to get the best sound, its best to use A+ on standalone mode... And I repeat this so many times but its worth it in my opinion: for the best best performance, my choice is to place files on a ram disk as WAV files and play from there... Its a lot of work but still less than the hassle of vinyl playback
JRiver for Mac, I tried a while back, but it was not stable and I was not happy with the sound.
My settings for playback are:
Mac Book Pro, 16 g ram, 4 g reserved as ram disk
Mac Preferences, sound settings, output device : internal speakers (this is to route everything else than A+ away from Devialet...
A+: Preferences, Audio System, only "use max buffer" selected, sys optimiser: all items checked, A+ priority: very high, NO upsampling or filters etc on A+
Devialet Air settings: 1000 ms buffer, default format 16 bits 44100 Hz (to avoid chipmunks...)
cheers
(24-Aug-2014, 18:34)GTX Wrote: [ -> ]Rufus/Kunter:
Can you share what type of Audirvana setup gives you the best results with the Devialet? [in one blog there was a recommendation to try direct mode/integer 1, upsampling x2, filter max 1,800,000 , cutoff1.05 , antialiasing 200, pre ringing 0.6]. Thanks V
I could not make the integer mode work with devialet AIR. even the "exclusive access mode" comes with its own problems so I leave it off... All other settings are defaults... no filters no upsampling etc.
(24-Aug-2014, 20:41)GuillaumeB Wrote: [ -> ] (24-Aug-2014, 20:35)PhilP Wrote: [ -> ]3. I really don't want to have to drag and drop files so I guess A+ isn't for me...
You don't have to - you can configure A+ to work with iTunes. Haven't tried it mind you...
Guillaume
Sonos out of the box sounds awful. There are a few guys who offer modded Sonos Connect's. Just search google for Sonos + Mod. A modded Connect costs between 300 and 1000 euro's on top of the Connect price. That's almost the same as an Aries if I'm not mistaken, and the Auries should easily outperform a modded Sonos.
As you said : the Sonos interface is great, especially if one owns a multiroom Sonos solution. On top of that the solution offered is rock solid. Since Sonos is the market leader, every streaming provider wants to team up with them. That's why we keep a Sonos Connect connected to the Devialet.
As for the competition : I've read good things about Bluesound. Bluesound is a daughter of NAD so they should now something about sound.
Ok, so I spent some time on this rather miseaprable, wet afternoon persuading Audirvana Plus to work with AIR. My setup is:
iMac, OSX 10.6.8, A+ 1.5.12, AIR 2.1.2
In order to get A+ to work with AIR I had to disable the following preferences in A+
Exclusive Access Mode, Direct Mode and Integer Mode. I selected Use Max I/O buffer size.
Maybe it was just relief after getting the s/w to work but A+ did at first seem a bit brighter and more airy than vanilla iTunes though after listening to a few more tracks I'm not so sure. I have a couple of weeks free trial and plenty of time to compare the two and will report back later.
I still don't understand how A+ could improve on iTunes through AIR particularly as some of the supposed best features of A+ have to be disabled to get it to work???
EDIT: I would add that the output from A+ seems to be a couple of db higher than iTunes which may account for some perceived differences.
(25-Aug-2014, 17:45)PhilP Wrote: [ -> ]Ok, so I spent some time on this rather miseaprable, wet afternoon persuading Audirvana Plus to work with AIR. My setup is:
iMac, OSX 10.6.8, A+ 1.5.12, AIR 2.1.2
In order to get A+ to work with AIR I had to disable the following preferences in A+
Exclusive Access Mode, Direct Mode and Integer Mode. I selected Use Max I/O buffer size.
Maybe it was just relief after getting the s/w to work but A+ did at first seem a bit brighter and more airy than vanilla iTunes though after listening to a few more tracks I'm not so sure. I have a couple of weeks free trial and plenty of time to compare the two and will report back later.
I still don't understand how A+ could improve on iTunes through AIR particularly as some of the supposed best features of A+ have to be disabled to get it to work???
EDIT: I would add that the output from A+ seems to be a couple of db higher than iTunes which may account for some perceived differences.
Hi Philip,
You have the Naim NDX right? What is this like? How does it compare to AIR?
Guillaume
(25-Aug-2014, 19:05)GuillaumeB Wrote: [ -> ]Hi Philip,
You have the Naim NDX right? What is this like? How does it compare to AIR?
Guillaume
The NDX+XPS2 power supply was the source that I originally used to compare my old Naim system with the Devialet - the Devialet won by miles and I sold off my Naim amps straight away. The only digital output from the NDX is S/PDIF but I really liked the sound finding it far more rounded and analogue though perhaps less detailed than the iMac running iTunes/AIR.
I also tried the NDX without the XPS2 and the sound was significantly worse - perhaps because I hadn't used the internal PS of the NDX before so it was like having to run it in from new. The idea of running a £7k streamer seemed stupid so I sold the XPS2 (which like most Naim PSs often buzzed annoyingly) but kept the NDX whilst I was looking for a new source - which I expected to be the Aries.
I haven't actually used the NDX much recently - in fact it's sitting in a box waiting for me to sell it after the summer break. It's actually a very good streamer - the sound is very 'mature' but a bit lacking in resolution when using its own DAC. In a Naim system it's fine. The Naim nstream control s/w is very good and robust but I would really like Qobuz integration (Naim have been notably slow in integrating with any 3rd party streaming services) and also not to have to use S/PDIF.
EDIT: I should try the NDX again as It's been in the box for 4-5 weeks and my 200 sounds noticeably better now.
Regards,
Philip
(25-Aug-2014, 17:45)PhilP Wrote: [ -> ]Ok, so I spent some time on this rather miseaprable, wet afternoon persuading Audirvana Plus to work with AIR. My setup is:
iMac, OSX 10.6.8, A+ 1.5.12, AIR 2.1.2
In order to get A+ to work with AIR I had to disable the following preferences in A+
Exclusive Access Mode, Direct Mode and Integer Mode. I selected Use Max I/O buffer size.
Maybe it was just relief after getting the s/w to work but A+ did at first seem a bit brighter and more airy than vanilla iTunes though after listening to a few more tracks I'm not so sure. I have a couple of weeks free trial and plenty of time to compare the two and will report back later.
I still don't understand how A+ could improve on iTunes through AIR particularly as some of the "best" features of A+ have to be disabled to get it to work???
EDIT: I would add that the output from A+ seems to be a couple of db higher than iTunes which may account for some perceived differences.
ADDITION: I found that I had to re-start my iMac for some of the parameter changes to take effect which makes experimenting a bit of a pain.
I have AIR set to 24/96 with a buffer of 2000ms to avoid the chipmunks
Just to add that the Apple Remote device that comes with Apple TV etc can be used to control A+. You can increase/decrease volume, skip backwards/forwards in the playlist and pause/play
Update: Auralic Aries arrives tomorrow.
Will take pics and post when I unbox it.
Been having a play with the Lightning app today, first impressions are positive. Nicely designed app. So far so good.
Guillaume
Kawaii !!!