Hi Folks
I got bored last weekend and decided to give a couple of players another go.
I had previously tried Amarra and Audirvana a few years ago but had no end of trouble integrating them into Air.
Now that CI has rendered Air ultra stable (in my system) I thought I'd give them another go.
My reference is ROON with Devialet Air and Tidal (I find the Air embedded ROON a smidge brighter and a tad bass light by comparison - luv the volume control though...).
Audirvana+/Air
I feel this is the most detailed player I have tried but still find it a tad clinical/precise. In my system it does not seem to let the deep bass develop as much as ROON/Air. iPad Remote is ok but it ain't ROON.
Amarra 4 Luxe
This was always a pain with Air and so I never really got to know it in the past. The new player was a real surprise. By far the 'biggest' sounding player I've tried- width and depth. The layering is definitely better that the others - very 3D with micro-detail and reverb very obvious on even familiar tracks. It has great bass, not in your face but goes very deep and again pops up in familiar tracks. I could describe it as ever so slightly warm overall but that does not really do it justice as it rocks like a mother and has shimmering detail. It has great timing I think. For example, try 'Dare' by Gorrilaz - massive slabs of deep bass, fantastic driving rhythm and detail front, back and sides in a 'bigger than the room' experience (don't let Shaun Ryder get in your head!). So I don't think it is warm - maybe 'musically coloured' is a better way to describe it. When I go back to ROON/Air it sounds as great as ever but just a bit flatter and cooler by comparison to Amarra.
So, the best and most musical digital experience I've had in my room.
Downside....... the Amarra iPad remote works, but is buggy, a bit clunky and freezes when screen goes to sleep.
Trouble is that after ROON every remote/interface is pants!
Anyway, Amarra 4 Luxe is free for a 14 day trial - you've nothing to lose.
Regards
Kevin
I got bored last weekend and decided to give a couple of players another go.
I had previously tried Amarra and Audirvana a few years ago but had no end of trouble integrating them into Air.
Now that CI has rendered Air ultra stable (in my system) I thought I'd give them another go.
My reference is ROON with Devialet Air and Tidal (I find the Air embedded ROON a smidge brighter and a tad bass light by comparison - luv the volume control though...).
Audirvana+/Air
I feel this is the most detailed player I have tried but still find it a tad clinical/precise. In my system it does not seem to let the deep bass develop as much as ROON/Air. iPad Remote is ok but it ain't ROON.
Amarra 4 Luxe
This was always a pain with Air and so I never really got to know it in the past. The new player was a real surprise. By far the 'biggest' sounding player I've tried- width and depth. The layering is definitely better that the others - very 3D with micro-detail and reverb very obvious on even familiar tracks. It has great bass, not in your face but goes very deep and again pops up in familiar tracks. I could describe it as ever so slightly warm overall but that does not really do it justice as it rocks like a mother and has shimmering detail. It has great timing I think. For example, try 'Dare' by Gorrilaz - massive slabs of deep bass, fantastic driving rhythm and detail front, back and sides in a 'bigger than the room' experience (don't let Shaun Ryder get in your head!). So I don't think it is warm - maybe 'musically coloured' is a better way to describe it. When I go back to ROON/Air it sounds as great as ever but just a bit flatter and cooler by comparison to Amarra.
So, the best and most musical digital experience I've had in my room.
Downside....... the Amarra iPad remote works, but is buggy, a bit clunky and freezes when screen goes to sleep.
Trouble is that after ROON every remote/interface is pants!
Anyway, Amarra 4 Luxe is free for a 14 day trial - you've nothing to lose.
Regards
Kevin
Devialet 1000 Pro; Magico A5 loudspeakers; Metronome T3a Signature CD Transport; dCS Network Bridge; Kuzma M turntable; Kuzma 4Point14 tonearm; Koetsu Sky Blue; Benzmicro LPS; Audioquest Vodka Ethernet; Transparent Reference Digital RCA-RCA; Transparent Reference XL MM2 speaker cable; Transparent Reference mains cable; PS Audio P5 PowerPlant; Artesania and Finite Elemente equipment racks
North Somerset, UK
