27-Jul-2016, 17:48
I have not had a huge amount of listening time with Windows AIR 3, and only tried redbook. However, first impressions is that is sounds very similar to Windows AIR 2.1.3. I am not hearing the giant leap that Mac AIR 3 users have claimed fairly consistently. Some moderate improvements? Too soon to say for me.
I perhaps do have the advantage of having recently done AIR 2.1.3 vs mR + Mutec comparisons. So I can now do AIR 3 vs mR + Mutec. There were some tracks I thought sounded much better with the mR + Mutec rig. (Very Melco N1Z / Aurender N10 like) Doing the same tracks back to back but with AIR 3, I still favour the mR +Mutec rig. I am sure any differences, if any, are quite small. Early days though!
I perhaps do have the advantage of having recently done AIR 2.1.3 vs mR + Mutec comparisons. So I can now do AIR 3 vs mR + Mutec. There were some tracks I thought sounded much better with the mR + Mutec rig. (Very Melco N1Z / Aurender N10 like) Doing the same tracks back to back but with AIR 3, I still favour the mR +Mutec rig. I am sure any differences, if any, are quite small. Early days though!
1000 Pro - KEF Blade - iFi Zen Stream - Mutec REF10 - MC3+USB - Pro-Ject Signature 12