24-bit, macOS - Which player ?

[yabaVR]

I acquired a couple of 24-bit tracks recently. I decided it was a good time to try some of the players others have recommended. After some fiddling with configurations based on prior threads from this forum, I am happy to report results and need further help.

What I have found so far is 24-bit provides some improvement, but only marginally.

Also, each player seems to have its own sonic personality and I am not sure which is closer to the groundtruth. Perhalps none, and perhaps it also depends on the recording.

Here's what I have perceived so far:

• iTunes + BitPerfect: BitPerfect crashes too often for this to be a reliable solution on Sierra. Also, random access to a track will desync Devialet Air and it will play garbage after this.
  
• iTunes + MIDI Configurator: The sound seems natural in general (but how to tell?). The sound can be a little bit harsh sometimes.
  
• Amarra: Sound closest to iTunes (and the ground truth?) as far as I can tell.
  
• Audirvana+: The sound is gentler, more polished / esthetic that any of the others; but if I had to guess, I'd say it's been filtered, which reduces confidence.
  

As for the comparison between 16-bit/24-bit, I haven't noticed much difference on the couple of tracks that I have been going through. Except, maybe, that on louder /complex passages, the sound was a little bit harsher in 16-bit. These passages seems easier to listen to at higher volume in 24-bit, with less fatigue and less willingness to turn the volume down.

Is this similar to what other people have found?

Has anyone found a way to get closer to the groundtruth? which is, after all, for us Pro-owners, what we're after.

I find it difficult to argument on 16bit vs. 24bit even if you get both rips of a dual layer SACD which I have a lot of ('fat lady' ripping machine   ). You can not know how each 16bit and 24bit layer were produced/mastered.

As we know from tuning our systems it might be just one different cable changed during mastering/copying each layer that has such an impact on the sound that comparing 16bit/24bit is useless.

The best way I find comparing 16/24 bit recordings is to use a 24bit rip/recording and convert it down to 16/44.1 with some software like Korg Audiogate or else and then compare it. Sure there is also a difference in the sampling algorithms of these Conversion-Software so each will sound different.
I can also imagine that if you release a 24bit recording you give more enthusiasm to the technical process and use better equipment hence the 24bit release sounds better than the 'old' 16bit.

gui