Article: Sonic Studio Unveils Amarra

[DanRubin]

So this is what you've been hinting at, eh? Chris, are you convinced that this will beat your current server setup?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Dan - This is one of the surprises I've been hinting at. Over the last few months it has taken different shapes and transformed a little from when I first heard about it. I originally thought it was going to be a software only solution that would fit right in with my current reference music server. Currently it is a complete solution comprised of software and hardware. From what I hear it may still improve my current system using the firewire as the digital I/O into my Alpha DAC. Since the product is still pre-release this is all speculation. I'll have the solution in my hands very soon and can start testing. <br />

<br />

You can beat the sound of Amarra and the auto sample rate recognition! I hate closing iTunes and reopening it every time I change audio midi for a different sample rate. Amarra solves this issue. <br />

<br />

Much more to come as the product is closer to official release.

[lapaix]

There is really no way for me to put a MacPro in my listening room- wife would argue justifiable homicide as they carted me away- so I wonder if there is a wireless server solution that would allow me to have high quality given an excellent DAC, something like Amarra ( curious name, by the way, since "amaro" means bitter in Italian). Must I have a computer planted next to my DAC for this to work?<br />

<br />

Thanks,<br />

<br />

David

[RC]

"There is really no way for me to put a MacPro in my listening room"<br />

<br />

David,<br />

<br />

You could go wireless, a la Sonos or similar. But why not a Mac Mini? They're small, inconspicuous and clean in appearance. Who needs a big Mac Pro for a music server -- it's overkill. You need merely a small, quiet machine that can offload the true musical tasks to dedicated equipment.<br />

<br />

My Mini and Zero DAC fit happily inside a Lax Series Entertainment Console, where they feed the Simaudio amp. No separate screen is used. I control the server via my laptop using Apple screen sharing, running the Mini's iTunes from my MBP. Learned about that here on Computer Audiophile. :-) <br />

<br />

Another benefit of this hybrid wired/wireless approach is that my headphone sessions are controllable this way, too, since, optionally, the laptop can also share the server's iTunes library and play it locally, thus enabling this nifty mobility: server (wirelessly) --> laptop --> portable DAC/headphone amp.

[poop]

Yeah, I have to second the Mac Mini call. I know it means the Lynx is out, but seriously... does it really matter? My Mac Mini is easily the best purchase I have made in years, and amongst the cheapest! Audio sounds fantastic out of it either USB or optically via a good DAC, and it's so small your wife won't know it's there anyway - just control it with an iPod Touch and Remote software. Even if your wife does find it - it's the cute little kitten of the computer world... she can't send it out into the cold!

[bixby]

Hi Chris:<br />

<br />

I am new here but am very interested in your thoughts on computer audio. I saw, but did not spend time listening to the Amarra setup Vincent had at RMAF. I did speak with Vincent about a better player than iTunes and it's possible impact on sound quality. His explanation of the VRS solution with Amarra makes sense. But when I asked about price, it is out of my league at approx $9k. My question is can one get close to the sound of the Amarra with either iTunes or another player or some other pro audio software?<br />

<br />

Since you have already stated that Amarra bests iTunes I think I know the answer, but is it $6k to $8k better? And I know that is a silly question to ask an Audiophile, but if you had to put it in those subjective terms? <br />

<br />

I have used itunes and Win Media Player via ASIO on an XP machine through my Lavry DA-10 to my system and while close still prefer the CD player as transport. And the Sonus was a step further back in my opinion. <br />

<br />

My current thoughts are to go the Mac route (Macbook and perhaps with an outboard drive) and get a firewire dac like the Apogee Mini Dac and use iTunes or would that be too close to what I heard with my xp machine and Lavry?<br />

<br />

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Bixby - You asked the questions many people want to know answers to. As far as Amarra goes and the price v. other solutions etc... I suggest holding out for a little while. The pricing and options are not set in stone yet. Coming up with a different solution based on very preliminary info may be a disservice to yourself and the rest of the readers. <br />

<br />

Is Amarra thousands of dollars better? In my opinion yes it is. Audiophiles are very used to spending this much on hardware like amps and speakers. Amarra improves the sound much more than many other upgrades in this hobby. When it is finally released to the public I recommend a listening session some how.

[lapaix]

Thank you very much for your response. I was hoping that a Mac Mini would work, but didn't want to buy one and find out the hard way that it didn't. By the way, I called Sonic Solutions and an engineer there (a very nice person) told me that he uses their Amarra system with a Mac Mini and that it works very well. I suspect that the Sonic Solutions server will be very expensive, but the pricing is not yet set, and they are working on a two-channel system. The ability to play things like HRx recordings at true 24/176 is very appealing, so perhaps the real potential of digital is at hand.<br />

<br />

David

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Guys - Just a couple points of clarification. The company is Sonic Studio (not Solutions) and it is not releasing a "server." There will be a DAC, Digital I/O, and the Amarra application as far as I know.<br />

<br />

Just so we are all on the same page :-)

[audiozorro]

Since I am often skeptical about audio things that I read about and have not heard, I hope that there are various options and price points. A software only solution, better than iTunes, that could be tested and expanded into the ideal hardware/software solution would be preferred.<br />

<br />

I do not understand how you could drop rave hints about an audio product for several months that you have not heard, that is until you heard the difference Amarra made at RMAF 2008, but maybe I am forgetting one of your earlier posts. <br />

<br />

I am also skeptical when I read what I consider exaggerated claims when you write "the improvement in sound quality was immense". Really? - immense compared to your Reference Music Server? Perhaps my skepticism comes after reading a Stereophile reviewer comment for one of the A+ Recommended Components that may have stated something like "my wife says it's better than sex". My immediate thought was - you idiot and pathetic sex partner.<br />

<br />

Anyway, the CA website has not mislead us so far and I hope Amarra will not disappoint the CA readers.

[DanRubin]

At RMAF, the gentleman demoing Amarra asked if I had heard of Sonic Studio. I had not. He claimed it's used for 75% of recordings. Really? I mean, Sonic Solutions I have heard of, but...<br />

<br />

I continue to wonder how it would be better sounding than iTunes. How is iTunes limited from a sonic perspective?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi audiozoro - Your skepticism is certainly valid and accepted around here.<br />

<br />

My rave hints about this product come from several sources. Personally I have know about the feature set for some time and I believe the auto sample rate recognition feature to be huge. As far as sound quality goes, I am in contact with a few people who've been using the app for a few months. I respect their opinions greatly and we often come to the same conclusions during tests conducted independently. Trust me, I would never take someone's word about sonic qualities if I was not absolutely positive. If I did I would discredit myself very fast.<br />

<br />

The sound quality improvement really is immense. It was very apparent immediately. I really hope everyone has a chance to use the app and hear it for themselves.<br />

<br />

<br />

Please keep in mind this is one of the products I've been hinting about and often in the context of sample rate adjustments and complaints about closing iTunes etc...<br />

<br />

<br />

Thanks for the post audiozorro.

[Purite Audio]

Chris Hi ,I can see the auto sample rate recognition would be useful, but how does it improve sound quality? Better dac, lower jitter signal , software ? Regards Keith.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi coops - The neatest thing during the demo was the ability to A/B Amarra v. iTunes. The sonic improvement was night and day to my ears.<br />

<br />

So, with the A/B button all hardware was excluded as the source of improved sonics. I suppose iTunes could have a problem with the hardware in use, but without evidence of that I'll go with what I know right now.

[Purite Audio]

So in the dem, exactly the same hardware, the only difference was the Amarra software? I read that it 'shadows' Itunes ? Regards Keith.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Keith - Yes and Yes :-)

[machinehead]

DSP?<br />

<br />

Hi Guys,<br />

<br />

I was at the RMAF, the first time I tried to go into the Haberth/Amarra/DNM room, they asked me to wait, that they were "running room corrections". Sounds like that would include some type of digital sound processing. Is this part of the hardware package? Sounds like it could have greatly influenced the sound. If so, that would not be a true representation of bit perfect files running through the HiFi.<br />

The sound with DNM/Amarra/Harbeth 40.1's was simply one of the best at the show, or should I correctly state, one of my favorites. We listened to a Reference Recordings 16/44.1, unfortunately they had problems getting the 24/176.4 version of that album running while I was there. Knowing what I do now, I would have waited to hear it.

[The Computer Audiophile]

I'm not aware of any DSP / room correcting features in Amarra at this time. <br />

<br />

I'll check on this and let you know if my assumption is incorrect.

[DanRubin]

I was also told to come back later on several occasions on Saturday, so I was not able to have a second listen. If they were using DSP, I'm sure it was separate from the Amarra solution, so demos of Amarra out vs. in were valid (i.e., the DSP enhancement would have applied whether or not Amarra was in use).

[lapaix]

Sorry guys, my nomenclature mistake. The engineer at Sonic Studio did suggest "solutions" though.

[machinehead]

Right I agree.<br />

The only reason I mentioned it was because we always discuss bit perfect output, and if room correction was <br />

used, then I would think that would be an altered data stream, not bit perfect.<br />

<br />

Jeff

[coot]

Great site Chris!<br />

<br />

I'm in the middle of ripping cds to Apple Lossless. Your exuberance over the Amarra has me thinking I should stop if I'm gonna need to rip with their s/w for best results playing back on their system--or will AL files be usable? Please comment.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi coot - Welcome to Computer Audiophile and thanks for the kind words. You can rip your music now without Amarra and still be totally fine if you purchase the Sonic Studios solution at a later days. There is some talk that ripping with Amarra is better, but I've yet to see this myself.

[ggking7]

I currently use a Linux music server without a software mixer and bypassing dmix so the digital audio is passed straight through to the DAC untouched. How can the Amarra software offer something more than this?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi ggking7 - Good question. I certainly did not development the software so I can't give you a 100% accurate answer. <br />

<br />

Amarra only works on OS X so it can't offer anything more to you on Linux :-)<br />

<br />

My only real thought is that no matter how "untouched" the music stream is, there is still an application involved in playback. That involvement appears to have a signature. This can usually be tested by playing the same track with different applications. Can you try using a few different playback apps on your Linux machine and let us know if you hear anything different?<br />

<br />