OS 10.9.2 and/or iTunes 11.1.5 problems

[Cycleman]

In "upgrading" -- note those ironic quote marks -- my main music Mini's operating system and iTunes the other day, that seemed to downgrade the sound quality. Here's what happened, and I wonder if anyone else has perceived the same problem.

 

My main music Mini (hereafter called MMM) was running OS X 10.9.0 with iTunes 11.1.3. And with either Audirvana Plus or Amarra as the music player, integrated with iTunes, I really have been loving the SQ.

 

Then I updated the MMM with newest version of the operating system, 10.9.2, and at the same time went to iTunes 11.1.5. The process went smoothly.

 

But when I put the MMM back into my system, the SQ sounded a bit flat, like some of the color had been drained from it. I wondered if that had something to do with the combo of A+ and the new OS-iTunes combo, but the same flat sound was there with Amarra, too.

 

I wondered if the sound change was just in my mind.

 

However, since I had cloned the original OS 10.9.0 and iTunes 11.1.3 combo on a separate external drive, I was able to reinstall it on one of the MMM's partitions that had been running OS 10.8.5, but was not being used anymore. And YES, the better SQ came back with the original combo. And since I can now choose to boot into either the original OS-iTunes combo or the "upgraded" one, I can easily hear the differences.

 

So, for now, I'm staying with the older setup. And yes, I should have just changed one variable at a time, the OS and iTunes separately -- and when I have time I'll try just that -- but clearly there's some problem.

 

So, has anyone else noticed changes, lesser SQ, with either OS 10.9.2 or with the latest iTunes 11.1.5?

Especially if you're using either A+ or Amarra in integrated mode?

 

Dave, who finds partitioned internal drives on all his Mac computers are a big help for testing operating system changes and not just for music purposes

[wgscott]

I haven't noticed anything, but that says very little. 10.9.2 did "correct" an audio issue, according to the release notes.

[REShaman]

Hello Dave,

 

I am surprised that iTunes 11.03 did not break Amarra and Audirvana Plus as it did for me and so many other members. This was pre-Mavericks. There was a work-around that temporarily dealt with what iTunes wrought. iTunes 11.04 "fixed" what 11.03 broke.

 

With the release of Mavericks, 10.9 and subsequent releases (.91 and .92) Amarra builds and the SQ changed for me unfavorably for the SQ I experienced so favorably with Mountain Lion. Many members accepted Mavericks without complaint.

 

If 10.92 fixed something related to audio, I do not discern any difference. Nor do I discern any differences between 11.94 vs 11.05. Mavericks' effect on the SQ of Amarra 2.6 with iRC and, perhaps, to a lesser degree (?) Audirvana plus has diminished my overall enjoyment of the music. I have grown accustomed to the negative direction but I am not complacent. Foolish as it might sound, I resent the changes Apple's build versions of OSX and iTunes as they influence the quality of SQ quality. Add to that their persistence in ignoring improving iTunes in operational enhancements many of us have requested and would welcome. Of course, comments from others who are satisfied are just as vocal. It really is a matter of perception and discernment.

 

Regarding your assessment, overall I concur with your findings, if I understand them correctly, that the quality of SQ from Amarra and Audirvana Plus suffers when iTunes is integrated and overall because Mavericks is a different OSX and influences my listening experience negatively compared to my experience with Mountain Lion. All the more reason for my incessant requests that sonic Studio, when they have an extra five minutes, develop their own server software and render iTunes to an option. Thank The Lord, the music still inspires toe-tapping. I feel more let down by Apple and to some degree by Sonic Studio, but understand if others do not. Whatever it takes,

 

Enjoy the music,

Richard

[Cycleman]

I am surprised that iTunes 11.03 did not break Amarra and Audirvana Plus as it did for me and so many other members. This was pre-Mavericks. There was a work-around that temporarily dealt with what iTunes wrought. iTunes 11.04 "fixed" what 11.03 broke.

 

Richard, to be clear, it's 11.1.3, not 11.03 that I'm talking about with iTunes.

 

Regarding your assessment, overall I concur with your findings, if I understand them correctly, that the quality of SQ from Amarra and Audirvana Plus suffers when iTunes is integrated and overall because Mavericks is a different OSX and influences my listening experience negatively compared to my experience with Mountain Lion.

 

Actually, I almost always listen to music, with either A+ or Amarra, in its integrated with iTunes mode. Yes, I know the separate playlists methods offer potentially better SQ.

 

However, the way I like to play music is to sit with an iPad in my lap, running Apple's Remote app, and just choose tracks or albums as my mood sees fit. So, I prefer to sacrifice a bit of better SQ for the convenience of choice.

 

That is, of course, why I'm much looking forward to Audirvana Plus 2.0 -- as many others here are also looking forward -- for its potentially wonderful mix of better SQ and full convenience.

 

(Yes, I know J-whatever offers the same potential mix, but I just don't like that Windows-colored software interface.)

 

Thanks much for your perceptions on this.

 

Dave

[wgscott]

"Fixes an issue that may cause audio distortion on certain Macs" in About the OS X Mavericks v10.9.2 Update

[Cycleman]

"Fixes an issue that may cause audio distortion on certain Macs" in About the OS X Mavericks v10.9.2 Update

 

Yes, it does seem sometimes as if Apple's fixes are like "fixing" a dog or cat, which also means cutting something out.

[wgscott]

If you decide you want to try using Audirvana in stand-alone mode, the purpose of that script I mentioned in the other thread is to do that with the convenience of the iTunes/Apple Remote.app interface.

[tipunch]

In "upgrading" -- note those ironic quote marks -- my main music Mini's operating system and iTunes the other day, that seemed to downgrade the sound quality. Here's what happened, and I wonder if anyone else has perceived the same problem.

 

My main music Mini (hereafter called MMM) was running OS X 10.9.0 with iTunes 11.1.3. And with either Audirvana Plus or Amarra as the music player, integrated with iTunes, I really have been loving the SQ.

 

Then I updated the MMM with newest version of the operating system, 10.9.2, and at the same time went to iTunes 11.1.5. The process went smoothly.

 

But when I put the MMM back into my system, the SQ sounded a bit flat, like some of the color had been drained from it. I wondered if that had something to do with the combo of A+ and the new OS-iTunes combo, but the same flat sound was there with Amarra, too.

 

I wondered if the sound change was just in my mind.

 

So, has anyone else noticed changes, lesser SQ, with either OS 10.9.2 or with the latest iTunes 11.1.5?

Especially if you're using either A+ or Amarra in integrated mode?

 

Yes, here too…

Is this iTunes 11.1.5 or OS 10.9.2? (iTunes 11.1.4 and OS 10.9.1 before)

Or both?

[REShaman]

Richard, to be clear, it's 11.1.3, not 11.03 that I'm talking about with iTunes.

 

 

 

Actually, I almost always listen to music, with either A+ or Amarra, in its integrated with iTunes mode. Yes, I know the separate playlists methods offer potentially better SQ.

 

However, the way I like to play music is to sit with an iPad in my lap, running Apple's Remote app, and just choose tracks or albums as my mood sees fit. So, I prefer to sacrifice a bit of better SQ for the convenience of choice.

 

That is, of course, why I'm much looking forward to Audirvana Plus 2.0 -- as many others here are also looking forward -- for its potentially wonderful mix of better SQ and full convenience.

 

(Yes, I know J-whatever offers the same potential mix, but I just don't like that Windows-colored software interface.)

 

Thanks much for your perceptions on this.

 

Dave

 

Sorry, Dave,

 

What was I (not) thinking? I must be having flashbacks and reliving the undesirable nuances of 11.03. Good thing I don't carry a grudge. Yikes! Excuse my error (mildly embarrassed).

 

I completely understand a (your) preference for convenience using one's iPad to select from the comfort of one's listening position. Hence integrating iTunes in the mix, despite the better SQ with non-integrated Preference setting for Amarra and Audirvana Plus. I know I am off-topic when I add that with iRC, I am off my chair changing filter gain settings for the best DRC setting unless I am listening for enjoyment absent critical listening. Then I am in playlist mode and actively selecting filter gain. Enough off-topic. Sorry.

 

Bought it, but never implemented "J-whatever" (no disrespect intended, ALL).

 

To sum up, not aware of any discernible further changes in SQ with the latest Apple updates for both OSX and iTunes other than what has already been wrought with the earlier builds post Mavericks. Admire your flexibility. Sonic Studio needs to implement their own path to innovation a la Audirvana Plus's 2.0 whenever that will arrive. We will, I hope, all be the better for the enhancements.

 

Enjoy the music,

Richard

[Melvin]

Dave, since making the same updates last week I haven't noticed any change in SQ whatsoever. Hope you get it figured out.

[eltee00]

If you decide you want to try using Audirvana in stand-alone mode, the purpose of that script I mentioned in the other thread is to do that with the convenience of the iTunes/Apple Remote.app interface.

 

Where can I find this script? I went through your post history and couldn't find anything. This would be very helpful as I am one of those who uses iTunes integration now because of the conveniences but misses the SQ of the standalone mode.

[wgscott]

Here you go: Controlling Audirvana in Stand-Alone Mode with iTunes and Remote.app - Blogs - Computer Audiophile

[eltee00]

Here you go: Controlling Audirvana in Stand-Alone Mode with iTunes and Remote.app - Blogs - Computer Audiophile

 

Thank you! That's a really handy script. Quick question, is it possible for the script to open a copy of the Audirvana from the RAM disk instead? As that is where I normally run the player.

[eltee00]

Here you go: Controlling Audirvana in Stand-Alone Mode with iTunes and Remote.app - Blogs - Computer Audiophile

 

Hi Scott,

 

Just tried out the script but after selecting a track on itunes, it would load one track after another endlessly without actually playing the song. Any idea why? Thanks!

[wgscott]

user error?

 

I need a bit more to go on...

[wgscott]

I've verified this works as advertised on another computer. The track is not supposed to play in iTunes. It loads, iTunes pauses, it loads and starts to play in Audirvana (when iTunes integration is turned off), and then EventScriupts should advance it to the next track in iTunes, and the process repeats, loading the next track into Audirvana, etc.