New Amarra 4

[Jamesroy]

On 6/26/2017 at 1:46 PM, DancingSea said:

I am curious if Amarra updated/ improved their sound engine with A4.  Or is it just the same sound engine as A3/ SQ etc with a more pleasing user interface - visually that is?

 

I don't see anything on the Sonic Studio touting "a new and improved sound engine."  Its all about their new interface and related features.  One would think that if the sound engine was improved, they would list that as a main selling point.

 

So maybe my perception that A4 sounds better the Amarra SQ, or Amarra 3/ HiFi is just an illusion, a product of expectation bias?

 

Does anyone know if A4 has a new sound engine?

John do you have this plugin preQursor2 ?

[Jamesroy]

want to share a copy of HQP with a friend?

[Jamesroy]

will it work with A+ AudirvanaPlus

[Jamesroy]

Infinite trial check

PlistEdit Pro.app.zip

Infinite Free Trial Period on Most Mac Software.mp4

[Jamesroy]

Dancing Delete this Infinite trial check Please

[Jamesroy]

4 hours ago, jos said:

I was not using Amarra anymore; giving up, to much trouble to install all my music files and so on. But right now, I installed te latest version I received today and I did start using it in the iTunes only mode with minimized Amarra Window. I really think this is the way to go! But it should be more like Pure Music with relay gain and so on. And I really want to see Amarra on top of my iTunes screen as my player. Now I think they should make two versions; one with their own database and one on top of iTunes. But that is just my opinion. I only need one on top of iTunes and I think most of us. What is your opinion?

I'm firmly into A+

[Jamesroy]

Dancing got my Stellar today. Will hook it up tomorrow and be asking you some questions. Like first I want to by pass the internal pre amp and listen to it them I want to use Stellars pre amp.  I'll be using RCA's now until I get the XLR's later. Also where do you hook a REGEN at and what kind of adapter do I need? Enough for now.

[Jamesroy]

So can you use HQPlayer with A+

[Jamesroy]

Thanks for your speedy reply. So is it possible to compare iTunes with A+, but I guess that is a little illogical of me to ask that question since I would be using HQPlayer with iTunes. And where on CA can you buy HQPlayer?

[Jamesroy]

I now have a working copy of  3.13.3. Thanks But I do like the Library setup on A+, I feel like I'm going backwards to viewing library in iTunes?

[Jamesroy]

If I choose to try this will my entire library need to be imported into iTunes. Now I just import into RAM a single album from external HD?

[Jamesroy]

Well I downloaded his apple script. I'm wondering if I install HQP and add his script how will it effect A+ incase I want to go back to it. But you didn't answer my question, if I can still work my library from external HD? I"d hate the thought of loading all my music into my Mac Book. It has a small flash drive. And what do you mean "t all boils down to your relationship with HQPlayer"? Also "independently like HQPlayer"?

[Jamesroy]

Well thats good to hear about the Library, I got my self thru A+ and my ifi nano with the help of this forum. I don't mind tinkering just as long as if I screw up I can get back to home. I have one script created 10/1/17 and the newer one 1/20/18

It's good to see people using Mac. Changing subj. I'm going to try my Parasound Preamp with my Stellar and see if I can hear a difference. One person we both talk with disagrees with that. BTW I don't need a trial version of HQP I have a full working version but don't think it's upgradable.

[Jamesroy]

Let me jump in here Quark are you willing to share your preference setting in A+?

[Jamesroy]

On 6/26/2017 at 2:17 PM, copy_of_a said:

 

FWIW here are my settings & plugins.

 

A+ prefs (from my Desktop computer with a little NAD D1050 DAC… but the actual settings are the same as in my main system):

 

Audio System -> Low Level Playback options:
- Exclusive access mode: engaged
- Direct Mode: disabled
- Large I/O buffer: engaged
- Integer Mode: engaged

 

Upsampling:
- steepness: 22
- Filter length: 500,000
- cutoff: 0,95
- AA: 100
- pre-ringing: 0,86
- Forced Upsampling: power of 2

 

AU:
1. PSP preQursor2*
2. PSP Mix Saturator
3. PSP X-Dither

I have my music coming into a Mac Book from an external HD. I tried your settings in A+ and get too much harshness so back to A+ default settings. I have the Stellar Gain Cell DAC. Haven't tried connecting the REGEN yet. I only have about 25hr's break in so far. I do have the Parasound P5 HALO preamp that I'm not using since I have a preamp in the Stellar. Will need to test it yet. It's only 1 year old.

Plugins:

 

preQursor:
- analog pre-amp: +8
- filterbands engaged but all set to zero
- output gain: -3db
- SAT: engaged

 

Mix Saturator 2:
- seperate Low and High filtering disabled
- saturation: 20%
- Shape: Valve 1 (the smoothest option)
- Mix (Dry/Wet): 65%

 

Dither:
- Mildly shaped Dither (Smooth NS „A“)
- (additional) Dither Shape: Flat
- Dither Level: High
- bit depth: 24bit

 

Now, as said above, it’s not my goal to exactly match Amarra’s sound.
This is less processing - A4 sounds bolder.
To get the same „richness“ as Amarra set the pre-amp of preQursor from +8 to around +12 and Saturation to 30%-40% (mix to 65%-75%)... in case you really use this plugin.

 

______

 

Saturation: I’ve tried the Klanghelm IVGI saturation plugin but even at the lowest setting it’s too much for my taste.
It sound really good (very good!) - as an effect - but too bold to match Amarra sound and much too bold for my personal taste.

Since I already have a high quality saturation plugin I don’t want to check all the other plugins mentioned here.

 

Personally I also like preQursor2 alone (with SAT enabled in conjunction with -3db output gain) … but the second addition of some saturation (at very low settings) is certainly nice if you want to get closer to Amarra.

 

Dither: 24bit TPDF Dither will do - you don’t need to buy a plugin for this purpsose…

 

Hope that helps.

 

__________

 

 

* make sure to update to the latest version of preQursor2 (2.0.2)!

 

__________

 

 

 

 

Thanks

 

[Jamesroy]

The Ignore this topic button docent seem to work. I shouldn't be on this area.

[Jamesroy]

Dancing, if I load HQPlayer on my MacBook with Micro Rendu what do I need to know for starters, still no plans to buy ROON. Thanks How's the Mono Blocks> 

[Jamesroy]

23 hours ago, DancingSea said:

 

Thanks for your thoughts.  For me, once I got on the DSD bandwagon, A4L just hasn't measured up.  And I enjoy all of HQP's filter.  Also, Roon - albeit unnecessarily expensive - works so very well.

 

The Direct Stream Junior is still breaking in.  It converts everything to 20x DSD, so I'm interested to give A4L a test through the DSJ as I won't have to rely upon Mac based software DSD upsampling.

 

I've always liked Amarra's organic tone and iTunes integration eases the ridiculous pain caused by the A4L library system.   But I have almost a TB of DSD files, and having A4L convert that to PCM is simply unacceptable.

 

Roon, while not perfect, is luxurious with its ability to have my entire library, red book, hi res PCM, Tidal, and DSD all elegantly integrated in one place.  No more work arounds, dragging stuff to folders, standing on one leg and praying it works

So you like Amara better than HQPlayer and what is A4L? Thanks

[Jamesroy]

Thanks for the explanation. I have A4L. Is it compatible with the Micro Rendu?

[Jamesroy]

I haven't installed A4L yet, dam. So in Amarra iTunes is your visual library? That is the one thing I like about A+.

[Jamesroy]

OK so iTunes is the visual Library?

[Jamesroy]

Thanks but I don't know if AL4 is comparable with Micro Rendu?

[Jamesroy]

OK thanks

[Jamesroy]

So with my setup Stellar DAC which would you recommend HQPlayer or Amara. Both without ROON but I don't know if Micro Rendu is compatible with either.

[Jamesroy]

Allen has become a good friend to me and I don't mean this next comment as offensive. You and Allen are constantly trying hard to shame me, but thats your stuff not mine. I thank you for all your help. I ask many people for help and now I'm helping Allen with Great DVD guitar tutorials that I'm starting to give him. We have had a few nice talks by phone. I don't find any complaints with A+, after a guy shared some filter change. My first hookup to the MR with default A_ setting was bad. I almost gave up until a CA post came thru. And I'm always looking ahead, not in new hardware, I'm  out of cash. Got to get a few graphic design freelance jobs.