Pure Vinyl Impressions and volume dithering (advanced settings)

[wavac]

Hello my friends,

 

Three days ago I downloaded Pure Vinyl and all I can say is WOW! I could never imagine a software being that important in sound playback. Cant wait to go home everyday to listen and re-evalutate my musical collection. My system is very revealing and the differences with itunes are huge. As I read somewhere itunes sounds broken compared to pure vinyl. It is like I switched from Weiss Minerva to Weiss Medea. That big of a difference.

 

I have a question though, in the advanced settings tab what is that dithering meter that you can adjust? How doest it affect sound quality?

 

Also what is "gapless playback"?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Mike

 

[Guest Claude]

Hi Mike,

here is some info from Weiss on dithering: http://www.weiss-highend.ch/computerplayback/Digital_Level_Control.pdf

I use Amarra as volume control with the dithering on (24bit) and find it a significant improvement over non dithering volume control. I also have a very revealing system. The dithering noise of Amarra is audible at very little volumes (not from listening position).

I already read your very positive post about PV and cant wait to try it. Since I got rid of my pre I do need a very good volume control. So if there is a dithering functionality that is a good sign, but dithering has to be properly implemented (read the weiss paper on that).

You seem to have a good pre, so there is no need for you to turn on dithering.

Claude

 

Gapless Playback: some records (e.g. Liverecordings oder a lot of eletronic music) fade from one song into the next. This is not supported by Amarra (now it is with the playlist feature, but this is not as handy as I would like this feature to be).

 

 

[wavac]

Hello Claude. Thanks for your answer!

 

OK, but how much dithering do we need to apply? In the advanced settings of Pure Vinyl there is a meter! What do we do with that?

 

Happy Listening,

 

Mike

 

[Guest Claude]

Quite interesting. I will try this feature after downloading. I have no idea why they include this feature.

Claude

Does moving the slider alter the sound in any way. Without dithering you should lose some dynamics, small details, delicacy ... (that happens, when I turn off dithering in amarra).

 

[Guest Claude]

In Preferences I have 5 options for the noise shaping. Do you use version 2?

Claude

 

[wavac]

OK Claude, sorted it out!

 

Thanks!

 

[barrows]

Nice System! I love the Medea and the Sarastros, I am sure you can hear very small changes pretty easily. Once you get some more time with it, I would love to hear your complete review of PV. Dithering: even if you are not using the volume control, some DACs will sound better being sent 24 bit data, but I think the Vesta interface is probably already doing this, right?

 

[wavac]

Thank you very much my friend. The system is actually very very revealing! You can even hear the quality of power the amps are receiving!

 

I am actually very excited with the sound of PV. Most importantly the music has more flow, the edges are rounded and the high frequencies are crystal clear. The soundstage has expanded in all dimensions with more space between the individual instruments! Everything just sounds more real and palpable!! You can swear the singers are "there", quite a bit more than with itunes. I wasnt that excited with Amarra, but this is sth else. i actually think it is a bargain in the price it is offered! It really sounds like GOOD first cut vinyl, it offers that extra musicality digital is missing!!!

 

I cannot reccomend it high enough!!!

 

Happy Listening my friend,

 

Mike