Audiophile Thread

I have switched back to J. River Media Center and the improved sound quality is astonishing. I've been using Swinsian on the Mac for 2 1/2 years, and I swear I didn't notice that much of a downgrade in quality when I first started using it.

MC uses a direct mode to my external DAC (This is called Exclusive Mode in the Windows world and Core Audio on Mac.) whereas Swinsian doesn't. I first discovered this a couple of days ago when I trialled Audirvana, an audiophile music player for Mac. It also uses Core Audio. Unfortunately, I can't stomach paying $75 for Audirvana when it doesn't even do file management. MC will only cost me about $23 to get the latest version, since I'm a former customer.

I can't get over the fact that software is making such a difference. :oops:
 
Unsomnambulist said:
I have switched back to J. River Media Center and the improved sound quality is astonishing. I've been using Swinsian on the Mac for 2 1/2 years, and I swear I didn't notice that much of a downgrade in quality when I first started using it.

MC uses a direct mode to my external DAC (This is called Exclusive Mode in the Windows world and Core Audio on Mac.) whereas Swinsian doesn't. I first discovered this a couple of days ago when I trialled Audirvana, an audiophile music player for Mac. It also uses Core Audio. Unfortunately, I can't stomach paying $75 for Audirvana when it doesn't even do file management. MC will only cost me about $23 to get the latest version, since I'm a former customer.

I can't get over the fact that software is making such a difference. :oops:
Click to expand...
I have a theory about that, but it is only half-baked at this point.

It has to do with individual human intuition and perception, for what it's worth.
 
axolotl said:
I have a theory about that, but it is only half-baked at this point.

It has to do with individual human intuition and perception, for what it's worth.
Click to expand...

2 1/2 years ago I had to stop using JRMC because it was inducing kernel panics (system crashes) in my then owned MacBook. I switched to Swinsian, and at the time I didn't really notice any difference in sound quality with the audio equipment I had then. With the equipment I have now, the difference is easily heard. I first heard it with Audirvana a couple of days ago, but like I said I consider it too expensive. JRMC is the equal of Audirvana in sound quality (if not ease of use; MC is very much a Windows program and has "Windows Soul" where Audirvana has "Mac Soul". That's OK, I was a Windows user for 17 years.).

MC has been rock steady on my Mac mini so far, though.
 
I spoke too soon: MC just had the first kernel panic on my Mac mini. Now I'm going to have to spend $75 on a piece of software (Audirvana). This is the most I will have spent for bits in my life. :mad:
 
Unsomnambulist said:
I spoke too soon: MC just had the first kernel panic on my Mac mini. Now I'm going to have to spend $75 on a piece of software (Audirvana). This is the most I will have spent for bits in my life. :mad:
Click to expand...
Is it back to mac 'n' cheese, then?
:hug:
 
Last edited:
www.head-fi.org

Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up

to clarify, the Yggdrasil GS cannot be ordered and have the Analog 2 upgrade done before its shipped. Once you receive the GS, Schiit will upgrade it to Analog 2, but you must then pay the shipping / insurance both directions. I stand corrected.
www.head-fi.org www.head-fi.org

Excellent post by Jason Stoddard about Schiit's experiences using blind listening and some new insights that has derived.

The unfurled URL is wrong, BTW.
 
I got my dads 1960 Empire 208 TT semi restored several weeks ago. It has the Empire 1000 ZE/X cart and I put a modern Turntable Lab stylus on it. It sounds excellent to my ears, significantly better than my technics TT. It plays 3 speeds, so my question is can 78's be played with the same cart/stylus as 33 and 45?
 
Mattafett said:
I got my dads 1960 Empire 208 TT semi restored several weeks ago. It has the Empire 1000 ZE/X cart and I put a modern Turntable Lab stylus on it. It sounds excellent to my ears, significantly better than my technics TT. It plays 3 speeds, so my question is can 78's be played with the same cart/stylus as 33 and 45?
Click to expand...
Yes, bearing in mind that 78’s can be rough and will beat up an expensive cartridge.
 
So does our audiophilia only cover playback or do we know anything about recording?

With the current stay-at-home rules, I'm looking for a way to do some recording at home. There are lots of condenser mics with USB output available these days. I'm looking at this one: Samson C01U Pro .

Any thoughts on USB mics for home use?
 
I use a Zoom omnidirectional mic for recording my voice-over work. They are very sensitive.

www.bhphotovideo.com

Zoom H4n Pro 4-Input / 4-Track Portable Handy Recorder with Onboard X/Y Mic Capsule

Buy Zoom H4n Pro 4-Input / 4-Track Portable Handy Recorder with Onboard X/Y Mic Capsule featuring Music Production & Location Recording, Onboard Stereo Mic & Built-In Speaker, Dual XLR-1/4" Mic/Line/Instrument Inputs, Overdubbing and 4-Channel Recording, Records in WAV up to 96 kHz, 3.5mm...
www.bhphotovideo.com www.bhphotovideo.com
 
I have read so many complaints over the years about the mastering and production of rock albums from the 90s. Honestly, I love the sound of CDs from that era. The sound to me is generally very clear and full without being too bright. Somewhere around the turn of the century something happened and albums became harsher and thinner.
 
www.head-fi.org

SOLD: Sennheiser Orpheus (HE90 / HEV90) - Beautiful Condition

The why: I find myself in a predicament only a head-fier could be in. I now own two Orpheus sets. I had one lent to a family member longterm, who asked me to purchase. So I decided to source another one. It took me about 9 months to find one since I wanted a matching set in fantastic...
www.head-fi.org www.head-fi.org

@axolotl, I believe at one time you were interested in purchasing some Sennheiser headphones. Here you go.
 
www.stereophile.com

Art Dudley, Rest in Peace

The hi-fi world has lost a giant, and we at Stereophile have lost a brother. Art Dudley passed peacefully this morning around 4am after a short illness. The cause was metastatic cancer. Art bought his first record—Roger Miller's "King of the Road," the single—at age 8 or 9. He picked up the...
www.stereophile.com www.stereophile.com
 
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