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Author Topic: Sound quality problem  (Read 1310 times)

DesertRatz

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Sound quality problem
« on: January 04, 2020, 10:53:18 am »
After finally getting JRiver to work, it's worse sounding than a tiny transister radio! It is tinny, and has no bass whatsoever.

My Setup:

Windows 10, JRiver 25
Airfoil - latest version
Apple Airport Express optical connection to the DAC
Schitt MOD3 DAC
Yamaha amps and so on.

There are a bewildering number of menus under "DSP STUDIO" and "PlayBack Options" - I suppose there is some way to set these, but with so many options it could take years.

I made an A/B test of playing the original CD and switching back and forth to the JRiver. Man, I can't believe how awful this sounds.

Help?
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kr4

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Re: This Sounds Worse Than A Tinny Radio - - ??
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2020, 11:40:26 am »
How did you rip it and into what format?
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Kal Rubinson
"Music in the Round"
Senior Contributing Editor, Stereophile

DesertRatz

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Re: This Sounds Worse Than A Tinny Radio - - ??
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2020, 12:28:22 pm »
FLAC

I ripped about 700 CDs this way.

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tij

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Re: This Sounds Worse Than A Tinny Radio - - ??
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2020, 01:08:38 pm »
i would try connecting DAC directly to pc first ... to eliminate possibility that airfoil is doing something funny
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Gio300ZX

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Re: Sound quality problem
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2020, 02:34:45 pm »
I've had MC since MC19 and have tried many setups without having to delve into DSP Studio and playback settings. Quality is at least on par with (if not better than) AMP. My main audio system is Meridian (old-school analogue) which is fed by Humax FVP-5000T as DLNA renderer. MC26 sounds absolutely fine as a FLAC source. I haven't done exhaustive listening tests but in no way would I describe it as "tinny transistor radio". It's good enough for me to have migrated over to a JRiver environment (from WMP) on all my devices and considering an iDPi as audiophile renderer.

I concur with the OP that eliminating some steps in the chain may help find where the issue is. My other mantra is go back to default and work from there. Best of luck!
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kr4

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Re: This Sounds Worse Than A Tinny Radio - - ??
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2020, 06:01:01 pm »
Quote from: DesertRatz on January 04, 2020, 12:28:22 pm
FLAC

I ripped about 700 CDs this way.
With what software and at what resolution?  CDs ripped at their native 16/44.1 and compressed/stored in FLAC should sound as good as the disc.  Try bypassing the intervening Apple apps as suggested.
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Kal Rubinson
"Music in the Round"
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TheShoe

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Re: Sound quality problem
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2020, 06:51:30 pm »
know you are not using tuneblade, but this might help with some research:

http://www.tuneblade.com/support/documentation/troubleshooting/3.html

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