More > JRiver Media Center 21 for Windows
I was invited to join Sydney Audio Club in a lift today!
Hilton:
There were definitely a few JRiver converts there, and a couple of recent new JRiver users that have asked for help with various things. So in exchange for a listening session on their systems I've offered to pop around and answer some questions and help them get the most out of it.
It wasn't a perfect testing scenario, but it was blind testing with software players and hardware players used in random for each test with voting after each test with the answers revealed before the next test.
There were certainly some problems with Audiovana or some configuration issue as it glitched twice during the auditions, where JRiver and pure audio didn't. (on the same hardware, with the software players shutdown between each test.) The source material was from different masters and originals too which is somewhat problematic for comparing formats. THe player tests weren't optimal either as we played 2 tracks sequentially and then went to the next player for the first test. Audio memory is not that great, especially with material your not familiar with.
However in repeating test 1 with a track back to back from each player it was clear there were differences.
There was also a test between the Opo built in DAC and the $10,000 Bricasti Design M1 DAC and the difference was quite astonishing to this sceptic.
The Bricasti was, well.... wonderful in every way. The opo sounded thin and lacked authority and tone compared to the Bricasti DAC. Very very surprising.
I was very sceptical going in, but I could clearly hear a sound signature from each player. Blow me down, I REALLY did not expect to hear anything.
Audiovana sounded good too, but it seemed a little more forward and brighter overall than JRiver, I didn't like pure audio at all. It seemed to pump up the mid bass and sounded bloated with a distinct roll-off in the higher frequencies (about 7-12k - I cant hear much past that now anyway, maybe upto 16k)
And on a closing note..
Here's my finished Pi player.
As I mentioned in my Pi thread, I had 4 people interested in auditioning it in their home and 2 people wanted to part with cash on the spot for one out of a room of about 35 and I only spoke to about a dozen of them.
I'll post some pics of the gear at the meeting shortly.
It was certainly fun and interesting.
20150816_084917070_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
yoda:
Thanks for a balanced report of the meeting Hilton. I was sitting next to you and look forward to hearing your magic black box in my system. I was also amazed to hear significant differences between the systems auditioned even in such a difficult room and trying to listen between heads blocking the sound. It was my impression that JRiver delivered a more 'neutral' sound and better soundstage (full centre compared to extreme left and right and thin centre in the other two - may be a phasing issue although with the music chosen this was only an impression). The other two that had their own signature which coloured the sound - more hifi sound than neutral music if that makes sense.
Hilton:
The setup
20150816_070647929_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
The Awesome Bricasti DAC
20150816_070834264_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
20150816_070846681_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
The Kudos Audio C20 speakers proved to be very versatile, surprisingly adapting to most music. I sat in the middle of the room in the middle row of chairs (front to back) in an almost perfect Isosceles Triangle (I sat slighter further back than the width) Imaging was wonderful even with a bunch of people in front of me.
20150816_070654090_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
20150816_070703044_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
The effortless Plinius, well matched to the speakers.
20150816_070856306_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
20150816_070912282_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
The Rel Stampede Sub, very neutral, couldn't place it in the room and it blended perfectly at the default 49hz. Very musical, very tight and powerful. (don't know the slope)
20150816_070720048_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
20150816_070732716_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
Plenty of well filtered power on hand....
20150816_070923554_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
20150816_070945025_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
Audible Illusions Preamp, very noice. :)
20150816_070759879_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
Some of the very expensive cables on the preamp..
20150816_070749116_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
External Power for the Preamp..
20150816_070950370_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
The oppo
20150816_070824561_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
20150816_070811123_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
Danger... million dollar Audio cable ahead.... :)
20150816_071033849_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
And lastly.... Back at home....
A gratuitous shot of my Pi Brick flanked by FiiO E09k headphone amp and E17 DAC, Acer Iconia Tab 8 running JRemote and iPhone 6+ running JRemote and Klipsch Image One HeadPhones. :)
One happy little digital (JRiver) family. ;)
IMG_5822 by Hilton, on Flickr
Hilton:
--- Quote from: yoda on August 16, 2015, 05:34:20 am ---Thanks for a balanced report of the meeting Hilton. I was sitting next to you and look forward to hearing your magic black box in my system. I was also amazed to hear significant differences between the systems auditioned even in such a difficult room and trying to listen between heads blocking the sound. It was my impression that JRiver delivered a more 'neutral' sound and better soundstage (full centre compared to extreme left and right and thin centre in the other two - may be a phasing issue although with the music chosen this was only an impression). The other two that had their own signature which coloured the sound - more hifi sound than neutral music if that makes sense.
--- End quote ---
Thanks it was a fun session. I'll PM you my number and we can catchup some time in the next couple weeks for sure.
Cheers.
Hilton:
These were some of the discs we listened to in the BYO listening session after the player tests.
St. Vincent - Liked this very much... very Avant garde and "goldfrapp like" electronica. Will def be buying this. Lush and full well mastered.
20150816_062119640_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
Bombay dub Orchestra - This was a very interesting one, produced by a couple UK electronica guys, (who's name escapes me) fusion of electronica, middle eastern and indian music.
20150816_063654247_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
20150816_063703939_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
George Davidson - beautiful piano
20150816_064808188_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
20150816_064816611_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
Monterey - The milk carton kids - folky, bluegrass. reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel quite beautiful.
20150816_070122558_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
20150816_070130101_iOS by Hilton, on Flickr
We also listened to some Peter Dickson, someone I know well, as he plays regularly busking in Manly and the Corso and over in Bondi during Summer.
He makes his own studio albums and plays a lot of the instruments himself. It's beautiful Spanish/latin guitar and sometimes with a twist. Some of the best flamenco and Spanish guitar playing you will ever hear, and pretty well produced and mixed, even for a home studio.
There were others too but those were the highlights for me. :)
Thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
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