INTERACT FORUM
More => Old Versions => JRiver Media Center 26 for Windows => Topic started by: mikroski on October 25, 2019, 01:37:38 am
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First, please accept my apologize for my ignorance. I'm not visit or follow any news of JRiver for long time.
I use JRiver 21 for listen to my music files only. No video, no streaming, no online store, etc.
I never use any functions of DSP studio.
Is it worth to upgrade to version 26. Any improvement in sound quality, and any others functions.
Thank you very much
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The full release notes are here:
https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Release_Notes
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>:( NOT helpful!! Too many notes to read through! Simple question. Simple answer; yes or no. >:(
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SOUND QUALITY ?
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Since MC21 there's been major audio features added like the WDM driver, SoX resampler as an option for resampling, memory playback options for audio, TPDF dithering as an option for dithering, HDCD decoding, options when DSD bitstreaming (for example you can select whether to bitstream all DSD sample rates or limit to DSD64, DSD128, etc.), reworked preamp and equalizer features that support high channel counts, etc.
Other than that honestly there's really not much at this point that needs added to MC for audio since already more-or-less supports everything an audiophile would actually need. What I mean is, MC already can output bit-perfect audio (which is the best you can get) and to me that's actually what matters most. I'd consider MC in its current form "feature complete" when it comes to audio. That said, that doesn't mean there's no room for improvements to existing features for example (which happens over time through release cycles), of course. ;)
The best advice I could give would be to download MC25 and give it the trial run.
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:) Thank you for the detailed reply. :)
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In the early days of computer audio Windows intruded on the signal path and changed the data. Software players like MC eventually learned how to stop Windows for changing the data, and the concept of "bit perfect" was born. That is pretty much a staple of the modern software player.
However, audiophiles have changed over time. They now realized that DACs use different techniques, including different filters, to produce their analog output. And, different filters can produce different results. Therefore, many DACs now provide a selection of filters that the user can select, depending on their own personal tastes. Many modern software players also now incorporate different filter options. This allows the user more flexibility than just what the DAC manufacturer provides.
JRiver has decided not to provide a selection of filter options. In that regard, many audiophiles will consider MC incomplete in its audio.
I fully realize that many people think it is wrong to provide output filters, either in the software or the DAC. However, others think it perfectly acceptable, given that the DAC manufacturers are already providing their own version(s) of the output filters. I do not want to get into yet another long discussion on this topic. I just want to point out that some people think MC is not "feature complete" in terms of audio.
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If you want to listen to free high quality music using curated playlists then you may enjoy Cloudplay.