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Mach2Music mini and Amarra : Huge disappointment

I invite all the fellow Audiogon members than own both the Mach2Music Mini and Amarra to share they experiences.

Mine has been a huge disappointment .

The sound I get from the Mach2Music mini even with the advantage of playing Hi-Res files is mediocre at best and way inferior to the sound of a common CD.
Mach2Music tech support after checking that every setting is correct and everything is as it should dropped the ball. They blame the mediocre sound I'm complaining about on Amarra newer version of software they say more stable but sounding not so great.......

To me It doesn't add up. When there are problems the old music start playing: It's someone else fault. May be it's just that the Mach2Music mini is not so great as some say to start with.......

After spending over $4000 on the Mach2Music web site purchasing all the best available upgrades to possibly get the best possible sound from this computer based system, including their top of the line cables (power, USB, Firewire) an optional solid state SSD hard drive besides their special sandwich case to reduce vibrations and the expensive software Amarra, I get instead the sound you would from a cassette player.........at least that's how it sounds to me in my audio system....

My audio system as you read below is of high quality and well balanced where everything from acoustic treatment to power treatment has been closely matched starting from a dedicated room 20x24x9H fully treated with massive use of acoustic diffusers Gikq7 and bass traps Soffits and Tritraps by GikAcoustics.

Audio components connected to the Mach2music mini are:

DAC : dCS Debussy 24/192
Pre: BAT VK52SE upgraded with 6H30DR supertubes Reflector 1987.
Amp: 2x BAT VK600SE Mono
Transport ; Oppo 95
Speakers ; Magnepan 20.1
Speaker cables : MIT Oracle Matrix HD90
Interconnect : MIT Oracle Matrix XLR
Power: 2x Torus RM20 (one x each amp on two dedicated 20 amp circuits)
Power cords all MIT Oracle ZIII
Audio rack Adona Zero reference
All internal and external stock fuses replaced with HiFi Tuning Supreme.

I rarely write on the forum but this is too big of a screw up to pass and I hope to save to somebody the frustration I went thru.

Besides if some of you has a very positive experience with other computer based systems please share . Help is always appreciated.

I hear good things about Solos by Meridian or the USB Thumb reader by Bryston and I'll probably move on one of the two.... life continues......

so if you'll see my Mach2mini for sale on Audiogon in the near future you already know why..............................
128x128alessandro1

Showing 6 responses by audioengr

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Mach2music is not at fault here. Not fair to blame them. The latest Amarra is unfortunately not great sounding, just like Mach2 claims. You should backtrack and install the previous version, 2.2.3. Ask Mach2 how to uninstall properly and install the new version. This version enabled me to get best of show at RMAF in 2011. Version 1.2 got me best of show in 2010. I avoided the in-between versions 2.0-2.1 because they were not good. All Amarra back versions are usually available. BTW, Jon of Sonic Studio is aware of the Amarra SQ problem and is working on a fix for a newer Amarra version that is forthcoming.

If you have no patience for that, then just install Pure Music.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
I'll email you.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
The bridge is very good, but have you read this:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1320430393&openflup&74&4#74

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"It will just report what is stored on the hard drive and many people won't like this non-editorialized sound."

This is not the defect with most digital playback, and I mean both CD transports and Computer Audio. The real defect with both is simply jitter.

Once you deal with this properly, then computer audio can beat both CD transports and Vinyl. There is no way in hell that vinyl can achieve the dynamics possible with digital audio, even 44.1. Its physically impossible. The original digital samples should not be "editorialized" either, just played back with the lowest possible jitter.

I'm not saying that there are not poor computer audio systems and CD transports because there are, lots. But how many people need to post that their computer digital systems outperform their vinyl before your mind is opened?

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"Audioengr: outperforming vinyl?"

You bet, here is an exerpt from a review posted on one of the forums:

"Specifically, there are three areas where the XXXX is superior to my vinyl playback: vocal presentation, drum sound and bass articulation.
The bass that the XXXX delivers is stunning. Bass lines are clear and articulate. Kick drums nearly have the thump of standing next to a parade when a marching band goes by. Vocals, as well, are nothing short of amazing. The vocal inflections and nuances that are suddenly audible make the singers eerily present. Drums literally come to life. Play some latin/carribean music with a busy percussion section – you’ll be blown away by what you hear."

I also have my share of Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. It's fantastic sounding, even CD rips. Maybe not quite as good as some newer remastered tracks, but no ticks and very dynamic and live. Some of the Verve Ella is wonderful. I have even used it at shows. The Count Basie from highdeftapetransfers.com is remarkable in 24/96. This is a R-R tape transfer.

There are certainly poorly transferred CD's from the early days of the CD, but more and more of them are being remastered and sound amazing. The Let it Bleed from the Stones on HDTracks at 24/176.4 is amazing. So is the remastered Led Zeppelin box set. Sounds like a modern recording. It takes a Computer Audio system with low jitter, noise and distortion to deliver this, and many dont qualify. One must choose the right ripper and playback software too, not just WMP or iTunes.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Does anyone else think that it is suspicious that the originial poster never posted again? He apparently did nothing to improve his situation and then report back? No update on service from Mach2music?
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