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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 tomcy6

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,540 posts
 
Pettyofficer, I don't want to get you riled up but there is more good music available on cd and lp right now than you could listen to in your lifetime, if you are willing to keep an open mind and explore different genres. This music will be availble on the auction sites for many years to come, maybe even at very low prices.

Eventually they will get the bugs and record company issues worked out of music server systems and another deluge of music will become available.

You really should let this one go and spend the time you devote to this issue finding new music and enjoying the music you already have. The clock is running.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,540 posts
 
Foster9, I think you will just have to be patient a while longer unless you're computer inclined. Server based audio still needs time to develop.

I've been hearing that hi res downloads are almost here since the late 90s and they are still almost here. We are a lot closer now but still not there. Cd sound is steadily improving and SACDs are seeing some reissue action.

We'll know when servers are ready. Until then, there is a lot of music available on disc to enjoy.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,540 posts
 
Hi Hfisher, I'm not saying that computer audio doesn't sound good, there are plenty of people raving about it. It's just that when I start looking into it, it gets complicated and buggy fast. Also, my stereo is not close to my router. Is that a problem?

What kind of Mac mini do you have, how do you control it and how hard was it to set it all up? I've been spinning lps and cds for quite a while so I can continue to do that until music servers get real user friendly.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,540 posts
 
Hfisher, It's good to hear another report of great sound quality on a server system. I'm sure it's especially satisfying when you put some hard work into acheiving it.

I am a lazy audiophile though. I am happy playing discs and although I'm sure my system produces well below SOTA sound, I still enjoy it. I will wait until some audio engineer comes up with a server system aimed at the less ambitious audiophile. Thanks for your replies and enjoy your music!
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,540 posts
 
Chadeffect, I hate to tell you this but even if the signal coming out of your DAC is as pure as the driven snow the rest of your system is coloring it. And for that matter, the file on your server is a pale reflection of what was heard by the musicians in the recording studio. Get rid of that junk you're listening to and make friends with some good musicians.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,540 posts
 
Chadeffect,

I think the attraction of vinyl is that it's the way that people listened when they developed their taste in music, not that it's a superior format. Maybe a couple of decades ago, but digital is more accurate to the master tape or file now or will be soon.

I do think that people should listen to what sounds good to them though, not what is called accurate or what they are supposed to like.
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