Extra HF reverb…. microphonic tubes will do that trick….
Interesting patent.
The world does need a better sounding phone…..
Mark Levinson Has Saved Me And My MUSIC!!
I am so thoroughly impressed with the Daniel Hertz Master Class Software/C Wave technology.
As a music/artist first audiophile, i.e., someone who doesn’t restrict myself to audiophile recordings only, I possess thousands of poor recordings themselves or poor quality files (mp3s) from very talented obscure artists around the world, accrued over 30 years. I have them because it was the only option.
I was on the fence about buying this software because i hate the sight of anything Apple...and one needs to have a Macbook to install this software. But, i bit the bullet and got myself a Mac.
This software has been the perfect salvage tool for suboptimal recordings and poor quality digital files. It has breathed life into so many old recordings and made them so much more enjoyable. This may easily be the best 600 bucks i’ve ever spent.
Limitations:
This software is only for converting existing lousy quality digital files prior to playback.
If you want the software to intervene and salvage your music on the fly, i.e. streaming, etc, you may need to cough up the dough for his Maria all-in-one streamer+dac+amp (not cheap). I have not decided if i want to go that route because i prefer to buy hires digital files (albums) for permanent ownership whenever i can, i.e., not just "rent" it from a streaming service. I use streaming services only to discover music. The software is good enough for me.
Other:
The deemed health benefits from music processed through this software for playback (the pilot test he talks about in this video) are yet to be seen, in my case, at least. I haven’t visited the doctor for a checkup, or intend to be a guinea pig or prove that the latter is true. But, if it makes me healthier, so be it...I am already extremely happy with the software!!!
Keep listening guys/gals!
39 responses Add your response
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There is a lot of unexplained (not easily quantifiable) phenomena w.r.t music and its impact on the human system ...For example, in classical east Indian music, there are raags separated for different times of the day as they are said to affect the body’s bio rythms differently. If you listen to a evening raag in the morning, it can make you physically uncomfortable (unexplainable). I have experienced this myself. Mark himself has dabbled with classical east Indian instruments for a while, he’s a sarod player...There are similar things discussed in Chinese tradition (other old cultures) as well. There is only so much that can be said about some experiential truths before it starts to sound nonsensical. He’s done some pilot study to try and demonstrate some impact on human health. I don’t know what the software does, but, I don’t believe or disbelieve anything. I am sure it will all seem like hogwash for all the self proclaimed sophisticated modern scientists scratching the surface with their ’modern science’. Apparently, their ancestors were all real dumb for tens of thousands of years, except for them...(okie...dokie). |
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Interesting video. Silly but interesting. There is no basis for saying that the analog waveform coming out of your DAC is stairstepped or "tic tic tic." But I can easily believe that processing the musical file by adding reverb and EQ can affect the listener's emotions. It would be an interesting research project to find out if certain recording techniques correlated with measurable emotions in the listener. I use a processor in my playback chain (BSG QOL) that adds depth and focus and I would bet that my emotional state is better when I use it than when I don't. I don't have any issue with Levinson's technique to improve the sound of recordings, I just wish he didn't rely on technobabble and new age claims of improving one's health. One more thing. I have a pretty good library of LPs and CDs and I play both regularly. I have never been able to perceive vinyl to be inherently superior to digital. At least on my system, the SQ is dependent on the recording rather than the format. I suspect that if you used Levinson's real time processor on a vinyl record it would have the same listener effect as for digital. |
Mark says analog reproduced from PCM digital is "non-continuous," ie stair-stepped and shows this in a diagram in his C Wave patent (below). This is simply not true. Digital samples are discrete point values when sampled. They do not get transformed into stair-stepped values when converting back to analog. The people here do a really good job at explaining all of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch? None of this is to say digital sounds better, worse, or the same as analog as that is subjective. The point is Mark’s characterization of what actually happening with the signal is not correct. Some people may not like digital for various reasons, but it isn’t because the reproduced analog signal is discontinuous. The origins of the software comes from Richard Burwen: "In 2002 the advent of the Pentium 2 computer made available enough processing power for high quality reverberation specialized for high frequencies. My goal in developing professional AUDIO SPLENDOR was to improve the sound of my own
20,000 watt home hi-fi system and incidentally to make software for recording studios. During development I sent sample music tracks to Mark Levinson who persuaded me to also develop consumer versions of AUDIO SPLENDOR for licensing to major companies. BURWEN BOBCAT RE was made available for downloading at this website. LG in Korea licensed BOBCAT MOBILE and built it into four different cell phone models. However LG failed to advertize their superior cell phone sound and sold only 1,500,000 units. Over many years licensing and download sales of BURWEN BOBCAT RE, and the more recent products, did not total enough to be called a real success. For my own sound system however, I feel that my eight years of software development at 60 hours per week, making every one of 1,400,000 long mathematic formulas work, has achieved monumental success. It sounds better then I imagined and was worth every minute. I use it many hours every day while listening, and permanent remastering of my nearly 40 years of concert recordings." Here is the C Wave patent. Scroll to the claims section. All that is being patented are the equalization and reverberation parameters. The patent examiner is not certifying the salubrious benefits! But maybe Mark will consider applying to the FDA for a medical device clearance for Maria given health claims. Why not... electric toothbrush manufactures do it.
https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/11925433
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“And no i hate the CCP... The CCP is not china no more than Biden is america or Trudeau Canada.” Well said @mahgister! The Histomap is great 👍 |
Some North Americans own blinders...😁 Now evaluate the civilization continuity and creativity looking at this map ? Do you see the US ? 😊 And this maps is erroneous because it lack 2 thousand years of China continuity civilization. Then they know something... By the way the time where China was not a major player is relatively short between 1700 and 1980.. The map is misleading too the Mongolian empire was "chinafied", the mongols became civilized adopting china refinement in all areas..
And no i hate the CCP... The CCP is not china no more than Biden is america or Trudeau Canada.
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<Sorry but chinese equipment is not a synonymus with trash... Sometimes yes sometimes not... @mahgister Thank you for having the courage to post this politically incorrect and troll-prodding, but so true, observation. I all-too-often roll my eyes but keep silent when I hear someone, here and elsewhere, condemn the efforts of nearly 1.5 BILLION people solely because of conclusory presumptions about where they live. As you say, garbage comes out of China, terrific stuff comes out of China, and everything in between comes out of China -- just like other countries. E.g., my superb EIZZ tone arm is in a class with popular 1-2 kilobuck Euro/American arms (as confirmed by my WallyTools instruments), but I paid a fraction of its list price b/c the dealer had a hard time selling it to Sinophobic buyers. And as a long-time Quad electrostatic hobbyist, I can confirm that the build quality, reliabiltiy, & overall QA of Quad’s ESLs improved dramatically when IAG moved its manufacturing from the UK to China. Sure, counterexamples are plentiful (we don't need an enumeration), but my point is that, like so many generalizations, an across-the-board condemnation of Chinese technology and manufacturing is not warranted. Nobody should let a purchase decision be driven solely by vague, generalized presumptions. It's just nice to hear a reasonable voice on the topic in this forum. |
@jasonbourne71 - I'm happy to be trapped in neurotic confusion, because it sounds better. |
"How many exceptions did you count in the past 25 years?"
It was you who made the statement that "ALL" modern vinyl blah blah blah. That’s like saying all modern turntables are junk after looking at only a Crosley or other "toy" table.
There are currently a LOT of companies making the best LP’s the world has ever seen or heard. Those who care enough can easily find them. It’s up to you to do the same, not I or anyone else.
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I’m pretty much a purist at heart and don’t use tone controls or DSP although I may well try the latter at some point as I’ve heard great results in other systems. In this case if there’s something that can make me wanna listen to a lot of my favorite music on digital from the 70s-80s again I’d be all in over that as I can’t bring myself to listen to it at all on my main system. And frankly $600 sounds like a bargain for something that could potentially bring me that much enjoyment if it works, and with a free trial what’s to lose? Thanks @deep_333 for bringing this to attention. |
@jasonbourne71 I know. I was trying to get OP and hater of all things Apple 🍏 (evrn granny Smith?) to acknowledge that this is just another flavour of s DAC. And let’s not mention it’s computer based too. |
@wsrrsw : Digital recording and playback is a tried and proven technology. The music waveform is perfectly preserved. To believe otherwise is to remain trapped in neurotic confusion! Which Mr. Levinson wants you to be so he can get your $600. |
@deep_333 I think it’s awesome that the software has made such a difference in your system, enjoyment in listening to music. That’s what I think most of us are all chasing when we are looking at gear or tweaks. Please don’t take my take on the video as any reflection of your post, excitement over what the software has done for you. My comments were purely based off of watching the video, your post, reflection on your experience does way more to promote the software than video. I just couldn’t follow the logic, beyond understanding digital starts off in a different waive form than analogue, which sounds logical to me. The rest, geez it was hard to not view the video in the same light as a late night infomercial talking up a crazy supplement that regrows your hair, helps you burn fat and whitens your teeth with a secret ingredient used by those living in the stone ages with the logic that in that age, everyone had hair, was ripped and had white teeth. I’ll give the software a look to see if I can figure out how to incorporate it into my system. I don’t have any downloaded files, I stream everything via Qobuz or 98-99 % of the time, once in a blue moon I’ll through in a CD. enjoy and thanks for sharing something that made a difference for you and that you are passionate about, what this forum is all about. |
@bdp24 + 100 |
@deep_333 To be clearer, I mean a DAC still doesn't smooth out into analog all those ones and zero's one hundred percent but only this "C Wave technology" does????? A DAC changes digital signal(s) back to analog.....so isn't "C Wave technology" just another DAC? |
@mm1tt77 , There is a FREE trial of the software. Convert some files (your mp3s, cd rips, flacs, etc) with it and play it through your existing streamer/renderer and DAC. If it feels like snake oil, move on and don’t worry about it. In my case, it did something significant enough for me to buy it |
This video feels like the culmination of why certain Audiophiles distrust various, unique approaches to making music sound better. Maybe it works but the presentation and the content are very difficult to take seriously. I was born in the late 70’s and love and to listen to music. I would guess a high percentage of all the music I have listened to in my lifetime has been digital, hasn’t been a barrier to me connecting emotionally to music. Very strange presentation and study. The elephant in the room for me would be a DAC converts a digital signal to analogue, at that point, wouldn’t the conversion correct the perfect waive issue? Algorithms are already used in certain types of DAC’s, FPAG’s and I think they are also used in DSP software. Would wonder what makes this particular algorithm unique in solving an issue that would be hard to even proof exists. This post got me thinking deeper than I anticipated I would, kudos to the OP for that.
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@wsrrsw Perhaps so. Keep in mind, the software just processes the files and gives you a converted file, essentially a file converter. You can play those files in your car, phone, or your hifi streamer/renderer and DAC. In other words, you still need your DAC. Think of the files as converted equivalents of original analog master tape. Vinyl fanatics believe their spinning plastic is pure and perfect, when played through a 100k turntable. But, even if it didn’t trace back to a hires digital studio master like newer albums, i.e., a old 60s album that could be traced to master tape, you will never get the master tape on the piece of noisy, thoroughly botched plastic. Mark has done a great service to music lovers and audiophiles by the giving you the equivalent of analog master tape.
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All of the advances made in audio gear over the past several decades bring me to mind of the early days of Mark Levinson when Mark actually owned the company. Mark Levinson audio gear has always had a cache about it. I remember when Mark started the company way back when. He offered extremely expensive gear for the time which was only sold in boutique type audio stores. As I recall Mark did the external design for his products and Tom Colangelo and John Curl designed the electronics. Construction was superb, and internal parts used in the manufacture of his components were military grade. Over the years I’ve owned a few pieces of Levinson gear: ML-1 and ML-6 dual mono preamplifiers, both of which were on the dark side sonically, but very pleasant to listen to. I remember that after Mark sold the company to Madrigal that he later attempted to buy the company back, but was unable to. He started Cello Audio where he went on to make further significant contributions to this hobby. Still few audio brands have maintained the cache of Mark Levinson over the years or have been as successful financially.
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If you or anyone else stream music 🎶, then this is a breakthrough the Denmark Audiogroup Everything is very good , theirAnsuz Ethernet switches uses several technologies such as multiples of passive,active Tesla coils, and several other technologies ,and no metal cases on Any of their products which eliminates Magnetism,hyterisis - noise . did you know all streaming brings in noise ? in digital house to house ,for one it’s not grounded. These switches start at around $2300, there are 4 models my brother has the middle one D3 worth every penny , your music now sounds like it should in depth and natural .he had the $3k innuos no contest , And their Ansuz cables much better then anything in their price class.BTW even their lowest price switch clears up your streaming and noise like no others ,synergistic not even in its class, by using multiple Tesla coils ,and other technologies it lowers noises in stages until beyond perceptions details and music lost ,interplay in the background now heard not just a blur .their power conditioner also has Tesla coil technologies ,if you buy the D2 cables then they become active shields that have 1/4 inch Mike jacks and thin cables on the switch to plug your cables into this takes the resolution and detail to another level still. My brother has a system of their equipment and Z3 Cryo speakers ,he sold his Wilson Shasha Daw for them ,sounds so good you hate to end the concert.sadly I have to save $$ that being said one item at a time. |
@jastralfu , All modern vinyl is cut from a hires digital studio master, botched, and put on noisy plastic, garnished with some wow and flutter.... You didn't miss anything without vinyl. Digital is the best medium, there is. But, it appears that it can be "enhanced" these days. |
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You are right about the price and rebranding gimmick... 😊
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@mahgister I know that. He was sued because one could get the exact same equipment for 1/10 the price he was selling the same equipment minus the brand name he used. Remember, John Curl designed most of his equipment when he sold it. He was not a designer nor an engineer. |
I listened to the demo tracks on his website and it makes a significantly audible difference. I stream mostly so I thought it wasn’t worth the cost but likely would buy it if it could convert streamed content. I have no frame of reference to analog sound though so I have no idea if it does what it claims with respect to that. |