I am using a Mac Mini, “headless” without a keyboard mouse or display and connected directly to my DAC via USB. Can I ask what you have Audirvana running on? One other thing I have realised this afternoon, is that if the MDAC works in my system I am happy to be limited to 24/96, as 16/44 is giving me all I need.Mahler123, you mentioned you don’t want to use a PC. I am looking forward to hearing the lighter note sometime, to see whereabouts EVA sits in relation to other LDR's, but I want now to make my system 'pre-less' more than ever. What an album, and I like to think the system is sounding really good today too. The music is always there (and it is the main pursuit), but today I can reach out and touch it. No small thing that, for someone who vacillates between enthusing (idly) over new gear and being jaded with HiFi in general.
Several times this afternoon I have pulled up from whatever I'm doing to just listen to a passage - that I thought I knew - and marvelled at the beauty of it.
There's a lot more going on, but I really don't know how to put it into words. The detail that jumps out is surprising, the shading in the tones is much clearer to hear, and the imaging is more 3-d. The comparison is almost embarrassing for poor EVA, decent though she is - no pre is sooo much better than a pre in the system.
The previous update also put more steps into the volume control, which is useful (although the first step is still too loud). I take this to mean it doesn't drop resolution, 'bits', or dynamic range (in the general use of the term). I currently favour an EVA II with linear power supply, which won out repeatedly against a very fine NVA P90.Ī+ lets me control the volume through the software, and is dithered. I say 'Pre' in inverted commas, it isn't really a pre-amplifier at all - more a passive attenuator. I still favour A+, and will buy a license for sure.įYI, did you know the iTunes integration is supposedly on for the end of the year?Īnyhow, I have been playing about with the 'pre' situation again.
You see, I have the requisite couple of hours for a bit of nerding about, and have been comparing A+ to Decibel again with a track from this album. It has always been a 'hard work' listen in my view, but - like 'Gold' -Įminently worthy musically, lyrically and also in terms of production My goodness me, why haven't I played this for so long?! I copied this over from the 'listening to.' thread, as it started a train of thought Incidently, anyone know if the MDAC is 'core audio compatible' (which I take to mean integer mode compatible)?
I definately think it's worth a trial - anyone else fancy a go? Also I can't use integer mode, which - according to many - is what makes Audirvana special. I played normal Audirvana the other evening after updating to the latest versiom, and I have to say that I am uncertain Decibel has an advantage over it. So eminently reasonable, like Decibel - and potentially an improvement on it. There is a trial period of a fortnight, then a license is $50. Coupled with integer mode (which the Young cannot support, neither does Lion) it is supposed to be something really very good. If it works as promised then that really is a viable alternative to any pre-amp as it won't drop any resolution (no matter how noticable that is, we hate the thought of dropping our bits.)Īudirvana has always done memory play a little differently to others, in that the song is loaded - and then processed/decoded/whatever(?) before playback starts. It features fully dithered digital attenuation now, which is definately a one up on Decibel. Note that I'm not seeking to discuss if that is audible, just pointing out the changes.
It now does everything Decibel has (so technically no advantage to Decibel anymore) like 64 bit processing. Just going on specs I am pretty excited about this.