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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
sgr's avatar
sgr
689 posts
 
I have put together a great system built around the PS Audio PWT, PWD, and Bridge now at MK II status. At times it has been a frustrating experience. As an early adopter of this system I've taken a crash course in all manner of new vocabulary and learned many new skills. It has been a fun time. Now to the sound quality.
The sound of the PWT and PWD mk ii together via the I2S HDMI rivals some of the best out there. Is this the best available? I don't know as I've not heard all the contenders.
The sound of Bridge with PWD MK II Is very close to the thound of the PWT and PWD. And with all the advantages that a server based system brings. Being able to play all my music using my iPad is really a great experience. Yes it was a pain to rip all my CDs , but once this is done and a backup system is implemented it is easy to maintain and add new material.
The convenience and fun of accessing all my music more than compensates the very slight decrease in fidelity and with each update PS Audio closes the gap between PWT and Bridge.
As for HD content, the quality of the sound is much more dependent on the skill of the producer of the album or CD than the format. One cannot manufacture a silk purse from a sow's ear. This has been a weakness of analog and vinyl as well as digital. It is not the format of the music that is to blame but the skills, experience, and desires of the artist, recording producer, label. It is not the format that causes sucky recordings.
So in a word, yes, it is possible for server based systems to sound excellent and if one is ready to embrace something new and spend the same amount of time tweaking your system as you would tweaking a hi definition analog rig one can have a server based system that can easily be compared to the very best in analog/vinyl and the best of the digital world of transports and DACs.
chadeffect
586 posts
 
I think a lot of you guys need to buy better gear. If you feel a good hard drive based system sounds worse than any other makes wonder about the sanity of many audiophiles here.

I understand that some systems sound better than others. In that case you need to find/ choose a better performing set up.

If you listen to music made in the last 10 years or so, it is highly likely it was recorded on such systems in the 1st place. It's only a file (wav/Aiff) being played back. Get yourself one of the better Weiss FW DACs. The only disappointment will be the emptiness of the bank account. But sonics will be fine. Use decent cables & keep the computer power isolated from the rest of the system.
jdoris
852 posts
 
I'm always a little surprised to hear 'goners lamenting the complexity of computer-based audio, given that so much of what goes on around here *celebrates* complexity.

Sgr's got a statement computer based system, which I've enjoyed many times. It's complex, and he puts the hours in. But that was true *before* he went to CBA, just as for the many tri-amping, room treating, active cross-overing, subwoofing, analog-tinkering hobbyists around here. They *already* have an IT problem, and it sure looks like it brings them a lot of pleasure.

I work in front of a computer all day, but I'm a complete klutz, who hasn't memorized a single shortcut key. At this point, I don't want complexity in my music playback, and I don't have it: hard drive --> MAC/Pure Music --> DAC --> integrated --> speakers. I'm guessing that puts me on the low end of complexity around here.

Do I have the occasional IT hassle? Yes. Does this mean I spend a lot of time tinkering with my rig. No? And while I can't speak to convenienvce for a 3k CD collection, I certainly have better access to my 700 CD collection than I did with hard media. And personally, I found it fun to do the ripping. If I didn't, I'd find a kid to do it for 25-50 cents a pop, and spend a lot less than people spend on an interconnect.

How does it sound? Not as good as Sgr's big rig, as one would expect, given the investment. But to my ears, better than a lot I've heard, and miles better than the pretty ambitious CDP I replaced. (I agree with CHarles1dad that CBA is not inherently superior on sonics, but I do wonder what the people who think CBA can't compete sonically have listened to.)

No doubt, from the perspective of an IT professional, the SOTA for CBA is pretty kludgy, given what's technically possible. But that doesn't mean that the end user can't have something pretty lean and easy if that is what they desire (unlike a lot of audiophiles).

My2c,

John
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Charlesdad,

I pretty much agree with you. But the most important factor which you have not probably experienced yet is via a computer set up, especially if controlled via an iPad, brings a whole different aspect to your listening sessions.

With the best will in the world, with a CD player one seems to revolve around a certain amount of disks. The ones at the front of the pile usually!

With a server based system I have found I listen to music I forgot I had or just never got around to listening to.

The upshot is I listen to way more music. If I am not mistaken this is the whole point of Audiophilia. The gear should facilitate music listening. Not the other way around. With care the sonics are of the finest order too.

Yes it's a drag to import everything. It took me years. But it's done. Now I just enjoy with full artwork & information. I cannot imagine going back. It would be like watching TV without a remote control. Not flicking to see what else is on.

When we have listening sessions we pass the pad around for people to choose the next track or album. It is a wonderful way to enjoy music.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Chadeffect,
It seems you have a well organized and efficient CBA system that for certain soumds wonderful. I have nearly 1,000 CDs arranged alphabetically on the wall behind my listening position. It takes all of 20 seconds to walk to the rack(only 5 feet behind my couch) and select 1 or a few CDs to play. Very convenient and straight forward.

Again I have`nt any negative thoughts toward CBA at all, to me it`s simply a viable alternative,not'better' nor 'worse'.
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