2. pc-audio
  3. 1328246582

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
hfisher3380
167 posts
 
Tomcy6 - a bit presumptuous and condescending of you and a common misconception on the part of the digital crowd. That would be like me saying that the people who prefer digital just are not sensitive to things like truth of timbre and natural life-like, room-filling sound - they just prefer it because it's cheaper and easier.

In terms of what is truer to the master tape - hey, we heard those types of arguments before in the early '80s - "perfect sound forever", right?

Perhaps there are some of us who actually prefer vinyl because we think it sounds better?

I think it's folly to presume any reasons for anyone's personal taste.

Sorry but you've hit a nerve here, I've heard this line of reasoning before and it smacks of elitism.
bjesien
614 posts
 
Just going through an old thread that I posted on. I love my mini with Ayre Dac. The problem is that I can't find any consistent high resolution downloads that are worth listening to.

My dac supports up to 192khz and some are great and others I delete or try to get a refund after downloading. I guess it's like any other medium where the recording matters. Just a bummer that most of the time you pay for magnified ass.
hfisher3380
167 posts
 
It would be nice if HDTracks would specify the source of the high rez downloads - i.e. which ones are upsampled and which are true high rez masters - of course this would defeat the purpose of upsamples but most of us have no problem with that!
pettyofficer
453 posts
 
Would be nice to get back to original issue raised at the
creation of this Thread. I say you need Music Selection
first to sell the idea of High Rez. Downloads to a larger
Customer base. Also need to technically resolve contradictory Sound Quality issues with Computer Audio-
make it more consistent reliable sound quality. Computer
Manufacturer's definitely not interested in this, High End
Manufacturer's have to fill in the Vacuum. It is time to
get serious (Not more convenient) with Computer Audio. You
are going to have work to make Computer Audio into the Format that "Someday all New Music will only be available as Music Downloads"! Hard work is not popular, neither is
buying into a Format that is not ready- make it so or lose
it! Failure is not an option- it is that simple! You have
already lost Alessandro1, the way you are going isn't working! CD wasn't ready, neither was SACD, nor DVD-Audio.
Plenty of examples there of how "NOT" to create a New Format! None of it having anything to do with convenience!
g_goodwin
18 posts
 
I had my Mac Mini upgraded by Mach2Music 2 months ago. I've made many enquiries regarding their battery power upgrade, with no reply. I have even tried emailing them with an alternate email thinking perhaps they didn't appreciate my initial enquiry?
Still no answer after 6 weeks of emailing.
I can only assume they are out of businees, or don't appreciate return business?
I can only hope a post like this will wake them up and realize decent customer service will bring them repeat business? Or the lack of customer service will scare people away?
I find it particularly frustrating that all my emails were answered promptly when I was in the market to go the initial Mach2Music route. Since then, nothing!
I could not even entice any acknowledgement with some more business, ie. the battery upgrade.
What's the deal? Anyone have any ideas?
Mach2Music....Is there anybody out there?
More to discover