Amarra - anyone using it?

[iamoneagain]

I'm curious , in the case of Apple Music, since HiFi handles files played via iTunes and Apple Music is now integrated into the iTunes desktop app is there any need for SQ (besides the additional EQ features) or is it still required since it is a streaming source?

Like you I'm kind of split between really liking the Apple interface but also really enjoying the quality of Tidal. I'll need to do some careful comparisons to see if I can justify the extra £10 a month for lossless Tidal since I keep reading that 256AAC - at least in theory - is considered to be an excellent codec at least on a par if not better than 320kbps MP3 and I know that in the past I have found it tough to distinguish between 320 and CD , although at times I've felt like I could and I'm sure some can.

If I feel like I can hear a difference I'll probably hold out for Amarra for Tidal although I worry about Tidal's longevity since, apart from the niche market for lossless, right now it's hard to see them competing long term with Apple Music and Spotify for compressed, especially since they don't offer a free tier to get you through the door.

I'm not sure you can use HiFi for the streaming part.  I have the regular Amarra program and I'll test it.  But I think you'll need sQ to handle to new Apple Music part.
 
And as far as Apple offering lossless, there were rumors over a year ago that the iTunes store was going to be offering them.  They also though could even be in 24/96K format.  They have asked all the record label to provide in 24/96 format, so I think it's all in place.  

 

[KC33]

I wound up doing a trial on the regular Amarra 3.0. I did a playlist yesterday and it did sound more vibrant. I'm not sure I understand the difference between the package of SQ and HiFi vs. Amarra 3.0. (except that the package is 50 bucks as opposed to 99.) I will be using it for streaming Apple music which includes my own music exclusively. Otherwise I use my DAP and or amp. Do you guys think that for streaming one might be more suited than the other?

 

[Jeb Listens]

Hey Jeb,

Since the Mastered for iTunes program started, Apple has been amassing a library of decent resolution masters that, some day, they could mine for a lossless service. Many factors are in play but, by the time Apple decides to do that, TIDAL will have cemented its place in the streaming services market, at least for a while…

BTW, been testing Amarra for TIDAL for a while and have been comparing it to straight iTunes CD playback, TIDAL’s Mac OS standalone and TIDAL-via-Chrome. A4T wins hands down for SQ plus having Sonic EQ is mighty handy…

very cool - makes me excited for Amarra for Tidal! Can you share anything else about the user experience and interface? Plus do you have any info on any kind of firm release date - are they still compiling your feedback?

Jeb

 

[iamoneagain]

I just tested the Apple Music streaming part with Amarra 3.0 in integrated mode and it does not work.  But Amarra sQ does. 
 
The reason you might choose Amarra 3.0 over Hifi is you can use cache and playlist mode which should improve the sound even more. I have not heard Hifi but I do hear an improvement just using playlist mode vs integrated mode with Amarra 3.0.

 

[Jeb Listens]

And as far as Apple offering lossless, there were rumors over a year ago that the iTunes store was going to be offering them.  They also though could even be in 24/96K format.  They have asked all the record label to provide in 24/96 format, so I think it's all in place.  

thats good to hear - I do feel it will be a lot easier for services with established user bases on free/compressed tariffs to convince people to upgrade to losless rather than starting from scratch as Tidal is, especially if Apple were to undercut them e.g £15, which I'm sure they could quite easily do.

I guess my doubt is that losless is always likely to be a small market by Apple's standards unless there's a big shift in the market - but if anyone can convince people to buy something they may not really "need" its probably Apple. Certainly more so than Neil Young.

Sure it would somewhat devalue all of the music thousands of people already bought at 256 but they already did that once when they switched from 128 and if we see a huge shift towards streaming with Apple Music it won't matter anyway since there's no ownership.

We'll see! In the meantime its Amarra for Tidal for me. Cheers guys!

Jeb

 

[iamoneagain]

My guess is Apple thought of offering lossless at one point but that shifted once they bought Beats.  Put all the effort into just getting Apple Music ready.  Then in a year to make things new and exciting, can offer lossless tier streaming and 24/96K downloads to buy.  Have Apple Tv include coaxial outputs and 24/96K to hook up to hi-end stereo.  Have new iphones capable of playing 24/96K and make claim of offering the best included headphones.  
 
It may be a niche maker right now but they can do like others are doing and offer Apple Music to hardware manufactures.  They already said it's coming to Sonos.  So market 256K AAC perfect for all you mobile needs and lossless perfect for all your home needs.  Probably even have the Beats hardware devision crank out some supposed hi-end home equipment.
 
As said, I don't see Tidal sticking around in the long run.  I just hope they stay around long enough until the other guys start offering lossless.  Maybe Spotify buys them out.  But not even sure a buyout is necessary since can probably do on their own. 

 

[Jeb Listens]

Great observations! I do hope this all comes to pass.

My guess is Apple thought of offering lossless at one point but that shifted once they bought Beats.  Put all the effort into just getting Apple Music ready.  Then in a year to make things new and exciting, can offer lossless tier streaming and 24/96K downloads to buy.  Have Apple Tv include coaxial outputs and 24/96K to hook up to hi-end stereo.  Have new iphones capable of playing 24/96K and make claim of offering the best included headphones.  

It may be a niche maker right now but they can do like others are doing and offer Apple Music to hardware manufactures.  They already said it's coming to Sonos.  So market 256K AAC perfect for all you mobile needs and lossless perfect for all your home needs.  Probably even have the Beats hardware devision crank out some supposed hi-end home equipment

 

[omasciarotte]

very cool - makes me excited for Amarra for Tidal! Can you share anything else about the user experience and interface? Plus do you have any info on any kind of firm release date - are they still compiling your feedback?

 
Hey Jeb,
 
Here's a pic:

Since Amarra for TIDAL is audio-only, with no videos like the regular TIDAL players, it streamlines things a bit. The UI is pretty self-explanatory (and subject to change so don’t be shocked if it does). Sorry, no info as to a release.
 
Unless I’m testing, I mostly listen via AirPlay on my main system while I work. It’s nice to read a review and immediately pull up the album to listen…

 

[Jeb Listens]

   
Hey Jeb,
 
Here's a pic:

Since Amarra for TIDAL is audio-only, with no videos like the regular TIDAL players, it streamlines things a bit. The UI is pretty self-explanatory (and subject to change so don’t be shocked if it does). Sorry, no info as to a release.
 
Unless I’m testing, I mostly listen via AirPlay on my main system while I work. It’s nice to read a review and immediately pull up the album to listen…

 
Omasciarotte, 
 
awesome - thanks for the sneak peak - the  "look" seems okay to me, perhaps not quite as polished as Tidal's own desktop app (which I quite like), but perhaps that's just to be expected - although it does bother me a little but I will reserve judgement on that until it's finalised and i've seen it in the flesh.  Definitely looking forward to giving this a go though.   After trying Tidal and demoing SQ+, I'm a *believer*.
 
I've had it with CDs - recently took the last of mine to the local Charity shop....  they didn't even want my VHS tapes.  
 
Jeb.

 

[KC33]

I spoke with someone at Sonic Studio yesterday regarding Amara 3.0. It was an extremely helpful conversation which lasted almost an hour. No hype, sales pitch or anything of the sort. At any rate we did a remote with my Mac and went over a ton of options, some of which was over my head but interesting nonetheless. 
 
Bottom line, Amarra 3.0 is wonderful for local music. HiFi is an option as well but I didn't listen to it. For lack of a better description, it's a dumbed down Amarra 3.0 for local music.
 
Amarra does not work for streaming unless you are using your own music, locally. So, if you were to use Apple Music and have your music on there as well it would work fine. But, you're not actually streaming at that point.
 
If you just want to use a Sonic Studio product for streaming, that's where SQ/SQ+ comes in to play. I used it all day yesterday and it sounds good. However, I have Boom2 which actually works quite well. After comparing the two I see no reason to change. If I didn't already have Boom2 I might pick SQ but I would do a more extensive A/B before deciding. IMO there's no reason to have both.
 
One thing is for certain and that's that Sonic Studio is passionate about their products and went above and beyond in explaining how it all works. If you do call them don't hesitate to leave a message, as I did. My call was returned within 30 minutes.

 

[longbowbbs]

I really enjoy Amarra. Always great to see how they stand so firmly behind their product!

 

[Jeb Listens]

I agree it's always nice to hear you can receive such attentive and personal support.  Great stuff.  
 
It seems like we're at an exciting moment for Streaming audio.  I'm not sure if this is opening a can of worms but in general is there any reason that locally played music would sound different/better than streamed music assuming they are the same album/master/resolution and your internet bandwidth is sufficient to offer uninterrupted play when streamed? 

 

[pigmode]

Recently upgraded to 3.0 Symphony. Amarra still has a seriously crap gui, plus why have a parametric equalizer and have only 5 bands?

 

[iamoneagain]

So I just got the Amarra newsletter and it says Amarra for Tidal is coming out July 7th for the Mac and Windows version is on it's way.  I would assume the Windows one would be out a month later based on the original schedule but who knows.

 

[iamoneagain]

Amarra for Tidal is finally available for the Mac.  Haven't time to do any testing.  Only saw webpage is updated.