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I just started looking into Amarra AND based on a thread on here some people swear by it.
I really dont understand what it does.
Would I need to re-rip my music through Amarra to get the benefits?
Amarra, PureMusic, Fidelia, and others are in vogue for music playback on the Mac currently. As I understand it, they upsample the file before sending it on to the DAC, with the supposition that you will get a better transfer. I also happen to believe that the music is "tampered with" in an proprietary fashion. This is configurable to some degree. They will all handle hi rez files correctly.
These provide two important modes: 1) Memory play - where the program will place the whole file into memory (assuming there is enough) and plays the file from memory. 2) 'Hog" or "exclusive access" mode where the program is given complete control of the DAC interface. These two functions will markedly improve your sound. A third one is called 'integer mode", which none of my DACs will run, so I have not studied enough on it to make comments. Integer mode is currently broken on OSX Lion.
They all play pretty much any file you give them, you will not need to re-rip your lossless files like FLAC or ALAC.
Native iTunes will not change the frequency/bit depth sent for each song. Usually the Mac is set to 16/44.1, and is changed in the Midi config utility, and Core Audio downsample your high rez files (or upsample if you set it higher in Midi). The program Bitperfect (available in the app store) will give this property to iTunes, and provide "bitperfect" output just like the name says. Decibel is another file player program in the app store that will play pretty much everything bit perfect, and not use iTunes at all.
Many of the above programs have a trial period, and I suggest you try as many of them as you can before purchasing one. I know that I have missed mentioning several other programs, but that is enough to get started with.
And also be aware that some of these programs attempt to make your music sound "better" and some just concentrate on "bitperfect" output. Some work with iTunes, some just read from the iTunes library, and others you have to set the pointer to your music file directory.