If a signal is modified it is not bitperfect anymore. If iTunes + Amarra sounds better to you than just iTunes, either iTunes modifies the signal so it's not bitperfect or Amarra has some build in equalizer that modifies the signal so it's not bitperfect anymore, too.
If both iTunes + Amarra and just Amarra sound different at least one of them does not give a bitperfect signal.
On my rig iTunes already gives a bitperfect signal so there is no need for any of these applications. (Except I want USB file buffering, automatic sample rate switching, ...).
Besides being bit perfect, timing has to be considered on all the programs. It has been proven all these are bitperfect but to my ears I can clearly hear a difference between them. Even Audirvana Plus direct/integer mode sounds better than without it. But I'm sure both settings are bitperfect.
So I don't think just being bitperfect is the whole picture. Now if iTunes sounds the same, no reason to use anything else. But all the other programs have free trials so everyone can test in their own setup and hear for themselves. I use all these without oversampling, leaving bitperfect signal intact.
I too thought this was all a bunch of crap until I heard for myself.
I was pretty skeptical about bit-perfect software players having audible differences, too. Then I compared Pure Music to Audirvana and darned if I couldn't hear a distinct and repeatable difference between the two.
Note that the author of the paper quoted is the developer of A+.
I was pretty skeptical about bit-perfect software players having audible differences, too. Then I compared Pure Music to Audirvana and darned if I couldn't hear a distinct and repeatable difference between the two.
Note that the author of the paper quoted is the developer of A+.
I was going to point that out and yes, you can say he could have an agenda.
For me the biggest difference had been enabling direct/integer mode. Pure Music and Audirvana + did sound pretty close before using direct/integer . As mentioned, you need to have a device capable of this mode.
I'll attach one other article talking about all these players. I'm not trying to convince anyone but just trying to provide addition info for why some may be hearing differences. In the end,I couldn't care less how someone setups their system. But I feel I had success with Audirvana + integer/mode and Hiface 2, so I wanted to pass that on.
IMHO there is a significant difference between iTunes and specialty software. There are plenty of free or low cost alternatives you can try out for yourself. Audirvana free comes to mind. Graphs, measurements, and whitepapers will never replace your ears.
iTunes is doing 1000 things at once, syncing your iPhone, downloading cover art, updating your "genius playlist", fornicating with iCloud etc. Even if you turn off "enhancement" and run it full volume, and restart it every time you start a new file with a different sample rate. And it's running everything full bore thru core audio which is also processing the audio for the porn you're watching, system sounds, and audio for pop up ads for Chinese Brides on Pirate's Bay while you're browsing. It's all pretty amazing software.That's why we love our Macs.
If you're happy with iTunes, that's great. But this thread is about "ALTERNATIVES to iTunes." Who knows, maybe these other solutions are a "bit-less-perfect" ? I don't know and don't really care. Most of us have made up our minds after hearing other software thru OUR gear and thru OUR ears.
Can we move this discussion to an iTunes appreciation thread? If one doesn't exist already I'm sure it would be very lively and very popular.
I've just bought my first Amp/Dac being the Audio Gd NFB 15.1 and recently purchased the full version of Audirvana Plus. I really have no idea what i'm doing with this thing at the moment. Is there a way to set up Audirvana with optimum settings? I'm having issues with the amps drivers as it is but thats a side issue at the moment. Just feeling a bit bombarded at the moment and not quite sure where to start. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I just recently got Audirvana too. Sonically it is an appreciable step up from itunes, of course. I didn't expect to hear the amount of difference I do, I'm quite stunned really. This is running via Headstage DAC cable to O2 amp, feeding my modded T50RP orthos. The big differences are in clarity and soundstage space. Going back to itunes is pretty unthinkable now, and when I do it all sounds so constrained and less defined, more murky. For this kind of difference, I feel it's $50 well spent. I am quite happy, and it makes my work days more enjoyable.
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