[ArmchairPhilosopher]

I'm just talking 44.1k airplay - if both are using the same protocol (os vs. rogue amoeba), they arent necessarily passing the ALAC file the same?

Airplay doesn't transport audio files, it transports an audio stream that has been decoded from your audio file by the originating audio player application.

The audio player application decodes the given file into uncompressed audio data and hands that uncompressed stream of audio off to the operating system. Dozens of different things can happen after that point, however. And what exactly that will be is entirely up to the audio APIs that the audio player app is programmed around, how the audio pipeline on your Mac is set up, the macOS version that's in use, what third party applications you give permission to interfere with that pipeline, and how they in turn were implemented.

That's precisely why I, personally, am not a fan of third party audio pipeline applications like Airfoil, Loopback, Audio Hijack, SoundSource, et alia. Understanding the path your audio takes on any operating system is already a bit of a nightmare in the best of cases. Adding any more or less entirely opaque third party applications to that mix only complicates this without actually offering any actual benefit beyond some edge cases that some people insist on wanting to have covered.

 

[Ripper2860]

Doesn’t @bcowen run Phillips ECG tubes? I hear he’s quite fond of those

He loves them so much he sleeps with a matched quad under his pillow.

 

[mch12000]

Yeah, it's really weird how little is actually being said anywhere about the Kara, either here or out in the big universe of audio media and reviewers. I did see a Kara in the background of one of Steve Guttenberg's recent videos, so hopefully he's got something to say about it soon. Otherwise, nada.

I've seen a couple of Steve Guttenberg's videos, so I can tell you how this one will go.

He will state that the Kara's sound signature is full, and robust. He will compare it to a $150 preamp, and a $1500 preamp, and state that the Kara falls somewhere in between the two. Paired with his Kef LS50's, the top end will sparkle. With his Cornwalls, the low end will be satisfying. All while listening to an esoteric recording of a didgeridoo. (He was there for the recording!)

So in the end, you'll have more questions than answers, but you'll get to see the Viewer System of the Day!

Yeah, it's really weird how little is actually being said anywhere about the Kara, either here or out in the big universe of audio media and reviewers. I did see a Kara in the background of one of Steve Guttenberg's recent videos, so hopefully he's got something to say about it soon. Otherwise, nada.

 

[rkw]

And if you want to go wireless, bit-perfect just isn't a thing, no matter what you do.

Wireless to a Roon endpoint is bit perfect. Also DLNA/UPnP, but prone to unreliable connectivity issues.

 

[Jason Stoddard]

SchiitrMeet September
No Agenda, Yes Previews

Hey guys,

Let's go casual this time. No agenda. No blind listening. No theme. Let's just get together at the Schiitr, compare some California and Texas wines, and then...listen to some new stuff.

These are the two (or maybe three) new things I teased about. I won't say what they are, but I will say that if you want to experience them to their fullest, bring records, or bring headphones that have both 1/4" and 4-pin XLR connections, or bring both. And yes, records, but no, Sol isn't coming back.

So, here's your invite to join us next week at the Schiitr in Newhall. Questions? Send them to Denise at denise@schiit.com.

SchiitrMeet September
Wednesday, September 27
6-10PM

22508 Market Street
Newhall, CA 91321

Don't feel like seeing us in person? Can't make the trip from Scotland or Singapore? Please join us on Facebook or YouTube. Starts at 6. That's 18:00 for you fancy people who use 24-hour clocks, GMT-7. The video bit goes about 45 minutes.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZqCWt2_qqB-UD0-pcPpxCw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Schiit/

All the best,
Jason

 

[Ripper2860]

if you want to experience them to their fullest, bring records...

Woohoo!!!! Does this mean the TUBE PHONO PREAMP is finally a thing!!??

 

[savage233]

SchiitrMeet September
No Agenda, Yes Previews

Hey guys,

Let's go casual this time. No agenda. No blind listening. No theme. Let's just get together at the Schiitr, compare some California and Texas wines, and then...listen to some new stuff.

These are the two (or maybe three) new things I teased about. I won't say what they are, but I will say that if you want to experience them to their fullest, bring records, or bring headphones that have both 1/4" and 4-pin XLR connections, or bring both. And yes, records, but no, Sol isn't coming back.

So, here's your invite to join us next week at the Schiitr in Newhall. Questions? Send them to Denise at denise@schiit.com.

SchiitrMeet July
Wednesday, September 27
6-10PM

22508 Market Street
Newhall, CA 91321

Don't feel like seeing us in person? Can't make the trip from Scotland or Singapore? Please join us on Facebook or YouTube. Starts at 6. That's 18:00 for you fancy people who use 24-hour clocks, GMT-7. The video bit goes about 45 minutes.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZqCWt2_qqB-UD0-pcPpxCw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Schiit/

All the best,
Jason

Im a little sad now. I literally ordered a mani 2 today and this post has me worried i may want to change/upgrade outside of the return window. But still excited to see what is in store!

 

[ArmchairPhilosopher]

Wireless to a Roon endpoint is bit perfect. Also DLNA/UPnP, but prone to unreliable connectivity issues.

Correct, but that's an entirely different animal. We were talking the likes of AirPlay, ChromeCast, etc., which send audio streams, not files, and which use their own (sometimes) fixed bit- and sample rate streams to do so.
Roon does send the audio file between nodes and endpoints, not an audio stream. At least in most cases, by my current understanding.

 

[Paladin79]

Woohoo!!!! Does this mean the TUBE PHONO PREAMP is finally a thing!!??

Lol some of us would buy one. Even solid state, mine would be going into a 14 tube amp so I could certainly get by. Tube phono preamps can be very sensitive, I cannot get my phone anywhere near one I am using now.

 

[sixergixer]

I've seen a couple of Steve Guttenberg's videos, so I can tell you how this one will go.

He will state that the Kara's sound signature is full, and robust. He will compare it to a $150 preamp, and a $1500 preamp, and state that the Kara falls somewhere in between the two. Paired with his Kef LS50's, the top end will sparkle. With his Cornwalls, the low end will be satisfying. All while listening to an esoteric recording of a didgeridoo. (He was there for the recording!)

So in the end, you'll have more questions than answers, but you'll get to see the Viewer System of the Day!

Ol' Steve-O is on to different speakers now! He's got some fancy open baffle speakers (can't recall the brand), and some Zu DW6, which is exactly what I'm pretty locked into getting. That's the main reason I watch his reviews, to see how stuff plays (or doesn't) with Zus.

Otherwise, your assessment of his review is spot on.

EDIT: He will also state that he was "just digging the sound! It was taking him there."

 

[33na3rd]

Im a little sad now. I literally ordered a mani 2 today and this post has me worried i may want to change/upgrade outside of the return window. But still excited to see what is in store!

No, this news doesn't mean that you'll have to send Mani back.
But, it might mean that you'll need to get an additional turntable!

 

[savage233]

No, this news doesn't mean that you'll have to send Mani back.
But, it might mean that you'll need to get an additional turntable!

Solid point. I’ll see if my wife agrees lol. Genuinely sad there’s no Sol + to convince her to let me buy

 

[DavidSerig]

Yeah, it's really weird how little is actually being said anywhere about the Kara, either here or out in the big universe of audio media and reviewers. I did see a Kara in the background of one of Steve Guttenberg's recent videos, so hopefully he's got something to say about it soon. Otherwise, nada.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...t-kara-preamp-and-headphone-amp-review.48048/

Good question..

Little over a week ago I asked a question in the dedicated Kara-thread. Unfortunately there was no reaction. I join you now in asking for information about the quality of the Kara as a headphone amp :

Can anyone offer some (reasonably) detailed comparison between Kara and one of the dedicated headphone amps? I recently decided to upgrade my non-headphone hifi-system and started with a secondhand Aegir. Really glad with that. For now I'm using an old pair of KEF Q1 speakers, the ultimate goal being a pair of Sonus faber Minima Amator II .. (Come on lottery !)
I'm assuming there will be a second Aegir somewhere along the way, for which you need a balanced pre-amp. Enter Kara !

Would replacing the Lyr3+ that I'm using to drive my beloved Quad ERA I with the Kara be an OK choice? Adding the Kara could mean going balanced from my Bifrost 2/64 via Kara to Aegir mono's and still going single-ended to the Lyr3+. But if the Kara sounds 'as good as' with headphones...

Any thoughts?

The above review shows the headphone amp is weakest with low impedance cans, and great with high impedance cans. Amir claims he heard bass distortion at high vol with a Dan Clark Steatlh 25 ohms hard as f to drive but Senn 650 was great.

 

[LobalWarming]

Woohoo!!!! Does this mean the TUBE PHONO PREAMP is finally a thing!!??

Maybe. Maybe not.

Could also be a tasty new phono cartridge technology. The Schiitake™ MM (moving mushroom) cartridge.

 

[DavidSerig]

Tubes for Freya+
What's the general consensus for a "step up" tube from the default JJ tubes in the Freya+. Not looking to spend too much just interested in something that's different enough to hear the change. Maybe it's good or bad to my ears, but curious as to what changes I might see hear.

The Tung Sol are good, and you can roll tubes, I like the Gold Lion 6922 with adapter.

The Sylvania "Bad Boy" though it's difficult to know it's an actual bad boy, note the flashing on bottom, square top, three holes .... Don't be fooled by similar Sylvania tubes listed bad boy that have small differences like the flashing on top ... though such tubes may have similar sonics such as a full sound and big bass.

I haven't heard the JJ but the Tung Sol with sound airier with an enhanced top end, so those and the Bad Boy gives you two options.

I have a tin ear YMMV.

Also I guess the Chinese colored, funky shaped tubes also have a colored sound that stands out.