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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..............................
alessandro1
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Ok so not quite my last word on the subject! Thank you Pettyofficer,

Nothing is making audio irrelivant especially not me. You have been given choice these days to have everything in 1 place. Easy to control & use.

There is nothing to suggest a computer, cannot cope with processing many things. Especially something as small as processing audio. You are just plain wrong with your premiss.

We are talking about getting fine technology tuned to do what we want it to do. Maybe one OS is more stable than another or easier to use, but that's it.

You seem to have a paranoid idea that Microsoft or apple want to destroy your entertainment & make things worse. I have seen little evidence for that. I would say I have evidence it's making it better. (replacing expensive boxes while sounding even better!)

Are you the kind of guy that would go back to a model T Ford once things like the Bugatti Veyron have been invented? Or does your hair shirt just fit so well that it doesn't itch anymore?

I have not noticed technology gradually getting worse as it evolves just yet.

As a test try listening to some recordings from the 1920s & then listen to a recording from this year. Try an example from ECM. Now compare the quality. After that come back and discuss.
hfisher3380
167 posts
 
Hey Pettyofficer, if even a Mac is too complicated for you and you'd prefer to spend more money on a "made for audio" computer, check this out:

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/650382

Looks like your dreams have come true!!! I think that EVEN YOU could figure out how to use it!!! No need for you to go without music when those of us adopters of this New Format (sic), Computer Audio (sic), conspire to eliminate all other Formats (sic).

You're welcome!
antigrunge
74 posts
 
This thread sucks! If you want to discuss religion, go elsewhere. Otherwise try and stay factual
pettyofficer
462 posts
 
And who, pray tell, invented lower than CD resolution
MP3? Was it you Chadeffect? Was it you Hfisher3380? Was
it you Antigrunge? Am I paranoid, or starting my own
Religion for calling out the Rocket Scientists at
Microsoft/Apple/Macintosh- for creating this abysmal
MP3? How in the hell did advanced technology back us up
to a "Model T" lower than CD resolution MP3? With this
kind of technology maybe you could eventually work your
way back to "Re-inventing the Wheel"? I call out negative
progress when I see it, not use it to replace everything
else. Certainly not worth the effort going backwards!
Computer Audio can, and will do better- unless you want it
to end up like SACD (A one night wonder- you decide this,
not me!). No more one night wonder lower than CD resolution
Formats to replace all other Formats! I demand my monies
worth in Sound Quality, because I earned my money. You say
I have to give it up to lower than CD resolution MP3, I
draw the line here! Where do you draw it, or do you just
continue to redraw it lower and lower?
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Does anyone else think that it is suspicious that the originial poster never posted again? He apparently did nothing to improve his situation and then report back? No update on service from Mach2music?
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