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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..............................
128x128alessandro1
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?
pettyofficer
462 posts
 
That is just it. There is "No update on service from
Mach2music". Nor from any other Computer Audio Manufacturer. They have a tendency not to report back
to their Customers as well. That is the reason why most
of us end up here. You never wondered why we don't go to the Manufacturer's of our Computer Audio first, instead
of here? They are probably too busy playing Golf with the
Lawyers, and the Doctors. They all seem to think that they
have something in common.
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Pettyofficer,
Surely you know why MP3s exist? Remember Flac/aiff/wav? Have you forgotten these files are capable of way above CD quality?

This is the point. Choice. You choose. If you want audiophile you can have it. If you want to fit as many songs as possible & are not bothered about the quality you have mp3. You just choose.

The beauty is all formats are supported. It seems you are still failing to take in the above posts.

Regarding computer support, I have said earlier try a mac. If you have a problem just pop into the store & get all the support you could wish for. They will even train you in how to use & get the best from your machine.

Please read the above posts before you type.
pettyofficer
462 posts
 
You seem to be missing the point, Chadeffect. You can't
have a completely fluid Audio Format still in development,
ready to replace all other Audio Formats yesterday!
Someone will lose their Music, because there is no common sense transition. There is also no way to plan ahead, and
predict for a High End Stereo System. Do we just keep on buying New DAC's every few weeks as additional Sampling
Rates are created? Some of our most favorite Music might only be available as the "Sampling Rate of the Week". We
end up being held hostage to this, or lose our favorite
Music. Extorted to buy New Equipment/DAC every week,
someone certainly stands to make alot of money off of our
misery- if not our empty wallets. This will certainly come to pass if all other Audio Formats are eliminated. Eliminating choices for the Consumer (Monopolizing) is never any good for the Consumer. More like feeding us to the Lions! CONVENIENT? HOW? If I am going to get consumed,
instead of being the Consumer, I would prefer that it not
happen by the Ocean of a Fluid Audio Format! Do I have no
choice in this matter either?
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