Amarra 3.0升級，完美大反擊

nicknick

Amarra近年最大的對手我相信是Audirvana Plus及PureMusic的DSD播放及對於Mac OS的深度調節以提升音質，在這流行播放DSD檔案的年代令Amarra流失不少客戶。 後來Amarra推出十分厲害的 "iRC" Impulse Response Correction（房間修正功能），非常高端，Lyngdorf最有名的也就是帶有這種Room Correction功能的RP-1及DPA-1，要數萬元起才有交易。

可惜iRC並非免費的Amarra內置功能，它被定為付費的額外升級功能，對於現有客戶升級也要港幣二千至三千元，最大問題是無法先試聽Sonic Studio做出來的Room Correction效果才決定買不買，實在難以吸引客戶升級，當iRC升級推出時我也因此決心寫了一封苦口婆心的電郵給Sonic Studio講出這種行銷方法的弊端：之前Amarra售價由早期六千下跌至一千多，尤其令到一早已付六千元購買正版Amarra的長期客戶十分氣憤，Sonic Studio只加入一個Amarra Symphony以「一個援權可裝兩台機」的特別版來安撫舊客戶也難消我們的失望，我向他們建議給這群早期客戶一個特別優惠升級iRC，或者至少給我們一段試用期。

一直未見回覆，也沒有特別減低iRC升級的費用，亦不見Amarra的升級再有甚麼顯著新功能，就這樣Amarra 2.x版本到了2.6 build 4500停留了一段比較長的時間，原來Sonic Studio靜靜地採納了眾多客戶的相同意見制作出一個重大新版由2.6跳到3.0，藉這個Amarra 3.0新版一口氣將問題全部解決並且向競爭對手來個大反擊！ 一般軟件的習慣是只有小數點後的小升級版本才免費，所以由2.6跳到3.0是重大升級(major update)就要付費了，但我在這裡強列建議所有Amarra現有客戶升級，而且已購買多年已貴為Amarra Symphony的舊客戶更是一定要升級！



除了在本年4月1日後購買2.6版的客戶可以免費升級外，其他客戶在2014年7月15日前升級優惠價是$29.99美金(約$234港元)，之後就要$49.99美金了!

不要少看這個升級以為加入的功能看似不多。為何我說Amarra Symphony的舊客戶一定要把握這次機會升級？ 因為Amarra 3.0用戶要加入iRC(b)也要$249美金! iRC(b) 即只修正500Hz以下低頻段的iRC功能，卻正正能幫助最令發燒友頭痛的低頻駐波問題。而Amarra Symphony 3.0 with iRC是全頻段的iRC需要$789美金，即是早年Amarra的售價，現在Sonic Studio其實是低調地將原本價值3千元升級的iRC功能加入Amarra Symphony 3.0內成為版本預設有的功能，而這次升級不但包括Amarra本身支援DSD檔播放等等新功能及音質的升級，更多了iRC及Amarra sQ的援權，卻只需要2百多元就可升級了！說到這裡，大家明白今次的義意有多重大了？ Sonic Studio算是向老客戶有所交待了。



那麼為何我說是完美大反擊呢？因為Amarra 3.0一口氣加入多項功能，針對競爭對手一一出招：



一鍵就自動完成的Mac OS深度調整：
透過已預先編程好的Apple Script，用戶只需在Preferences按Optimize就會出現MacOS tweaking列表，不想煩的只需選第一項 ”Disable All” 將所有Mac系統與音樂播放無關的背景工作都關掉以取得最少干擾的音質，實在是深入淺出非常易用的功能，不會令用戶看到一大堆可選項目又不知怎樣配搭才好。

支援DSD檔案播放：
由於PureMusic取得了專利所以連Audirvana Plus對iTunes加入DSD proxy的功能也取消了，Amarra也要使用自家的Playlist視窗才能播放DSD的.dff及.dsf檔。Amarra支援DSD播放的方法是使用Ultra-Accurate Realtime Conversion引擎將DSD訊息即時轉為PCM傳送到DAC，好處是任何的DAC都可播放不用擔心自己使用的DAC沒有支援DoP（例如我正在使用的Zodiac Gold就不支援DoP)。我相信要Amarra使用DoP方式重新包裝PCM直接傳送到DAC可能更易做，為何Amarra多此一舉先轉成PCM？不怕轉換格式過程令音質下降嗎？如果轉換的演算法寫得好就不怕！例如dCS player倒轉當讀取CD也一律先轉換為dsd及升頻來播放，但人人也認同轉換出來的音質沒有下降，因為dCS的強項就是轉換的演算法好，反而可提升音質。因此我相信Sonic Studio一方面考慮讓所有DAC都支援，二方面多年在Pro Audio音響界的經驗令他們決定以轉換為PCM格式輸出代替包裝DoP反而更有空間讓工程師們發揮好聲的演算法。而且不要單看DAC規格表面支援DSD，很多DAC處理PCM比處理DSD解碼做得更好，甚至有些DAC晶片內部其實是先將入來的DSD訊號轉為PCM來解碼輸出，不要盲目以為DSD就一定最好。（DSD訊號還有高頻噪聲問題，所以一般sacd player也會加入filter，出來好不好聲也很受這filter影響，dCS有數個filter讓用戶按喜好選擇，Amarra就有一個DSD filter可啟動或不使用）

也修正了一些一直煩擾我的全碟無縫播放的bug，終於可以真正在iTunes整合模式下也無縫播放，雖然早期版本已說支援但我是如何調節實際播放時也會在轉到另一track時有短暫斷聲的情況，對於classic live的cd播放十分干擾，現在痛快得多了！

最後又最重要的，是音質又更有明顯的提升！弱音很細緻的播放出來，stage更立體，低頻更有彈跳力，簡直是整個系統的升級，令人充滿享受的滿足。

（甚麼？其他player有EQ可tune聲？Amarra一早已內置業界有名的Sonic EQ不算升級。雖知校聲不代表提升音質，不過即使要校聲，使用被業界推崇的EQ軟件優點就是校聲之餘不會因變動訊息卻減低聲音質素，變成有味無質。)

k500a

nicknick 兄，
謝謝分享。
雖然我最近比較少用MAC做player。
但我都頂唔住個誘惑價，比咗US$29.99 upgrade。

nicknick

k500a 發表於 2014-7-2 08:14
nicknick 兄，
謝謝分享。
雖然我最近比較少用MAC做player。

多謝師兄加分支持小弟。

k500a兄現時用甚麼來播放為主?

gogoduck

唔知點解Email內條 link 唔 work

k500a

nicknick 發表於 2014-7-2 16:39
多謝師兄加分支持小弟。

k500a兄現時用甚麼來播放為主?

Nicknick 兄，
我現在還是用windows 2012 r2 作主要的播放平台，mac 偶然會用來作測試比較。
剛剛也把amarra起動、測試了一下。
還是有點bug。播放某些aiff file 會crash。
在MAC的平台上還是會用回audivara吧。
Amarra可能要再等下一個update才會再玩了。

nicknick

gogoduck 發表於 2014-7-2 17:32
唔知點解Email內條 link 唔 work

咁奇怪? 我都係click email條link完成升級，聽說3hk今日network出事，會不會因此影響了師兄上網?

nicknick

k500a 發表於 2014-7-2 17:40
Nicknick 兄，
我現在還是用windows 2012 r2 作主要的播放平台，mac 偶然會用來作測試比較。
剛剛也把ama ...

我用了數年mac osx + amarra組合，也是習慣用aiff檔，很少播放中crash，我用max ripper轉aiff檔的，不知是否轉檔軟件不同會有影響?

我也有買A+, 昨天也反覆比較兩者的聲音，差異實在太遠我無法忍受逼自己聽感覺較差的聲音。

不過師兄已習慣用2012 r2, 一定也落了不少心機fine tune, 用回自己最喜歡的player便最得心應手。

gogoduck

nicknick 發表於 2014-7-2 18:08
咁奇怪? 我都係click email條link完成升級，聽說3hk今日network出事，會不會因此影響了師兄上網? ...

problem solved
Wrote to Amarra and they sent me another link

Thanks anyway!

momei

nicknick 發表於 2014-7-2 18:19
我用了數年mac osx + amarra組合，也是習慣用aiff檔，很少播放中crash，我用max ripper轉aiff檔的，不知 ...

Just now I sent to Amarra in response to its follow up several sonic shortcomings that I found in this new version. Well that was the demo trial version of the Symphony that I presume to be the same as the one offered by Amarra for purchase.  
I refrain from pasting the shortcomings here lest I be accused of bad mouthing or 搞針對.

momei

I also say good things about products in these pages, give credit where it is due. Not always negative.
Pyramix. To be honest I know very little about it. But the Mahler 1st Symphony originally a DSD 64 recording being resampled by Pyramix to DXD 352.8 sounds gorgeous. I wanted to buy other tracks but unfortunately not available in Channel Classics, perhaps only an experiment.  

Liyfk

nicknick 兄
我是6月1日買的，不知如何升級上3.0，還有是不是不用收費？

nicknick

Liyfk 發表於 2014-7-3 21:05
nicknick 兄
我是6月1日買的，不知如何升級上3.0，還有是不是不用收費？

不是已回答了你嗎？
http://www.hiendy.com/hififorum/ ... 618&pid=1963787

momei

Amarra 給我的貼士，大家可能有用
- Some notes on best sound:

- Ensure Amarra is at full volume and use your external device to control your volume

- Ensure you're using Cache mode and Amarra Playlists

- Select Gain Bypass in Amarra Preferences when using your external device to adjust volume

- Ensure the iTunes EQ is off as it is on by default.  Click on iTunes ->Windows to access it's Equalizer

- If you're not using EQ, select EQ Bypass.  

- Navigate to and select Amarra->File->Extras->Quit/Launch Finder

- Review the information at our FAQ searching on 'Best Performance'

obee

momei 發表於 2014-7-4 08:29
Amarra 給我的貼士，大家可能有用
- Some notes on best sound:

Will you use Amarra?

momei

obee 發表於 2014-7-4 09:25
Will you use Amarra?

I will not use Amarra because it falls short of my sonic requirements. But I must say it is a good software, especially for those who only use tracks of 24/96 and below. Its sonic performance is NOT YET suitable for persons like me who favor tracks that are natively recorded above such rates. Follow up by Amarra is extremely good and its staff stands by the product and are helpful. I look forward to evaluating another version some time in future-- a software I will definitely keep my eyes on.

momei

我告訴Amarra 我是如何測試demo 版

Yes, I used the "disable all" function and dragged each track to playlist when evaluating the demo. Quitted it and relaunched it with a new playlist and track when evaluating the next one.
Yes I turned the demo to full volume.
I did not use an external device and adjusted volume and left right balance with MIDI in the Mac. This is what I always do with my regular listening because I have found pre amp and line drive degrade the sound.
I will go over FAQ to see what other procedures I should follow in order to get the best out of Amarra.

nicknick

momei 發表於 2014-7-4 09:59
I did not use an external device and adjusted volume and left right balance with MIDI in the Mac. This is what I always do with my regular listening because I have found pre amp and line drive degrade the sound. ...

pre-amp調volume會degrade聲音, Mac調system volume比較好聲, interesting finding.

f-u-n-g

What is the Mac min. requirment of using it ??

momei

nicknick 發表於 2014-7-4 10:34
pre-amp調volume會degrade聲音, Mac調system volume比較好聲, interesting finding.

I am no technical man and could only explain with empirical comparisons back and forth.
During the old days when I played LPs only, I used two pre amps, one for each channel because thereby channel separation and signal to noise was enhanced.
After I added CD and later CAS, I slotted in what they call a line drive, which is basically a passive (no power needed) multi source connector that I might switch to different sources of input: LP, CD, computer etc.  As CD and computer put out full sound power, the line drive became an attenuator at the analogue stage. When using CAS only, my choices were: computer full power out and the line drive attenuated it OR line drive full power out and computer part power out OR with both partial power out. After numerous AB comparisons, I found dispensing with the line drive and using the volume control in MIDI give the cleanest sound. It means the amps are connected directly into the DAC.
One has to be very cautious with this method. If somehow the MIDI was switched to full accidentally and a track in CD or computer was played, disaster may occur that may blow out a driver in the speaker or the power amp because of a dip in impedance.
I seldom or do not openly advocate this method because I could be 靠害 when people blow off their amps or speakers. I ruined many amps myself!!

momei

momei 發表於 2014-7-4 14:57
I am no technical man and could only explain with empirical comparisons back and forth.
During the ...

What I meant above was that any tampering in the analogue domain (the pre amp the line drive) could be heard/detected.
When the volume adjustment (tampering) was made in the digital domain and the analogue signals were preserved intact (DAC directly into power amps), the sound was cleaner.