Hopstretch

If it doesn't work for you, let me know. I'll give it a shot.

Any love for Benz here? I have a rather played-out older Ace that came with the table and was thinking about trading it in. Opinions seem to be divided as to whether it's worth moving modestly up the line (Glider or Wood) or just getting a new Ace S.

I should have bought that Bloom.

Still agreeing with you. Still equally as irrelevant in a Stax thread.

Totally agree. Especially if your product is Mac only. iTunes runs like shit on Windows, so I could see the utility having a separate playback interface there.

True. I probably shouldn't have casually termed it an "Amarra killer" as that's lazily inflammatory and I really don't think this program is intended to have anything like the breadth of features that full Amarra does. The (provisional?) name seems like a pretty good clue to the functionality, it's a playback engine. That said, I do think if people feel it improves their sonics on a similar level, Amarra Mini will have a tough row to hoe, particularly if PE supports 24/192, which I bet it will. It could also be cheaper, prettier and lighter. And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle, right?

That's pretty useful if you like to rip vinyl at higher rates, but also occasionally want to burn CDs from those files. A nice feature to have. I don't see that they added the Amarra Vinyl functions they've been talking about to the full 1.1 version? Thought that was supposed to be included? Quite curious to see how it will work. If it takes a lot of the "post-processing" grind out of the needle drop process, it will be fine thing indeed! Digger -- I think all the Wave Editor stuff is integrated with Core Audio on the Mac, so I can't see it running on any other platforms.

OK, I did a little more digging on this Amarra alternative and they do have an application up and running. It's provisionally called Playback Engine and is going into Beta testing right now. Price will be "$200 - $400" so it's a direct shot at Mini. I'm going to see if I can nag my way onto the Beta test list.

GTFO! This is a software thread.

Mike, it's still nudge-nudge wink-wink at this point, but my understanding is it'll be using the Wave Editor/Izotope platform. Based on their other stuff, I'd expect it to kick Amarra's ass in terms of application design. Which, let's be honest, is not hard. Amarra is butt ugly and chews through RAM like Dinny goes through DACs. How it will sound, of course, is another question entirely. But Wave Editor is $80, so they've got plenty of room to undercut Amarra Mini, let alone the full Amarra suite.

And they added QB-9 qualification. Hmmm. Do, or do not? I know there's a much cheaper Mac-focused "Amarra killer" in the pipeline right now, but with software that could mean it's still a year out.

OK.

Sounds like Rudi's getting into the portable amp game, too.

Lloyd Cole And The Commotions -- Mainstream Found a sealed original LP copy. Sounds so much better than the CD. Total happiness!

We purists don't go for that, Douglas. We find too many electrons subtly inhibit the sound field. We call it bi-cramping. We purists are total cut-ups! Aha ha.

I'll take seven for the HT system. Wait, nine, might as well add the height channels.

Lloyd Cole And The Commotions -- "Brand New Friend"

About six minutes. Because, now that you've mentioned it, I want that.

Lloyd Cole And The Commotions -- Easy Pieces 1985 Polydor vinyl. Sounds great.

Hmm. The only one I've been able to find that does that is the Simaudio 3.3, which has a headphone jack and hence an explicit need for it. But it's pricy and has a fair bit of stuff I don't need. Like a headphone jack! Thanks all! Lots of good ideas. Off to A'gon.

Are you talking about a simple mute function? Because, usually, that also mutes any other output.

Please consult my signature. That's good news about loop outs, though!

Marc, it looks to me like the main difference between the 1.5 and 2.5 is automatic fluid dispensing? (The FI adds a second reservoir as well.) I've heard some folks complain that the auto NG's are too liberal with the liquid and that they actually prefer to do that bit themselves. How do you find it?

VPI 16.5 or Nitty Gritty 1.5?