I think that I notice that local hires audio files sound a bit more transparant and have better high end brilliance when played on Audirvana Studio and JRiver Media Center than when played on Plexamp. (I’m aware that you have to test at the same perceived volume).
I’m curious to find out if others experience the same?
I know that both Audirvana and Media Center have the possibility to improve the system for hires audio playback by ‘claiming’ the audio system.
Thanks for your replies!
My settings:
Audio Output : Strict Sample Rate Matching
Streaming quality: all to Max
Loudness Leveling: off
Equaliser: off
Preamp: +4 dB
Limiter: off
For any extremely small differences in sound quality (assuming FLAC), the Plexamp player software is so superior to ANYTHING else out there. We are talking computer based music playback, so the player software overall user experience/interface is of utmost importance. Just my opinion of course. Without Plexamp, I would be very sad using any other player software currently out there (even that one favored by audiophiles).
Appreciate this, but also make to make sure people realize we DO care about audio quality. The 32-bit pipeline, resampler, automatic sample rate switching (on most platforms) ensure the sound should be entirely transparent (meaning what the source intended). Other apps cheat and introduce things like a compressor or dynamic range expansion, and it might sound “better” but it’s … not honest.
Hi @elan and others, I have never had a doubt about the commitment of Plexamps developers to audio quality, I can see that in the amount of care that’s put into the audio related settings in Plexamp.
I’ve have also asked myself critically if it could be placebo. But after many tests I’m certain that I hear more detail in the highs and high mids. and somehow more ‘air’.
I know that Media Center also doesn’t do anything to it’s sound. This is what they state on their website. And I know this to be verified by a critical community of audiophiles that use this app.
JRiver Media Center audio is bit perfect.
And
Ultra Precise (64-bit floating point): All audio handling inside the program is done with 64 bits of precision. Most high-end hardware uses 24-bit output, meaning the engine has an additional 240 dB of precision above the hardware’s output. As a result, should you choose to use them, digital volume, room correction, and other audio functions are pristine.
My intention with opening this thread was to try to find out if my perception about the difference in audio is correct and if so, if we could learn what the reason of this is so that it can benefit Plexamp.
You could consider purchasing a copy of the latest version of JRiver Media Center and compare it. It’s not an expensive application.
Just to clarify, what OS are you using? Apologies if you’ve mentioned this already, but it’s key to understand what happens after the audio leaves Plexamp.
I didn’t mention this before, so it’s a good question:
I’m using macOS 14.2.1 on a Macbook Pro M1 Max with 32Gb memory.
Audio is processed with a Native Instruments Komplete 6 audio interface (max 96/24) that outputs to a pair of Yamaha MSP5’s.
Hi @elan, no offence taken. I hear a difference when ABing the two. Can I prove it? No, I wish I knew of a way.
The only difference I can think of is the ‘claiming’ of the audio output. Maybe some processes on macOS interfere with shared audio output.
Maybe check it out yourself by just downloading the app and playing some detailed hires audio files through it on good speakers.
I’ve now posted on the JRiver forum to see if people there can shine a light on what might cause the difference from their perspective. I’ll report back when I know more.
Sorry to jump in here, but on a Windows machine I have set the output to a specific device. What I don’t see is the “strict sample rate switching” option anywhere obvious.
Is there a setting somewhere I am missing or is this default behavior? Just trying to set my audio pipeline to be as bit accurate as possible.
Is there any plan in Plexamp to support exclusive mode / WASAPI /ASIO for Windows? Something that would prevent Windows from modifying the sample or bit rate when played back? I know there is ASIO4ALL and FlexASIO but would prefer not using them if I can get the functionality like I can from the normal Plex player.
I set Windows to the highest it allows on my DAC but would prefer to not have either touched.
Or are you implying that even though the 384 KHz rate shows on my DAC, Plexamp isn’t really doing anything to the audio?
The regular Plex app has it, just wondering why not Plexamp.
I am working to move away from JRiver Media Center for my audio playback and while I can “make due” with Plex instead of Plexamp, I prefer Plexamp for many reasons like the Guest DJ Radio options. Of course, if you drop the Plexamp capabilities into the full Plex client, I would be good using that instead as well.
so for those with macOS bit-perfect is available while for Windows ‘the placement of the speakers and the room listening situation’ is more important…interesting
I know I can’t hear the difference between what you are doing w/ Plex vs Plexamp and direct via WASAPI (real A/B/X testing via JRiver taught me that a long time ago).
I KNOW I can’t.
But my brain just refuses to let me not be bothered by knowing Windows is changing the sample rate. I see the number change on my DAC’s display and my brain twinges. I would like to fix my brain over anything else but you can’t help with that.
My apologies for hijacking the thread but it didn’t make sense to start new.
