I see several programs that claim to substantially improve the sound quality for iTunes, or for all programs. Some seem very powerful, but also quite expensive, so I am not sure which has the best price/value. Do any of you have recommendations?
The three that seem to be mentioned most are Hear, iWow and Amarra. I have not tried them out since some seem to require a considerable time investment (which I was hoping the forum readers would have provided 😉 or do not offer a free trial.
Yeah, at home I have a pretty good system that sounds fine: I find the work set up pales in comparison, but don't want to invest a couple of thousand in the hardware for work.
I have not tried them out since some seem to require a considerable time investment ???
Install it and turn it on.
The End.
Not too much time. 😉
Play around with the settings a bit to see how it affects the music.
The free trial simply pops up every time you launch iTunes and you have to click on
Demo to use it.
->
SRS Labs iWow
I've tried both Hear and iWow but didn't find them particularly helpful, but that's based on the type of music I listen to (mostly jazz, classical and new age) and how and where (mostly my office at work). I also have a pretty good set of speakers, three-way with a subwoofer. Your listening preferences and habits and equipment may differ and so these sorts of "enhancers" might be of more benefit to you. You can get trial versions of both Hear and iWow, so I'd suggest you try them for yourself. I don't have any experience with any of the Amarra products, but they also offer a demo version.
There's no substitute for giving these things a try for yourself. Audio playback for pleasure is a very subjective thing.
When playing music on my computer through iTunes or other applications where sound quality is of the essence, I now use +Audio Hijack Pro+ to 'hijack' the sound output of the particular application, and under the 'Effects' tab, add the 31-band EQ found under 'AudioUnit Effect' - 'Apple' - 'AUGraphicEQ'. The setting is left 'flat'.
After comparing this EQ with the standard 10-band EQ in iTunes, the ears of this professional musician have convinced me that the sound is far superior. I have played CDs of a wide variety of genres and switched between the Audio Hijack Pro and iTunes EQs; I've also used my sitting-room Rotel equipment and B&W speakers as an aural reference. There is a difference in sound, with instruments such as drums and cymbals having more detail in the harmonics that can be heard. There was greater richness in the harmonics heard in a saxophone melody and even in the sound of the player's tonguing.
I am amazed it has taken me so many years to 'see the light' and am now much happier with what I hear from my computer.
I have found SRSLabs iWOW to the most impressive and not involve as much fiddling/diddling as the "HEAR" software. iWOW also gives a high-definion sound to your audio that is very realistic....what was lost between the studio mastering session and the CD pressing is restored by the use of iWOW. I even use the iWOW when I am streaming iTunes audio with Rogue Amoeba's NiceCast....It's as simple as you can get!
I cannot over state how good the program named "Pure Music" is. Please read Fremer's review in the Absolute Sound if that would help in your choice. Amarra is living in a dream world when viewed by price and features. I have this "shell" overtopping of iTunes and it sounds wonderful. Porting out the digital stream to my Levinson DAC. Sounds wonderful.
It's just a dreadful shame that it looks so appallingly awful. Perhaps it does make things sound better, but I'm not sure I could live long-term with such an ugly add-on — especially at the price they're asking.
Well, I'm surprised at your objection...there's no (as far as I' m concerned no question as the sonic virtues) reason to rest your case on such shaky ground.....the interface is OK but appallingly awful suggests some kind of animus....then again, $129 to enjoy high res files....what are expecting?
