Ayre QB-9 USB DAC

[unitycoupled]

I'm using a variety, depending on the situation. I leave iTunes running on the Mac Mini, so that I can walk up to the system and play music using just my iPhone or iPad running the standard Apple remote app. The Mac Mini is "headless", i.e., no display.

If I'm planning to sit down and listen more critically, I will use my MacBook Air to screen share to the Mac Mini. In this case, I may use iTunes if I want to play something off the server, but usually, I quit iTunes and fire up either Audirvana or Decibel. iTunes is actually fine as long as you make sure to have the correct sample rate set before iTunes starts. But I also find that if I leave iTunes running in 24/96 mode, that works fine for most things.

Originally Posted by skyblue

What software player are you using?

[Supercronopio]

Originally Posted by unitycoupled

I'm using a variety, depending on the situation. I leave iTunes running on the Mac Mini, so that I can walk up to the system and play music using just my iPhone or iPad running the standard Apple remote app. The Mac Mini is "headless", i.e., no display.

If I'm planning to sit down and listen more critically, I will use my MacBook Air to screen share to the Mac Mini. In this case, I may use iTunes if I want to play something off the server, but usually, I quite iTunes and fire up either Audirvana or Decibel. iTunes is actually fine as long as you make sure to have the correct sample rate set before iTunes starts. But I also find that if I leave iTunes running in 24/96 mode, that works fine for most things.

I operate my Mac Mini similarly, although I useful Pure Music on occasion as well. I also found that the QB-9 responds well to isolation. I'm using Herbies Audio Lad tender feet and stabilizer discs.

[skyblue]

Originally Posted by unitycoupled

I'm using a variety, depending on the situation. I leave iTunes running on the Mac Mini, so that I can walk up to the system and play music using just my iPhone or iPad running the standard Apple remote app. The Mac Mini is "headless", i.e., no display.

If I'm planning to sit down and listen more critically, I will use my MacBook Air to screen share to the Mac Mini. In this case, I may use iTunes if I want to play something off the server, but usually, I quite iTunes and fire up either Audirvana or Decibel. iTunes is actually fine as long as you make sure to have the correct sample rate set before iTunes starts. But I also find that if I leave iTunes running in 24/96 mode, that works fine for most things.

I use pc's mostly. But I found that getting special software such as pure music, amarra, asio4all or jplay (which I use), helps a lot. They seem to stream the music in a more musical and transparent fashion and I would say that you have not heard anywhere near the dacs potential until you have tried it. I believe pure music has a trial version. I would highly recommend trying it out.

Also consider this review of 3 separate music players for mac: Listening #103 | Stereophile.com

[BigHat]

Can anyone share the price to upgrade the unit for higher res music? I've asked my dealer twice. He promises to check but hasn't gotten back to be. Also, he thinks its now a modification done at the dealer. True or do you still send it to Ayre?

[Portugal]

Mine was upgraded at the dealer. As far as I understand the dealer gets a completely new circuit board from Ayre and replaces the one you have now on your DAC.

Don't know what's the standard price for that upgrade (mine was free in the context of a bigger negotiation).