I have moved from BitPerfect/I-Tunes(each with the Bill Ernst Secret sauce) on a MacMini USB to DS Jr. via PS Audio LANrover to Amarra Luxe 4.2 because Amarra 4.2 can integrate local ripped files, downloaded files including DSD, and Tidal/MQA.
After scanning, many files arrived without artwork. Since all of my local ripped files are AIFF and not WAV, the metadata came over from the largely I-Tunes library. The local library includes HD Tracks hi-res downloads and Blue Coast DSD.
Solution for missing artwork and I assume metadata is to use KD-a free tagging program. Open KD3;click open and then find the album on your hard drive and select all tracks; drop the artwork JPG in the designated spot; correct title, album, song as necessary and click save. This will modify the file in your library and will be recognized by Amarra when you click on “add to library” and select the folder on your music hard drive-then click save.
Watch out for albums that are marked “compilations”. Amarra will break up such files into separate albums. So, uncheck in I-Tunes and make sure that the album artist is as you want it before scanning. Thus, you can list “Mahler” as the album artist in I-Tunes and keep all Mahler files together rather than having say the Chicago Symphony be listed as the artist.
Use the albums view which sorts by artists. The artists view does not recognize all the Tidal artists. The remote is not fully functional in my opinion. Do not use the edit pencil. It moves albums to weird places.
Don’t worry about losing playlists. I have created several including both Tidal and local files and have not lost any despite completely deleting all songs and re-scanning.
Amarra Luxe 4.2 will do the first unfold of Tidal MQA at 96. I notice little difference between the 96 unfold by Amarra over USB and the full 192 unfold of the same Tidal file played over the Bridge II DS Jr. via Connect and any difference varies by each different Tidal MQA file. MConnect often stops playing and gives an error message which is irritating when trying to listen to a full album.
I don’t know if Audirvana can integrate Tidal and local files.
I have not yet heard either Roon or JRiver, but would like to. I am eagerly awaiting PS Audio’s new server/player as a potential acquisition. I hope these comments are helpful and would like to have any comments by the community about how Amarra compares in SQ with Roon, JRiver, or others. Badbeef-anything to chime in on?
mark.