Edgar texted me saying my BACCH4MAC ships tomorrow. Fun.
5 Likes
I am curious.
Will BACCH4MAC be an upgrade/replacement to/for the BACCH-SP or is it a separate system altogether.
Obviously, I am not very familiar with the BACCH offerings.
TIA
1 Like
Al has owned a BACCH-SP for some time. My understanding is he is purchasing a BACCH4Mac that will provide his system continued BACCHness while his BAACH-SP is upgraded to the latest configuration. This will also be a unique opportunity to hear from someone in our community on what, if anything, distinguishes one product from the other audio-wise.
The BACCH-SP is a standalone device that directly integrates with your sources. It does all its processing onboard (no Mac Mini required). Its benefit is its ease of use and the relative simplicity of its integration into your system. The BACCH-SP also includes onboard DAC and ADC capabilities. The latter, in particular, greatly simplifies integrating analog sources. Since it is a dedicated, custom device, a downside is its initial price. Another relevant factor is that upgrades could eventually require physical retrofits to run the latest BAACHdsp algorithms.
BACCH4Mac leverages off-the-shelf products (Mac Mini, RME BabyFace, etc.) to provide the BACCH experience in a more affordable manner. Additionally, BACCH4Mac is modular allowing the user to purchase only the capabilities they require yet allowing the ability to upgrade to more capable configurations without loss of their initial investment. Upgrades are simple to accomplish via software updates. Should processing power ever become an issue, Mac Mini upgrades are readily available.
Fundamentally both BACCH-SP and BACCH4Mac are working to provide the same experience running the algorithms and technologies developed by Theoretica Applied Physics. Both use the specially calibrated ear-mics to create custom BIN files. Both offer head tracking technology to provide maximum BACCHness. At the high end, you can buy an all-in-one device. If budget is more of a consideration or if you want more direct access to tweak your BACCH experience, the BACCH4Mac options support those objectives.
This is a highly simplified response and I hope I didnât speak out of turn for Al. If more info is desired on the BACCH products I suggest referencing their excellent web site. Theoretica is also very responsive to email questions posed
10 Likes
Very helpful; thank you.
2 Likes
Hi Nicktube,
Indeed the human head does quite a bit of XTC starting at about 700 Hz and up. Any such ânaturalâ XTC is additive to BACCH XTC and not âcounterproductiveâ. I do not see how HF âextra distortion/informationâ from tubes could enhance XTC due to head shadowing, but if it does mysteriously, the XTC would be additive to that from BACCH.
Yes, horns can work nicely with BACCH. Although BACCH (at least the custom c-BACCH version based on acoustic measurements) is speakers agnostic, the level of achievable XTC (hence the degree of 3D imaging) depends on the ratio of direct-to-reflected sound in the room, measured at the listeners ears. The higher that ratio, the higher is the XTC level. Horns, due to their directivity, tend to give a higher level of that ratio compared to more omnidirectional speakers in the same room.
5 Likes
If I am to be a proper Brand Ambassador I need to know about the BACCH4MAC as well as the BACCH-SP adio. I will keep and use both as I have many audio systems.
8 Likes
By the way⌠I adore the DAC in the adio, I like it as much as the Gryphon Ethos. But yesterday I put a Mola Mola Tambaqui on the end of a fiber cable from the Bacch. Holy Moly Moly! This is a whole different universe to me! Yikes. It is a pretty brilliant and unique sounding device. I could see keeping this around to deal with mood swings. And to scare young people. Most interesting!
10 Likes
Hi - this is one of the biggest (if not the largest) threads dedicated to bacch talk and thought Iâd drop in and say hello to other folks who are enjoying theirs.
3 Likes
Welcome!
Welcome hopefully you can add to our bacch appreciation conversations. It is truly a game changing package that keeps improving. Trying to listen without it engaged is a less real and grankly not as gratifying. One forgets there are speakers in the room.
1 Like
Edgar,
We would love for you to add some songs that highlight BACCH on the Qobuz playlist the BACCHers from PS Audio have compiled.
Best Played with Theoretica BACCH
What are you listening to now (BACCH Edition)
It would be greatly appreciated!
Thank You,
Steve08226
2 Likes
Welcome my friend!!!
Today my Bacch4Mac is supposed to arrive. An hour ago I took the Tambaqui out of the system and went back to using the DAC in the BACCH-SP adio. It is not suffering, but I am itchy and moody none the less. I think I will have to buy that Tambaqui. It seems correct for me. If I do I will have an excellent DAC in the adio I donât use as well as an excellent DAC in the Gryphon Ethos I also donât use. Itâs kind of pathetic to let two wonderful DACs go unused. It will be much worse when another DAC catches my ear. Bah! Oh thatâs right, I have another PS Audio DSD Sr. on itâs way. My goodness, my wife should put my down before I DAC again.
7 Likes
Well have you got all hooked u and waiting for Edgar? Did you get the apple Magic Keyboard and mouse to rumpp HDMI to abig screen? That is my choice for display Roon lyrics and album art. It is also great to split screen or fullscreen of Bacch4mac. Then just use iphone for roon navigation though the bluetooth magic mouse works as good from distance to imac.
1 Like
Sadly, it did not arrive. The tracking info hasnât been updated in days. I cannot even determine who the carrier is. Bah.
If I recall the shipper is created then it took awhile for the hardware to be dropped. But it was mathing like the RAL cable experience measured with calendar years.
2 Likes
Edgar says tomorrow.
2 Likes
Does it self destruct in 5 seconds?
Is that the $5000 version of BACCH?
2 Likes
