That performance was recorded in 1980 to analog. The CDs of that recording are ADD. I'm assuming the 24/192 versions are new transfers from the analog tape. I don't have any of the Claudio Abbado versions of the Mahler symphonies. Perhaps I should try one of the new high-res transfers.
I didn't know there were more of these high res transfers of circa 1980 analog recordings available, but I'd like to give them a listen. Those analog recordings to tape at 15 or 30 inches per second can sound incredible. And the CSO of that day was about as good as it gets.
I just got my Dragonfly in the mail this morning, and I'm finally giving the service a proper test drive on my iPhone. I'm still not wild about the app's UI, but it certainly does sound nice.
One question (pardon me if I have already asked this) - if my Android phone is capable of 24/48 (which actually sounds very, very nice), would adding a DAC dongle such as the Dragonfly allow me to hear the music bit perfect?
the app would upsample everything to 24/192 as it doesn't do bit perfect, the bigger question is whether the Dragonfly is a better sounding DAC than your phone
Thanks for the reply. It's actually blowing my mind how good it sounds simply plugging my phone from the headphone jack into the RCA's of my vintage system. Now I have nothing to compare it to, but there is zero fatigue regardless how loud I run it, and the detail is wonderful. Maybe I should just leave well enough alone.
To me the Dragonfly Red sounded way better than "just" my iPhone SE. What I do not understand is this: my iPhone is capable of 24 bit 48 kHz according to the Amazon app. With the Dragonfly Red it’s capable of 24 bit 96 kHz but still plays in 24 bit 48 kHz according to the Amazon app, even though the light on the Dragonfly is magenta (what indicates 24 bit 96 kHz). Does anybody know why?
Android doesn't do bit perfect audio unless the phone manufacturer has customized the OS to optimize for audiophile audio quality. Or you need to use a specialized audio app like USB Audio Player PRO that bypasses the android audio system and connects to the DAC directly, and you need to use a supported phone or DAC with USB Audio Player PRO. USB Audio Player PRO can do some streaming audio (Qobuz, Tidal, Google Music) but doesn't support Amazon yet. This is an area where Android based DAPs can do better than phones. The DAPs get optimized for audio. Phones don't (except for a few).
Thanks for the reply. I was using UAPP with Qobuz, and could run it through my DAC into my system at 24/192, and it sounded beautiful. I quit Qobuz because the endless buffering was killing me, and I never have that issue with Amazon HD. So I guess I'm just waiting for Amazon to provide a solution like UAPP. Can you recommend any DAP's that are reasonably priced?
I stopped my DAP hunt with the PonoPlayer. I'm no longer familiar with what is current in that space. For my Pixel 3 Android phone I'm using an iBasso DC02 dongle along with UAPP. It works well enough for phone portable needs. It sounds much much better through UAPP than the stock Android sound system. With UAPP it gets louder, has more power, drives the headphones better (Oppo PM2) and sounds so much better. Stock Android sound is an underpowered mushy mess.
UAPP is a game changer. I just hope Amazon hops on board before long. I've been looking at the Basso since I saw you post about it earlier. I'm going to wait to see if something happens re: UAPP with Amazon before I think about getting a DAC dongle. Thanks again for the info.
Don't hold your breath waiting for Amazon to make changes to Amazon Music HD or integrate with anything they don't sell.
They did finally relent on allowing Chromecast compatibility with Prime Video a few months ago, but yeah, Amazon has little incentive to play nice with others.
I’m using an iPhone X with a Dragonfly Red, default is 24/48 without the Dragonfly but the app says 24/92 when I’m using the Dragonfly. I know this doesn’t really answer any questions...just more data.
They've made some fairly half-assed attempts to integrate with Heos and Blue Os, which they do sell, but aren't their products. I have no way to know this, but I think their lack of support for true hi-fi is due more to ignorance than anything else.
This month I decided to keep just one music streaming service. So I just cancelled Amazon HD and will be keeping Qobuz. I already cancelled Tidal last November. I just found myself using and enjoying Qobuz more on a daily basis than the other two. Very happy with their service for the most part.
I haven't experienced any buffering using the BluOS app through my Bluesound node 2i via ethernet cable. I also mirror cast Qobuz using my phone with Chromecast audio with excellent results.
FWIW I have solid, but not fancy cable internet and I haven't had any buffering problems with any of the three main services regardless of streaming resolution.
