Amazon just posted an update to their iPhone app but don’t see any changes. It still upsampled everything to 192k to my Chord Hugo. The app itself claims output is the same as the song playing but that’s not the case.
For home use, look forward to see what new hardware they release tomorrow. Might pickup new Echo link if it goes to 192k and still has optical. Figure they’ll figure out the bugs in the iPhone app at some point.
I’m listening to Amazon HD now using the Bose Soundtouch app and getting some dropouts. I never get dropouts using Roon listening to Tidal and Qobuz.
I did extensive testing over the weekend, Qobuz vs. Amazon, probably 4 hours of listening, I think Qobuz is smoother but it’s very close. Amazon had a lot of dropouts tho.
Both were same set up - Mac->USB->Benchmark DAC->headphones Qobuz was via roon while Amazon was via their app.
Well I bought an Amazon Echo Link for 200 bucks to connect to a Chord Qutest Dac
I don’t suspect this helps Roon much but if Tidal goes by the wayside(and I think they will ) at least I have a hi res Amazon Music source . Qobuz’s library is weak .
Curious, how does it work? Can you play HD from the mobile app to it? Can you use it with the desktop app?
You hook it up to the internet via Ethernet . Then you use one of the apps as a remote control. I am away so I haven’t hooked it up yet. It can do wireless . Hopefully it can output Ultra HD. Jury is out on that till I set it up
Did you just buy it? It can only do up to 96k but there should be more products announced tomorrow. I’d imagine they’ll go all the way to 192k.
I might go this method instead of roon if they have no plans to integrate. I’m a lifetime member but will use what works best for my situation.
Also amazon has no APIs for music, so for example I can’t use soundiiz to send my playlists to amazon such that I can then listen to them via the amazon app. Means I need tidal still…
You can add them manually to Amazon HD, but what a monumental PITA.
Try playing something less than the rate of system audio and system audio will upsample. Amazon says track is 44.1/16 ans that its playing at 44.1/16 and device max rate of my DFB is 96/24 yet the DAC says its getting 96/24 signal as system audio is upsampling to the set rate, no exclusive control to change rates. Absolute rubbish this is and not Audiophile at all.
Anyone touting HD or Ultra HD audio for money is surely trying to attract audiophiles like those who might have Roon and other ‘audiophile’ equipment. I will certainly need to see the Amazon offering more accessible at the full data rates before I look at it.
It does 24/192. Why would you need more than that?
Perhaps you misunderstood my point. I want easy access to whatever rate they’re offering through a good choice of equipment.
Their own Amazon products don’t do over 96k yet. New hardware will be announced Wednesday. I’m assuming this will bring things up to 192k.
That’s a hardware restriction, not a restriction of Amazon HD.
A hardware restriction IS effectively a restriction of Amazon HD. That’s my point exactly. It will stop me using it until there’s a good choice.
Not if you run it on some other device, such as your computer, iPhone, or iPad. I don’t even own any Amazon devices and don’t plan to.
You’ve lost me. I’m out.
On iPhone the auto sampling rate is currently broken. Upsampled everything to highest level. So even when I play cd quality track it’s at 192k to my Chord Hugo. It should change based on what I’m playing.
On the Mac, rate is stuck at whatever my midi setting is set at. This is not ideal.
So that why I’d pick up a Echo link that can change rates and go to 192k would be perfect.
I’m hoping not only Amazon integration, but the Echo devices can be used directly as end points.
Well for Amazon. Think as long as they sell more subscriptions and Echo devices, the better. If offering roon integration does that with little effort on their end than why not. Biggest issue will just be the initial setup. If they can’t provide roon what they need to make it work.
