nige2000 wrote:just done a audirvana bells whistles etc versus r2 + mqn on the macbook pro
mqn and r2 left mac OS X and audirvana in the dust
most noticeable is the higher noise floor then the lack of detail and dynamics
im not talking about a little difference its pretty huge
so i really don't think I've got it wrong:)
and yes i think audirvana is doing a good job on OS X especially with all the magic settings
your hard to convince:(
thats why i use mac os for emails and internet related stuff
I am, but you are doing a great job! But only in an investigative way trying to find 'The Holy Grail'. Like you.
I respect your devotion and sheer hard work in trying stuff out, which others like me can benefit from. The whole purpose and joy of forums like this.
I still harbour the feeling that Apple's Linux-based audio stack is superior to Windows. If only everything else surrounding it - especially the render loop - could be optimal, I reckon it would come out the winner.
At great danger of outstaying my welcome, I think you have got a lot closer to comparing Apple v. apples (well someone had to say it!)
Both on the same machine (albeit a laptop which could be contributing more noise than your proper PC-based rig)
BUT - as we know the software is key. Were you comparing an AO optimised R2 with a plain vanilla Mavericks? That would def not be a fair fight as we all know. OS/X is able to be optimised along the same lines as R2 and would no doubt level the playing field.
I am actually encouraged by your findings. MQn is still clearly the winner, but others are catching up. If detail and dynamics are on a similar level, then the render loops must be close in performance. Noise level could be more hardware related. This is great news for all CA enthusiasts and Gordon can take a lot of the credit for forcing the competition to catch up with his pathfinding activity.
Gordon - 'MQn for Mac' next?!
Jonathan
P.S. I have an iMac 21" at home which is our main family email/browsing machine and I love it to bits (!)
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