BACCH-SP: The future of high-end audio? Yes.

[aangen]

A little bit of an update for those who may be interested. I'm running BACCH4Mac intro on a M4 Mac mini, feeding out on a Sablon Evo USB cable into my Lampizator Atlantic 3 DAC.

I wanted to experiment a bit. The BACCH output from the mini sounded surprisingly close to my Grimm MU1 -> Lampizator via Shunyata AES/EBU cable (I believe it's a Sigma, though it could be Omega.)

I ended up ordering a JCAT XE USB Evo card from Kitsunehifi.com that I installed in a Sonnet SE1 thunderbolt expansion case, and plugged that into the Mac. I also ordered a couple Plixir power supplies, but they haven't arrived yet. The JCAT is streaming and burning in. It fundamentally works.

I haven't listened carefully, but very casual listening this morning while I was getting ready was more than a bit encouraging. The system sounded both smooth and detailed. The word in my mind was "fluid," despite running off cheap switching power supplies. (I wouldn't have described it as "fluid" before this change.)

So for anyone curious: yes, you can set up a Mac to use an audio-oriented external USB card. Whether or not the results are fantastic / okay / pathetic is still up in the air, though "pathetic" seems unlikely.

I have it on good authority that a MUON Pro, when added to the Bacch4Mac Mini, makes a huge sonic improvement. I borrowed my Bacch4Mac setup to a friend. He discovered this. I have a MUON Pro on my BACCH-SP adio and my Grimm MU2. I was impressed after adding one to each. Just sayin....

Also, consider a Stealth USB-T Select V3 or USB Double Tune USB cable. Shunyata is no slouch, but Stealth is better to my ears. Enjoy!

 

[flkin]

Assuming the Bacch is a USB music signal from a box, we can apply all the usual audiophile enhancements to the box.

Good power, good input and output hygiene (LAN, USB).

There is also one trick to check what we can achieve outside the Mac. Bacch software allows one to save the output file during playback after the Bacch filters are added. We can then play this file back through our main audiophile stereo system (outside the Mac) and achieve the full Bacch sound.

 

[VPN]

Assuming the Bacch is a USB music signal from a box, we can apply all the usual audiophile enhancements to the box.

Good power, good input and output hygiene (LAN, USB).

There is also one trick to check what we can achieve outside the Mac. Bacch software allows one to save the output file during playback after the Bacch filters are added. We can then play this file back through our main audiophile stereo system (outside the Mac) and achieve the full Bacch sound.

So you can generate a file (wav? flac? which formats?) that you can transfer and play in a system without the Bacch?

You could leave your system playing with Mac.Baach and generate a bacch processed version of your preferred albums, to play in a system without the Bacch?

 

[flkin]

So you can generate a file (wav? flac? which formats?) that you can transfer and play in a system without the Bacch?

You could leave your system playing with Mac.Baach and generate a bacch processed version of your preferred albums, to play in a system without the Bacch?

Essentially yes. The software allows you to record the digital output while it is playing. I think it is WAV? So it can’t quickly rip an album but it takes the same time as playing the album to make the digital file. And the output is a single file. So you have to cut it into tracks.

But once you do that and have the tracks, you can play it from any non-Bacch streamer into the same hifi set (same amps and same speakers) and get the full Bacch sound.

Since it’s tuned for your ears/ speaker position / room, it only works if the playback is for the same.

Because of this tight requirements for the file to work, you can’t share the recording with a friend say, whose system is different or anyone who’s ears aren’t similar shaped to your own. The 3D image probably won’t work.

But you can use this method to compare what your Mac sounds like compared to your favorite streamer when outputting Bacch files. This assumes the Mac doesn’t permanently add its own flavor into the digital files during the recording process. Personally I don’t think so but some audiophiles believe it does.

 

[VPN]

Essentially yes. The software allows you to record the digital output while it is playing. I think it is WAV? So it can’t quickly rip an album but it takes the same time as playing the album to make the digital file. And the output is a single file. So you have to cut it into tracks.

But once you do that and have the tracks, you can play it from any non-Bacch streamer into the same hifi set (same amps and same speakers) and get the full Bacch sound.

Since it’s tuned for your ears/ speaker position / room, it only works if the playback is for the same.

Because of this tight requirements for the file to work, you can’t share the recording with a friend say, whose system is different or anyone who’s ears aren’t similar shaped to your own. The 3D image probably won’t work.

But you can use this method to compare what your Mac sounds like compared to your favorite streamer when outputting Bacch files. This assumes the Mac doesn’t permanently add its own flavor into the digital files during the recording process. Personally I don’t think so but some audiophiles believe it does.

Thank you. Having to cut the tracks makes it a no go for me, too much work. Maybe a later version of the software will make it more user friendly to perform this pre-processing of tracks with Bacch.

 

[aangen]

What is the reason this person can't use the signal out of the BACCH? If it is a USB issue there are many converters available that do an excellent job converting USB to whatever output you would like. If it is just a simple issue of not believing anything good can come out of a Mac Mini, that is more of as personal problem again. Easily overcome by just listening to one. Oh, you did and you didn't like what you heard. Back to a personal problem, I happily don't share.

 

[VPN]

I

What is the reason this person can't use the signal out of the BACCH? If it is a USB issue there are many converters available that do an excellent job converting USB to whatever output you would like. If it is just a simple issue of not believing anything good can come out of a Mac Mini, that is more of as personal problem again. Easily overcome by just listening to one. Oh, you did and you didn't like what you heard. Back to a personal problem, I happily don't share.

I had a beefed up macmini many years ago. Now I use a Taiko Olympus XDMI, which, at least for me, is quite superior to a macmini. I also heard the bacch dio and see merit in it. So I would like to do the Bacch processing offline, put the tracks/albums in a NAS and use the Taiko Olympus. However, having to cut the tracks is not an attractive idea to me.

 

[flkin]

I’m (and others actually) are in the middle of an interesting experiment with the Bacch output from a Mac.

My MacBook does not output a high end audiophile music signal. I know this for sure now. It allows the Bacch sound to be tasted - but it’s not a gourmet taste. The Mac output bit perfect for sure but for all known and unknown reasons, it’s not audiophile sounding.

So some months ago I started on the belief that I can improve the sound from the Mac by applying the usual audiophile techniques I’ve pickup over the years. And it’s working. I’ve reached a level that is close to the sound of my optimized reference stereo Pink Faun 2.16x streamer but with the Bacch sound field.

I’m waiting for the final parts to arrive for the third iteration of my solution. Once that is completed and evaluated I will write this entire experience up.

Audiophile Bacch sound through a Mac is possible.

 

[VPN]

Besides me, I know other Taiko owners who do not want to insert another device in the audio chain. If Bacch changed the mac version of bacch to easily generate bacch processed tracks, I would certainly purchase it, and probably many other would too. I suppose this added feature should not be too difficult to create.

 

[VPN]

Will there be any room with Bacch in the Munich High End 2025?

 

[aangen]

Besides me, I know other Taiko owners who do not want to insert another device in the audio chain. If Bacch changed the mac version of bacch to easily generate bacch processed tracks, I would certainly purchase it, and probably many other would too. I suppose this added feature should not be too difficult to create.

Edgar doesn't believe your Taiko gear is a worthwhile expense. Don't hope for much.
I think your Taiko gear is tip top. But with my BACCH-SP adio I will soldier on without knowing how good it is.

 

[flkin]

Pretty certain all the Bacch-SP models is a step up from the standard Mac version. After all the hardware is dedicated and matched for the purpose and the package is quite a bit more expensive than the Mac version. Al, I recall you mentioning that your Bacch SP ADIO compares well with your Grimm MU1? Whatever, the Bacch soundstage is so next level that climbing this mountain is worth it no matter the hardware and currently the best available is the SP. And hopefully soon also the Mac with an external PCIe enclosure.

The one advantage I see with the Mac version is that it is flexible for tweaking which is what I am doing now.

 

[VPN]

Edgar doesn't believe your Taiko gear is a worthwhile expense. Don't hope for much.
I think your Taiko gear is tip top. But with my BACCH-SP adio I will soldier on without knowing how good it is.

I am quite sure he doesn't have a Taiko Olympus, and neither has heard it in his system. So probably an oppinion that is not based on direct experience.

 

[msimanyi]

I have it on good authority that a MUON Pro, when added to the Bacch4Mac Mini, makes a huge sonic improvement. I borrowed my Bacch4Mac setup to a friend. He discovered this. I have a MUON Pro on my BACCH-SP adio and my Grimm MU2. I was impressed after adding one to each. Just sayin....

Also, consider a Stealth USB-T Select V3 or USB Double Tune USB cable. Shunyata is no slouch, but Stealth is better to my ears. Enjoy!

So the Plixir power supplies arrived and I'm working on rearranging the electronics to make everything fit. I see this box sitting on the top shelf, disconnected, and think "What's that?" Pull it out and... it's a Muon Pro. Think I'll put THAT in line before the Mini while I'm at it.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here!

 

[duchman221]

Heard the Carver in the early 80's and bought the pre amp. Dealer had a perfect set up. Not expensive but DCM Time Windows, which I read years ago Carver used in developing the holography circuit. Karla Bonoff. Dealer switched in the circuitry and I'd swear there was someone playing a piano 10 feet in front of me and a few feet to the left. Unfortunately the circuitry changed tonality a bit much. But what a wonderful toy. I always wondered why someone didn't make a high end version of it. I do remember Carver saying you needed time aligned speakers and a "dead" acoustic space on the wall behind the speakers. Once I get my acoustics and system dialed in this summer I'll have to see if I can get my hands on one of these and see how it does.