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Compared to what I explored in the past across various server and network players, the Amethyst’s performance was rather convincing. Its user guide recommends two 3rd-party UPnP software interfaces to navigate the UPnP renderer: JRiver MediaCenter and PS Audio eLyric Music Manager. But I also had satisfying results from the iPad apps Kinsky and Song Book Lite. If I had to use the Amethyst network renderer long term, I think JRiver would provide more comfort and browsing options. During my long assessment of the Trinnov Amethyst, I could explore its corrective benefits on three different pairs of loudspeakers. The Vivid K1 as my reference pair didn’t really reveal any outstanding new skills I wasn’t already aware of. That was no surprise considering that my room acoustics had been treated around the K1 and their positioning. The main achievement of the Trinnov on the Vivid K1 was a discrete improvement of acoustic phase and bass amplitude.


The Lawrence Audio Double Bass proved more responsive to the Amethyst’s insertion to generate a far more precise soundstage, more depth and substantial gain in LF resolution. But the most outstanding improvement came with the Magnepan 20.7. I tried over several months various very expensive powerful amplifiers on them to conclude that the crucial factor is not the amplification itself but the interaction of the speaker with the room. It doesn't mean amplification is not important. The choice of appropriate amp for the Magnepan flagship is key. Still, beyond any recommendation I could make about a particular amplifier, I would first point at the Amethyst. It will save both time and money.


Hosting in a usual home such a huge emissive panel working in dipole mode should make the benefits of the Trinnov room optimizer intuitive to any thinking man or woman. Even in a very large room duly treated, I am convinced that the 20.7 will still create a mess of reflections under most circumstances. That requires a lot of time finding the best compromise of speaker position without being assured of the best performance. And believe me, these are capable of far more than their relatively moderate sticker or most installations would predict.


I have noticed that most Magnepan owners focus on better amps to tame their giant panels; or better xovers; wires; or bi-amp scenarios. All of these efforts and expensive bets could be bypassed going Amethyst. What we in fact pursue with amp and wire swaps is generally a more convincing tonal balance, better transients and a more realistic soundstage.  And all of that can be addressed easily within the Trinnov Amethyst in a more pragmatic far more precise fashion.


That said, I admit that prior to my two Trinnov encounters, I was not very inclined to pursue digital correction devices. My main reluctance was overall complexity and fear that the settings game would never end. That's certainly a risk when one acquires a device of such unlimited adjustments. The user-friendliness and simplicity of interacting with the Trinnov now ease those concerns. Because the Amethyst is designed to avoid most counterproductive hassles, one has very little chance indeed to get lost in hazardous blind alleys and poor sonic results. If I had to highlight just one special feature of the Amethyst, I would in fact highlight this particular user-friendliness!