HQPlayer Impressions and Settings Rolling Thread

[Ghoostknight]

oh yeah, why I haven't thought of that. But won't it have licensing issue? Do I have to own 2 licenses since it's running 2 HQP on a separate machine.
Anyway, maybe I'll figure something out once I got there. I would love to see you make a video about HQP what it does, how can it be integrated in Roon, for multiple setups like desktop and speaker system. I mean not the nitty-gritty installation guide as we can just look them up but the capabilities and what you can do with HQP.
Thank you

as far i know endpoints dont need a license, the hqplayer "server" needs the license

 

[PROblemdetected]

Ill stay over here to share some impressions about filters.

I actually using HQplayer with FiiO k9 AKM via roon. It has been my last discovery on the hifi-world. It really changes the presentation and resolution. For me is like using MadVR on video players.

I would like to share my setup, accept any advice to improve it (maybe I pick some wrong options options)

 

[Tubewin]

The optimal setup would be to have a beefy PC that can handle whatever HQP config you want, and then stream to a high quality network endpoint.

Would you be able to give an example of a high quality network endpoint? Thanks.

 

[Tubewin]

So I've had the holo may kte for a long time, but I never really got into the whole HQ Player thing. I removed my graphics card (3800ti) from desktop computer to reduce noise and currently have a asus motherboard with a i9-12900k processor. I removed one fan of two from the heat sink of the cpu ( even with only one fan the temperature ranges from 30c-50c on the cpu, which seems acceptable). I'm currently using usb from a jcat xe usb card on the motherboard to connect to the may. Is there a better way for me to use HQ player than through usb? I'll look through the posts to find the optimal settings on hq player for the may. Thanks guys.

 

[GoldenSound]

Would you be able to give an example of a high quality network endpoint? Thanks.

Holo Red, SMSL SMS200 Ultra, Denafrips ARCE, Or even a Raspberry pi4 with an iFi iPower PSU

 

[sup27606]

So I've had the holo may kte for a long time, but I never really got into the whole HQ Player thing. I removed my graphics card (3800ti) from desktop computer to reduce noise and currently have a asus motherboard with a i9-12900k processor. I removed one fan of two from the heat sink of the cpu ( even with only one fan the temperature ranges from 30c-50c on the cpu, which seems acceptable). I'm currently using usb from a jcat xe usb card on the motherboard to connect to the may. Is there a better way for me to use HQ player than through usb? I'll look through the posts to find the optimal settings on hq player for the may. Thanks guys.

The most optimal way would be to stream from PC to a pi2AES over network running Network Audio Daemon, then connect to DAC from pi using AES or BNC. This is from Goldensound's own review (pi2AES had the best jitter performance since no USB was involved anywhere in the chain).

 

[GoldenSound]

So I've had the holo may kte for a long time, but I never really got into the whole HQ Player thing. I removed my graphics card (3800ti) from desktop computer to reduce noise and currently have a asus motherboard with a i9-12900k processor. I removed one fan of two from the heat sink of the cpu ( even with only one fan the temperature ranges from 30c-50c on the cpu, which seems acceptable). I'm currently using usb from a jcat xe usb card on the motherboard to connect to the may. Is there a better way for me to use HQ player than through usb? I'll look through the posts to find the optimal settings on hq player for the may. Thanks guys.

The May has full laser diode galvanic isolation for the USB input, meaning the USB host is not actually directly electrically connected to the DAC itself and noise cannot pass through, so it's effectively immune to USB source changes.

In terms of HQPlayer settings I've got a config file + guide here that should be a good start. The new HQP 5 has a different settings layout but the settings themselves are the same.
Would recommend trying both Sinc-Mx and Sinc-L as those are the two technically best filters but some have a preference for one over the other

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/106xSVmY-4ct2IZMJX4jY81vZlkaNitU0

 

[GoldenSound]

The most optimal way would be to stream from PC to a pi2AES over network running Network Audio Daemon, then connect to DAC from pi using AES or BNC. This is from Goldensound's own review (pi2AES had the best jitter performance since no USB was involved anywhere in the chain).

pi2aes probably isn't ideal if intending to use HQPlayer cause it's limited to 192khz output

 

[sup27606]

pi2aes probably isn't ideal if intending to use HQPlayer cause it's limited to 192khz output

That's a bottleneck then. I thought, it's only the coax/BNC that's limited to 192. Even the AES output is limited it seems. Good to know.

 

[GoldenSound]

That's a bottleneck then. I thought, it's only the coax/BNC that's limited to 192. Even the AES output is limited it seems. Good to know.

Yeah generally speaking on any ddc/streamer the aes/Spdif outputs will be limited to 192khz.

I2S is the one that will go higher but pi2aes is limited there as well because the I2S pins on the pi itself max out at 192khz. In theory if a pi5 with higher sample rate capability over i2s was released it could do more though.

But yeah with the May you just want to use USB. You get the best performance that way and can go full 1.536Mhz

 

[sup27606]

Yeah generally speaking on any ddc/streamer the aes/Spdif outputs will be limited to 192khz.

I2S is the one that will go higher but pi2aes is limited there as well because the I2S pins on the pi itself max out at 192khz. In theory if a pi5 with higher sample rate capability over i2s was released it could do more though.

But yeah with the May you just want to use USB. You get the best performance that way and can go full 1.536Mhz

Yes, I agree, given the stellar USB implementation of Holo May. I have a SRC-Dx that goes upto 384 kHz over BNC, but most DDCs only support upto 192 it seems.

 

[GoldenSound]

Yes, I agree, given the stellar USB implementation of Holo May. I have a SRC-Dx that goes upto 384 kHz over BNC, but most DDCs only support upto 192 it seems.

Yeah but the issue there unfortunately is almost no DACs support >192khz over aes/Spdif even if you have a source capable of it.

Chord is the only one I'm actually aware of

 

[Tubewin]

The May has full laser diode galvanic isolation for the USB input, meaning the USB host is not actually directly electrically connected to the DAC itself and noise cannot pass through, so it's effectively immune to USB source changes.

In terms of HQPlayer settings I've got a config file + guide here that should be a good start. The new HQP 5 has a different settings layout but the settings themselves are the same.
Would recommend trying both Sinc-Mx and Sinc-L as those are the two technically best filters but some have a preference for one over the other

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/106xSVmY-4ct2IZMJX4jY81vZlkaNitU0

Thank you!

 

[sup27606]

Yeah but the issue there unfortunately is almost no DACs support >192khz over aes/Spdif even if you have a source capable of it.

Chord is the only one I'm actually aware of

That's true. I acquired the SRC-DX specifically to output 768 kHz through dual BNC to Hugo 2.

 

[Zachik]

Anyone managed to use JRiver Media Center as front end, along with HQPlayer? Both running on a Win10 PC?
I have been using JRiver MC for years, and really prefer to keep it as the GUI for my music library...