HQPlayer Impressions and Settings Rolling Thread

[Ariel77080]

Interesting! I never thought this pairing would work so well together.

 

[dericchan1]

I have to thank @dericchan1 for the suggestion of using the ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme gaming console as a platform for streaming + HQP processing, which has relieved my older generation i5 laptop of being recruited for the purpose. I was able to secure a used unit in mint condition and added a docking station (with USB ports), all for around $400 USD. This specific version has the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU, which is a step up from the regular Z1 powered unit.

This handheld device is compact, requiring minimal space, and allows for ethernet and WiFi connections. The OS is Windows 11, which gives it full PC functionality while allowing for running DSD128 comfortably with a generous selection of filters with ASDM7EC-fast shaping when streaming Qobuz directly. Because DSD128-DSD256 seems to be the "sweet spot" for the Holo Cyan 2 with respect to jitter and noise performance, this is a reasonable stopping point, although some of the "horsepower" that Win 11 saps can likely be freed by changing the display settings, which should allow one to run DSD256 with more than just the short filters if desired. Or, one can do what @dericchan1 did and load Linux Ubuntu, which frees up quite a lot of system resources. I have not yet decided if I want to go this route.

And in case anyone wondered, whether the device is running on the PS or battery, or playing local files or streaming wirelessly, I have not noted any difference in sound quality (i.e. soundstage depth and precision, dynamics, background, etc.).

Glad that you are enjoying the Asus Rog Ally. Great little beast of a unit I must say.
Running dual boot with Ubuntu, its rock solid doing DSD512 7EC super not breaking a sweat, CPU temp around low 60c ish. 7EC Fast could be run in powersaver mode in Ubuntu which keeps CPU temp in mid 40c ish.

It does DAC correction with DSD256 and 7EC fast default or 2s filters.

A bit of a tough nut to crack for DAC correction with DSD256 with 7EC super, it will run at high performance mode but that's when CPU temp really jumps to 90c ish and the fan start roaring.

I do have it plugged into a JDS synapse, which does help if you are using the docking station usb port to the dac.

The Asus rog ally usb port is indeed quite clean, so I don’t bother taking the synapse with me if I am using the Asus rog ally as a portable hqplayer dap on the road

 

[TedB]

Glad that you are enjoying the Asus Rog Ally. Great little beast of a unit I must say.
Running dual boot with Ubuntu, its rock solid doing DSD512 7EC super not breaking a sweat, CPU temp around low 60c ish. 7EC Fast could be run in powersaver mode in Ubuntu which keeps CPU temp in mid 40c ish.

It does DAC correction with DSD256 and 7EC fast default or 2s filters.

A bit of a tough nut to crack for DAC correction with DSD256 with 7EC super, it will run at high performance mode but that's when CPU temp really jumps to 90c ish and the fan start roaring.

I am always using DAC correction, so I believe that takes a bit of resources. I recall preferring 7EC-fast to 7EC-super in testing some months ago, as I felt the latter sounded a bit slow and heavy in comparison while requiring more CPU. I've been running in Performance mode with DSD128 which seems to be fine, all being dead quiet - much quieter than my laptop.

I seem to recall a red flag about a WiFi support issue when running Ubuntu dual boot, so I'll have to revisit. I've seen a couple of videos on installing Ubuntu, but it seems like a minor project for the uninitiated like myself.

 

[dericchan1]

I am always using DAC correction, so I believe that takes a bit of resources. I recall preferring 7EC-fast to 7EC-super in testing some months ago, as I felt the latter sound a little slow and heavy while requiring more CPU. I've been running in Performance mode with DSD128 which seems to be fine, all being dead quiet - much quieter than my laptop.

I seem to recall a red flag about a WiFi support issue when running Ubuntu dual boot, so I'll have to revisit. I've seen a couple of videos on installing Ubuntu, but it seems like a minor project for the uninitiated like myself.

I am happy to report zero issue with wifi in ubuntu.

I connect to wifi when I am on the train to work.

Battery is exceptionally well too, playing dsd512 7EC fast no correction to my dongle dac/amp to iems under power saver mode in Ubuntu, will last about 3.5-4 hours

I also bought an anker power bank that can full charge the rog.

 

[TedB]

I am happy to report zero issue with wifi in ubuntu.

I connect to wifi when I am on the train to work.

Battery is exceptionally well too, playing dsd512 7EC fast no correction to my dongle dac/amp to iems under power saver mode in Ubuntu, will last about 3.5-4 hours

I also bought an anker power bank that can full charge the rog.

Very good to know, thanks!

I am presently using an LHY UIP (USB isolator + asynchronous clock) between the dock and Cyan 2, so your comments about the benefit of the Synapse are well noted and already implemented.

 

[dericchan1]

I have to thank @dericchan1 for the suggestion of using the ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme gaming console as a platform for streaming + HQP processing, which has relieved my older generation i5 laptop of being recruited for the purpose. I was able to secure a used unit in mint condition and added a docking station (with USB ports), all for around $400 USD. This specific version has the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU, which is a step up from the regular Z1 powered unit.

This handheld device is compact, requiring minimal space, and allows for ethernet and WiFi connections. The OS is Windows 11, which gives it full PC functionality while allowing for running DSD128 comfortably with a generous selection of filters with ASDM7EC-fast shaping when streaming Qobuz directly. Because DSD128-DSD256 seems to be the "sweet spot" for the Holo Cyan 2 with respect to jitter and noise performance, this is a reasonable stopping point, although some of the "horsepower" that Win 11 saps can likely be freed by changing the display settings, which should allow one to run DSD256 with more than just the short filters if desired. Or, one can do what @dericchan1 did and load Linux Ubuntu, which frees up quite a lot of system resources. I have not yet decided if I want to go this route.

And in case anyone wondered, whether the device is running on the PS or battery, or playing local files or streaming wirelessly, I have not noted any difference in sound quality (i.e. soundstage depth and precision, dynamics, background, etc.).

I should also point out that setting dual boot with Ubuntu is very easy and only take up about 32g of hdd space.

In case you want to uninstall everything, Asus made it easy for a “factory reset” from the bios menu that will reinstall windows 11 for you.

And how do you beat that? Me and my son gets to play Konami Efootball 2025 with the Asus Rog Ally too!!!