HQPlayer Impressions and Settings Rolling Thread

[AxelCloris]

[mod comment] We've removed some off-topic arguments from the thread. Thank you to those who kept the discussion focused on HQPlayer and the music. We appreciate it.

 

[photobillyli]

Do I need to concern the way of my connections?
Currently my pc and mac are connected to the same router through Wifi. PC is the roon server and the mac is running the HQ player. The musics processed by the HQ player in my mac will be sent to the Holo Red. The Holo red is connected to the same router through an audiograde cable.
My question is, will I obtain a better result if my mac and even my pc are connected to the router through LAN cables?
And I am thinking is there any way to connect the mac with holo red directly to get rid of the router? I know the holo red is also a DDC but I prefer NAA of HQplayer.

 

[BShaw]

Do I need to concern the way of my connections?
Currently my pc and mac are connected to the same router through Wifi. PC is the roon server and the mac is running the HQ player. The musics processed by the HQ player in my mac will be sent to the Holo Red. The Holo red is connected to the same router through an audiograde cable.
My question is, will I obtain a better result if my mac and even my pc are connected to the router through LAN cables?
And I am thinking is there any way to connect the mac with holo red directly to get rid of the router? I know the holo red is also a DDC but I prefer NAA of HQplayer.

One thing about the wifi connection is it provides isolation. My Mac mini (Roon and HQP server) is connected to my router via LAN cable and then goes into a Gustard switch with a fiber port, so my front end is being fed by fiber (another fiber-LAN converter at the DAC side), which isolates in a similar way.
So if you're going to plug the Mac and PC into the router, I would highly recommend doing the same, with a short LAN cable into a fiber converter, then fiber optic cable to another converter near the Red (assuming it's being used as your streamer), with a short LAN cable from the Red into your DAC. Hope that makes sense.
Another way to approach things is to send the wifi signal to a mesh repeater/booster with a LAN port, then go straight out to the Red with another short LAN cable.

 

[photobillyli]

One thing about the wifi connection is it provides isolation. My Mac mini (Roon and HQP server) is connected to my router via LAN cable and then goes into a Gustard switch with a fiber port, so my front end is being fed by fiber (another fiber-LAN converter at the DAC side), which isolates in a similar way.
So if you're going to plug the Mac and PC into the router, I would highly recommend doing the same, with a short LAN cable into a fiber converter, then fiber optic cable to another converter near the Red (assuming it's being used as your streamer), with a short LAN cable from the Red into your DAC. Hope that makes sense.
Another way to approach things is to send the wifi signal to a mesh repeater/booster with a LAN port, then go straight out to the Red with another short LAN cable.

Thanks so much. but u said wifi connection has isolation, do you mean i actually can skip plugging the pc and mac into router? I can get a good result by using wifi?

 

[dericchan1]

totally agreed. especially as the frequency moved low. But in spite of the increase harmonic distortion, bass still sounds strong and tight. The sound is greater than the sum of its parts.

I would like to hear it one day with alternatives to the output stage. The discrete digital side needs no change.




I made some measurements earlier of the DSC2 with my E1DA ADC. Since then, I have bought the rest of the E1DA suite and will get even more accurate numbers when I have the chance to measure.

It isn't that important, but if anyone is curious I will post them.

Wonder what settings do you use for the dsc2? Pavek recommends dsd512 AMSDM7 512fs on his web page I suppose that was before the 7EC modulators become available?

Cheers

 

[bogi]

Thanks so much. but u said wifi connection has isolation, do you mean i actually can skip plugging the pc and mac into router? I can get a good result by using wifi?

WiFi interface itself (independently on existence of a HQPlayer computer somewhere in LAN) is usually more noisy than Ethernet interface. Therefore Ethernet interface is usually preferred at audio endpoint (NAA) side.

Use of a common router/switch and only one LAN interface on both HQPlayer and NAA computers is recommended, otherwise you can experience difficulties with discovering NAA computer(s) by HQPlayer computer(s) on your LAN. Furthemore, Ethernet switch also provides some level of NAA isolation from other computers in your Ethernet LAN.

WiFi of course provides full galvanic isolation, so if your WiFi is enough fast for your needs, I see no objections against using it on HQPlayer computer side. It can make HQPlayer computer a bit noisier than Ethernet interface, but who cares, when that noise isn't transferred through air.

 

[dericchan1]

Surprised no one talks about the dac correction feature that much.

myself (cyan 2) and my friend who owns a spring 3 kte heard the improvements. I have not been able to spend too much time on the cyan 2 as I just bought another dac (Signalyst dsc2) yesterday.

But yes, it just sounds like imaging more precised, more like all the pieces are tied together better - coherency. They're not as spread out and completely unlinked. Like all the instruments are more believably located in the same space.

All I can say is WOW!!!

 

[plumpudding2]

Surprised no one talks about the dac correction feature that much.

myself (cyan 2) and my friend who owns a spring 3 kte heard the improvements. I have not been able to spend too much time on the cyan 2 as I just bought another dac (Signalyst dsc2) yesterday.

But yes, it just sounds like imaging more precised, more like all the pieces are tied together better - coherency. They're not as spread out and completely unlinked. Like all the instruments are more believably located in the same space.

All I can say is WOW!!!

I'm super curious about the dac correction! Eagerly awaiting Jussi's hints on what exactly it is correcting

 

[GoldenSound]

I've just posted a video demonstrating that not only can high performance oversampling indeed make an audible difference vs standard filters, but therefore DACs themselves even if 120dB SINAD can also still sound different and are in fact not necessarily 'Audibly Transparent'

 

[dericchan1]

I've just posted a video demonstrating that not only can high performance oversampling indeed make an audible difference vs standard filters, but therefore DACs themselves even if 120dB SINAD can also still sound different and are in fact not necessarily 'Audibly Transparent'

Thanks @GoldensSound, makes a great treat to watch on a Sunday afternoon!!!

 

[bogi]

@GoldenSound, thanks for making this Sunday afternoon more interesting. I can imagine how much effort is behind preparing both the test and the video presentation. And of course, you can expect different kind of reactions, for example on ASR.

One does not need to hear about 20k to distinguish sound of different filters, since there is also filter time response, not only frequency response. IMO differences between filters can be heard also in midrange. That's how I understand what I hear, although I don't care to setup a blind test, nor to create such a video.

 

[GoldenSound]

@GoldenSound, thanks for making this Sunday afternoon more interesting. I can imagine how much effort is behind preparing both the test and the video presentation. And of course, you can expect different kind of reactions, for example on ASR.

One does not need to hear about 20k to distinguish sound of different filters, since there is also filter time response, not only frequency response. IMO differences between filters can be heard also in midrange. That's how I understand what I hear, although I don't care to setup a blind test, nor to create such a video.

Yeah the time domain stuff is where I can't currently test unfortunately. I'll need to repeat the test in a couple years once my hearing range has dropped a bit and see if there are any remaining differences that can no longer be explained by the treble extension itself

 

[plumpudding2]

Yeah the time domain stuff is where I can't currently test unfortunately. I'll need to repeat the test in a couple years once my hearing range has dropped a bit and see if there are any remaining differences that can no longer be explained by the treble extension itself

I believe the general consensus is that filtering also has an audible impact for hires (2x rate) content, where you'll be sure to hear absolutely nothing since any filter ringing or other effects will happen all the way up at 44.1/48 Khz. Maybe something worth giving a try?

 

[MLGrado]

One thing about the wifi connection is it provides isolation. My Mac mini (Roon and HQP server) is connected to my router via LAN cable and then goes into a Gustard switch with a fiber port, so my front end is being fed by fiber (another fiber-LAN converter at the DAC side), which isolates in a similar way.
So if you're going to plug the Mac and PC into the router, I would highly recommend doing the same, with a short LAN cable into a fiber converter, then fiber optic cable to another converter near the Red (assuming it's being used as your streamer), with a short LAN cable from the Red into your DAC. Hope that makes sense.
Another way to approach things is to send the wifi signal to a mesh repeater/booster with a LAN port, then go straight out to the Red with another short LAN cable.

yes, I find that the wifi isolation provided by my iFi STREAM makes a notable difference in quality. I am a big believer in isolation.

It goes back to personal experience for me. At one time I owned a Wyred4Sound DAC-1LE Femto (ESS 9018 chip I think), and although it had onboard galvanic isolation via USB, nothing I could do, including temporarily lifting the PSU ground, could get rid of both a 60hz hum combined with a large amount of white noise.

I purchased an Intona USB Galvanic isolator, and never looked back. It took care of ALL the noise. Dead quiet after its insertion. I am sure several DAC's I have owned since have had no need for the extra isolation; however I have continued to use one anyway, knowing how well they can work.

 

[MLGrado]

Wonder what settings do you use for the dsc2? Pavek recommends dsd512 AMSDM7 512fs on his web page I suppose that was before the 7EC modulators become available?

Cheers

Yeah, GREAT question!

I am in process of building a more powerful PC, since my current HP all-in-one just can't handle the most complex filters or modulators. I wish I could get to 512fs.

Right now I am limited to 256x. My filter of choice for 44.1/48khz material is 'poly-sinc-gauss'. For higher resolution PCM it is 'poly-sinc-xtr-short-mp'. Modulator is one of the adaptive modulators... ASDM5ECv3.

Those parameters put my PC right at 96 percent usage.

For DSD to DSD conversion, if the DSD file I am playing is 256x, I simply pass it through. No need to re-modulate. For DSD64 and DSD128, I use a CIC integrator (which will be similar to what the DSC2 actually does in hardware for conversion), and use the 'wide' setting.

So far these have provided best results for me. As long as you don't input DSD64 into the DAC, it all sounds 'good'. It is just a matter of what sounds even better lol.

Not that DSD64 sounds bad per say... its just the 32tap filter is a bit long for that rate. (For comparison, TI/Burr-Brown uses an 8 tap filter for DSD64, and if I remember correctly, in the discussion I had with T+A audio, they thought the 8 tap filter was even too long! Their FIR filter is a mere 4 tap. It is important to note, that this isn't the only filter used. All of these DAC's have an analog (RC type in case of TI) downstream to complete the reconstruction.

But back on topic... I am researching low noise/high performance PC products and hopefully will have a 512fs capable system pretty soon.