HQ Player

[Miska]

Thanks for this. So the fs48000 workload is too high for a non -2s modulator?

 

Probably if you go from 48k to 11.3M. On OS X and Linux you can also use 12.3M output rate for the 48k content which should work just fine.

 

Fractional ratios consume more computing resources than simple ones.

[Samuel T Cogley]

Probably if you go from 48k to 11.3M. On OS X and Linux you can also use 12.3M output rate for the 48k content which should work just fine.

 

Fractional ratios consume more computing resources than simple ones.

 

I was talking about 44100 --> 12288000, not 48000 --> 11289600.

 

Thanks for your time.

[Miska]

I was talking about 44100 --> 12288000, not 48000 --> 11289600.

 

OK, both of those cases are quite similar load. -2s is much lighter for those cases.

[KMan]

Sorry if this has been asked earlier. Is there any reason not to use the -2s version? I mostly use poly-sinc-2s or poly-sinc-mp-shrt-2s. Are there any audible difference between these and their non 2s equivalent? ( I cannot hear any)

[Miska]

Sorry if this has been asked earlier. Is there any reason not to use the -2s version? I mostly use poly-sinc-2s or poly-sinc-mp-shrt-2s. Are there any audible difference between these and their non 2s equivalent? ( I cannot hear any)

 

Any differences should be minor, there may be some because the process is different so the numerical values as result are not exactly the same. From technical quality perspective both are practically equal quality.

[bibo01]

I post here because this info may interest many people, including Miska and his DIY DSD DAC.

 

The news is about Amanero USB board and DSD played on Linux -

 

I have just finished to talk on the phone with Domenico, the producer of Amanero USB boards.

We had a very friendly chat, also because he comes from a town 60Km away from me.

He explained that it already exists a firmware capable of DSD512 under Linux, but he just offered the tools to designers and at the moment it is up to each one of them to patch OS in order to work in DSD natively.

I suggested to contact ALSA maintainer to make such patch public as part of Linux next release.

He will do so and keep me informed.

So sooner or later Amanero board will be able to play DSD in bitstream (non DoP) on Linux.

[Ipoci]

... I cannot seem to get it to play in non DoP, and am limited to DSD128...

 

I just power on the JLsounds DAC/IF and I've some comments to add:

 

- As you mentioned I can't play non-DoP method with OSX and Linux as well (to be honest I would have expected a different behavior with Linux environment)

- With OSX mute isn't inserted between DSD traces but only when whole disk stops (I've a mute circuit based on relay)

- With Linux mute is inserted between every DSD trace

 

Miska, is the difference expected ?

 

Have a nice day, Massimiliano

 

OSX = El Capitan

Linux = Mint 17.2 with 4.2.5 Kernel

[Solstice380]

Miska, I want to inform/update about the same bug, also because it didn't happened with builds previous to 3.12 (it started with second or third beta, IIRC). I do not use library option, just drag an album to play from other folder, located internally or externally. After playing the album I clean playlist with broom and drag another album. So, the bug is: after dragging new album and hitting the 'play' button it stays selected for a second, then turns to unselected mode, playback not starting. If I broom the playlist, close HQP, open again, drag the same album and hit 'play' playback starts. Or, if I broom the playlist, drag the album, broom and drag the same album again it may start to play without closing and opening HQP - sometimes yes, sometimes no, again - repeating routine may work. All this happens not in every case, maybe in every second time. Again, all major settings didn't change from previous builds, I use closed form, ASDM7, SDM.

 

This bug is not a big issue, I am just doing little more clicking, but, anyway, I would love to see great piece of software becoming even better.

 

Not sure if this is part of the problem, but the "broom" does not "release" the song from HQP on OSX. I use a RAM disk. I use the broom, then delete the files from RAM disk, and when I try to Empty Trash I get the message that "file is in use by HQP". I have to close HQP to Empty Trash. Is this OSX or HQP related?

[4est]

AFAIK, you should be able to use native in Linux with the right distro or additions. At least that is what i am being told by others. Here is a link. The PDF file has some code that may be of service. I haven't gotten it to work, but I am a Linux dunce. I would love it if someone figured out how to get the JLSounds to work properly on Win or even OSX. The built in isolation and easily upgraded clocks make it a much more desirable card than the Amanero. IMO, it sounds better too, at least at DSD128.

 

The Best DAC is no DAC - Page 61 - diyAudio

I just power on the JLsounds DAC/IF and I've some comments to add:

 

- As you mentioned I can't play non-DoP method with OSX and Linux as well (to be honest I would have expected a different behavior with Linux environment)

- With OSX mute isn't inserted between DSD traces but only when whole disk stops (I've a mute circuit based on relay)

- With Linux mute is inserted between every DSD trace

 

Miska, is the difference expected ?

 

Have a nice day, Massimiliano

 

OSX = El Capitan

Linux = Mint 17.2 with 4.2.5 Kernel

[Ipoci]

AFAIK, you should be able to use native in Linux with the right distro or additions.

 

Yep, you and bibo01 pointed me simultaneously to my mistake ... I currently run Linux Mint 17.2 that's based on Trusty that doesn't include natively DSD code for non-DoP. Later I will try to install the required code.

 

I also did another verification on "mute" behavior with HQP on both OSX and Linux and "mute" is triggered on both systems on every DSD track change. A user gave me a comment that JLsounds + Win + Foobar doesn't show this issue. Miska, do you think it's related to HQP command ?

 

Have a nice day, Massimiliano

[bogi]

Any differences should be minor, there may be some because the process is different so the numerical values as result are not exactly the same. From technical quality perspective both are practically equal quality.

 

My ears - my subjective opinion: For me the 2s filters are lower quality filters than the non 2s ones. Their sound character is practically the same as of their non 2s neighbors, but with something like added noise, simply the 2s filters don't provide the same resolution. Instrument colors with the non 2s ones sound me fuller.

[Miska]

My ears - my subjective opinion: For me the 2s filters are lower quality filters than the non 2s ones. Their sound character is practically the same as of their non 2s neighbors, but with something like added noise, simply the 2s filters don't provide the same resolution. Instrument colors with the non 2s ones sound me fuller.

 

This is one of the things where it is hard to give answer why, but I expected that there could be some sonic differences and that's why I prefer to keep both available...

 

If one wants to play around, there are also some very low level numerical differences between Linux/Mac/Windows due to different compilers. ..

[Miska]

Yep, you and bibo01 pointed me simultaneously to my mistake ... I currently run Linux Mint 17.2 that's based on Trusty that doesn't include natively DSD code for non-DoP. Later I will try to install the required code.

 

I have updated packages for Trusty to add support for non-DoP...

 

I also did another verification on "mute" behavior with HQP on both OSX and Linux and "mute" is triggered on both systems on every DSD track change. A user gave me a comment that JLsounds + Win + Foobar doesn't show this issue. Miska, do you think it's related to HQP command ?

 

What is used as basis for the mute control? I know how some DAC chips use mute though, but it depends on the chip. If you use same settings and same content on both platforms the behavior is the same because all the code that matters is same between the platforms.

 

If you use playlist transport (unrelated tracks) instead of album transport (related tracks) for playing subsequent DSD tracks, some DACs may engage mute. That is expected behavior, it is not an issue. Foobar is lacking that feature...

[Le Concombre Masqué]

to my ears the non 2 s add a touch of class, finesse

Any differences should be minor, there may be some because the process is different so the numerical values as result are not exactly the same. From technical quality perspective both are practically equal quality.

[4est]

Well put. I wasn't able to wrap language around it, but this sums up the feeling that I attempted to convey.

to my ears the non 2 s add a touch of class, finesse

[Samuel T Cogley]

After being patient and waiting the 30 seconds for the non-2s filters to start (for DSD256), I'm not able to separate possible expectation bias (some here are really loyal to the non-2s modulators) from the possibility that I'm hearing the difference. The 30 second delay really kills any chance of ABX.

[kurb1980]

Its a night and day difference between the 2's and full filters. The full sound fuller, more depth, and have a certain airiness that 2's variants do not. If you have a CPU that can handle poly-sinc I recommend using that one its my favorite and switching back and forth between its variant the sound profile of the two are very distinguishable. Yes there is a little bit of a delay first time you launch the poly-sinc DSD256 but after that initial load smooth sailing unless out close the player then it will do that 30-40 sec delay.

 

The 2's variants sound better on some system's because the CPU doesn't have to work as hard and the noise of your CPU is low its very dependent on the horsepower and cooling of your CPU. I switched from Mac to Windows and 3 different CPU's before I found the one that sounds best with HQP.

[Le Concombre Masqué]

Thank you ; actually I checked the dictionary and was pleased that finesse had been adopted in English

Well put. I wasn't able to wrap language around it, but this sums up the feeling that I attempted to convey.

[craighartley]

Yes it's been an 'English' since long before Shakespeare, having been adopted from the French into Middle English after the Norman Conquest (1066)...

[astr0b0y]

Is there a CLI version of HQP for OSX available?

[zenpmd]

Can anyone tell me why HQPlayer recommend these DACS?

 

 

• exaSound e20/e22/e28 (Win/Mac)
  
• Fostex HP-A8C (Win/Linux)
  
• Mytek Stereo192-DSD DAC (Win/Mac)
  
• TEAC UD-501 (Win)
  
• iFi iDSD Nano/Micro (Win/Linux/Mac)
  
• Sony UDA-1 (Win)
  
• Resonessence Labs HERUS (Win/Linux/Mac)
  
• Titans/Hifidiy Athena USB (Linux)
  
• Marantz HD-DAC1
  
• Metrum Musette
  
• Schiit Loki (Linux/Mac)
  
• M2Tech hiFace (Win/Linux)
  
• Musical Fidelity V-Link192 (Win/Linux)
  
• hiFace DAC (Linux)
  
• Focusrite Forte (Win/Mac)
  

[bibo01]

Just because Miska owns those DACs and he can give full assistance for those models. However, HQPlayer can of course be used with any DAC device.

[zenpmd]

Just because Miska owns those DACs and he can give full assistance for those models. However, HQPlayer can of course be used with any DAC device.

My gut feel is that it may also reflect those manufactuers who are more radical and do things like firmware updates. I would have hoped BMCs range would be there too

[astr0b0y]

Miska, do you have a recommendation for settings for the UD-501? I'm using poly-sinc ADSM7 which seems the highest the DAC can handle via OS X, Mac mini i5.

[bibo01]

Miska, do you have a recommendation for settings for the UD-501? I'm using poly-sinc ADSM7 which seems the highest the DAC can handle via OS X, Mac mini i5.

Here he was recommending "5.1" as best modulator, which was substituted with the present "5.2". I think modulator ADSM5/7 did not exist at the time of measurement.