HQ Player

[Forehaven]

Thanks Jussi, another long session with Ted didn't go well. We did exactly as you suggested, and have the DAC directly connected via USB to the computer. Problem is, the PC won't open iFi's driver, 2.26.exe. So HQP cannot see the iFi now. Have posted on iFi's forum for help.

 

Thanks for the help, and btw, I need to transfer this license to the PC, having to reactivate the trial version is bit of a drag.

 

Chris

[Forehaven]

Did you download and run Autoruns from Microsoft to see what drivers were loaded? Today I had a sound quality issue after uninstalling the IFI driver and installing the T+A driver. Autoruns showed that the IFI drivers were still loaded. I uninstalled it, rebooted and the problem was fixed.

 

I just downloaded Autoruns and there's no iFi driver listed at all. "Unbelievable!!" is also my response to you stating the driver loaded just fine...aargh!

[Forehaven]

While I won't let this keep me up all night, I also won't let this beat us, Chris. We will figure this out!! It's gotta be something simple.

Thank You Ted!!!

 

Is your DAC using the latest firmware? For the IFI microIDSD the latest firmware is version 5.2. aka limoncello.

 

micro iDSD – Firmware | iFi Audio

 

This is the firmware used here. It works fine with the latest 2.26 USB driver.

 

Yes, running version 5.2

 

...so sorry about the OT.

 

+1

[Forehaven]

I bought a similar, if not the same computer from Micro Center and had nothing but problems with it. I exchanged the computer 2 times for the same thing, and then after the third time I just got my money back. I ended up buying a similar computer from Puget Systems. Not one issue so far (knock on wood).

 

There were always issues getting drivers to load, software to run, etc., etc., etc. Puget will put any component in your build you want, including OS.

 

Is that right? Well, I have still 12 dys left of MC's return policy. Thanks Elescher for sharing your experience!

[Forehaven]

Perhaps it's an USB problem? Can you get another USB device like a USB drive to play nicely in the machine? Also, do you have all the Intel motherboard system drivers loaded? Any flags showing up in device manager?

 

Nevermind lmitche, I'm returning it. Just going to build one. Thanks for all the help. And now back to HQP

[Forehaven]

Stupid question. Setting up new pc. Does this need to be connected to the router or switch for ethernet? I had my Mini on the switch and had ethernet. But, now using an ethernet cable from switch to pc, no ethernet connection is coming up under "Network and Internet". And also, strangely, even hooking up ethernet cable from router to pc is still not showing any ethernet connection at all.

[Forehaven]

Stupid question. Setting up new pc. Does this need to be connected to the router or switch for ethernet? I had my Mini on the switch and had ethernet. But, now using an ethernet cable from switch to pc, no ethernet connection is coming up under "Network and Internet". And also, strangely, even hooking up ethernet cable from router to pc is still not showing any ethernet connection at all.

 

Needed drivers. So strange not incl in base Windows.

[Forehaven]

Yes, both Jussi and users have reported it several times now. Jussi is waiting for latest CUDA standard from NVidia before enabling it.

 

How do you know it's not working working Ted?

 

And Jussi, now that I've had a incredible 24hrs after finally getting a new PC, HQP, an iFi Micro/uR actually doing DSD512 - Thanks to Ted, Jabbr and Albrecht - I was expecting good, but it is outstanding and brings quite a smile hearing new details, and such quietness. Awesome job Jussi!

[Forehaven]

First make sure HQPlayer works alone, without Roon, so you can play content. Then leave HQPlayer running and start Roon, use "localhost" for HQPlayer and when you click Play to play something it should talk to HQPlayer just fine.

 

Windows security software firewalls usually leave "localhost" alone, but there may be exceptions. But at least it should ask for such cases whether you want to allow connections for applications.

 

 

Please enable HQPlayer log file, restart HQPlayer, do one standalone playback (no issues) and then one playback with Roon (issues). And then please email me that log file. I could then try to figure out what is going wrong.

 

The main difference between the two is that when HQPlayer is playing alone it is handling the file reading on it's own. When you play with Roon, Roon is handling the file reading and then streaming the data to HQPlayer.

 

Also make sure you use "localhost" in Roon settings as address to HQPlayer.

 

Other possible culprits:

- If you are using CUDA offload (shouldn't, I believe 2015 iMac doesn't have nVidia GPU anymore), Roon adds it's own GPU load on top

- Some network issues, some process (like sofware firewall) interfering with Roon-HQPlayer comms

- Roon having trouble keeping up with dataflow from a file to HQPlayer

 

 

Jussi, I'm having this problem again. I tried all above. CUDA odd, turned off W10 Firewall, Plays perfectly thru HQP.

I tried to generate log file, but Windows is not showing any HQP log anywhere. Even this: Users/username/AppData/local/HQPlayer

[Forehaven]

Do you have the "Log file" checked in HQPlayer settings? In Windows File Explorer type/paste in the path entry edit box "%LOCALAPPDATA%\HQPlayer" and hit enter.

 

Ok:

 

* 2016/07/05 08:26:57 Starting...

2016/07/05 08:26:57 Signalyst HQPlayer Desktop v3.13.3

2016/07/05 08:26:57 Engine selected:

2016/07/05 08:26:57 Windows version 6.2.9200 (2),

* 2016/07/05 08:26:57 Control server started

2016/07/05 08:27:02 libDSP version 17.1.0

2016/07/05 08:27:02 Audio engine: network

2016/07/05 08:27:02 Discovery to 224.0.0.199:43210

2016/07/05 08:27:02 Discovery from 0.0.0.0

& 2016/07/05 08:27:02 Discovered network audio: name='default' version='Signalyst Network Audio Daemon 3.2.1' @192.168.1.136:43210

2016/07/05 08:27:02 Network endpoint: iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio: USB Audio (hw:0,0)

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Discovered 1 Network Audio Adapters

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set channels: 2 (2)

+ 2016/07/05 08:27:03 Connect to 192.168.1.136:43210

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 44100/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 48000/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 88200/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 96000/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 176400/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 192000/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 352800/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 384000/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 705600/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 768000/32/2 [pcm]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 2822400/1/2 [dsd]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 3072000/1/2 [dsd]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 5644800/1/2 [dsd]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 6144000/1/2 [dsd]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 11289600/1/2 [dsd]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 12288000/1/2 [dsd]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 22579200/1/2 [dsd]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Network format: 24576000/1/2 [dsd]

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Volume limit: -3

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Automatic rate family disabled

2016/07/05 08:27:03 DirectSDM disabled

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Pipeline SDM disabled

2016/07/05 08:27:03 SDM conversion parameters (5, 0)

2016/07/05 08:27:03 DSD 6 dB gain disabled

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Initial parallel threads: 8

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Number of logical cores: 8

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set filter: 6

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set dither: 5

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set filter: 6

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set oversampling: 6

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set dither: 5

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set modulator: 6

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Automatic output rate switching enabled

2016/07/05 08:27:03 AutoSDM disabled

2016/07/05 08:27:03 IntegratorM: IIR

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Audio engine SDM mode enabled

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set oversampling: 6

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set modulator: 6

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set filter: 6

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set oversampling: 6

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set dither: 5

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set modulator: 6

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Automatic output rate switching enabled

* 2016/07/05 08:27:03 Control server started for remote control

& 2016/07/05 08:27:03 Playlist clear

& 2016/07/05 08:27:03 Set transport (240): C:\Users\Music Machine\AppData\Local\HQPlayer\current.m3u8

2016/07/05 08:27:03 Automatic output rate switching enabled

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Set convolution: 1

& 2016/07/05 08:27:18 GoTo

& 2016/07/05 08:27:18 Play

+ 2016/07/05 08:27:18 Playback engine running

- 2016/07/05 08:27:18 Network engine stopping...

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Set sampling rate: 22579200 (22579200)

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Automatic output rate: 22579200

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Rate or blocksize change triggered

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Rate: 2822400, block size: 8192, frame size: 32768

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Block size: 8192 (sample: 1)

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Oversampling: poly (light)

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Modulator: adaptive seventh order 1-bit

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Integrator: IIR

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Playback engine ratio: 8

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Initialization complete, starting audio engine

+ 2016/07/05 08:27:18 Network engine starting...

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Network SDM streaming

+ 2016/07/05 08:27:18 Network engine started at: 22579200

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Parallel threads: 8

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Nested parallelism: 0

2016/07/05 08:27:18 Parallel pipelines: 2

[Forehaven]

First make sure HQPlayer works alone, without Roon, so you can play content. Then leave HQPlayer running and start Roon, use "localhost" for HQPlayer and when you click Play to play something it should talk to HQPlayer just fine.

 

Windows security software firewalls usually leave "localhost" alone, but there may be exceptions. But at least it should ask for such cases whether you want to allow connections for applications.

 

Please use email for these, it is unnecessary to pollute the already long thread with lengthy log posts...

 

But I don't see anything going wrong here...

 

Ok, Thanks, and sorry

[Forehaven]

Jussi, HQP is working fine...exc. that everytime it switches formats from playing DSD to PCM specifically, I have a very audible/annoying Pop.  Going from PCM to DSD is perfect, no pops.  

I've tried 'Default to 250ms delay' with no effect.  I spoke with TedB about this, and his setup doesn't do this at all.  I am using the exact settings as he is too strangely.  

 

Any clues or ideas for me to try to fix this?

Thanks!!

Chris

[Forehaven]

Is no one else is having this problem? 

[Forehaven]

20 hours ago, firedog said:

This is a DAC/driver issue. Some have it, others don't. It's about how the driver/dac transitions from one format to the other.

Humm, strange then.   Ted also is using a Holo Spring and this isn't happening for him.  

[Forehaven]

10 hours ago, ted_b said:

Chris,  I replaced the Windows NAA with my microRendu (ultraRendu comes tmrw) and the DSD-to-PCM transition pops/clicks are indeed there, just not via Windows ASIO when using the NAA.   As with you, the PCM to DSD transition does not produce an audible issue.

 

At least we now have a consistent problem identified.  Crappy Linux! ;-)  I really appreciate you taking the time to verify this for me Ted!

19 hours ago, ted_b said:

Chris,

Is it same setup as me?  Windows NAA to USPCB to ISO Regen to USPCB to SU-1, then HDMI/I2S to Holo.  PCM is 352/384k and DSD is DSD512.  Latest firmware on everything.   BTW, the USPCBs are not important in this "pop/click" issue; nothing changed when I added them (except sound quality changes).

Sorry Ted, for some reason...early dementia??...I keep thinking you're only using the mR.  

 

So what's your honest suggestion Ted as to the best non Linux based NAA for DSD512?  The only options I see is either a CAPS build, about $1200, or say a Sonicorbiter for HQP/Roon:  https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/products/sonictransporter-roon-server-hqplayer?variant=21739021508

 But a whopping $2k.  Yowsa.

The most affordable option I saw was the Logic CL100

https://www.logicsupply.com/cl100/?cpsrc=Computers_Shopping&agname=Industrial&kw=&ps=1o1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxd6o75Gi1QIVEIGzCh1wGgjoEAYYASABEgIkJPD_BwE#specs for roughly $600

[Forehaven]

9 minutes ago, scan80269 said:

+1

 

A box like this should work fine as a Windows-based NAA for HQPlayer:

 

https://www.amazon.com/x5-Z8350-Processor-Graphics-1000Mbps-Dual-Band/dp/B01N3RO6X5/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1500909504&sr=8-6&keywords=fanless+pc

 

 

5 minutes ago, firedog said:

The NAA only does playback, not upsampling or anything power intensive. So it can be just about any computer, even a low powered one.

Outstanding guys!  Thanks so much.  This will work great till/if Linux ever get's worked out.

[Forehaven]

I ordered one of these from Amazon.  Thanks again guys.