A novel way to massively improve the SQ of computer audio streaming

[flkin]

Good to see others are coming around to the idea that the network needs to be physically disconnected to see a baseline of the effect of the network connection has on the sound and this would then be the target to achieve with network optimisations. Anything else is added flavour to the network sound and for some might actually sound better which indicates that their downstream devices needs further work. 

 

I would like to repeat/add that in the current version of Euphony, both Tidal and Quobuz files are totalling downloaded into the streamer's buffer before playing. So disconnecting from the network will still play fine (for up to the end of the next track). However this doesn't seem to apply to the embedded HQPlayer from within Euphony.  The current playing track isn't totally buffered and only plays for a few seconds longer before stopping. Nor is the following track buffered. So in Euphony/HQPlayer's case, disconnecting from the network is not possible.

[flkin]

Just recently I purchased a few DSD512 albums from NativeDSD that were recorded in 128/256 and then remastered to 512 using HQPlayer Pro by @tailspnTom Caulfield.

 

- Beethoven 5, 7 symphonies by Reference Recordings. 
- Jazz at the Pawnshop

- Coo Jazz by Gabor Varga
 

For those that don’t know, HQPPro allows upsampling using it’s best filters/modulators to the highest and most computationally heavy resolutions since it isn’t a real-time playback technique. This then allows the final saved 512 file to be played back without further filters or upsampling with low loads on the streamer. 
 

The final album size is around 30G each which is so large that I can only afford to keep a few albums in my library at any one time. 😄

 

But the sound - oh my! An good step up from earlier non-upsampled recordings of the same tracks. I wrote to Tom to enquire about the filters he used for the HQPPro mastering saying that I prefer the sound of the new EC filters and asked whether he had used them for the albums. He replied that he had only for the Cool Jazz album but not for the other two. But he then went ahead and made a new remaster for the Beethoven and is looking into doing one for the Jazz at the Pawnshop. Thanks Tom! 👍🏻😄

At this time, I have the received the newly remastered Beethoven with (probably) the ploy-sinc-xlr-lp with the ASDM7EC modulator in 512. In comparison with the older non-EC version I like the new one better. A touch more realistic with clearer tighter soundstage. 

 

@austinpop I’m curious if you have already tried these HQPPro 512 files? I suspect they would be extraordinarily good through your new player. I wonder how close lesser bit sized files would compare?
 

Extreme files for the Extreme player. 😄
 

 

[flkin]

Start playback then disconnect your lan cable and play using only the buffer in the streamer. That is the best the network will ever sound - no network. 
 

It’s easy to forget that there’s a limit to network improvements and the best setup will only approach the sound of fully buffered data in RAM in the streamer. 
 

From my experience anyway..

[flkin]

 

2 hours ago, cool_chris said:

I agree 100 % but as we all know now the noise gets "inprinted" in the data you are passing via switch .

I don’t subscribe to the idea that noise gets imprinted into the music if it’s first 100% buffered in the streamer. Ethernet protocol has error correction so data should arrive without error. If the data is streamed and played directly then perhaps a cleaner network might help. Once it’s buffered then played from the buffer, all upstream effects shouldn’t matter. Especially if you disconnect the LAN cable! 😄

 

If you’re taking about data outside conventional music data that somehow rises alongside the music data say like jitter, the mechanism for it to continue to exist after a 100% buffer and a LAN cable disconnect is something that might exist but surely unlikely. 

 

It’s possible to test this - Euphony/Stylus buffers 2 tracks  totally for both local and streamed music (both Qobuz and Tidal) before playing. So you can disconnect the LAN cable after starting the playback and compare the sound with a LAN connected, multi-switch, super clocked alternative. I don’t have the Buffalo switch to test with but I’ve tried the EtherRegen and SOtM’s earlier switch with reference clocks and there isn’t any difference I can hear compared to fully buffered, LAN disconnected tracks. 
 

I don’t have anything against Pink Faun’s clocks, on the contrary I think they are really good in the right places. 😄 I have 3 of their Ultra clocks inside my streamer for the motherboard, CPU and USB all of which are downstream from the LAN input. 

[flkin]

Hi Larry

Can you indicate the range of prices of your streamers with this new tech? Can’t find it in your website.