Hqplayer: best NAA with best sound quality

[ambre]

3 hours ago, ericuco said:

 

Have you tried the following settings:

 

SDM Pack: none

48k DSD: unchecked (your DAC can't handle 48k-based DSD per the documentation: DSD512(22.57892MHz - 44.1k-based rate))

Bit rate (/limit): 44.1k x 512 (max, might want to start with 44.1 x 128 to see if you get sound) DSD 64 nor 512 nO sound

Adaptive Output Rate: grey box YES

 

Also, what modulator are you using? Can you monitor the CPU usage on your server to see what it is doing? DSD5 or 7

NO RESULTS🙄

[ambre]

On 5/18/2021 at 7:13 PM, Miska said:

 

Can you provide screenshot of your Audio&MIDI Settings?

You cannot force HQPlayer use more bits for the output than the output device supports.

This is something that would need OS driver modification specific to the Auralic device.

You need to start through sudo using terminal, not with mouse click...

 

Dear Jussy,

 

I have tried the same procedures/ files and software with a Chord Qutest

Direct connected USB with another Mac Mini as NAA. It works flawlessly.

 

Concerning the Auralic Vega G2.1:

Playing PCM in direct connected USB no problem. But only as PCM 24 bits despite the Gargled blaster master file of 352/ 32 bits.  As soon as I switched during blank start-up with SDM/ DSD it plays sometimes.  Most of the times playing 4 seconds/ plops as sound.

 Strange observation. Behind the PCM DSD  window description I see sometimes behind the sample frequency 16/02 .Please picture.

 

As Mac Os NAA.

Only playing PCM as 16 bits. Switching to sdm/dsd results in a forced PCM again playback at 16 bits.instead 1/2??

 

Resume:

I contacted Auralic already. It is strange that a dac with 32 bits capabilities  ( *** 352.8KHz and 384KHz and 32bit are supported through streaming, USB and Lighting-Link input only) is playing at 24 bits in HQ-player? Tried to change bit-rate in settings without success?

 

Any tips?

 

Are there other Aurillac DAC ( Vega/ Altair ) owners the use HQ-player on USB too?

 

[Miska]

2 hours ago, ambre said:

Playing PCM in direct connected USB no problem. But only as PCM 24 bits despite the Gargled blaster master file of 352/ 32 bits.

 

There is no relation between source and output bits in HQPlayer. These are two separate and totally independent things.

 

2 hours ago, ambre said:

I contacted Auralic already. It is strange that a dac with 32 bits capabilities  ( *** 352.8KHz and 384KHz and 32bit are supported through streaming, USB and Lighting-Link input only) is playing at 24 bits in HQ-player? Tried to change bit-rate in settings without success?

 

Have you made sure Auralic is not set as default output device for macOS? I usually set the built-in audio as default audio device.

 

 

[ambre]

48 minutes ago, Miska said:

 

1) There is no relation between source and output bits in HQPlayer. These are two separate and totally independent things.

 

 

2)Have you made sure Auralic is not set as default output device for macOS? I usually set the built-in audio as default audio device.

 

 

 

Hi Jussy,

Thanks for reply

 

1) What do you mean? file is apparently 32 bit and HQ-player makes 24 ..that was I saying! How can or is this correct yes or no .....cannot be derived from your answer.

 

2) My default audio-output is my Mac mini speakers ! and NAA is default or Vega or now Chord Qutest

[Miska]

8 minutes ago, ambre said:

1) What do you mean? file is apparently 32 bit and HQ-player makes 24 ..that was I saying! How can or is this correct yes or no .....cannot be derived from your answer.

 

Yes, HQPlayer outputs what ever DAC supports. It doesn't matter what the source file has. Source file can be 1, 2, 3, 16, 24, 32, 64-bit, what ever. If DAC supports 24-bit, output is 24-bit regardless of the source.

 

10 minutes ago, ambre said:

2) My default audio-output is my Mac mini speakers ! and NAA is default or Vega or now Chord Qutest

 

Can you show how it looks like for the case when you say HQPlayer outputs 24-bit and when HQPlayer outputs 16-bit. From the machine where the DAC is connected. In your above screenshot, there's no DAC connected.

 

[ambre]

6 hours ago, Miska said:

 

Yes, HQPlayer outputs what ever DAC supports. It doesn't matter what the source file has. Source file can be 1, 2, 3, 16, 24, 32, 64-bit, what ever. If DAC supports 24-bit, output is 24-bit regardless of the source.

 

Can you show how it looks like for the case when you say HQPlayer outputs 24-bit and when HQPlayer outputs 16-bit. From the machine where the DAC is connected. In your above screenshot, there's no DAC connected.

 

The setting in my Mac mini NAA and my Mac should be presenting 32 bits?

 

 

Example of playing Redbook to 352

 

My setting in HQP

 

 

Messages from NAA

 

 

 

As soon as I try to play SDM settings are showed but plays PCM and refuses to play SDM

[jcn3]

1 hour ago, ambre said:

The setting in my Mac mini NAA and my Mac should be presenting 32 bits?

 

 

Example of playing Redbook to 352

 

My setting in HQP

 

 

Messages from NAA

 

 

 

As soon as I try to play SDM settings are showed but plays PCM and refuses to play SDM

 

Why do you have the DoP box checked? 

[lotusaurus]

In terms of flexibility, is it better to get an NAA machine that can run Windows?

 

It seems that Linux is the preferred OS for the NAA box because there's less OS overhead, but my concern is that some DACs might have ASIO drivers but not Linux drivers. Or it's possible that the ASIO driver sounds better. Worst (best?) case, if the DAC works with Linux, I can always install Linux on the NAA box.

 

Currently I have a TEAC UD-501, so no problems, but am thinking about upgrading this.

 

Currently I'm using a RPi4 with RoPieee, but I wonder if I can do better. Or will changing from the RPi4 make little difference?

[ambre]

10 hours ago, jcn3 said:

 

Why do you have the DoP box checked? 

I have tried so ...many thing with or without DoP bit it makes no differences at all.

Playing via Mac mini NAA it refuses to plays DSD. With setting correctly for SDM ( with or without DoP) it immediately plays PCM again.

 

Playing direct usb cable from Desktop HQplayer it plays sometimes DSD but most f the times with every 3-5 seconds  a plop/ tick.

 

I opened a ticket @ Auralic for further investigation. But it's very strange.

 

Playing with the same setup via Chord Qutest connected on Analogue input Vega plays without any problems 1:1 or via same MacOs based NAA. 

 

@miska

[Miska]

14 hours ago, ambre said:

The setting in my Mac mini NAA and my Mac should be presenting 32 bits?

 

 

One problem here is that you have VEGA selected as default audio output. Please make sure it is not selected for default audio output.

 

Here it is shown that it supports 24-bit.

 

[ambre]

1 hour ago, Miska said:

 

One problem here is that you have VEGA selected as default audio output. Please make sure it is not selected for default audio output.

Here it is shown that it supports 24-bit.

That was my previous setting without assigning anything  till today. Went back with no Vega assigned as default. Makes NO differences.

 

All tried older   411 instead 412 X64 as NAA image. Same results. I cannot play DSD with or without DoP.

 

NAA message start with defined 24 bits fro a 32 bits DAC? 

Than

 

despite setting set to SDM as you see ....it forces back to 16 bits in NAA!

 

Also tried version MacOs 410. NO result either.

CoreAudio output device bits: 24 but immediately also 16 bits! 

I think something is wrong with my Auralic Vega 2.1 concerning the USB-input.

 

Will be continued hopefully as soon as Auralic responses!

 

 

[ambre]

Dear Jussy, 

 

After several checks /days / hours apparently your Mac-Os NAA images are not working properly in general

 

Or specific for Auralic, which I very much doubt about because with another NAA Mini PC W8 Pro Intel X5-Z8350 2Gb/32GB the Auralic Vega 2.1 is working flawlessly. 

 

I can switch from PCM to SDM and back without any issues with Vega G2.1.

Ps. I use distro 411 dated 22-03-2020.

 

 

The only remark concerning Auralic is that it plays as 24 bits maximal bitrate in HQ-player and the Auralic app it shows as 32 bits playback? 

 

Finally, I am very glad that my Auralic is ok concerning its USB-input.

 

Concerning my earlier post for NAA Mini PC W8 Pro Intel X5-Z8350 I have let you know that the newer distro versions of the X64 for intel X64 mini-PCs are not working as expected.

 

 

 

 

 

Has this been fixed ?

 

And do you have any idea how this is possible that earlier versions work on the same hardware and your new versions don't?

 

Is that caused by your programming the newest distro? Ps. the latest Windows 10 version run on the same Mini PC without any problem?

 

If I were to buy another Intel based PC / NUC for example the UP Board as recommended by you, would I have this same hassle concerning not working distros?

 

 

Ps. Tried to download latest distro today but your download speed is very low I to about 1,5 hours for 260mb and will try it again on PC W8 Pro.  Or no advisable?

 

Ps. The dates are  “ Back to the future “ isn’t it ... see below.😁

 

 

Best regards, Andreas

 

[ambre]

58 minutes ago, ambre said:

 

Dear Jussy, 

 

After several checks /days / hours apparently your Mac-Os NAA images are not working properly in general

 

Or specific for Auralic, which I very much doubt about because with another NAA Mini PC W8 Pro Intel X5-Z8350 2Gb/32GB the Auralic Vega 2.1 is working flawlessly. 

 

I can switch from PCM to SDM and back without any issues with Vega G2.1.

Ps. I use distro 411 dated 22-03-2020.

 

 

 

The only remark concerning Auralic is that it plays as 24 bits maximal bitrate in HQ-player and the Auralic app it shows as 32 bits playback? 

 

Finally, I am very glad that my Auralic is ok concerning its USB-input.

 

Concerning my earlier post for NAA Mini PC W8 Pro Intel X5-Z8350 I have let you know that the newer distro versions of the X64 for intel X64 mini-PCs are not working as expected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Has this been fixed ?

 

And do you have any idea how this is possible that earlier versions work on the same hardware and your new versions don't?

 

Is that caused by your programming the newest distro? Ps. the latest Windows 10 version run on the same Mini PC without any problem?

 

If I were to buy another Intel based PC / NUC for example the UP Board as recommended by you, would I have this same hassle concerning not working distros?

 

 

Ps. Tried to download latest distro today but your download speed is very low I to about 1,5 hours for 260mb and will try it again on PC W8 Pro.  Or no advisable?

 

Ps. The dates are  “ Back to the future “ isn’t it ... see below.😁

 

 

 

Best regards, Andreas

 

• Miska

[Miska]

networkaudiod for Windows and macOS are provided "as-is", without much maintenance.

 

What I've tested, I can play 8 channels of DSD256 on my macOS NAA to exaSound e28 DAC.

 

I cannot comment about Auralic DACs. I don't have any to test with. My UP-Gateway NAA running NAA OS image has been working flawlessly with T+A HA 200 and Holo Audio Spring DACs.

 

7 hours ago, ambre said:

Concerning my earlier post for NAA Mini PC W8 Pro Intel X5-Z8350 I have let you know that the newer distro versions of the X64 for intel X64 mini-PCs are not working as expected.

 

I'm not supporting Windows 8 with any of my recent software. Only 64-bit Windows 10. Are you booting my NAA OS 4.1.1.2 image on that device? Have you tried latest HQPlayer OS on?

 

7 hours ago, ambre said:

Ps. Tried to download latest distro today but your download speed is very low I to about 1,5 hours for 260mb and will try it again on PC W8 Pro.  Or no advisable?

 

I don't know why, the server where NAA is hosted (signalyst.eu) has 500 Mbps internet connection.

 

[AudioDoctor]

5 hours ago, Miska said:

Ps. Tried to download latest distro today but your download speed is very low I to about 1,5 hours for 260mb and will try it again on PC W8 Pro.  Or no advisable?

 

Miska, I have noticed this as well. When I click the button on the page to download the version of desktop I want, it is SLOOOOOOOOOOW. However, if I use wget to download that same version it's super fast.

 

one of these buttons:

 

[ambre]

10 hours ago, Miska said:

1) networkaudiod for Windows and macOS are provided "as-is", without much maintenance.

2) What I've tested, I can play 8 channels of DSD256 on my macOS NAA to exaSound e28 DAC.

3) I cannot comment about Auralic DACs. I don't have any to test with. My UP-Gateway NAA running NAA OS image has been working flawlessly with T+A HA 200 and Holo Audio Spring DACs.

4) I'm not supporting Windows 8 with any of my recent software. Only 64-bit Windows 10. Are you booting my NAA OS 4.1.1.2 image on that device? Have you tried latest HQPlayer OS on?

1) Last 3x Mac_Os Distrod  not working properly with Auralic. And giving 16 bits PCM as NAA and 24bits** direct USB as result.  Can switch to DSD with direct usb results in hick-ups/ plops and some music. 

As NAA no way to push with or without DoP DSD!

But with Chord Qutest and latest MacOs it works fine.

 

The X64 distro 2020 works also great with Auralic too.

Strange what is that the difference in software between these versions?

 

2) & 4)  NAA Mini PC W8 Pro Intel X5-Z8350 so far I am informed its runs windows10 or am I mistaken? 

I hardly it use as Windows pc. Will check it later if I am wrong or not. Y .

 

I 'm not supporting Windows 8 with any of my recent software. Are you are saying that it's win8 mini-pc only?

 

Fact is that only 411 and 4111 and 4112 on Intel X5-Z8350 not working properly. Both versions do start and generates a loop concerning drivers and constantly searching. These versions don't finish operation and find a usb-port or connection.

 

Yes. I am using latest Big Sur version on all Mac mini's and HQ-player 4.11.0 

 

3) Do you use same 4112 X64 image on UP-Gateway or the Windows version?

 

**Had official reply from Auralic that in a MacOs environment the Auralic Vega G2.1 gives 24bits instead 32 bits as stated in their manual. That explains a lot!!!

 

Ps. Can you steer / control  a My UP-Gateway via a web- interface or a screen control form MacOs?

I don't want to switch to Win10 at all!

 

Regards, Andreas

[Miska]

6 hours ago, AudioDoctor said:

 

Miska, I have noticed this as well. When I click the button on the page to download the version of desktop I want, it is SLOOOOOOOOOOW. However, if I use wget to download that same version it's super fast.

 

one of these buttons:

 

 

signalyst.com server is on 100 Mbps connection. Depending on the server load it can be faster or slower, but the server is on decent internet connection anyway. I don't know why browser would be slow compared to using wget. Some anti-virus plug into browser and scan during the download instead after the download which may slow things down on a large download. What I've tested, I've got fast downloads from that server.

 

I just tested with Opera browser on Linux and I got 10 megabytes per second download speed, which is as much as much as you can get out of 100 Mbps connection. So the download took couple of seconds.

 

[Miska]

2 hours ago, ambre said:

Fact is that only 411 and 4111 and 4112 on Intel X5-Z8350 not working properly. Both versions do start and generates a loop concerning drivers and constantly searching. These versions don't finish operation and find a usb-port or connection.

 

Works for me on this:

https://up-shop.org/up-gateway-atom-x5-z8350-w-4g-memory-32g-emmc-board-w-vesa-plate.html

Do you have this hardware or something else with x5-Z3850 CPU?

 

Ethernet is connected to regular home network with DHCP available so that the device would get IP? And DAC is connected, powered up and USB input selected?

 

2 hours ago, ambre said:

Ps. Can you steer / control  a My UP-Gateway via a web- interface or a screen control form MacOs?

 

Not possible, and nothing to do anyway. NAA images cannot be configured in any way, it either works or doesn't.

 

[Miska]

I have updated NAA images with latest NAA OS version, now images have version 4.1.2.

 

[ambre]

3 hours ago, Miska said:

I have updated NAA images with latest NAA OS version, now images have version 4.1.2.

 

I cannot find at all? All dated 2020? or 23-02 2021or older

[ambre]

3 hours ago, Miska said:

 

Works for me on this:

https://up-shop.org/up-gateway-atom-x5-z8350-w-4g-memory-32g-emmc-board-w-vesa-plate.html

Do you have this hardware or something else with x5-Z3850 CPU?

 

 

I have this one => Windows 10😀

 

[Jud]

6 hours ago, Miska said:

 

signalyst.com server is on 100 Mbps connection. Depending on the server load it can be faster or slower, but the server is on decent internet connection anyway. I don't know why browser would be slow compared to using wget. Some anti-virus plug into browser and scan during the download instead after the download which may slow things down on a large download. What I've tested, I've got fast downloads from that server.

 

I just tested with Opera browser on Linux and I got 10 megabytes per second download speed, which is as much as much as you can get out of 100 Mbps connection. So the download took couple of seconds.

 

This could easily be something quite random, but I’ve changed distros and installed HQPlayer a couple of times in the past week, and the download (two Arch-based distros fetching the download for package installation) did seem slow from here in the Western US. Gigabit through the modem, then a Wi-Fi 6 router and Wi-Fi 6 card in the desktop that reliably does over 400Mbps to the desktop in tests, so that shouldn’t be slowing things down; and downloads of other packages installed at the same time seemed to run very fast.

[AudioDoctor]

I ran some tests.

 

1) I downloaded the arm version of desktop by clicking the button.

 

2) I tried curl on my mac from the command line, it went a little faster

 

3) I logged into my roon server running ubuntu and used wget and it went the fastest.

[Miska]

2 hours ago, Jud said:

This could easily be something quite random, but I’ve changed distros and installed HQPlayer a couple of times in the past week, and the download (two Arch-based distros fetching the download for package installation) did seem slow from here in the Western US. Gigabit through the modem, then a Wi-Fi 6 router and Wi-Fi 6 card in the desktop that reliably does over 400Mbps to the desktop in tests, so that shouldn’t be slowing things down; and downloads of other packages installed at the same time seemed to run very fast.

 

Those other packages probably come from some US based mirror, while my servers are located in Europe. I don't use CDN or mirrors elsewhere. So download speeds to US also depend on speed of your ISP's link to Europe.

 

[Miska]

1 hour ago, AudioDoctor said:

I ran some tests.

 

1) I downloaded the arm version of desktop by clicking the button.

 

2) I tried curl on my mac from the command line, it went a little faster

 

3) I logged into my roon server running ubuntu and used wget and it went the fastest.

 

These two are from different servers, signalyst.com vs signalyst.eu