HQPlayer4 EC modulator tips and techniques

[Miska]

2 hours ago, luisma said:

ssh doesn't seem to be enabled nor installed, probably by design to create a minimum footprint and efficient OS

 

No ssh, one reason being slim and another being security. ssh access with default password for root access would be bad idea...

 

[Miska]

4 hours ago, asdf1000 said:

mConnect Player, Bubble UPnP, Audirvana.

 

All do Tidal and Qobuz, to HQP Embedded & HQP OS UPnP input.

 

Did Roon also support Qobuz these days? Sorry, I'm a bit outdated on that front because Qobuz is not available in Finland. So I have never tried it myself.

 

[Miska]

4 hours ago, ddetaey said:

What is than the technical explanation for that? Am I just listening to noise, which makes for a more 'enjoyable' (not necesarilly correct) soundstage?

 

And how as a non-technical user, can we know for sure about this.  E.g. T+A is recommending 'Wide' choice for everything equal or above DSD128 , if one's amplifier supports it. 

 

Likely it has more to do with analog filter phase response. Noise is noise, if you hear it you hear hiss (with HQPlayer).

 

You can as well follow the T+A recommendation. My recommendation is based purely on evaluation and balancing of objective figures. If your amplifiers don't have much high frequency IM challenges and if your loudspeakers don't become short-circuit at high frequencies (Apogee full band ribbons and some electrostatic speakers), you are fine with any combination and can select what sounds best to you.

 

Roughly, amount of noise in the output is same when you use fifth order modulator + wide analog filter, or seventh order modulator + clean analog filter. This is also similar with AKM DAC chips filter selection between 50 kHz and 150 kHz. With RME ADI-2 Pro I'm using ASDM7(EC) and 150 kHz setting to Schiit Jotunheim + Sennheiser HD800. While on DAC8 DSD I have analog filter set to clean. So I'm not always following my own recommendations (again, my ears vs my measurement gear).

 

Anyway, given above, it is easy to switch between the two analog filters and compare. If you don't notice difference, select clean or 50 kHz, if you hear positive difference and don't have technical concerns select the one that sounds better.

 

[luisma]

27 minutes ago, Miska said:

 

Did Roon also support Qobuz these days? Sorry, I'm a bit outdated on that front because Qobuz is not available in Finland. So I have never tried it myself.

 

For the last 6 months or so yes it does support Qobuz

[randytsuch]

22 hours ago, Miska said:

 

No ssh, one reason being slim and another being security. ssh access with default password for root access would be bad idea...

 

OK, makes sense.  I always change PWs, but given the target device for HQP OS I understand the decision.

[luisma]

On 8/25/2019 at 8:48 AM, asdf1000 said:

 

All do Tidal and Qobuz, to HQP Embedded & HQP OS UPnP input

For this to work I need some other input into hqp OS right? Currently mconnect or bubble UPnP from Android tablet can't see hqp os natively 

 

[asdf1000]

14 minutes ago, luisma said:

For this to work I need some other input into hqp OS right? Currently mconnect or bubble UPnP from Android tablet can't see hqp os natively 

 

 

Nothing else needed. Bubble and mConnect Player should both see HQP as a UPnP renderer.

[craighartley]

On 8/24/2019 at 3:49 PM, Miska said:

OK, I have a solution...

 

I have updated the image and now on my i7-8086K it works perfectly fine with Tidal source and poly-sinc-xtr + ASDM7EC to DSD256.

 

Please redownload!

Seems like a game changer. With the new image my 6700k will now play all filters except Closed-Form 16 M to DSD256 with the ASDM7EC modulator without stuttering. 

 

Saves me me a lot of money!

[Le Concombre Masqué]

On 8/24/2019 at 4:49 PM, Miska said:

OK, I have a solution...

 

I have updated the image and now on my i7-8086K it works perfectly fine with Tidal source and poly-sinc-xtr + ASDM7EC to DSD256.

 

Please redownload!

Actually, for my doom, I was able to play almost a whole 44 track @128 ext2/ASDM7EC full convo... OMG...

thought I could use ext2 with sources up to 192 @ 128 with DSD5EC but it's not a reliable choice

Nevertheless latest 4.11.2 is a huge step in usability and SQ is better than ever

[bodiebill]

I just got a license for HQP embedded, and am ready to build something to enable playback of DSD256 with EC. Something along the lines of:

case    Cooler Master Elite 110
mobo    ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX
cpu    Intel Core i7-7900K (TDP 95W)
cooling    stock?
memory    16GB RAM 2x8
PSU internal    HDPlex 250W ATX PSU (accepts 19V)
PSU external    HDPlex 100W LPSU 19V + 12V

Would this be a good idea?

Will the HDPlex 100W LPSU be able to cope?

(I am planning to use a separate 12V rail for the CPU.)

[asdf1000]

i9-9900K playing DXD to DSD256 for a few hours.

 

Running Roon Server also.

 

Ubuntu Server 18.04.3 LTS with low-latency hwe kernel

 

 

 

Never seen any Core go above 60 deg C

 

 

Most importantly, no stuttering while listening and sounds great!

 

 

[craighartley]

49 minutes ago, asdf1000 said:

i9-9900K playing DXD to DSD256 for a few hours.

 

Running Roon Server also.

 

Ubuntu Server 18.04.3 LTS with low-latency hwe kernel

 

 

 

Never seen any Core go above 60 deg C

 

 

Most importantly, no stuttering while listening and sounds great!

 

 

How is it with Closed-Form 16M? I’d love to know...

[asdf1000]

12 minutes ago, craighartley said:

How is it with Closed-Form 16M? I’d love to know...

 

ASDM7EC + DSD256 = stuttering.

 

I don't think that's a surprise though...

 

You'll need an RTX 2080 for help with CUDA offloading...

 

[asdf1000]

On 8/13/2019 at 12:04 PM, k6davis said:

My $180 GPU can do *all of the other filters*

 

Closed-Form 16M?

 

With your 9700K handling ASDM7EC at DSD256?

 

[randytsuch]

4 hours ago, bodiebill said:

I just got a license for HQP embedded, and am ready to build something to enable playback of DSD256 with EC. Something along the lines of:

case    Cooler Master Elite 110
mobo    ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX
cpu    Intel Core i7-7900K (TDP 95W)
cooling    stock?
memory    16GB RAM 2x8
PSU internal    HDPlex 250W ATX PSU (accepts 19V)
PSU external    HDPlex 100W LPSU 19V + 12V

Would this be a good idea?

Will the HDPlex 100W LPSU be able to cope?

(I am planning to use a separate 12V rail for the CPU.)

There is no stock cooler included.

I'm using a noctua D15s. 

Big, heavy, expensive and probably overkill 

But one of the better air coolers around

[bodiebill]

Thanks!

So my main concern before ordering is:

Will the HDPlex 100W LPSU be able to cope with this 'gaming rig'?

 

[craighartley]

19 minutes ago, asdf1000 said:

 

Closed-Form 16M?

 

With your 9700K handling ASDM7EC at DSD256?

 

My GtX 1080 will do Closed-Form with my 6700K (overclocked to 4.7) handling ASDM7EC to DSD256.

That’s with Windows; I haven’t installed Ubuntu yet to try CUDA with embedded. 

[asdf1000]

6 minutes ago, craighartley said:

My GtX 1080

 

Yep I'd expect that too.

 

I didn't expect the 9900K to do it all on it's own though, especially with EC modulator at DSD256 and using built-in GPU...

 

[craighartley]

23 minutes ago, asdf1000 said:

 

Yep I'd expect that too.

 

I didn't expect the 9900K to do it all on it's own though, especially with EC modulator at DSD256 and using built-in GPU...

 

I wondered whether it would, as that would be the only current incentive for me to upgrade to a 9900K from my 6700K at present, so that I can use HQP OS to do Closed-Form 16M rather than install Ubuntu. I'll stick with my current hardware until the next generation of processors, which I'm hoping might do DSD512(!) with ADSM7EC, as judging by files produced by HQPLayer Pro, 512 is distinctly (even) better than 256 with the T&A DAC 8 DSD playing EC modulators.

[randytsuch]

50 minutes ago, bodiebill said:

Thanks!

So my main concern before ordering is:

Will the HDPlex 100W LPSU be able to cope with this 'gaming rig'?

 

 

I used this calculator

https://outervision.com/power-supply-calculator

 

Enter your configuration, and then check the 12V current.  That's the main concern.

100W sounds low, I think my PC wanted a 400W supply and I went 750W.

 

Randy

[Kal Rubinson]

3 hours ago, asdf1000 said:

i9-9900K playing DXD to DSD256 for a few hours.

 

Running Roon Server also.

 

Ubuntu Server 18.04.3 LTS with low-latency hwe kernel

........................................................................................

Most importantly, no stuttering while listening and sounds great!

Cool, literally and figuratively.  But will it do it in multichannel?  🙄

[bodiebill]

19 minutes ago, randytsuch said:

 

I used this calculator

https://outervision.com/power-supply-calculator

 

Enter your configuration, and then check the 12V current.  That's the main concern.

100W sounds low, I think my PC wanted a 400W supply and I went 750W.

 

Randy

 

Thanks, that is a handy tool. It shows that I would need 239W.

I would use this machine only as a server with HQP OS or AudioLinux with HQP embedded, sending the DSD256 files to a minimal fanless NAA PC in the audio room over fiber ethernet.

Would a linear PSU make much difference in that case, SQ wise? 

[randytsuch]

26 minutes ago, bodiebill said:

 

Thanks, that is a handy tool. It shows that I would need 239W.

I would use this machine only as a server with HQP OS or AudioLinux with HQP embedded, sending the DSD256 files to a minimal fanless NAA PC in the audio room over fiber ethernet.

Would a linear PSU make much difference in that case, SQ wise? 

I went with a "standard" PC type supply, a Cosair, so I didn't think so.

I'm using a pi2 for my naa, and am working on a fancy PS for the pi stack.

But I am certainly not qualified to answer your question, this is my first crack at hqplayer.  

I have built PC's, so I know something on that front.

 

EDIT:  Another reason to oversize the PS is in case we find we need a graphics card later to run cuda.  Right now it seems as though a 9700k can do without the help, but who knows what future changes are out there.

[bodiebill]

Thanks Randy, I hope others can either chime in or challenge 🙂

[lmitche]

1 hour ago, bodiebill said:

Thanks Randy, I hope others can either chime in or challenge 🙂

You would be well served to take a serious look at the Hdplex 400 watt ATX linear power supply. That's what I would use for both safety and SQ reasons.