Want to purchase HQPlayer, but about it's more robust features?

[biosailor]

7 hours ago, vvcv said:

Hello,

 

I downloaded and tried a demo of HQPlayer. I enjoyed its sound more than Audirvana. However, the more i looked into this player the more my head started hurting. For example, just the resampling filters, not to mention the Delta-Sigma conversion options have me wondering how I am ever going to hear the best this software can sound to my liking? My technical background is really non-existent when it comes to audio...especially the DSD side of things. What made question even more was this idea of 'no DAC being the best DAC'. What the F*** does this mean?   I found this over at AudioDesignguide.com, where it lists a hardware deviced called a DSD2 here: https://puredsd.ru/ 

 

I enjoy DSD a lot right now, via Audirvana, with my Benchmark HGC2, Topping D90 and a Musical Paradise tube DAC that I can roll different DAC modules into, which are currently AK4490 and ESS3098Pro modules and a soon to release AK4499 module.

 

My first question is in regards to the player, how does a lay person learn about all mentioned options available with the desktop version of HQplayer? What does something like the DSD2 do for the sound quality when paired with HQPlayer? I mean, should I just run with the DACs I have and learn about the players options before I start looking into hardware options? I'm really at a loss as to whether to buy or not. I'm sure I'm missing a page or paper that explains all the players options, but I'm not an engineer, I just like music a lot. I don't want to use it with Roon, I don't care if it sounds better than this or that or about any of the many common questions you see. I want to learn about using the player to shape the DSD sound to that which I like best. 

 

thanks a lot folks,

vv

 

 

 

I admit, HQPlayer is a bit intimidating in the beginning. I thought for a long time whether I should buy it or not. In the end, I did and I was awarded with a great sound! Even though, I had to do a lot of reading.

 

The main thing about HQPlayer is the filter settings. I had no idea what I should do. Try it first by disabling any upsampling/DSD conversion. Just like this, it made a difference in my system. The sound was smoother and it lacked any of the brightness that bothered me with Roon. 

 

The next step is to try upsampling or DSD conversion. My system doesn't allow much in terms of DSD, so I am basically staying with PCM upsampling.

 

For your information: there are a lot of forae discussing upsampling/DSD conversion. Here is a link for filter discussions with Roon

 

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/which-hqp-filter-are-you-using/6061

 

Also, Audiophyle Style has its own HQPlayer sections (as you certainly know):

 

 

And a link for HQPlayer for 'ordinary people'

 

 

I do like HQPlayer in conjunction with Roon. The combo is fantastic!

 

Hope this helps

[biosailor]

4 minutes ago, StreamFidelity said:

HQPLayer is really not easy to understand. For example, if you think you have to set the volume control to 0dB, because you have a preamplifier, you've already lost. It's recommend -3dB or -4dB for sufficient headroom. I now use the HQPlayer without preamplifier and control the volume with the HQPlayer. Operation is via Roon. Great sound!

 

I prefer PCM > DSD. The DAC is to be operated in NOS (Non OverSampling). I have listed some filter and modulator settings here. Blue are my favorits.

 

Great compilation! I wasn‘t aware that most PCM filters upsample from 16 to 24 bits. Or is the function of the dithering filter? 

[biosailor]

5 minutes ago, vvcv said:

Thanks Solstice. Geez, this really explains things for me. So, in a sense, or rather a very real actuality, any DAC that does not support NOS should not be used with HQP due to the DACs filters defeating the work the HQP filters do? If this is the case, someone mentioned that I would not need new hardware to use HQP --more accurately, to use HQP with its filters. It sounds like having a NOS DAC is what I need to hear the real benefits of HQP.

 

As a side question to this, do DACs that claim to support Native DSD put a filter in the signals path?

 

The Lampizator DAC looks interesting, which model do you have and how do you like it?

 

Is that so? Say, a DAC has 192/24 maximal processing capabilities and it does upsampling. What does such a DAC do during upsampling? Does it convert everything to highest sample rate, 192 kHz? And wouldn't such a DAC profit by feeding a signal that had been upsampled to 192 kHz with streamlined filters such as those from HQPlayer. In such a case, the DAC has to do nothing, correct? And the signal would basically pass the DAC untouched. Correct?

[biosailor]

32 minutes ago, vvcv said:

What do you mean "Is that so?" I made no statement only questions. How can you ask a question about other questions? 

Well, you stated, or maybe you asked?, that a non-NOS DAC does not profit from HQPlayer.

[biosailor]

14 minutes ago, StreamFidelity said:

 

Thanks 🙂

 

The number of bits depends on the DAC. My Denafrips Terminator can do 24bits / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192KHz on all input and
1.536kHz on USB & I²S input. It doesn't matter for DSD, DSD is always 1 bit.

 

Here is a list with DACs bypass digital filtering:

 

Which DACs bypass digital filtering?

Wonderful! Thanks a lot!

[biosailor]

24 minutes ago, vvcv said:

 

 

Oh, yeah, i see what you refer to. No, it didn't have a question mark, but it was more a question in trying to understand if that was indeed what the poster above was speaking of. Anyway, it seems it's not the case with all DACs. And, unfortunately, as far as a Benchmark rep knows, it will resample HQPs filter(s). But they suggested to ask the players developer due to them not knowing HQ at all, but I suspect they know enough about their hardware to have a definitive answer. 

 

Too bad my other DACs were on loan to audio pals during my HQP trial period. But, they're not NOS, though are Native DSD. 

Well, I guess, as you say, it really depends on the DAC. That’s why one just has to try. HQPlayer does a very good job in my system, I much prefer its SQ over Roon‘s.