Article: Lossless TrueHD Atmos Just Got Much Easier

[El Guapo]

11 minutes ago, DigiPete said:

Will Tidal stream through this solution will full Atmos (NOT HD - I'm aware)?

Short answer is no. So far only Apple Music on macOS can do such.

[El Guapo]

On 1/20/2023 at 12:13 AM, The Computer Audiophile said:

It's the only way to decode TrueHD Atmos. MMH uses it int he background.

Wow this is incredible! Just decoded an album to 7.1.4 wav then playback from HQPlayer the SQ is waaaay better than via virtual interface. Greatly appreciated Gary!

[El Guapo]

23 minutes ago, ted_b said:

I'm confused by this.  What can you do in Apple Music on the MAC?

Apple Music on macOS we can:

Atmos contents send to virtual interface like BlackHole 16ch or Merging's VAD for triggering DD+ decoder based on the speaker setup (from 5.1.2 to 9.1.6) in Audio MIDI Setup. Decoded multichannel PCM can send to DACs directly, pass-thru to recording software like Audacity, or send to convolution engine for DRC/DSP then output to the DACs.

 

I always send Apple Music Atmos to HQPlayer Embedded for DRC / upsampling to 12ch DSD256:

 

[El Guapo]

6 hours ago, ted_b said:

For those few examples that could be included in all four tiers, could you rate an Atmos mix from:

- compressed DD+ version on Apple Music

- upsampled above example, via Mac and work flow, to your DAC

- TrueHD version

- raw DXD version

 

I don't care, use a 1-100 rating.  Nothing serious here, but would be great to understand nuances vs striking differences. 🙂

My 2-cent-level quick conclusions:

• DD+ Atmos on Apple Music or downloadable .mp4:
  • DRC off / upsampling off: 50
  • DRC on / upsampling off: 75
  • DRC on / upsampling on: 78
• TrueHD Atmos from Blu-ray or downloadable .mkv:
  • DRC off / upsampling off: 70
  • DRC on / upsampling off: 80
  • DRC on / upsampling on: 82
• Raw DXD
  • DRC off / upsampling off: 85
  • DRC on / upsampling off: 95
  • DRC on / upsampling on: 100

 

DRC is crucial especially for compressed contents. Will get very big improvement after done proper DRC.

[El Guapo]

35 minutes ago, ted_b said:

What DRC do you do, and where, HQP?

I use Audiolense XO for producing mono wav FIR filters or .cfg+wav. Use HQPlayer's matrix pipelines mainly. Sometimes I watch TV app contents I use HLC for better lip-syncing.

[El Guapo]

12 hours ago, jrobbins50 said:

You should share your HQP settings

My HQPlayer settings for immersive contents (no specific settings for lossless or lossy):

• FIR filters: 64/352.8, 524K taps per channel, mono wav filters. Set bass management except main L, R. Total 21 pipelines so far. Will expand to 9.2.4 so it'll become 41 pipelines after get my 2nd DA8P (on order now 😁).
• HQPlayer's filter / modulator combo, first 2 combos must run on HQPe server which specced i9-12900K with 3080Ti GPU:
  • Best: 1x ext3 / Nx ext2 + ASDM5ECv2 -> 12ch DSD256. But hurts utility bill... consumes more than 600 watts of power (sustained).
  • 2nd best: 1x mqa/mp3-mp / Nx gauss-hires-mp + ASDM5EC -> 12ch DSD256. Roughly 400 watts sustained.
  • For everyday: 1x ext3 / Nx ext2 + NS1 -> 12ch DXD. This combo can run on my Mac mini m1 to save some energy. 😅