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I am building a computer for HQPlayer and I wonder which is the best CPU (up to now) I should use. The options I look at are either intel 7th generation (6700k, 7700k), 8th generation (8700k) or 9th generation (x series). Is there a significant difference that makes any of them the best choice? I do want to maximize performance of up sampling to DSD512 with best modes (XTR) possible. It should be noted a good GPU will be in use as well (either GTX 1070 or 1080). BTW, if AMD has any competitive CPU that matches or even performs better it can be an option. I currently plan to go with 8700k but I am not sure if this is the right choice.

Hello everyone, I have 3 days ago the roon update build 1182. And since then I can not run HQPlayer through roon. My sonictransporter i5 (3rd gen) is running formally hot when you see the cpu (pic1) usage. And there was no music running. And on the Roon app in the iPad the music seemed to run when you clicked directly on a song in the title columns. But at the bottom of the timeline of Roon everything stopped at 0 sec. and moved at all. There was also of course no music to hear. Only when I had the HQPlayer APP completely deleted from all devices (Sonitransporter->optictalModule/Rendu; Roon) and everything again only directly over Roon run let the music worked again. My question to the community is: Has anyone had a similar experience and does anyone know the exact cause of this behavior? I just did trial and error. But the reason I do not understand yet. I just have the suspicion that Roon update is the reason. Because before that everything was running fine and sounded great. I'm a little sad and annoyed right now!!! Help!!! P.S. Roon DSP was disabled during the processing of the HQPlayer all the time! Even the day before when everything was still running fine!

I have been playing music with a Mac Mini w/SSD -> Amarra -> Weiss Dac2 (Firewire) combo since 2009. All very old hardware and software now, but this setup still plays my local music files fine. Lately I have subscribed to Apple Music which won't run on such an old Mac, and I chose to stream it through an Apple TV 4K via toslink to the Weiss Dac2. The sound is decent, but not comparable to playing from the local files. I am looking for suggestions on an update/upgrade path to my old system. I mainly listen to streaming now because of the ability to discover new music, so I'd like to see what your thoughts are on these options: Wattson Audio Emerson Digital Pros: tiny footprint; good UI on the app; I can still keep the Dac2 with AES/EBU digital interface Cons: can't play DSD; can't link with Apple Music except with Airplay (therefore no Apple Hi-Res Lossless files?) Mac Studio Pros: as I understood so far, can link Apple Music to HQPlayer for upsampling via CoreAudio? Cons: don't know if there are options to link to the Dac2 which only has Firewire 400, AES/EBU and Toslink digital All of these are completely new to me and I don't really know anything more than dropping their names and acronyms (e.g. I don't think I'd really fully know what Roon, or Roon Core, Roon Block, etc. etc.! are until I actually use it; between a streamer and a computer (saw "NAA" but no chance to figure out what it does yet...) which provides better audio quality if in the same price range). Would appreciate some suggested directions. Thank you!

Hi Trying to figure out if I can get IR control for Roon with HQPlayer I am wondering if the Flirc USB remote, https://flirc.tv/more/flirc-usb, can work with HQPlayer NAA and Roon The setup is: Audiolinux computer running Roon Core + HQPlayer Embedded Allo USBridge Signature running RopieeXL with HQPlayer NAA It is not clear to me if connecting the FLIR USB receiver to the Allo will act as a remote for the NAA (in which case it is useless, since the controls on the HQPlayer don't control Roon. Using them from the web interface causes Roon to lose control - which is what is expected, but useless) Or, Does the FLIR work as a stand alone control for a specific Roon endpoint- in which case I will be a able to set it up to control the HQPlayer endpoint which means it performs the same as the Roon remote application on a smartphone? Many thanks

Sorry, I won't list all HQP filters and invite you to vote for you favourite resampling filters ; whoever has never varied casts the first such poll... We know it depends on content, moon, mood, etc. Personally, I got bored recently of such hyped filters as Sinc L or M. In Preferences I currently have ext3 for 1x (grip, transients, most energy at both low and high extremes) and mqa mp for Nx (reveals more humanity in vocals, balance in acoustic instruments, and generate the more foot tapping even with classical). I wish to be able in the future to compare ext3 to a minimum phase filter of the same quality ; I don't think such a filter (apodizing and not rolling-off too soon with 1xis) is available at the moment. Please note that the question addressed by this poll could belong as well to the preceding polls

Part IV addresses delta-sigma modulators (Manual, page 23) For any of the preceding polls, we can find some technically driven suggestions by @Miska (convolution engine Add should be preferred to Save for it is lighter -- yet I prefer Save -- ; CIC SDM integrator should be a more rational choice with 128 source -- yet it's my favorite with 64 -- while any IIR is close and I don't like FIR ; Wide and Narrow SDM conversions are said by Jussi to be too close to call on the Roon forum with Wide having some rational with 128 source -- yet, with 64 sources (I don't have 128) and maybe biased by reading the Manual, I love narrow with piano since it densifies and center focus it, making it more palpable, much in the line of what PGGB does, while I love wide with most anything else, ie drums' reverberation in Cowboy Junkies's Trinity session SACD. This being, technically driven suggestions are much stronger when it comes to modulators ; roughly : if your computer/DAC can make/take it, go ASDM7EC (5EC with Sabre DACs). So, to make this Poll interesting I'll try to be not too straightforward... Multiple options are possible : ie DSD family + 512 Non EC over 256 EC

Of Course you will be invited to vote for your favorite filters ; but first, let's explore some overlooked features Part III addresses Convolution engine "Convolution engine applicable to filter(s) defined in Process, can be selected from two choices," (Manual, page 28)

Of Course you will be invited to vote for your favorite filters ; but first, let's explore some overlooked features Part II addresses delta-sigma integrators "There are three types of delta-sigma integrators available for different SDM → SDM remodulation schemes. These affect mostly frequency and phase response and at highest frequencies."(Manual, page 23)

Of Course you will be invited to vote for your favorite filters ; but first, let's explore some overlooked features Part I addresses SDM Conversion "There are different options for SDM → SDM rate conversions. These affect frequency aperture that is assumed to contain useful signal in addition to increasing noise shaping noise." (Manual, page 23)

I'm shopping for a DAC (second hand T+A DSD8 and Holo XXX??? on the short list ; feedbacks welcome) and wonder if different routes for PCM and DSD makes sense. I understand the logic behind upsampling everything to SDM with sigma delta DACs and that defeats the argument that most SACD have been PCM processed at one stage or another, that native pure DSD is a rare beast. But how about native PCM ? I have been looking for ADC as well and seems to me that all are Sigma Delta as well, at least nowadays. So, is there any logic in shying away from SD at DAC stage (that is using the R2R PCM route of a Holo or Denafrips) if most probably the PCM is of SD origin, having had its Analog to Digital Conversion made by SDM?

I accidentally contacted the HQPlayer player software seven years ago. By using the understanding, it is considered that HQPlayer is the best way to improve digital audio playback. At the same time introduce this software to more Chinese friends. No matter what DAC you use, you can get upgrades and get your favorite tastes through settings. For HQPlayer to get the best playback, a powerful computer and a unique DAC are a must. A comprehensive and correct understanding of DSD is the key. The various audio format files supported by HQPlayer are the best choice for DSD512 output. After a period of exploration, I finally formed my hqplayer playback system. The DAC that chooses HQPlayer is very particular. Because HQPlayer has full digital audio processing, the DAC chooses a DSD DAC that does not have digital processing and supports DSD512(NOS DSD DAC). After the comparison, it was decided to DIY such a DAC, and the optical fiber was used as the main transmission method. The computer comprehensively considered computing power, power consumption and cost performance, and chose X99 motherboard, E5 2698v3 CPU, 16G memory and GTX1060 6G graphics card. Adjust settings in auto rate family mode to output DSD512 smoothly. Some filters mainly rely on the CPU frequency, and some filters must have GPU assistance. Install the win10 workstation system.Connected via network fiber and DAC. The computer is remote from the DAC and physically isolates various interferences. The remote control uses an Android tablet or an Android phone.Install the HQPDcontrol APP. All digital audio files are edited with mp3tag software. It is very convenient to remotely select songs. HQPlayer 4 Pro has been born to directly generate the required digital audio files, real-time playback is not limited by the capabilities of the computer. The file will be generated first, and then the playback will have a big improvement. The playback device can be a digital audio player, a low power computer or a Raspberry Pi development board. It is the direction of future playback of digital audio.

I accidentally contacted the HQPlayer player software seven years ago. By using the understanding, it is considered that HQPlayer is the best way to improve digital audio playback. At the same time introduce this software to more Chinese friends. No matter what DAC you use, you can get upgrades and get your favorite tastes through settings. For HQPlayer to get the best playback, a powerful computer and a unique DAC are a must. A comprehensive and correct understanding of DSD is the key. The various audio format files supported by HQPlayer are the best choice for DSD512 output. After a period of exploration, I finally formed my hqplayer playback system. The DAC that chooses HQPlayer is very particular. Because HQPlayer has full digital audio processing, the DAC chooses a DSD DAC that does not have digital processing and supports DSD512(NOS DSD DAC). After the comparison, it was decided to DIY such a DAC, and the optical fiber was used as the main transmission method. The computer comprehensively considered computing power, power consumption and cost performance, and chose X99 motherboard, E5 2698v3 CPU, 16G memory and GTX1060 6G graphics card. Adjust settings in auto rate family mode to output DSD512 smoothly. Some filters mainly rely on the CPU frequency, and some filters must have GPU assistance. Install the win10 workstation system.Connected via network fiber and DAC. The computer is remote from the DAC and physically isolates various interferences. The remote control uses an Android tablet or an Android phone. Install the HQPDcontrol APP. All digital audio files are edited with mp3tag software. It is very convenient to remotely select songs. HQPlayer 4 Pro has been born to directly generate the required digital audio files, real-time playback is not limited by the capabilities of the computer. The file will be generated first, and then the playback will have a big improvement. The playback device can be a digital audio player, a low power computer or a Raspberry Pi development board. It is the direction of future playback of digital audio.

If there's anyone on this forum who is successfully using HQPlayer with a Chord Hugo 2 dac, I'd appreciate your help. I have HQPlayer Desktop installed on an Intel NUC running Windows 10. This is connected to the Hugo 2 via USB. Looking at the settings, HQPlayer appears to identify the dac correctly. When I select a track, HQPlayer appears to play it. The problem is, the dac is completely silent. Since other media players work with the Hugo 2, I believe the Windows drivers are correctly installed. I thought the NUC might be the problem, but my Windows 10 laptop produces the same result. I've experimented with a range of filter settings (including none) and tried a variety of sample rates, but nothing works. What am I overlooking? Grateful for any suggestions.

Since the latest Roon update my single PC setup running AO / Roon / Tidal / HQP is not working anymore on Windows Server 2016. Roon did not provide a solution so far. The above mentioned combination does still work on Windows 10. As a result I' ve to decide to step back to Windows 10 or stay on W2016S and remove HQP from the set up and upsample via Roon instead. Would like to hear your opinion which option would resultaten in the best sound quality. Thanks in advance, Benno

Dear all, I'm running HQPlayer in combination with Roon and Tidal on Windows Server 2016. (Total set-up: ASUS ROG I7 / WS2016 / FP / AO / Roon Server / Tidal / HQP / Singxer SU-1 / Gustard X-20 Pro). Since the latest Roon update (1.6 build 401) playback stops after the first track. The status bar in Roon is not moving at all and stays on the start position. With previous releases I've never had this issue. From several tests I learned that the set-up does work properly when HQP is installed on Windows 10 but not when it is installed on Windows Server 2016. Are other users running these programs on Windows Server 2016 experiencing the same problems? Looking forward to your reponses, Benno

This is a pictorial comparison of Windows audio players, including screen views, unique features, and support environment. It is by no means complete but should give you a general idea of what the different audio players look like, some unique features, and a snap of their support forums. The audio players include HQPlayer (mainly the Client), Roon, Audirvana Plus for Windows, and JRiver Media Center. (It is a pdf document.) https://www.dropbox.com/s/kmuo24gztr2v0j7/Comparison.pdf?dl=0

There's Nyquist, there's the actual bandwidth limited range in relation with the actual microphones range and arguments for 192 helping reconstructing transients. However there might be a better argument for using even more space disk : multichannel even for stereo. I'm convinced that what I discovered with MCH Electric Ladyland goes far beyond eventual differences in remastering talents or marketing strategies (Bernie Grundman signs the Stereo that is soso while Eddie Kramer signs the MCH ; the latter supervised the gorgeous Mono LP Axis signed by the former who delivers a soso Mono Mix in the recent SACD where the Stereo shines...). Fact is MCH is more than 2.5 x heavier than the Stereo and I bet it's better use of space than 192 vs 96. Maybe it is also due to LFE and engineers daring to go deep low but MCH downfolded into Stereo via HQP offers aural sculptures of the bass line and of the kick drum that are really reminiscent of live gigs impressions. Even soundstage is deeper that what I'm accustomed to. I'm thus starting a journey into MCH (to be played on my stereo) and suggestions and comments are welcome. As of Rock/Pop I start with https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/TabbedPollChart.htm Edited on December the 5th : I have not experimented with Classical or Acoustic Jazz but dig that when MCH aims at recreating natural acoustics, reverb, etc, down mixing to Stereo is a non sense. However, when reproducing (better, those who know say) the natural acoustics of the concert hall etc is not the goal, ie with Talking Heads, Steely Dan or Bjork, MCH to Stereo offers better bass delineation, smoother and more natural vocals and more noticeable soundstage vs the standard Stereo.

Both of my Topping NX4 DSD players have been returned to point of sale, and in their place is a new Topping DX3 Pro player, The DX3 Pro solution is looking much better straight away than the predecessor, with one exception. Playback of 128fs music files are fine, but playback of 256fs files are continually stuttering. I'm attaching a screenshot of settings of HQ player with the hope that someone would be able shed some light on this anomaly. For now I'm simply trying to determine if it's a settings issue in HQP, or if the new player is at fault. Thanks.

I have downloaded the trial version of HQPlayer, but cannot get it to work with my network streamer, the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra. The SOtM replaces a computer in my main system where the SOtM is installed. The SOtM is connected into my router by ethernet. HQPlayer is installed on an iMac (in another room with the router), also connected by ethernet to the router. I have enabled HQPlayer in the Eunhasu.local GUI, which says it's active, started HQPlayer on the iMac, and now I'm stuck. I'm also a Roon user and my Roon core is on the iMac and this works very well in the same way. Can someone please point out what I'm either doing wrong or have failed to do to get HQPlayer to work. I cannot work out from the user guide what to do either. As the iMac is in a separate room, I need to be able to control or use HQPlayer on my iPhone as I do with Roon (using Roon remote app). Or, as I can also get the SOtM to work using Sharepoint and DNLA streaming with apps on my phone with apps such as Spotify, Soundcloud etc, to do it this way if possible. Thank you

Only "civilian level" pc knowledge skills, by no means a computer whizz. I use ROON for Streaming Qobuz and my small collection of flac files on a usb drive. My current setup is an Intel i5-7500 pc @3.4GHz with 16GB ram & NVidia GTX 1060 (my general purpose living room pc which I use for browsing, Netflix etc) running Win10 pro. This currently runs my ROON Core and usb connected to my SMSL M8A usb dac & a trial version of HQPlayer. I have now just got a NUC8i7BEH on which my son installed ROCK (not yet put in hifi rig). Also now have just got a RPi4b for RopieeeXL. I think I understand how to install Ropieee XL on the pi and will try tomorrow. Using XL cos of my Spotify playlist and great music suggestions & it has the HQP NAA. 1) Should I first get the pi up and running first with my pc and only then transfer the CORE to the NUC? i.e. change one part of the chain at a time. 2) When the pi and NUC are up and running, I would like to use HQPlayer on the PC. What will be the limiting factor on the pcm and DSD rates I can stream to my DAC (pcm 768, native DSD 512 capable)? Is the pi the limitation or can it stream via usb to my DAC whatever I can upsample via HQPlayer on my pc? I have a Holo Audio May L2 DAC on order and am trying to get my system up and running before it arrives and "learn" HQPlayer to get the best out of the DAC. Thanks for any help and my apologies in advance for any equally dumb follow up questions and time delays in responding as there's up to a 8 - 12h time difference. Cheers

BBC3 is starting a pilot to stream lossless FLAC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/taster/projects/radio-3-concert-sound/inside-story @Miska: I understand HQPlayer can play FLAC streams. Would it work in this case? Also, would it be possible to allow to add such stream from the HQPlayer GUI? Currently the method is to add it via a playlist (I have not tried).

Hi All, I've been focusing a lot on the path into my DAC (MicroRendu to SU-1 powered by LPS-1 etc..) and think that's close to being nailed (for now anyway!) so I'm now wondering about the source side of things. Current source is a QNAP HS-251+ NAS with Roon installed. It's doing a decent job but I have two concerns: A - I spend a lot of time looking at "Waiting for Roon core" on my phone. (admittedly I'm not sure if that's the NAS, the phone or network). B - I'd like to add upsampling via either HQPlayer or Roon DSP. Probably HQPlayer. And the QNAP just doesn't have the juice to do that. I'd rather buy off the shelf rather than build. But would consider a custom build where the supplier does the actual building. Requirements are: Upsampling to 256 or 512 DSD Sending to MicroRendu as Roon or HQPlayer endpoint Silent or near silent as needs to sit on the rack Options I've been looking at include> Nimitra - have read great things about it. And seems great value. Only concern is whether the 4GB memory and the CPU have enough power to upsample to 512? SonicTransporter - They have Roon DSP ($1500) and HQPlayer ($1975) options. These definitely seem to have the power as are designed for it. And the synergy with the MR appeals. It also looks like I could re-purpose the 1TB SSD currently in the NAS and put it inside the SonicTransporter which would allow me to retire the NAS. One less box on the rack appeals. PinkFaun & SOTM do some very nice looking servers but once I tip into the $3k+ territory I start to wonder whether I should reconsider the whole thing and buy a high end audiophile server rather than trying to add to my MR>SU-1 path. And frankly I'm liking these too much to even consider parting with them so soon Oh and I'm ruling out the likes of Melco & Innous as I don't believe they have the necessary computing power to do the upsampling - is that correct? Any other recommended turnkey products or order to custom specs models that I should be investigating? Many Thanks, Alan

I'm not sure if this comes with a territory, but I can play music just fine so long as there is NO other sound coming from the PC. Even a Whatsapp notification is enough to cause my headphones to shriek with static and cut the music coming from Roon. I sometimes even have to restart my DAC to get the music playing again (I think). I'm certain that this is a HQP issue because it doesn't happen if I play with Roon piping directly to my Audio Out. Is there a way to make HQP play nice with other programs that would like to make sound? Specs: - Windows 10 - DAC is Chord Hugo 2 - HQP settings in screenshot - Playing via Roon using local and tidal music - Trying to play DSD512, but occurs with any setting afaik Additional notes: - If I enter a program that relies on sound such as League of Legends and THEN open HQPlayer, it will cause my game to crash because it lost its sound drivers I think.

Hi folks For a little over a year, I have been using an entry-level Mac Mini (1.4GHz i5, 4GB mem, 500GB disk) as a music server that runs Roon & HQPlayer and stores 400GB of music. HQP plays across ethernet to a uRendu connected to my DAC with a bridge connection facilitating a direct link to the uRendu. Since the DAC is limited to DSD128, this setup has worked ok, although when I tried using Jussi's new polysinc-xtr filters, I've had to dial them down to the -2s variety. A local friend that I met through this forum kindly shared over a terabyte of superb music, so I've since invested in a Synology NAS, which works fine. Sadly, this weekend, the Mac Mini's HD died, leaving me bereft of music. Of course, such events are an upgrade opportunity but I have to be stealthy. The command bunker objects to me spending money on (in her eyes) "worthless hifi", so I went browsing on the Apple Store and found an incredible bargain in their refurbished store - a 2014 Mac Mini 3Ghz i7 with 8GB mem and 1TB disk, for just £812. It arrives on Friday and she won't know the difference from the old one which, with a new HD fitted, will be donated to the eldest son's university kit come September. I've read elsewhere that folks optimise their Mac Mini servers by creating an OSX boot disk on an SD card in order to dismount Mac Mini's internal HD & power down SATA in the quest for a quieter system. I have bought a Lexar Pro 2000x 32GB (300MB/sec) for this purpose, and have loaded OS/X Sierra onto it as a boot volume. The question I have is this. I know through the process of creating the SD boot card that it runs like a snail on Valium. This doesn't really matter for loading Roon & HQplayer into memory on system initialisation. But is it feasible to have the Roon database running on an SD card or is that also loaded into memory? Does anyone have any advice/guidance please? It wouldn't be the end of the world to run everything off the 1TB HD, but I'd rather optimise for quietness if its at all possible. Thanks! Nikko

So I bought i7-7700 Kaby lake anf I am optimizing Windows 10 for audio performance. What I found online was the best way to use CPU was to set the power option to High Performance and min and max CPU to 100%. This would leave me with the CPU to work at 3.6GHz at all times. Intel updated speed shift to v2 with Kaby Lake, and I wondered if I should start using it i.e. will the CPU at constant base frequency work better/faster/smoother than with Speed Shift enabled? I am using this PC for Roon and HQPlayer.