When I compare offline converted redbook files made with Audivrentory, to the files Jussi from HQplayer offline converted for me, I much prefer the HQplayer algorithms. Same with everyone I demoed them too. But it is nice not having to have a powerhouse PC for your audio rig. Offline converted DSD128 takes 1% CPU load on my I3 Broadwell NUC, and averages 35% online converting with HQplayer. It definitely sounds better with less CPU load. Much fewer glitches as well.
HQPlayer is great. Use your NUC as NAA and you get the sound of low CPU load despite DSD256 or even DSD512
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Yes Yuri is for real though could use some real help with website design 🙂 Thankfully his math skills are better than his graphic design🙂
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+1
Some hope: plans for off-line conversion from Signalyst but expect a totally separate Pro product at much higher cost than HQPlayer.
I built an purpose built for audio NAA powered off an low noise linear supply. I still preferred the offline converted files to the online converted files using the same server computer. This is when I determined that CPU load still has a detrimental effect even when isolated by an NAA. I'm not talking night and day, but noticeable. Plus you need a powerful server, which isn't needed if offline converting. You also can you other media players with better GUI's.
What I would really like to do is compare the AKM AK4137eq SRC with HQ player. Maybe Acko could build an add on board with this chip 🙂.
Another cool thing with this chip is it has an onboard oscillator built into the chip. So it could probably be reclocked with Acko's reclocker in-between the SRC board and the Direct drive.
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Actually thought of this also but from the leads so far the HQPlayer will excel compared with resource constrained chips. Again e.g. 9018 has SRC also and we have come to the conclusion that it cannot match HQPlayer. On paper these chips have impressive specs though...
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Seems that way but you never know. Since all this chip does is SRC/SDM, and it's hot off the press tech, it may surprise. 🙂. Or program a DSP chip to upsample to DSD 1024 like EMM Labs is doing with their new DAC:
http://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/index.php/2015/09/emm-labs-da2-dac-announced/
There are costs involved even for prototypes but if happy to contribute funds please let me know 🙂
DSP solution is actually the way to go if you want something deeply embedded with all the horsepower. Again custom development costs $50k+
Would not bet on this, sorry! From my experience there are more on-lookers, fence-sitters and bargain hunters swarming around 😀 and then with all these fast changing technologies things get obsolete before it gets out the door
I would rather wait for Jussi to come up with his off-line software and then sit back and enjoy DSD1024 just like what EMM gear does at fraction of the cost 🙂
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You may have a point but I thought it was worth a try. 🙂
DSD1024 offline converted would be pretty extreme. We are talking 30-50GB per album! HDD's are getting cheap, but would need a serious 10 bay Qnap filled with 5tb drives to hold my current collection 🙂
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1011311-REG/qnap_40tb_10_x_4tb.html
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Yeah probably. But would be cool to hear and compare both. Quite a bit of bandwidth to pass through an USB interface.
Both this DSD DAC and HQPlayer are cleared to play up to DSD1024. Amanero up to DSD512 - other similar gadgets are lower than this. My i7 MacPro and handle up to DSD256 without problems -live transcoding, possibly DSD512 with NAA. So this is about the max we can test at the moment. Whether there is any sonic value beyond DSD256 remains to be seen....
I like the idea of the SDCard Player, baremetal, OSless so more single-minded to focus on streaming audio for the highest performance - the benefits that you have already experienced with Mirus DAC
Although this only supports up to DSD 64, it's supposed to be really good. It also has I2S/DSD over LVDS HDMI out.
http://en.auneaudio.com/html/en_products1/pc_hifi/189_14.html
One of these I2S/DSD LVDS receiver boards can probably be used in conjunction with your reclocker, then straight into the DAC.
Edit: reading closer I see that DSD out is only supported over DoP. So something to decode DoP (Like the AK4137eq) would likely be required.
Combo LVDS DSD over HDMI receiver, with onboard AK4137eq and reclocker? That would be way too cool 🙂
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Found a pic of the Aune S18 board and a link to the actual manual if anyone is interested. Looks like it uses Crystek 957 clocks.
http://www.audiophonics.fr/en/index.php?controller=attachment&id_attachment=120
http://www.audiophonics.fr/en/index.php?controller=attachment&id_attachment=120
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Although this only supports up to DSD 64, it's supposed to be really good. It also has I2S/DSD over LVDS HDMI out.
S18 - PC HIFI - auneaudio | High Performance Audio - Crafted in China
One of these I2S/DSD LVDS receiver boards can probably be used in conjunction with your reclocker, then straight into the DAC.
Edit: reading closer I see that DSD out is only supported over DoP. So something to decode DoP (Like the AK4137eq) would likely be required.
Combo LVDS DSD over HDMI receiver, with onboard AK4137eq and reclocker? That would be way too cool 🙂
Technically possible, but my only planned integration with the S03/4 reclocker is the SDTrans384. This goes up to DSD256 and streams natively direct into this DSD DAC. So no need for any SRC/SDM chips and no loss of SQ going through all these DSP.
Sounds great. But your limited to DSD only. So you would have to offline convert all of your PCM. This would take a pile of space up on the SD cards if you have an extensive redbook collection. So I still think a reclocker with onboard SDM/SRC would be a cool option. As long as the chip sounded great. With the AK4137, if a native DSD file is played, it completely bypasses the chip anyways. So you can still use HQplayer, or offline convert, with no detrimental effect from having the chip in the signal path if you choose to do so.
For things like AirPlaying from Apple devices, streaming services etc, it would really be handy. I use a really good AirPlay receiver software called Airserver to airplay Tidal from the IPhone app, and it sounds really good. But unfortunately no possibility to route it through HQplayer SDM/SRC.
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