Hi Guys,
Thought you may be interested. I've been running a DAC based on the AK4490 chip and I actually prefer the sound of PCM using it's SRC/SDM over HQplayer. So since the AK4137 is supposed to have even better SDM/SRC, that chip just may be better than using HQplayer. Not only that not bound to the rudimentary GUI, stutters, and high powered CPU requirements.
I'm actually getting the best sound using good old Jriver in server mode with Jremote. 🙂
Perhaps HQplayer only really shines with Sabre processors.
Thought you may be interested. I've been running a DAC based on the AK4490 chip and I actually prefer the sound of PCM using it's SRC/SDM over HQplayer. So since the AK4137 is supposed to have even better SDM/SRC, that chip just may be better than using HQplayer. Not only that not bound to the rudimentary GUI, stutters, and high powered CPU requirements.
I'm actually getting the best sound using good old Jriver in server mode with Jremote. 🙂
Perhaps HQplayer only really shines with Sabre processors.
Or perhaps it's forte is with 'no DAC' devices such as the one covered by this thread?
Ray
I am assuming this AK DAC is the one by Sonny Mirand
Was the comparison with ESS Sabre done using your Mirus DAC?
Yes that is the one. It's very good. Via USB, it sounds like the Mirus/ HQplayer combo via USB. It's very strange because HQ player does the opposite that it does with the Sabre chip with this DAC. It sounds much better with plain old Jriver sending out the native formats. This really gets me excited about the AK4137.
I can just imagine the sound via the SDtrans384. Unfortunately this DAC is USB only. I think it has much more potential with a better transport that doesn't use USB. There's no Galvanic isolation for the USB, so it sounds much different with different computers.
And so far I've only powered it via SMPS. Haven't tried the linear supplies yet.
Will be interesting to see how this develops.
You can address the shortcomings of HQPlayer's interface with Muso and, hopefully before too long, Roon.
My experience of stutters with HQPlayer is that insufficient processor capacity is available and should be fixed with a 'better' processor. Which brings me to my main negative preconception about the AK upsampler (given my preference for upsampling PCM to DSD256); how can a resource constrained IC offer the same capability as a high powered computer and array of filter options in HQPlayer? As I say, it will be interesting to see how this develops.
Of course, the whole discussion has to be tempered by the absence of an agreed definition of 'better'. My measurement is entirely selfish - what do I prefer to listen to?
BTW, no breakthrough on the HQPlayer NAA on BBB/Botic build but it still feels fairly close. More work on it tomorrow.
Ray
Keep in mind that I did upgrade the clocks to clocks with a certified 10Hz phase noise spec of -115DBc. Not a trivial upgrade
Couldn't agree more! Implementation techniques count and there will be costs involved. After all there are quite a number of el cheapo AKM DAC modules and other stuff getting a lot of airplay because of the perceived big bang for bucks...
Update. I haven't really been able to give the DSD a fair trial on this DAC yet. The reason why is because I'm going straight from the DAC into my amps with no volume control. I'm using the digital volume control in both HQplayer and Jriver to control volume. When DirectSDM is disabled in HQ player, it allows the volume control to be used with DSD, but I'm not getting the same sound as with DirectSDM enabled. But when DirectSDM is enabled, it's far too loud.
However I tried out upsampling all PCM to 24/384, and the sound I'm getting is stunning. Way better than Jriver now. In fact it's the best sounding PCM I've heard in my system. It surpasses the Mirus now. It's also an easy load for the computer vs conversion to DSD.
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No. HQPlayer has an exposed control API so Muso has, and Roon will, hook into it. I don't believe Jussi has to do anything.
Ray
No it does both. However you need to flash new XMOS firmware's to change filter settings without the front panel. But it does pop with sample rate changes. Not a big deal if your using an analog volume control. But when your going amp direct using the media play app digital control, those pops play full blast out of the speakers! Not a nice sound. However I've discovered setting HQplayer to upsample all formats to a single sampling rate avoids the need for the sample rate change and pop.
The only way to get around this pop is designing a system that mutes the analog outputs when a sample rate is changed, or any change in the DAC chips internal registers for that matter.
Thanks Mike, appreciate your efforts and obviously a lot of things to consider going forward...
No problem. I'm really thinking based on the AKM4490 performance with the SRC/SDM, is a good indicator of what the AK4137eq, which is purpose built to handle the best SDM/SRC AKM knows how to do on a dedicated chip, could be capable of. Combine that with a pure purpose built DSD direct DAC like yours, and it may be a match made in heaven. Best part about it is, the AK4137 can easily be bypassed if desired, if one feels their PC based software can do a better job.
What you have created, can possibly be the best of all worlds.
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Yes, I understand what you are driving at, now that we have seen the capability of these chips for PCM. It might be worth pitting this SDM chip against R2R types like PCM1794, 1704 etc.
But for this DSD DAC we need DSD feed and from what I see it takes more processing power to transcode pcm to DSD and the AK4137 peters out at DSD128 with Redbook material. This requires more filtering to get rid of the ultrasonics. At DSD256 filtering is a bit more relaxed and better bandwidth.
So the question now is how well this AKM chips perform in DSD mode?
HQPlayer volume control is lossless afaik, so gives some good indication.
Of course if you disable the directSDM it goes full output and you need external volume control.
As I have indicated before this DSD DAC is not tied to any specific back end DSP. So can take HQPlayer, AK4137, etc. I will do some work on a AK4137-based design to compare but not until after the main DSD DAC is completed and fully tested. In the meantime further tests in DSD mode with your gear will be most helpful
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The AK4490 upsamples PCM to 32/768. So when HQplayer upsamples to 24/384 it lightens the load for the chip. Most likely why it improves the sound. As for DSD, the AK4490 has a DSD direct mode. It bypasses everything and goes straight to the low pass filter when fed DSD. So it would be interesting to hear if PCM sounds better upsampled to DSD with the AK4137, or if better kept in PCM.
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