Golden Gate DAC arrives.

[adyc]

Yes it works with all DAC's, but it works "best" with chipless DSD DAC's. Please copy and paste where I said HQplayer is "just for chipless DSD"

The idea behind creating HQplayer in the first place was so simple lowpass filter DSD DAC's like the GG can be used with PCM. For example Jussi's own chipless DSD DAC:

http://www.signalyst.com/hardware.html


When it comes to friends, I prefer quality over quantity. Anyone with half a brain would realize I'm posting this information to help people out.

Miska wrote this software much earlier than known commercial chipless DSD DAC. Show me in his website saying "The idea behind creating HQplayer in the first place was so simple lowpass filter DSD DAC". Your link is saying this DAC is specially for DSD256 and 7th order modulator.

You seem have some problems with logic.

 

[Blizzard]

Miska wrote this software much earlier than known commercial chip less DSD. Show me in his website saying "The idea behind creating HQplayer in the first place was so simple lowpass filter DSD DAC". Your link is saying this DAC is specially for DSD256 and 7th order modulator.

You seem have some problems with logic.

Of course he want's to sell it to everyone, and benefits can be had even with SDM DAC's that have non-bypassable SDM/SRC sections as well. But as I've said many times, it's "Best" with DAC's that don't have an extra layer of processing to pass through internally.

 

[wisnon]

Sorry, but it is on topic for those who want to hear their GG sounding the best possible. It can also have the potential of saving GG owners thousands on the PCM section. We will see what Audiophile Bill has to say.

I shared all the tips I need to share about HQ player setup now anyways

PCM section does not costs thousands. You are a font of misinformation! You have no idea what sounds best on a GG. You only have a theory.
If "education" is going to scare people away from your posts, you're doing something wrong!

 

[Blizzard]

PCM section does not costs thousands. You are a font of misinformation! You have no idea what sounds best on a GG. You only have a theory.

How much does the PCM section add to the cost of the GG?

Audiophile bill is testing the shiny new R2R section and comparing it with HQplayer/DSD as we speak. As long as he got it working smooth that is.

 

[wisnon]

I had the shiny new PCM before Bill did, but have not tested any up sampling. PCM has now cut the gap on DSD, but it is still a fundamentally different flavor.

The PCM only or DSD only Dac gets a discount to the fully priced Dac with both and is less than euros1,000, last I saw. The shiny case you berate on a GG is not cheap. Quality copper which is the best shielding material out there. Ask Kondo what it costs.

I don't speculate as much as you. i check the accessible facts and I ask the people themselves.

You have some good ideas badly presented and your style is an impediment. Please moderate yourself and more success would be guaranteed.

 

[wisnon]

How much does the PCM section add to the cost of the GG?

Audiophile bill is testing the shiny new R2R section and comparing it with HQplayer/DSD as we speak. As long as he got it working smooth that is.

Based on what I heard …Jriver upconversion to Bughead will beat HQP upconversion and playback. Mind you HQP up to BHE may be the ultimate winner, but the small difference at that stratospheric level does not justify the much poorer GUI of HQP.

 

[Blizzard]

Based on what I heard …Jriver upconversion to Bughead will beat HQP upconversion and playback. Mind you HQP up to BHE may be the ultimate winner, but the small difference at that stratospheric level does not justify the much poorer GUI of HQP.

The reason for the better perceived sound of Bughead, is nothing more than "special effects" DSP algorithms. Sure you may prefer the sound, but enabling them isn't a total "purist" approach like HQP with SDM direct enabled. And BTW, jriver resampling to DSD sucks.

 

[wisnon]

The reason for the better perceived sound of Bughead, is nothing more than "special effects" DSP algorithms. Sure you may prefer the sound, but enabling them isn't a total "purist" approach like HQP with SDM direct enabled. And BTW, jriver resampling to DSD sucks.

Really now Blizz, why do you think I don't know a lot of what you tout? Did you know Thorsten actually tested the up sampling of the 3 Jriver, foobar and HQP. HQP and Foo were close and JRiver lost.
However to dsd256 and BHE, the quality is so good that the GUI quality now becomes a deciding factor.

BHE may have all you say plus memory management, but it sounded LIVE to me.

In audio, isn't sound perception, reality??

 

[Audiophile Bill]

How much does the PCM section add to the cost of the GG?

Audiophile bill is testing the shiny new R2R section and comparing it with HQplayer/DSD as we speak. As long as he got it working smooth that is.

It is unfortunately not smooth! Annoying - I need faster PC by looks of it.

On another note - thanks for reminding me just how fabulous it is with native dsd - that works like a dream.

 

[bibo01]

Really now Blizz, why do you think I don't know a lot of what you tout? Did you know Thorsten actually tested the up sampling of the 3 Jriver, foobar and HQP. HQP and Foo were close and JRiver lost.
However to dsd256 and BHE, the quality is so good that the GUI quality now becomes a deciding factor.

BHE may have all you say plus memory management, but it sounded LIVE to me.

In audio, isn't sound perception, reality??

Sorry to contradict you - Thorsten tested Foobar, JRiver and Weiss. IMO, not in a particular good way.
I have tested HQPlayer and Foobar modulators in a better way here - http://www.nexthardware.com/forum/cmp2-cmp-cplay/84825-test-modulatore-hqplayer-pcm-dsd.html
(just Google translate it) - and compared to other modulators.
However, ultimately these tests do not stress modulators too much. You must listen.

 

[bibo01]

It is unfortunately not smooth! Annoying - I need faster PC by looks of it.

On another note - thanks for reminding me just how fabulous it is with native dsd - that works like a dream.

If you do not have a quad core cpu, do not use Pipeline SDM as it makes things worse.
If it's not smooth, try also -2s filter versions

 

[Blizzard]

I had the shiny new PCM before Bill did, but have not tested any up sampling. PCM has now cut the gap on DSD, but it is still a fundamentally different flavor.

The PCM only or DSD only Dac gets a discount to the fully priced Dac with both and is less than euros1,000, last I saw. The shiny case you berate on a GG is not cheap. Quality copper which is the best shielding material out there. Ask Kondo what it costs.

I don't speculate as much as you. i check the accessible facts and I ask the people themselves.

You have some good ideas badly presented and your style is an impediment. Please moderate yourself and more success would be guaranteed.

Okay, what's cheaper HQplayer or the PCM section? How about the combined costs of having the original PCM section, shipping and upgrade to the new, vs HQplayer?

 

[Blizzard]

Really now Blizz, why do you think I don't know a lot of what you tout? Did you know Thorsten actually tested the up sampling of the 3 Jriver, foobar and HQP. HQP and Foo were close and JRiver lost.
However to dsd256 and BHE, the quality is so good that the GUI quality now becomes a deciding factor.

BHE may have all you say plus memory management, but it sounded LIVE to me.

In audio, isn't sound perception, reality??

So you say turn PCM into a "turd" with Jriver resampling to DSD, then polish this "turd" with bughead? Sorry not my cup of tea.

And there's no better memory management than the HQplayer NAA. 100% playing from RAM.

 

[Blizzard]

It is unfortunately not smooth! Annoying - I need faster PC by looks of it.

On another note - thanks for reminding me just how fabulous it is with native dsd - that works like a dream.

Strange my $200 palm sized I3 NUC can do it, but not your I7 equalivant AMD processor computer can't handle it. Perhaps there's an issue with HQplayer and the AMD processor, or something else installed is causing problems.

What's the CPU load at? Did you try 128?

 

[the sound of Tao]

Hi Rudolph,

I believe that the new r2r PCM implementation (based on listening last night) is a significant improvement over my original PCM engine. I experienced:

> Great vividness and much more presence
> Signficantly more resolution
> More dynamic and propulsive bass

Together these bring it very close to the dsd performance but I still need a lot more listening time to draw final conclusions. The dsd engine always had this spooky clean resolution of the finest details yet with musicality and tone to die for - this PCM engine achieves the same trick. I am so thrilled because it opens up new options regarding necessity of upsampling to dsd of which I was a proponent - I need more time in order to reach any final conclusion but either way I am *very* happy. Hats off to Lukasz.

Hi Bill,
Your observations on the R2R are very helpful and definitely consistent with my experiences of the nature of R2R ladder dacs especially when played through dht valves.

The MSB Diamond and Analogue, Chprecision and Aqua la scala all excel in these characteristic areas in particular. I've had the Aqua la scala mk2 into two different 300B based preamps (Manley and Line Magnetic VV3) and I've found r2r with dht preamp is a great match up IMO with extraordinary amounts of fleshy effortless tonality as well as a grainless natural quality with surprising degree of unforced resolution.

Any further thoughts on the characteristic differences between the previous PCM and the R2R version of your gg.

tia
Graham

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Hi Bill,
Your observations on the R2R are very helpful and definitely consistent with my experiences of the nature of R2R ladder dacs especially when played through dht valves.

The MSB Diamond and Analogue, Chprecision and Aqua la scala all excel in these characteristic areas in particular. I've had the Aqua la scala mk2 into two different 300B based preamps (Manley and Line Magnetic VV3) and I've found r2r with dht preamp is a great match up IMO with extraordinary amounts of fleshy effortless tonality as well as a grainless natural quality with surprising degree of unforced resolution.

Any further thoughts on the characteristic differences between the previous PCM and the R2R version of your gg.

tia
Graham

Hi Graham,

Yes - I had a very long listening session last night. The r2r PCM really is in a different league to the original PCM in my GG. I have been hugely impressed with that vividness that I described last time - that reach out and touch feel of instruments and vocals. I also noticed more layering in the soundstage - I am not sure whether it produces a bigger soundstage or the increased resolution shows you more. The other observation that I made with the r2r is speed. Because it has a propulsive drive, it sounds faster and more dynamic than the original. The original was much more sleepy than this r2r. The r2r demands that you listen whereas the original was more comfortable.

That being said - I listened to some dsd 128 channel classics through hqplayer last night and my god they are stunning. Anyone who doubts the viability of dsd must listen to these!

 

[the sound of Tao]

Thanks Bill, great update, it must be brilliant to not have to be locked into either format and still be in for some irresistible music making. Congratulations on the upgrade.

 

[marslo]

The only thing I can add for time being is what Lukasz said yesterday after checking my B7 having upgraded pcm board to R2R .
It even does not need to be translated. He said - " bomba".
I will check with pcm files fed from W20 next week what it really means.
Before upgrade I was of the opinion that La Fontaine sounded better as pcm DAC while native dsd from lampi was the best what I experienced in my system, especially in classical music reproduction.

 

[wisnon]

Hi Graham,

Yes - I had a very long listening session last night. The r2r PCM really is in a different league to the original PCM in my GG. I have been hugely impressed with that vividness that I described last time - that reach out and touch feel of instruments and vocals. I also noticed more layering in the soundstage - I am not sure whether it produces a bigger soundstage or the increased resolution shows you more. The other observation that I made with the r2r is speed. Because it has a propulsive drive, it sounds faster and more dynamic than the original. The original was much more sleepy than this r2r. The r2r demands that you listen whereas the original was more comfortable.

That being said - I listened to some dsd 128 channel classics through hqplayer last night and my god they are stunning. Anyone who doubts the viability of dsd must listen to these!

Do you have like say 300B tubes to switch with the Krons with PCM playback? I want to separate the Kron characteristics from the Ladder characteristics.

 

[wisnon]

The only thing I can add for time being is what Lukasz said yesterday after checking my B7 having upgraded pcm board to R2R .
It even does not need to be translated. He said - " bomba".
I will check with pcm files fed from W20 next week what it really means.
Before upgrade I was of the opinion that La Fontaine sounded better as pcm DAC while native dsd from lampi was the best what I experienced in my system, especially in classical music reproduction.

Eagerly await the feedback.

What tubes do you have?