Streamer to kill the big boys for under $250

[MadFloyd]

I got constant stuttering (as in several times a second) but using the -2 setting works.

What does the -2 setting do?

I have an i7-3770s (3.10mghz). It's not the latest generation by any means but I'm surprised it's lagging (running Win8.1).

 

[Blizzard]

I got constant stuttering (as in several times a second) but using the -2 setting works.

What does the -2 setting do?

I have an i7-3770s (3.10mghz). It's not the latest generation by any means but I'm surprised it's lagging (running Win8.1).

the -2 setting doesn't sound as good, but reduces CPU load. Which is why it works smooth. Windows 10 also seems to work way better. Did you not get the free upgrade offer?

This version is definitely more CPU intensive, but runs smooth up to 256 with all filter/modulators on my cheap $500 HP desktop with I7 4790 CPU and Windows 10.

Either way my I3 NUC could handle DSD128 with any settings with the last HQplayer version. Not anymore. 64 max, and still CPU load quite high. I hope he makes some changes to bring CPU usage down to version 3.11 levels. Either that or higher powered processors only from this version forward.


Edit: Are you using ASIO and "None" under SDM pack? If not , that's probably the problem. DoP gobbles up the CPU power.

 

[MadFloyd]

the -2 setting doesn't sound as good, but reduces CPU load. Which is why it works smooth. Windows 10 also seems to work way better. Did you not get the free upgrade offer?

This version is definitely more CPU intensive, but runs smooth up to 256 with all filter/modulators on my cheap $500 HP desktop with I7 4790 CPU and Windows 10.

Either way my I3 NUC could handle DSD128 with any settings with the last HQplayer version. Not anymore. 64 max, and still CPU load quite high. I hope he makes some changes to bring CPU usage down to version 3.11 levels. Either that or higher powered processors only from this version forward.


Edit: Are you using ASIO and "None" under SDM pack? If not , that's probably the problem. DoP gobbles up the CPU power.

I'm not using "None" because my DAC uses DoP.

Re: Windows 10: never got the offer from Microsoft on this PC and when I try to initiate it myself their program craps out and says "Oops, we don't know what happened!". Might be because I remote desktop into it...not sure.

 

[Blizzard]

I'm not using "None" because my DAC uses DoP.

Re: Windows 10: never got the offer from Microsoft on this PC and when I try to initiate it myself their program craps out and says "Oops, we don't know what happened!". Might be because I remote desktop into it...not sure.

Ahh I thought I read that DAC had an ASIO driver. I wonder if it does native with Linux? That's what will matter once you have the streamer up and running. Anyways DSD 128 over DoP still worked on old HQplayer with my I3 NUC. Just higher CPU load. Maybe uninstall the 3.12 beta, and install 3.11 for now. And test with HQplayer on it's own. You won't have these problems.





You know I had the same problem with Windows 10. So formatted the hard drive and installed from scratch with bootable win 10 USB. Just enter in the key from 8.1 and works!. Nothing beats a fresh install anyways. Updated all my computers with that stick.

 

[MadFloyd]

Ahh I thought I read that DAC had an ASIO driver. I wonder if it does native with Linux? That's what will matter once you have the streamer up and running. Anyways DSD 128 over DoP still worked on old HQplayer with my I3 NUC. Just higher CPU load. Maybe uninstall the 3.12 beta, and install 3.11 for now. And test with HQplayer on it's own. You won't have these problems.





You know I had the same problem with Windows 10. So formatted the hard drive and installed from scratch with bootable win 10 USB. Just enter in the key from 8.1 and works!. Nothing beats a fresh install anyways. Updated all my computers with that stick.

The Playback Designs is limted to an ASIO driver. Does ASIO = DoP?

 

[Blizzard]

The Playback Designs is limted to an ASIO driver. Does ASIO = DoP?

Usually ASIO is capable of native DSD. But may be limited on the USB interface end. Are you using the USB X? What will matter soon is the max Linux resolution and whether it supports native on Linux or not. Native uses half the bandwidth, and less processing on both the sending and receiving end. I can't find any details on the USB-X Linux support other than it will work.

 

[Blizzard]

I got constant stuttering (as in several times a second) but using the -2 setting works.

What does the -2 setting do?

I have an i7-3770s (3.10mghz). It's not the latest generation by any means but I'm surprised it's lagging (running Win8.1).

Read post #4127. This is the best thread to go on to keep on top of the progress. Miska (Jussi) is the HQplayer creator:


http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/hq-player-20293/index166.html


Anyways good news from Jussi:


"OK, there seems to be some negative effect caused by one optional performance feature I added. I will disable it for the next build/release. Overall the CPU load shouldn't be much different from earlier releases. ASDM7 will consume a bit more CPU time than previously, but for example Pipeline SDM should be more efficient now."

 

[MadFloyd]

Here's to hoping we get an update soon!

 

[Blizzard]

Here's to hoping we get an update soon!

Have you played around with 3.11 yet? Jussi is on it. Give him a day or 2.

 

[MadFloyd]

Have you played around with 3.11 yet? Jussi is on it. Give him a day or 2.

I tried 3.11 initially but Roon wouldn't see it. Then I learned you need 3.12 to work with Roon (3.11 doesn't have the 'Allow Control From Network' option).

 

[Blizzard]

I tried 3.11 initially but Roon wouldn't see it. Then I learned you need 3.12 to work with Roon (3.11 doesn't have the 'Allow Control From Network' option).

Yes this is true. So you will need to just use HQplayer on it's own. But you will be able to use any filter/modulator with your computer and it will run smooth. Something to play with until Jussi releases the next version.

 

[Rodney Gold]

I downloaded HQ player and checked it out.. no use for me really as I stream lbit perfectly wirelessly to my Squeezebox via roon , I dont do dsd etc and the best I have is 24/96 which everything handles superbly.. I will wait for the MQA decoder...

 

[Blizzard]

I downloaded HQ player and checked it out.. no use for me really as I stream lbit perfectly wirelessly to my Squeezebox via roon , I dont do dsd etc and the best I have is 24/96 which everything handles superbly.. I will wait for the MQA decoder...

Yeah it must be setup properly to take advantage of it.

 

[Blizzard]

Hi Guys,

I finally made an official HQplayer setup post on the Superstream setup thread. Please go to post #21 here:

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?19287-Superstream-setup-guide&p=362462#post362462

 

[Blizzard]

Hey guys! the official HQplayer 3.12 release is out! No more stuttering with the better filters!

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

 

[audio.bill]

Mike - I've read many comments on other forums raving about Bug Head Emperor and wondered whether you have any experience with it, or thoughts on how it compares to HQplayer. TIA!

 

[Blizzard]

Mike - I've read many comments on other forums raving about Bug Head Emperor and wondered whether you have any experience with it, or thoughts on how it compares to HQplayer. TIA!

My take on it having played around with it quite a bit, is , although Bughead may offer some good memory management strategy's when using a single PC connected direct to DAC from the server, the main perk is "fairy dust sprinkling" algorithms to make for better sound.

Kinda like boosting up the bass a bit and saying "Wow, the bass is so much better!" It's just special effects and that's all.

Hqplayer is completely different. Jussi from Hqplayer goes the other direction by taking the minimalist approach. His filters/modulators are designed as a replacement for the resource constrained ones inside DAC chips. The NAA system takes it to another level with server/streamer FIFO buffering, where the streamer sends the audio direct from the RAM in the streamer to the DAC. And it allows for the possibility of taking things up another notch with optical isolation between the server and streamer.


No other software comes close to offering all of these options. And the same level of "real purity" let alone native DSD 1024 capability. And now with Roon, and Tidal as a front end option, it's a no brainer!

 

[wisnon]

Blizz...bughead is free, so no possibility of any backpocket! I have BHE but no great PC to use. I have HQP ,JRiver,A+...do have tried them all. SETUP does matter. NATIVE rate HQP is average. It shines on upconversion. I have yet to try dual PC (naa) setup,but will report back on that. I have heard BHE done right with server in core mode and it was a nigh "religious" experience.

The SG guys too felt that BHE was the winner, but after more hardware tweaking, they are back to hqp as the ultimate.

I dont think there are any absolutes here as many roads lead to Rome. Setup quality and system optimization matters.

Merry Xmas, BTW.

 

[wisnon]

Hi Guys,

I finally made an official HQplayer setup post on the Superstream setup thread. Please go to post #21 here:

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?19287-Superstream-setup-guide&p=362462#post362462

Great move!

 

[Blizzard]

Blizz...bughead is free, so no possibility of any backpocket! I have BHE but no great PC to use. I have HQP ,JRiver,A+...do have tried them all. SETUP does matter. NATIVE rate HQP is average. It shines on upconversion. I have yet to try dual PC (naa) setup,but will report back on that. I have heard BHE done right with server in core mode and it was a nigh "religious" experience.

The SG guys too felt that BHE was the winner, but after more hardware tweaking, they are back to hqp as the ultimate.

I dont think there are any absolutes here as many roads lead to Rome. Setup quality and system optimization matters.

Merry Xmas, BTW.

I was talking more in general, not BHE. Yes that's what HQP was designed for, upconversion. It's SRC/SDM software. Not general purpose software like Jriver. Version 3.12 is better than ever! I've been listening to Tidal resampled to DSD 256 from my I3 broadwell NUC glitch free all morning! I can't believe it can handle it now!


Ahh so the BHE fad is wearing off?

Yes of course it's a combination of software, hardware and proper setup. This is what I'm offering on this thread.

Merry Xmas to you as well!