Post by Claude April 14, 2014 (31 of 43)
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After using an Oppo 93 connected to a stereo DAC for file playback (CD rips and hi-rez downloads) during two years, I have now switched to using an old (2005) IBM Thinkpad R51 with M2Tech Hiface Two USB/SPDIF converter.
I bought the converter for my main PC, but since it's driver wasn't compatible with Windows 8.1, I tried that old laptop with Windows XP that I no longer used, and it turned out a dedicated laptop for music playback is the best device for this task, and it can be an old one, since the speed/memory requirements for music playback are very low.
Using foobar2000's remote control functions (with an Android phone or any PC on the network) and the ability to access SMB shares on the network, it's more convenient than using the Oppo, whose main flaw is the lack of gapless support. Other advantages are the possibility to play SACD ISO files and other more exotic lossless formats (Wavpack), CUE-file support, and the option to use sound manipulation tools (Equalizer) which comes in handy with the occasional badly mastered albums.
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Jon Benger said:
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I have therefore been experimenting with a cheap alternative: JRiver software on an old laptop connected by HDMI to my AVR. So far I have been impressed with the results. I can play 5.1 FLAC gaplessly. DSD works in both stereo and multichannel, although I have only got this working through PCM conversion at present (176/24) - I understand that my receiver accepts DSD direct, so my next job is to make this work. Sound quality so far is considerably better than the squeezebox, not least because of the higher resolution output, and the DSD sample files which I have downloaded sound amazing. I can operate it all remotely from my mobile phone.
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I am also using JRiver for Mch via HDMI. But, do not waste your time trying to get it to work with DSD transmission to your receiver. It is not currently supported in JRiver via HDMI, but only via DoP or ASIO 2.2 on USB, which is not compatible with any AVRs or prepros.
I use JRiver's on-the-fly conversion to PCM with excellent results. It sounds slightly better than silver SACD disk playback from an Oppo via HDMI with DSD bitstreaming and PCM conversion by my prepro, which is my preferred setup with the Oppo. I am going to want PCM conversion in any case to get DSP room EQ, which I consider essential.
The only caveat with conversion to PCM in a PC for HDMI transmission is the question of HDMI sample rate support by the PC's graphics setup. Some PC's, particularly older ones, do not support 88/176k, which would be ideal. Even newer NVidia GeForce graphics/HDMI cards, though excellent in other ways, are said not to support 88/176. AMD Radeon cards and newer integrated graphics by Intel and AMD all do support the optimum PCM sample rates.
It is the graphics engine, integrated or on a graphics card, inside the PC that "owns" the HDMI output and dictates the audio support. It is not a JRiver limitation ( or Foobar or anything else). I am currently using integrated Intel 4000 graphics at 88k, which is built into my I7 CPU chip. Of course it will still work at 96k, but I think there might be a slight sonic penalty for that.
You can check this by going to the Audio properties in Windows Control Panel and noting the sample rates supported. I am clueless about Macs.
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Post by Naun April 14, 2014 (33 of 43)
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Chris said:
for me with a computer a dac preamp headphone amp combo and music player software like Pure music and Audirvana,apart from occasional problems,gapless has always worked.
Audirvana run on a Mac Mini -> Ayre DAC -> stereo here. Never had a problem with gapless playback.
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Fitzcaraldo215 said:
I am also using JRiver for Mch via HDMI. But, do not waste your time trying to get it to work with DSD transmission to your receiver.
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You can check this by going to the Audio properties in Windows Control Panel and noting the sample rates supported. I am clueless about Macs.
That's all really useful information (which I've been looking for elsewhere but failed to find). Thank you!
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Post by Chris May 19, 2014 (35 of 43)
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Jonalogic said:
2) Nothing on the Hugo here. Am still trying to get an audition against the Aurelic Vega and new PS Audio Directstream.
Hello Jonalogic,
how are you coping with the current heatwave?
Sorry to pester you again regarding the Hugo and other DAC contenders.
But do you by any chance,have an update from the land where at least the Hugo hails ?
I unfortunately left Singapore a week or so,too early to get one there, before flying home.And no one seems to have them in stock here in Sweden.
One High End shop in Stockholm even quoted a 6 months waiting list!
If it is really that bad I will hopefully be back in the tropics again before 6 months are up.
By the end of October Sweden generally becomes pretty unbearable weatherwise anyway.
But since a couple of days,I am having a lot of musical fun and enjoyment playing mainly good LPs via my ML's "currently"(sorry I couldn't resist the pun,) powered by a 910 watts per channel amp.
The problem with almost everything digital both pcm and DSD via either of my two DACs and even more so with my SACD player with this combo is that I keep hearing a mostly slight,but clearly audible colouration and squashing and jumbling of percussion and not quite natural strings timbre now.Distortions that seemed virtually absent via headphones and the HUGO.
On the other hand some direct cut LPs and SXL Deccas too,now sound better than ever before at home via speakers.
There is something magical especially with string sound and analogue imho.
I have just played all of my versions of Sibelius' little masterpiece,"The Swan of Tuonela",and my ML's powered by almost one horsepower per channel.
And although Chandos's latest 24/96 from Bergen sounds really great by any standard,my Mobile Fidelity "Original Master Recording" Philadelphia Orchestra,Ormandy LP version in some respects, actually sounds slightly closer to how it sounded live as performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra with Okko Kamu earlier this spring.
It is so transparent and effortless with airy,velvety,smooth strings almost as live.
Back on digital.For anyone interested in the HUGO,there is a response from Rob Watts of Chord in an ongoing discussion at "Headfi" regarding this DAC and Rob's short essay (page 123) in response to some early reactions to his product is very interesting reading indeed imo.
Unlike some of the competition and reviewers who judge SQ by how their favourite and all too often artificially studio recorded,compressed pop/rock album sounds via each new product they review,he seems to have exactly the same reference as me,live acoustic music.
I don't think it was just a coincidence my first impressions of the Hugo where so positive.
Cheers Chris,now of the Swedish Countryside
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Post by Dixie4 May 21, 2014 (36 of 43)
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Just in response to the opening post. ( I haven't read every post. )
Living in the U.K. there's very little available, regards hi res downloads ( Linn, about the most abundant option ? HD Tracks, available sometime in the future ? )
I recently purchased a Sony HAP-S1 HDD Hi Res player, and I wonder if there's a need to buy ANY downloads ??
I rip my cd's, convert them to DSD, Double DSD, ( if desired ) using JRiver, and transfer them to the HAP-S1. It's a long winded process, especially the initial transfer, but the sonic results are worth it, without a doubt !
I can store all / convert all my music, with the added feature of expandable storage, without paying for possibly expensive downloads.
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Dixie4 said:
Just in response to the opening post. ( I haven't read every post. )
Living in the U.K. there's very little available, regards hi res downloads ( Linn, about the most abundant option ? HD Tracks, available sometime in the future ? )
I recently purchased a Sony HAP-S1 HDD Hi Res player, and I wonder if there's a need to buy ANY downloads ??
I rip my cd's, convert them to DSD, Double DSD, ( if desired ) using JRiver, and transfer them to the HAP-S1. It's a long winded process, especially the initial transfer, but the sonic results are worth it, without a doubt !
I can store all / convert all my music, with the added feature of expandable storage, without paying for possibly expensive downloads.
1. "Converting" your CDs may improve the sound but it does not create the equivalent of DSD (single, double or quad).
2. The HAP-Z1 (for more money) will do all that automatically.
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Post by Dixie4 May 21, 2014 (38 of 43)
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Kal Rubinson said:
1. "Converting" your CDs may improve the sound but it does not create the equivalent of DSD (single, double or quad).
2. The HAP-Z1 (for more money) will do all that automatically.
Yes, I guess it's a sort of "upsampling" ? Rather than true DSD. All the same, I'm impressed with the sonics.
Ideally I would have liked the HAP-Z1ES, with it's DSD Remastering engine, but finances dictated !
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Post by Iain May 22, 2014 (39 of 43)
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Dixie4 said:
Yes, I guess it's a sort of "upsampling" ? Rather than true DSD. All the same, I'm impressed with the sonics.
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Quite.
My experiences with "up-sampling" RBCD PCM content, shows that it can work wonders for sound quality for that format.
First title I tried was a download from DGG of a Wagnerian opera from 1989. It was typical 44.1/16 RBCD content and had harsh sound quality; IOW, difficult to listen to for long time periods.
I then ran the files through a software package to up-sample them to 176.4 kHz/24 bit PCM. Result was a significant improvement of sound quality. One benefit amongst others, was listening fatigue was eliminated completely,
Results of up-sampling hi-res content, such as 96/24 to 192/24, is a subtle improvement of SQ, however. Some might perceive this process as a waste of time for hi-res format files, though.
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Post by Luke May 23, 2014 (40 of 43)
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