Best native DSD DACs for use with HQPlayer?

[Deric_Chan]

AMR/ iFi Audio ZEN DAC V3 - EUPHONIC REVIEW

Thanks Andrew for posting his review on the Zen Dac V3. Sounds like another homerun for IFI!!!

[dabassgoesboomboom]

No actual plots shown for DSD256

[Gerardo_Di_Gianni]

Hello Guys finally my Cyan2 has arrived.
I’m trying it with my PC I5 12400 + 16Gb DDR 3200 without GPU and HQPlayer Desktop 5.7.2 under Ubuntu with endpoint Rpi4 NAA 5.
Could I ask you some suggestions about filter N1/Nx and Shaper to use both in dsd and in pcm.
For now in PCM I can get to 1536 KHz following the manual settings.
In DSD up to 48x512 the PC holds the filters/Shaper indicated in the manual without problems.
At DSD 1024 it stutters but by reducing the modulator to ASDM5EC I can make it work.
I know that sweet spot DSD is 256.
It seems to me that the Series 5 modulator works better.
Thanks in advance o your help
Gerardo

[Deric_Chan]

Congrats on the purchase of the cyan 2.

My current goto settings. Dsd256x48 5EC light, dac correction on:

Gauss or gauss long @ 1x, gauss hires @ NX
I do use xtr short mp for hard rock/metal.
For jazz and classical, I sometimes switch between Sinc medium or the HB m or l filters

I can run pretty much any filters and modulators with dsd512x48 with correction but prefer to stick with dsd256x48

One thing I notice is my shift of preference after the dac correction. I was used to be using the Super modulators but with the correction I am finding the light modulators work best

PCM 1536 now sounding more alike to dsd playback after the dac correction. I don’t really use pcm but stay with LNS15 if I do…

[Gerardo_Di_Gianni]

Thanks so much for your suggestions.
I am trying to push it up to test and couriosity of course.
Cyan 2 is extraordinary dac which increases the quality of my audio chain

[steven_goodier]

That amp looks beautiful Gerardo. I’ve never owned a tube amp, but always thought they looked so good.

[Gerardo_Di_Gianni]

Thanks Steven and it has a wonderful QS

[Tim_Palya]

Have you ever tested the AHM7EC5L modulator with DSD1024?

What are your experiences here?

[Deric_Chan]

I don’t like it, but I simply don’t like anything higher than dsd512 in general, with dsd256 being my sweet spot.

You may want to try AMSDM7 512fs with dsd1024 rather than the experimental modulators

[Hoang_Le1 (Hoang Le)]

Hello,

I’m using Gustard A26 with the OS firmware 1v43 and DAC firmware A15_131_247

May I know whether these firmwares are DSD Direct fix or not?

1. My system:

• Connection: PC (Win OS) → HQPlayer → Roon → Gustard A26 → Amplifier —> Speaker

• Win OS; 10

• HQPlayer: 5.5.1

• Gustard A26 firmware 1v43 and DAC firmware A15_131_247

• Amplifier: RCA cable

2. Issue:

• DSD white noise when playing 48kHz or above family and upsampling to play DSD Direct
• PCM tick noise in most of source

3. My question:

• Whether my A26 has a DSD Direct fix or not?

• Which setting from HQPlayer I need to follow to play DSD Direct from HQPlayer to A26?

4. Gustard A26 setting:

• DSD Direct mode: Enable
• DSD filter: Wild/Wide

My documents: Gustard A26 - HQPlayer - Google Drive

Gustard A26 DAC firmware from Gustard GUSTARD_A26_GC_A115_131_247

[Pat (Pat R)]

@Hoang_Le1

• DSD white noise when playing 48kHz or above family and upsampling to play DSD Direct
• PCM tick noise in most of source

I observed the same issues and soved them simply by setting up the HQPlayer output DSD rate to a multiple of 48Khz and not 44Khz. For example DSD256x48 or DSD512x48.

It is on my Gustard R26 with firmware 1.43 (or 1.42). 2 different DAC architectures but visibly having the same symptom.
Note: If the DSD Direct mode is disabled, the white noise disapears.

[Hoang_Le1 (Hoang Le)]

Unluckily it has not worked for me. May I know your DAC firmware is? You could see it by pushing at the same time 1. The power on left screen and 2. The setting on right screen

[Sam_Lee1 (Sam Lee)]

I’m using Holo Cyan2 with Genelec 8351b.
So far, it’s working pretty well。

[dabassgoesboomboom]

@Sam_Lee1

I’m using Holo Cyan2 with Genelec 8351b.
So far, it’s working pretty well。

You are also listening to the cheap Genelec A to D and D to A chips, and their average digital filters, last in your playback chain

Basically you undo the excellent HQPlayer + Cyan2 clean analogue output

Better feeding it digital input with HQPlayer upsampling to PCM192k

We have a separate thread for it:

Analogue active speakers + native DSD DACs for use with HQPlayer

It can be yes. For sure there are many active DSP speakers, if you like such and the DACs and amps inside those, you can of course use such. Alternatively you can for example run DSP crossover in HQPlayer as well. I personally prefer that way and run room/speaker/headphone corrections in HQPlayer instead of using DSP speakers. I don’t like sound of the DSP algorithms, DACs and amplifiers in those speakers. Primary point of HQPlayer is to be DSP side of the DAC. Plus optionally cross-over,…

[Daiyama]

At least in the 8351A, internally 24/96 is used. 24/192 is accepted but downsampled. Not sure if this is still true for the 8351B. That’s why I do not bother with HQP and my 8351A. I let up or down sample all by Roon to 24/96 and have a simple Topping D10s converting from USB (from Rpi4) to Spdif.
If the ipad control app would allow to switch output I would probably go to HQP.

[Moy]

Holo Spring KTE L3

Embedded Intel Version with JL kernel

DAC correction enabled

CPU
AsRock Deskmeet motherboard on a Sugo 16 case. Core i9 14000 x 32 GB Ram

[Gerardo_Di_Gianni]

Hello everybody,
Cyan2 is on another galaxy and I’m very happy to own it.
I have just a simple question: what is the best buffer time using rpi4 and cyan2?
HQplayer Desktop + Ubuntu 22.04.04 and low latency by JL
Thanks in advance
Gerardo

[Charles_Catron (cpcat)]

Just use the default buffer value is @jussi_laako ’s rec, as long as playback is fine.

If you have dropouts or pops/clicks with transitions you might experiment with larger values.

[Gerardo_Di_Gianni]

Thanks so much indeed
Gerardo

[Moy]

@Gerardo_Di_Gianni

best buffer time

I choose 250ms then you can push more demanding filters with less droppings.