HQPlayer doesn’t pass any clocks through, so as long as the input side can lock into the source, it works. IIRC, RME’s PLL can lock into up to 100 ns of jitter. DAC runs on it’s own clock, unaffected by the input.
Of course one can also have for example input at 96k rate and output at 44.1k x256 DSD for example.
No, I understand the limitations of the analogue output and therefore would never use a(ny) WiiM device as a DAC for anything but a casual application and have little interest in analogue performance. That being said, ASR’s test of the Mini using Toslink output looked very good: ASR WiiM Mini Test
The tests that flagged my attention, revealing substantial periodic jitter when the digital outputs of various WiiM devices (particularly the Mini) were routed into a Holo Spring 3 (with no PLL) are here: WiiM Jitter J-Test
I wonder how you experienced guys would consider Gustard A26, compared to RME ADI-2 DAC fs and NAA.
I cannot afford the T+A. Since both RME and Gustard are chip based DAC’s I am curious about how A26 sounds as HQP endpoint with DSD Direct DSD256. Is it same character, do I gain anything with Gustard in terms of the extra resolution. Will SINAD improve with DSD Direct from HQP as RME do?
I will off course run it with the NAA. Therefor I wonder about how far Gustard have planned the updating of NAA. Anyone knows?
You should be checking out the Holo Cyan 2 then, imho. I have an ADI-2 Pro FS R Black Edition and I think it sounds better than the A26 I demoed. Direct connection not using NAA.
No, I should not. Jussi have already explained the difference between my RME and Holo, and R2R is not my way. I want the chip DAC, as warmth is not my cup of tea. I want transients like shots fired, like Jussi desribed the T+A.
It will take some time to go through the threads. I recall it was in conjunction with Jussi posting measurements of the HOLO Cyan. The SINAD was very equal to T+A, some -140 dB, and I asked if they were competitive, but Jussi replied they were different in sound. While Holo was a bit warmer as most R2R, the T+A was lean and very tight.
I switched from the RME ADI-2 Akm4493 DSD Direct to the Cyan 2.
I don’t regret my choice, it’s better in any case and I absolutely don’t find it warm…
I use Hqp DSD 256
If transients are your thing then you should try the Border Patrol DAC. @ipeverywhere has both that and the T+A 200 and while the T+A is better in most every way, the BP DAC brought transients as he’s never heard before. I tagged him so he can either add to or correct me.
I said it excelled at transients over everything else its supposed to do as a DAC and that’s probably why the thing gets high praise. I still prefer the ADI-2 (AKM) over the BorderPatrol overall. BorderPatrol is built like a tank though and is a nicer looking bit of kit. I’ve not tried the new -fast modulators with the ADI-2 but they have certainly brought new insights into what I’m hearing on the DAC200. I don’t think it makes any sense to use HQP with the BorderPatrol (although I will try). The BorderPatrol won’t do DSD and somewhere near 16 bits of depth at best.
If you want to use DSD, and everyone should so call me a fanboy, stick with the DACs in this thread known to do DSD correctly.
I do not worry about Amir at all. The measures I am refering to were Jussis own. The measures do not say everything about SQ, but it is an important part of the puzzle. The problem is noise at complete system level. Devices interacting with noise, impedances, resonances and ground management. I try to choose devices that themselves have very good SINAD, and prepare transmissions between them in the most noise cancelling way possible. My Hypex Nilai also display excellent SINAD, and cutting ground lead between them, ie pin1 and chassis ground was very beneficial. Now the track noise is so easy to spot, as the digital black between tracks is dead silent. I will further explore the common mode block over the balanced interface by skipping ground and shield completely and try a stripped antenna coax cores twisted pair as interconnects. That would lower the cable capacitance to a neglectible level, I hope, providing for even faster transient response. HiFi is fun …