Maybe you know how to configure “HQPlayer 4 Embedded” to be “bit-perfect” for WAV files in PCM output mode? I tried a lot of different settings - from these most logical, obvious and default to the more contrived, but without success.
I check it using the RME ADI-2 converter, which has the “bit-perfect” test implemented (information on their website).
The same RPI-4, in the same environment, but with soft other than HQPlayer is “bit-perfect”.
May be “HQPlayer 4 Embedded” on RPI-4 just cannot be “bit-perfect” ex definitione?
“Bit-perfect” playback means sending the bits from the source to the DAC without any change. If that’s what you want, you don’t need HQPlayer, since Roon is bit-perfect. You usually need HQP to do some kind of processing of the signal, which of course will change the original bits and thus will not be bit-perfect anymore.
Sorry for the confusion - but it finally worked!
In the “Network Audio backend” section, in the “DAC bits” field, instead of the default “0”, it’s need to put the maximum value for this converter - it works PERFECT!
Hmm - is there any reasonable reason (besides that: there are other programs with that simple functionality you need) why I shouldn’t use HQPlayer as Roon Endpoint?
But HQPlayer embedded is not another component and not increase complexity - it is simply Roon Endpoint installed on RPI-4.
Simplest configuration: Core installed on NAS + HQPlayer endpoint + Android Roon remote. Cost is not an argument, I’ve had license for several years anyway.
Do you go USB out to Dac of the HQP computer?
If you already have a licence cost is not a problem.
In the case of bit perfect I must say that I agree with @Marian, sounds like one more thing added to the path. Roon to DAC vs Roon to HQP to DAC.
Maybe there are differences to the sound, I’ve never tried to compare bit perf roon to bit perf HQP (there should not be, reading this sounds stupid:).
My only question is if you have the comp and HQP licence why do not use it to upsample?
Rather Yes then no - using “Network Audio backend” configuration HQPlayer downloads the stream directly from the streaming service (as on picture above) - with a little help from Roon at the begining of the process.
No, When you use HQPlayer with Roon, Roon is always the source for the streaming material. So Roon is getting the data from Tidal and passing it on to HQPlayer which then passes the data on to the DAC…either directly via USB or over Ethernet to an HQPlayer NAA and then to the DAC.
while testing HQPlayer embedded (upsampling to DSD 128 & 256) the rPI4 was not powerful enough in my expirience
if all you need is a Roon endpoint, i would recommend to have a look at RoPieee, a low footprint Roon endpoint (and more if you need it to be - see RoPieeXL); unless Roon can’t fulfill your SDM processing needs
Please provide a link to the technical documentation on the basis of which you wrote your “No”. Because when I analyze the network traffic with Wireshark I see something else. Yes, there is a little traffic between Core and HQP all the time, but it’s not the major network traffic from HQP…
Thank you, I tested RoPieee but on Wireshark I see that can’t live without “Calling Home”…
And besides, it can’t handle 32bit files, after going through RoPieee my DAC sees them as 24bit.
to my knowledge / based on @spockfish explanations, there is no nefarious purpose for the call-home functionality; just basic statistics (how many copies are active in the wild) and for FW upgrade checks; but if you dislike it, have a look at DietPI instead
note: a quick web-search for “linux adi-2 dac” and i couldn’t find any issues reported with 32bit playback; if you decide to give RoPieee another chance and you still have issues, engage @spockfish to review your unit’s logs (send feedback & share with him the unique-id)
For Roon to HQP over network the signal path reports HQPlayer streaming (same as for local machine HQP) not RAAT. I do not know the differences between the two (and that is a interesting question). Also true that I never analysed network traffic and anyway for the moment my Roon and HQP are on the same machine.
I do not understand what documentation you need, in the How Roon works web page there is the explanation: the core takes the files or the web streams (qobuz and tidal) does process them and sends that to the audio end point. So Roon Core works in all the available setups (with RAAT or HQPlayer streaming, but still works)
Usually I’m used to see Ronn core machine, HQP server machine and NAA device or the first two in to the same machine or all 3 in the same machine. Thats why took me a little longer for my slow brain to get your setup
Because It’s not ADI that has a problem, it’s RoPieee, just like Dietpi.
There is no such problem with HQP - so will you be so kind and let me use HQP?
And that link I asked you for, would you please provide it?
“yo3fxy” said “No”, so I assume he knows for sure - so let him cite his sources.
But lett us to wait, maybe Jussi Laako (@Signalyst) will answer?
Only then will we know for sure what it is like.
- using “Network Audio backend” configuration HQPlayer downloads the stream directly from the streaming service (as on picture above) - with a little help from Roon at the begining of the process.