Hello.
This is my first post.
I am new to Roon(demo version) and also very new to HQPlayer also .
I have Holo Red streamer and also an old Sonore microRendu (software version 2.8) with Holo Cyan 2 dac as my main dac. I also have other dacs : Chord Mojo2 + Poly, Topping D70 Octo and portable/Dap Hiby RS2.
I upgraded a lot of dacs, amps, speakers, and cables in the past.
I listen a lot on headphones and also sometimes on speakers but not that often.
I tried Roon a few years ago and it was not that great on sound versus other software I used. I used Squeezelite and Daphile mainly, Bubble UPNP, Jriver, Tidal connect and Audirvana a few times.
But now I tried the HQPlayer + Roon interface and on headphones, everything sounds more tri-dimensional. I am new to filters and settings but I read a lot and am still learning. I did not try on speakers but will do in a few days.
I want to buy HQPlayer license and also Roon’s lifetime plan but I am confused.
If I buy HQPlayer Desktop 5 latest version will I receive free updates until version 6 comes out?
Also I have a Macbook air M1 basic config( 8GB Ram) and a Windows gaming laptop with i7 Cpu, 32GB Ram, and Nvidia RTX 4060.
Can I use one license for Windows and Mac OS ( not at the same time ) .
I am new so I am trying to find the best settings and performance.
Roon I plan to install on my Synology 220+ Nas(12TB Hdd+ 6GB Ram) and test it like this.
Hello, welcome to the world of high fidelity with HQPlayer!!!
If you buy HQplayer desktop 5 now, you will continue to receive free updates until version 6.
If history is anything to go by. Even if HQP 6 launches, HQP 5 will still be supported for a period of time.
Hqplayer 4 still gets performance fix after HQP 5 launched for over a year…
Yes, you can use Hqplayer on Windows and MAC OS as long as they are not being used at the same time.
I have been messing with HQ Player for quite some time now, but I’m no expert.
So, I’ll speak about the bits that I’ve learned, cuz there is so much to explore with HQ Player.
There are some who don’t like what it does and how it sounds.
Anyway, I would use the Windows notebook as my server, I find it much easier to get bitperfect audio to the DAC or HQ Player software flawlessly as Roon does when the setup is right and on Windows.
When upsampling, I also find it more accurate and it sounds better when the samplerate “matchs” to what it’s being upsampled to, like if it’s 44.1kHz, then the next one 88.2kHz, 176.4kHz, 352.8kHz, 705.6kHz…
If it’s 48khZ, then 96Khz, 192kHz, 384kHz, 768kHz…
If it’s DSD it doesn’t matter, upsample it as you like.
Keep in mind that it requires a lot from the computer, I don’t know how well your computer will do this task, but mine goes to it’s limits, hahaha.
Thank you!
I also have another question:
If I buy a Embedded license and write a new microsd card for my Holo Red streamer can I upsample to DSD256 or DSD512?
I mean is the Holo Red streamer capable of handling such power or can I use an external computer without any additional cost only for upsampling CPU/GPU duties?
I bought the license for the Desktop version but now I have another question :
What is HQPlayer USB hardware key?
I tried Embedded version demo on a new microsd card in the Holo Red streamer.
I failed to make it work with the default settings.
I am still interested to try this version and find out if I can upsample to DSD 256 / 512 and how to do it.
USB license key dongle is related to HQPlayer Embedded, as replacement for the computed hardware fingerprint.
I would say Holo Red is not going to be able to do upsampling DSD512. It could maybe do DSD256 with slight chance with the very lightest settings, but I’m not sure. (with HQPlayer OS)
It can do some basic upsampling to 705.6/768k PCM though.
But Holo Red works fine as a network endpoint, which is it’s main point and purpose. Operating as HQPlayer NAA with the HQPlayer server running elsewhere. This way it works fine up to DSD1024 (using my NAA OS at least).
So…
I would say no, it is not practical with this hardware. It is much better used as a network endpoint.