I have the most recent HQPD5 on an M4 iMac running to the NAA on an Innuos Zenith and then the T+A200 DAC.
The issue is Innuos quit updating the NAA at 4.1 and I’m guessing that’s limiting SQ and upsampling/shaping.
If so, what’s the easiest/best way to add a new host device for an updatable NAA 5 going forward? My impression is it’s not the NAA thats need the CPU/GPU power HQP needs for DSD 512 or higher.
Next step will be to get HQP the juice it needs to run DAC correction and 512
Thanks, the list Jussi supplies is good, and I agree that’s a good place to look and I’ve done that. I believe all are embedded into a device adjacent to a player or streamer - in other words a multi-purpose device.
I have one of those already (Innuos). It provided streaming, library storage, etc in addition to providing endpoints for roon and hq player. After discovering roon, I used it only as an endpoint. After discovering hq player, I used it only for its NAA - and don’t think the $7k was a very good use of resources.
Two things I’ve learned and hope to avoid:
don’t buy an audio device which forces you to pay for major features you will not use, and
you cannot rely on manufacturer’s of audio devices that are made foremost for THEIR streaming products to update hq player’s embedded NAA on a timely basis. The current Innuos Zenith NAA version is 4.1. I cannot update it, and they’ve decided to quit doing it.
I should have been much clearer in my question, though:
Can I buy or have a company build a mini-computer that can be used as a single-purpose host to a manual download of hq player NAA and —- provide any CPU/GPU or other specs the NAA needs to support DSD 516 or 1024, DAC correction, etc.
I think all the real CPU/GPU power needs to be on the device where HQPD or Embedded reside, but I dont know what the NAA needs.
Also, it may be this isn’t a great path to pursue, and I should consider handling sone other way. I’m open to that.
I agree with Deric. I use the Holo Audio Red, SoTm 200, PI5 and PI4 NAA units. All except the SoTm can use HQP latest’s software in addition to the built-in software. Your DAC already does Corrections - Network Audio Adapter (NAA) – Signalyst - so you just need to make sure your computer has the right amount of power. I use a custom-built PC for Roon / HQP, which was bit over-the-top but it was fun building it.
Thx Victor. Appreciate ur confirming Derek’s suggestion.
I wish the T+A200 had the NAA.
Yes, I saw that HQPD5 has Correction for the T+A200 and would like to custom buy/build something with enuff CPU/GPU and anything else needed to run Corrections while processing up to DSD512/1024. Not really interested in building it myself, but respect what you did. Are there companies that I can custom order a build or already have what I’d need (Geekem, others?) to host HQPD?
Hi Derek - I’ve read the “how-to” install instructions and while I think it’s what I need, know I’ll have some questions as I move along. Hope you’re up for some coaching! Let me know wherever comments or questions are needed before I hurt myself.
Context
All my devices are networked using e-net. No wifi.
HQPD5 is on my iMac along with roon - for now. Hope to get something more powerful I can move HQP to before long.
I want a headless install with remote access from my iMac. I’m Ok using a browser to do so, unless it’s better to install on desktop? Are those 2 things mutually exclusive?
I want to use the card for what little storage I may need, no external hard drives, etc., unless there’s a reason to do so. I shouldn’t need much on the Pi, but it’s cheap so either 1 or 2 GB.
Kit
Looks like getting a kit is the way to go. I’m looking at the P4 CanaKit Starter Kit which appears to include a card reader and card to download the OS and HQP NAA, in addition to the power cord, usb, etc. All for $100 bucks. I’ve got a Lush USB cord I will use with the DAC.
Fan
Don’t think I need this if NAA is all I’m doing?
Mac Install
I’ve found some videos online to guide me thru all this, so I should be able to make good progress on my own, but will need some reassurances along the way, I’m sure.
Once I get the Pi set up, I can download the NAA to it. Not sure which of the NAA downloads to use with the P4 and T+A 200 DAC.
Let me know what you think, and if I’m on the right path - and I’ll make the leap and buy it.
Holo Red is easy ready made device that supports NAA functionality out of the box, plus I make compatible NAA OS images. So you know you can have latest NAA there.
There are also other alternatives, such as UP 4000 (I recommend the E3950 CPU model) that can run my NAA OS image.
For HQPlayer there are various options, but it is good to first determine the baseline what kind settings are desired.
Hi Bruce. For a NAA setup, this is all you need to do.
Get a raspberry pi 4 - even 1GB version is fine, fanless is fine also.
Download the NAA image from hqplayer website Index of /bins/naa/images
get the image file naa_513-raspberrypi-holored.7z one.
Use a program to write the image onto a mini sd-card.
insert the mini sd-card to the raspberry pi 4.
Connect raspberry pi 4 to the same network as your hqplayer server by ethernet and connect raspberry pi 4 usb to your dac.
Turn on the raspberry pi 4 and there you go, in hqplayer you will now be able to find the NAA connected to your dac under “output device settings”, “Backend”, “NetworkAudioAdapter IPv6”
Holo Red is just a general purpose network endpoint with various different output options. With DAC 200 / HA 200, one would use the USB option. But the built-in DDC could be used for some secondary DAC for example through I2S.
My Red is serving as a network endpoint for TEAC UD-701N at the moment.
Desired State
Play DSD 512/1024 from roon+hqpd5 while using DAC Correction (don’t know how convolution or off-loading works or if I should try to use it)
————-
My Thought for Step One (small step)
Replace Zenith with headless RasberryPi P4 B and
put hqp naa5 on it ($100 total cost)
I expect this may let me play some DSD 512, but not
with DAC correction. I can easily download NAA
updates as they are released
Need to understand which NAA is most appropriate.
Step Two
Put HQPD5 on it’s own, more powerful, headless,
mini-computer with necessary CPU/GPU, etc.
(If needed) NAA can stay on P4, or move to new
mini-computer alongside HQPD5. I don’t know
what’s needed here.
Pi4 or Holo Red would be suitable, depending on what kind of device you are after.
If you output directly from HQPlayer computer to the DAC, you don’t need a NAA. NAA gives you option to split the system across network to a separate output node. This is particularly useful if HQPlayer server has too loud fans for the listening space. Smaller the computer, louder the fans usually are given same processing power.
I will be using the Pi P4 because I would get no value from the HoloRed’s streaming features. If I could drop HQP5 on it and have enuff juice to process DSD512 while also applying the T+A200 Corrections, I’d jump on it, but it won’t do, that will it?
Also, what’s the difference between the .7c and .7c.asc NAA images?
Holo Red is Pi4 CM + linear PSU + DDC in a nice machined aluminium case and quiet USB output. And you can boot the NAA OS image on it. You wouldn’t need the DDC side of it though.
The .asc file is GnuPG cryptographic signature of the .7z archive.
NAA is just the network bridge if you choose not to connect your powerful, noisy Hqplayer computer directly to your dac through a noisy USB.
For that reason, your choice of NAA usually means a small, fanless, low power, low noise computer like a RPI4, fitlet3 or UP gate… because it is just a bridge to connect to your dac and does not do Hqplayer upsampling processes.
a RPI4 will not have the power needed to process DSD.
However, the $80 RPI5 can do DSD 256 for 7ECUL, 7EC- light, 7EC Fast with default filters and 2s filters or DSD512 for non EC modulators, and that is what I use for my bedroom - a RPI5 doing DSD512 AMSDM7 512fs, with convolution to a RPI4 NAA with the JDS Synapse USB isolator to my dac.
A Holo Red is just a fancier looking RPI4 based on the CM module and a linear PSU with a cleaner USB output (not as clean as a JDS Synapse tho).