Which HQP Filter are you using? [2015-2023]

Use the great DSD converter section instead, at DSD256 rate, with the ECv2 modulators.

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I have, I like PCM, probably because of the type of music I listen to… can you answer my original question?

I think I answered already, that higher the rate, lower the images. Unless I misunderstood the question somehow.

So, I must buy a capable computer, because my little wiigly machine doesn’t cut it, right?

Let me just simplify. My settings at PCM 384 sound better than at 768, why would that be, am I crazy?

Or…
And I know it’s anathema, could just listen and tell me what you think?

You don’t think that over all the years Jussi has been dealing with this stuff that he has not listened to PCM 384 and compared it to PCM 768??? With a variety of filters and dithers? You don’t think you have come up with a magical configuration that Jussi does not know about, do you?

Did you set your DAC bits to 20??

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Reading the above discussion i must agree with @wideopensource.

With my Holo dac DSD and PCM at higher bitrates seem too softened; they give me a ā€˜flat’ sound. PCM at a lower bitrate gives more punch, timbre and beter timing; more ā€˜alive’. Measurements will certainly give an other perspective, but i just trust my golden ears :wink:

I did fairly extensive testing the last month (just having fun being retired) with my holo audio Spring 3. I settled at sinc-M, NS9, 705.6kHz, PCM, 20bit.

I like it better then 1.411MHz at 16 bit. I like NS9 more than LNS15.

The new gauss filters were wonderful with my previous dac with AKM chip, but with the Holo Audio dac they seem ā€˜wrong’, like something is not quite right.

I run my Spring 3 always at DSD512, using:
1x = poly-sinc-gauss-long
Nx = poly-sinc-gauss-hires-lp
ASDM7ECv2

Spring 2 and Spring 1 units at DSD256 with above, or:
1x = poly-sinc-ext2
Nx = poly-sinc-short-mp
ASDM7ECv2

I don’t like running these with PCM because it sounds flat, without proper kick and dynamics. And can get congested on dense mixes (with Opeth or Porcupine Tree and such), lower the PCM rate, more such effect there is. At 1.5M PCM (20-bit, NS9/LNS15) it gets close to DSD256 performance though.

When comparing PCM vs DSD on Holo Audio. Remember to set PCM gain compensation in HQPlayer to -6 dB. Because PCM is 6 dB louder on these DACs.

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From objective perspective this is counter-intuitive, because objectively these are the things that break at lower rates. Especially transient timing part becomes unstable. (705.6k is not particularly low though, rates >= 705.6 are decent)

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[quote=ā€œjussi_laako, post:2501, topic:6061ā€]
From objective perspective this is counter-intuitive, because objectively these are the things that break at lower rates. Especially transient timing part becomes unstable.
[/quote].
I understand this.

My computer allows me to go up to DSD128 with ASDM7ECv2. A mac mini i7 2018, 32GB mem. Turboboost disabled.

As i bought the holo you were my first source of information on the settings in hqplayer. On the Roon and others forums.

Guess i will be testing settings and listening some more in the days to come. :metal:
For the future, if it proves to be a good plex-, musicserver and hqplayer partner i think i’ll upgrade to a mac mini studio. Maybe DSD512 will be an option.

Thank you for the tips!

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Perhaps the equipment after the dac influences personal choice regarding the chosen filter. After the Holo Spring 3 (with preamplifier) I use a Hegel H30 and Harbeth SHL5. Lots of spatial sound there!

It’s all good. Thanks for entertaining my madness. I don’t have any magic and I get that it’s counterintuitive but… after a few hours listening at 768 and DSD 256, I’m back to the lowly 384 setting. Sounds more natural and relaxed. Maybe it’s my bad ears or old amp and speakers, dunno, but the beauty of all the choices in HQP is that we have them. Thanks @jussi_laako

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Thanks for the screenshot, this helped me get HQP and Roon working together fully for the first time. Of course, it helps to have my analog system running too :wink: These settings for those with similar equipment definitely recommended as a starting point, to say the least!

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Is DAC bits set to ā€œ20ā€?

Sƭ, seƱor :cowboy_hat_face:

So I forced my wife to listen to:

poly-sinc-xtr-short-mp TPDF @384
Vs.
poly-sinc-gauss-long NS9 @768

She said the first one sounded ā€œprigusenā€

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im using the holo may kte with McIntosh c1100/mc275/jbl 4367s

settings ive been going back to

pcm , sinc m/mx , lns15 , 748k , dac bits 20

listening to Grateful dead cornell 5/8/77 in roon/qobuz right now , sounds great.

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when I just got my MAY, to my ears, I was stunned by its plain NOS performance playing PCM directly from Roon with no oversampling. It beated any DAC i’ve heard before, I thought. Came HQPlayer, came new Amp, long hours listening, filter preferences… I can tell sonic habbits did change. Keep coming to SDM@256 with 7ECv2 (cant push higher in EC)

Don’t think in blind listening I will catch the difference PCM@1,5 vs DSD@256 with same filter, say sinc-short-mp, my favourite. But IIR filter in PCM still is awesome for a difference. It is ā€œanalogueā€!

Indeed on lower PCM rates I also find Prog to get messy, but comes nice classic solo works, say strings, these rates come attractive, again for a difference. But these are either moods or listening habbits, why not? Than switching to SDM is like upgrading something in your system. But, hey, perceptions again…

Man needs choices! hehehe

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Thanks for a tip!

tried sinc mx with both PCM and SDM. i think sinc mx is a just perfect filter matching for this record. SDM staggers @256 so switched to PCM1.5 cool!

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