In my test, nothing performs better than poly-sinc-gauss-long and poly-sinc-gauss-hires-lp with EC modulators.
In my setup, gauss-short/hires-mp super 512+ is used even more. It may be that the Holo DAC, Speakers and Convolution and the music I listen to affect this. I think it is faster and more accurate. But sometimes I still use psgl/hires-lp. However, psgl/hires-lp is a better choice for a mixed music style.
Yes, short filters are better for time-domain accuracy, resulting in sharper transients (less smearing) and more impactful percussive sounds. However, they are not as good at frequency-domain accuracy.
ASDM5/7EC-ul/light/super quality improvement is clearly perceptible, but ‘-fast’ sounds harsh.
I switched from ASDM7EC Super to ASDM7EC Fast on various pieces of music. With my system (Cyan 2 SDM256), Fast appears more precise, “surgical” and can seem “cold” on other systems. I’m keeping Fast for the time being, but it’s also a matter of taste, personally I prefer everything to be well detailed and precise, so Fast suits me in that sense.
Hi @jussi_laako
I am running HQPlayer Embedded on a NUC 7i7, the same NUC that runs Roon Server. My DAC is RME ADI-2 DAC (AKM4493). Upsample to DSD256
1x Oversampling: poly-sinc-gauss-long
Nx Oversampling: poly-sinc-gauss-hires-lp
Currently I use ASDM7 modulator. I can not use EC modulators because NUC 7i7 can not manage them, but it seems that I could use ASDM5EC-ul that seems a bit more CPU intensive than ASDM7 but I manage to use it.
Should I stay with ASDM7 with my setup or should I give a chance to ASDM5EC-ul?
Thanks!
I would personally go with any EC modulator over any non-EC. And I think ASDM5EC-ul works very well with ADI-2. But of course give it a listen and choose one you prefer. You get very good technical performance regardless.
Hi, I am using mostly AMSDM7EC 512+fs for DSD512 and AHM5EC5L for DSD1024. I might be interesting to know the noise levels, as Jussi points out that the AHM modulators have increased noise level.
The measurement shown is done with Focusrite soundcard connected to my DAC output. The noise bump at 100kHz, when using DSD512 (green), is from the sound card, as this bump is also measured with input cable unplugged.
You can see that the DSD1024 noise increase is 6dB/oct, starting at about 1kHz.
what app are you using to monitor your hqplayer host there?
The spectrum analyser function of ARTA software. Kaiser7 window.
but you left out the most important little detail. What DAC ![]()
I dare to stick my head out; any “fast” filters will have problems in many rigs. Especially with modern contemporary mastering. There are engineering problems with many devices today and the overall attitude is that this goes with the territory and choose another filter.
It is a combination of engineering faults I think make up for this sonic impact and when using fast filters the faults become flagrant. I have met the reaction that I persue the inaudible artifacts. But that is acc to my opinion not true.
I have made substantial modifications to my system. The plan is to erradicate as much interference as possible. It has not anything to do with HQP, the various problems is basic electrical engineering and the impact is on systemlevel and not in one device only. When these design flaws are corrected, you will be able to throttle any setting that before have gone nuts and resulted in sibilent and harsch sounding music.
Further it does not comprice just one problem, it is multi-layered. The fixes take some modifications and some will void any device warranty. The audible impact is so profound, that friends to us who persue this posture besides off course HQP, think that music does not sound the same in our rigs as the … “normal” playback. We are a group of four people as an island in a larger group, where some start to see the point and slowly make their own mods and experiments. The big difference is still HQP and a completely computerized playback, while most in the group still prefer some sort of streaming device that is easier to use.
The combination effect from the mods, curing the electrical problems at the source (not music source; source of the problem) and the music source first philosophy; correcting source code is substantial. A lot of electrical engineering is a multi-stage rocket and is a work in progress. It takes a stubborn attitude to persue and I would say life-long journey. That means that problems remain, but becomes less and less significant, when cleaner source is played back.
This will take its own sub-category to reflect over here in the forum. It will not be free from conflicts as more people have an “idea” how electricity works, while most people will not challange a authority like Jussi, even though it also becomes apparent soemtimes here. I mean that this category of mods is equally worth persuing as HQP itself.
You need a good solder iron, attitude and your own account at electrical hardware store…
as well as at your IT store.
That is a long post. I am afraid that it is a bit off topic. We are talking about a fast SDM modulator, not a fast filter. I have measured the new ul, light, fast and super 7EC of HQPlayer 5.11 and I found on my DAC an improvement with respect to lower distortion levels of the higher harmonics. The fast does not sound agressive in my setup so I so not understand the problem of PaperBoat.
That was not the question! ![]()
It is an improved DSC2 that I developed for myself and capable of playing DSD1024 with 45-49MHz clocks.
I am sorry for the novel. I will keep my post more of one-liners, so that everyone can participate.
The sound from the DSC2 is so addictive!!! Once you start listening, you don’t want to get off the couch!!!
My favorite settings for the DSC2 is AMSDM7EC 512fs and poly sinc HB-2s
The new ASDM7EC-fast 512+fs modulator is just great. Out of the new -ul -light -fast -super modulator family, the newest -fast offers clearly the most impactful and punchy sound. If I change to -super while playing music, I do get probably a tad more “refinement” or smoothness, depending on how you like to describe it, but I lose quite a clear amount of punch and the overall sound feels less dynamic. -light is maybe closer to -fast in sound quality but it also feels slightly less dynamic in comparison. -ul I’ve never really cared since it gets more edgy and brighter sounding.
Found a bug
on the HQPDControl mobile app. If you are in [default] configuration, you can see all updated matrix profiles. All work’s fine.
But if you open any particular configuration, it will show you only the matrix profiles that were created the last time but they will not show the ones that you created on [default ] configuration.
And also will show you matrix configuration profiles that have been deleted “AL-WS-V1”.
Will play with no sound because that matrix profile shown is non existent.
Anyone seen this on?
Same, why ?
Don’t know but I’m sure @jussi_laako will check and fix the bug
.
Edith: I just realized the bug is on Hqplayer Embedded 5.11.0, the app mirrors the server





