Hi, Mac users, would you recommend to migrate to or avoid Tahoe ? My Studio’s main usage is multimedia, thanks
Since introduction of 44.1 streaming by Spotify I must admit I started to use it increasingly more often. I wonder if there are other similar experience here, I found that with MAY DAC streaming Spotify @1024 the ASDM7EC-super 512+fs is a sweet spot for me (others sounds shallower).
At least I have all my Apple silicon Macs on latest macOS. But it is not available for my Intel Macs. So obviously Apple is rather soon abandoning Intel Macs completely.
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Just out of interest, how are you streaming Spotify through HQPlayer?
@VictorS, yes, absolutely. For more information on possible set ups you can follow this thread : Using any audio source with HQPlayer - Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, Soundcloud [2023]
In my particular case the chain is “simple classics” : Ethernet → BlueSound Node (as receiver) → Optical Toslink → USBStreamer B → USB → HQPlayer Embedded Server → …
So I have all Spotify content @1024 SDM, it’s amazing.
PS: Especially partying with friends “so, what’s that your fancy system now? Can you play my track?” “YES, I sure can, hehehe!”
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Thanks - I have read the thread you quoted many times. In your case, the USBStreamer B seems interesting.
Thanls, again.
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I think miniDSP is no longer sourcing “USBStreamer B” model, what looks like its successor is “MCHStreamer Box” (https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/mchstreamer-box) Although, I have not tried this.
A hifiberry input NAA can be an alternative option for any network streamer with optical or spdif output (this option I use for my CD transport, but it can be any source with fixed rate).
I would avoid for a few more minor updates.
On another sad note… Tahoe is the last macOS that will support intel.
I guess this is on some rare Intel based models. Since none of my Intel based Macs got Tahoe.
A few of the very last intel models from 2019/2020 are still supported. But not macMini for example.
I mostly use my 27" 5K iMac for HQPlayer development things, not the most recent one but not extremely old either. It has i9-9900K CPU. I have also latest generation Intel based Mac Mini as a backup machine.
But certainly Intel support is going away.
- MacBook Pro (Intel, 16‑inch, 2019)
- MacBook Pro (Intel, 13‑inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- iMac (All models from 2020 and later)
- Mac mini (All models from 2020 and later)
- Mac Pro (All models from 2019 and later)
And hackintoshes. 
Yeah, my iMac is 2019…
My newest Mac Mini is probably newer, I purchased last stock when I found one shop who still had two. Unfortunately I broke one of the cooling fan connection pins when I took the machine apart to install more RAM. So now it doesn’t have a functional cooling fan, so it will thermal throttle… But it’s in storage, not connected to anything, just a spare part.
It would be recommended to disable this crossfade DSP to pass through the original data unmodified.
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Crossfade seems to be the only way I can get true gapless playback right now. Without it, I get a 1-3 second pause between tracks of the same sample rate, and switching between different sample rates takes even longer. Any idea what setting I may be missing to get seamless playback without relying on crossfade?
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Do you have some “Idle time” set for HQPlayer server? I use 30 seconds. Without it, Roon will do a lot of unnecessary and expensive HQPlayer engine stop/restart cycles. This will cost at least one second each.
One of the things I wish Roon would fix.
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Thanks! that was the missing piece. Setting idle time fixed the gaps, and now I can run seamless playback without needing crossfade. Appreciate the help.
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