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In Reply to: RE: $ and cents posted by G Squared on July 07, 2016 at 18:51:36
...look at all the cool stuff you get to play with! You don't HAVE TO get the software components you listed with the microRendu to make it work.
On the other hand, you don't need the microRendu to get the benefits of HQPlayer or Roon. You can buy those separately and play with them on your existing computer - or get both to play with on your existing computer. They work well together.
Follow Ups:
Thanks Abe, but some questions...I am intrigued by HQ Player. You imply that there is SQ improvement with HQ player versus your established set up. Do you perceive that the rest of the hardware and software (other that HQ Player) in your experimental system(s) have a role in the SQ improvement you are experiencing?
I know that you were a Pure Music user at one time. So, given that I currently run AIFF and WAV files at native resolution through PM on a Macbook Pro in memory play into a Multibit Bifrost DAC that is 192/24 max (not DSD), would you guess that HQ player as an alternative to PM would make an SQ difference in my simple set up?
The PM interface is OK and I'm used to it. Your comments on the HQ Player interface, if run alone need to considered.
I know I can do the HQ player free trial and find out for myself, just asking for an informed opinion before I try.
Thanks in advance.
Edits: 07/08/16
If you are using a Mac and connecting to your DAC with USB, you might try Audirvana instead of HQ Player + Roon. I think Audirvana has many of the features and sound quality of HQ player and an okay interface. This is moistly from hearsay; I tried Audrivana briefly and liked it, but the trial period is over and I haven't had time to work out a good connection between my Mac and my DAC, so haven't experimented with it further.
I like the way HQPlayer sounds. I dislike it's user interface.
I'll say right up front that I AM hearing improvements with HQPlayer on my Mac Mini directly driving my USB DAC. That is in direct comparison to my other setup running AV+ or PM on the same hardware configuration.
The system always sounded excellent to me but HQPlayer has taken it up a notch. It's more noticeable to me than the HW tweaks like the Regen, Intona USB Isolator, AQ Jitterbug, and a couple different USB cables..... in my system. YMMV of course.
I tinkered with HQPlayer in the past but quickly threw it out w/o giving it serious consideration because I felt that the user interface and library management were too clunky.
I brought HQPlayer back into my setup AFTER experimenting with Roon. I'm starting to really enjoy the Roon user interface. AND.... Roon integrates with HQPlayer so I set HQPlayer for the sonics I want then use Roon for it's user interface.
So yes, HQPlayer sounds great! You may be OK with it's user interface and library management. These are personal preferences. It works. But if you need something different you can always use Roon (for a price!) to 'front-end' HQPlayer and never have to look at HQPlayer again after setting it up for the sound you want.
The other consideration with HQPlayer is the processing power of your PC/Mac. I found that PCM to PCM up conversion (say 44.1KHz to 192KHz) doesn't take a lot of processing power. Since your current DAC doesn't handle DSD this should be a non-issue. On the fly realtime PCM to DSD conversion consumes more compute resources.
for the comprehensive answer. I am considering adding a sub or an alternate set of speakers to my current set up, but HQ Player (with or without Roon) may be next.Sounds like you are enjoying your experiments.
Edits: 07/08/16
The thing about trial offers on software is that you need to take advantage of them when you have some time set aside to experiment. Otherwise you start the clock on the trial and run the risk of it expiring before having an opportunity to immerse yourself in it.
The HQPlayer trial on Mac (and Linux) has a 30-minute timer that you can reset indefinitely (I think). It spooked me a couple times when it stopped and had me thinking something broke but all I had to do was relaunch HQPlayer.
The Windows version has a 30-day limit at which point I'm not sure what happens. Maybe it quits permanently until you buy a license.
just 30 days w/o a license key for Windows. You may be able to use the trial for Mac 30 minutes at a time forever.
I'm still trying to carve out some quality time to listen to my Multibit upgrade.
The folks at Signalst have figured out the time - convenience - willingness to pay formula for their target audience.
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