HQ Player for Dummies

@dolfan ,

I recently purchased the T+A DAC 200 and decided to download the HQ Player. I was able to get it up and running under 20 minutes. The ODF manual is straightforward and Jussi has already defaulted the best filters and modulator for DSD or PCM playback.

You really owe it to yourself and do justice to the DAC 200 by sending pure DSD to it. I took under 30 seconds to decide that it was time to move on from Foobar. This player completely transformed my listening experience.

Feel free to PM me with questions.Jussi is active on Audiophilestyle site and responds promptly.

Sorry if this is a stupid question:  HQ Player is to be used on a computer, correct? For playing files that you own, as opposed to streaming?

If I buy a DSD file from Qobuz and want to play it, I can put it on my NAS and access it through my network or I can put it on a computer connected to my DAC, correct?  I suppose the best way to decide which sounds better in my situation is to just do it.  I have never listened to a DSD file.

@milpai what kind of music do you listen to?  Since you have using using Foobar, I'm assuming you have a PC connected to your DAC, as opposed to a Mac.

Many say you should keep computers far away from your system.

@boulder_bob , no question is stupid. I am learning more on HQ Player and simply thilled at my experience. I will try to answer your questions, based on what I have learned till date:

HQ Player is to be used on a computer, correct?

Yes

If I buy a DSD file from Qobuz and want to play it, I can put it on my NAS and access it through my network or I can put it on a computer connected to my DAC, correct?

Correct again. I do have some some downloads from Qobuz that are higher rates than 44.1, but not DSD.

@milpai what kind of music do you listen to?

I have stopped categorizing what I listen to. I listen to whatever I like and this includes female/male vocal jazz, Rock, Pop, Folk, electronic and few classical.

Since you have using using Foobar, I'm assuming you have a PC connected to your DAC, as opposed to a Mac.

You assumption is right. But I have moved from Foobar to HQ Player since lat week.

Many say you should keep computers far away from your system.

There is truth in the statement that you should keep computers away from your music systems. But this depends on the type of computer. I have built a fanless audio server that uses DC power supply meant for audio applications. All the high end streamers on the market are nothing but highly specialized computers. People do use small Raspberry Pi in their rooms (NAA configuration), while keeping the main server in a different room.

I have no idea about your system. But if your DAC can do DSD, then you can start with Foobar sending pure DSD (Vs DoP) to the DAC and experience it. Start with a general laptop, like how I started in July-2020.

BTW, HQ Player is not only for DSD. You can also upscale your 44.1 FLACs to 768, etc. It can also convert DSD to PCM, I believe.

@milpai thanks. yes I suppose my opticalRendu is a computer...

Before I started streaming I listened to WAV files via Foobar, now I mainly stream (and listen to vinyl), but I’ve always wondered if it made sense to listen to files that I own through my network.

yes my DAC (Gustard X26 Pro) can do DSD

so you go from your PC to your DAC with a USB cable? any jitterbugs or anything else? Do you connect your PC to the internet with an Ethernet cable or WiFi when listening? this isn’t necessary, correct (unless you use the Foobar remote)? are the files on the PC hard drive?

I like female Jazz vocals - where have you bought DSD files and what titles do you like?

there’s talk that Qobuz might stream DSD....

appreciate your responses

You are welcome @boulder_bob

I looked up opticalRendu and see this in the description - "Mode #4 - HQ Player NAA Output". So, you seem to be better equipped for streaming than I am

so you go from your PC to your DAC with a USB cable? any jitterbugs or anything else?

That is correct. I used a iFi USB Purifier for the Oppo, but do not feel that need for the T+A

Do you connect your PC to the internet with an Ethernet cable or WiFi when listening?

I use an ethernet cable to connect to the internet. This is because when I built the server, I decided NOT to have a wifi adapter inside the server, to reduce noise. This is w.r.t. the question you posed in the post before the last.

are the files on the PC hard drive?

Files are on a NAS drive on a different floor

I like female Jazz vocals - where have you bought DSD files and what titles do you like?

I had purchased 150+ SACDs and ripped them to DSD files using a Sony player. Titles include Norah Jones, Eleanor McEvoy, Sara K, Diana Krall, Dave's True Story, and so many others

there’s talk that Qobuz might stream DSD....

I have heard the same. But do you know that HQ Player has Qobuz native integration. I intend to try Qobuz for a month to try this integration.

@milpai 

Cool - so you are accessing the files through your network via an ethernet cable connected to your PC and your "PC" is not an off the shelf unit but something you have made, correct? and that's what you're calling your "server"?

Correct on both questions @boulder_bob . My PC build is linked here. Currently I do 512 DSD and it works fine even with the ASDDM7EC-super 512+fs shaper.