Signalyst HQPlayer - Is it worth the upgrade?

@milpai 

thanks for reviving this thread - it’s now highly relevant for me.

My DAC sounds better decoding DSD than PCM. My current path is Auralic Aries G2 streamer>Auralic Sirius G2.1 processor>T+A SDV3100 dac.  I use the Sirius to convert all files (both stored on a NAS and streaming Qobuz) to DSD 512 natively. It sounds very good. 

My questions revolved around complexity and utility of HQ Player. My dac has a built in NAA. Do I understand correctly that I could put Roon Core on a PC along with HQ player, settle on conversion and filters and just use my iPad for library management with the Roon interface - and be done?  I really dislike tinkering when I want to listen to music. Set and forget is the beauty of my current set up - but it’s also more boxes, cables, etc. 

I previously had Roon but it didn’t sound as good as Lightning DS - the native app and OS for the Auralic gear I own. But I loved the interface. I’m wondering if I could get back to the Roon interface, perhaps get an upgrade in sound and retain the simplicity of just listening to music (after getting it properly setup).

Any experienced users - Is this feasible or a pipe dream?

Best,

@milpai 

Good points. I did post something similar over on audiophilestyle forums - and on what’s best - but haven’t gotten much guidance. However, there are a lot of DAC 200 owners so I’ll try a parallel path to what they’re suggesting.

I only just purchased the SDV 3100 - haven’t taken delivery of it yet. Candidly, the DAC 200 is so good on DSD that I hesitated to upgrade. I’ve told this story elsewhere. When I first auditioned the DAC 200 - I used it with my streamer converting whatever Qobuz or my stored files fed it. It was good, but it wasn’t massively better than the dac it replaced (which was a pretty nice and well respected Dac in its own right). It was when I fed it native DSD files converted by the Sirius processor that I had a “holy crap” moment and purchased it.

I hopefully get the unit later this week - but the holidays and family arriving mean it will be January (or later?) before I get things settled in. I certainly think it’s worth trying HQ player and roon with this unit. If that combination sonically outperforms my streamer and processor - I’d be delighted. And if it were also convenient (no tinkering, set and forget), I would be able to sell my other gear and reduce boxes, cables and clutter and my wife would be delighted.

Thanks for the kind words on my system. Not as purposeful in set up as yours (nice room and set up!) but it gets the job done nicely and it’s relatively “invisible “ in our living space.

More to come.

Best,

Thanks @milpai 

I hope it’s the upgrade you suggest. I wasn’t able to audition the new DAC in my system against the DAC 200. But, it also comes with a particularly nice preamp. So, I’m reasonably confident I’ll be pleased. (It does mean I’m now selling my integrated and getting a new amplifier - it’s an expensive hobby…).

And, you’re right about the DAC 200 and DSD 512. That’s what I currently give it with my Sirius processor and it’s very, very good.  Sourced that way, I found it to be better than any other sub $20k DAC I’ve auditioned. 

I look forward to giving HQPlayer a trial and will certainly circle back to you and the group with my progress and findings. With the built in NAA, it’s sounds like I might actually be able to get down to 2 boxes - the SDV 3100 and whatever amp I settle on.

Best,

@milpai 

Noted and good to know. I absolutely will try HQplayer and DSD 512 and 1024 and report back my results.

Best,