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Signalyst HQPlayer - Is it worth the upgrade?

I have been reading high praises in audio forums about HQPlayer rendering the best sound quality from Qobuz or Tidal. I realize best is subjective in the context of one’s system and end user’s personal preferences driven by choice of gear and budget. 

I have been a long time Aurender user and also been using Roon now for past 3 years. Those who have read my posts knows my take on Roon as not the best sounding renderer when directly compared with Aurender’s Conductor app. Others may disagree with my position on Roon but those are my findings within the context of my system. I do enjoy Roon interface for obvious reasons but not so much the sound. 

The purpose of my post is to explore the possibility of elevating the sound of my existing Roon player (Merging Technologies + player) by integrating HQPlayer as the final renderer. By doing so, Roon will pass along a stream of bits from my local stored files on SSD and stream from Qobuz. This configuration allows me to enjoy the benefits of HQPlayer SQ and the fabulous library management capabilities of Roon at the same time.

I am seeking opinions from those who have actually compared Roon vs HQPlayer or using HQPlayer exclusively. Did you find HQPlayer worth the upgrade? What hardware or device you’re using to enjoy HQPlayer in your system. 

Thank you! 

PS: Please refrain from posting if you’re in bits are bits, 1’s and 0’s camp or believe high end streamer/servers are over priced and waste of money. 

lalitk

Showing 1 response by sns

sns
3,704 posts
 

I run Roon core on custom server using Euphony operating system. Euphony has the ability to run HQPlayer inside Roon in both 30 minute free trials or purchased full version. In my setup I prefer running Roon sans HQPlayer in 'bridged' mode, where  Roon core is on the custom server, Roon Endpoint on my OpticalRendu streamer. HQPlayer simply sounds more 'processed' or hifi like vs my favored Roon only setup. I also minimize any of the 'extra' processing Roon provides, therefore, none of their inferior to HQPlayer dsp, no volume leveling, no volume control, no or throttling of their individual tune or library analysis.

 

Its been my experience that all this 'extra' processing only emphasizes the digital nature of digital, Yes, there were certain aspects of sound that seem improved in the short run, especially when my digital setup wasn't fully realized. But over the years as my streaming/digital setup has improved to where it now competes favorably to my pretty nice vinyl setup, in other words now finally sounds fully analog, I don't want any semblance of a 'processed' or digital sound to reappear. Based on my experience I now judge HQPlayer as benefiting digital setups that need band aids to cover up for deficiencies somewhere in streaming or full system chain, Get your entire streaming chain in order, this means all the way from internet service through dac, and of course we also need to get our systems and rooms in order which further negates the need for dsp. If you don't need 'help' with resolution, transparency, tonal balance, timbre, in room frequency response at listening position, dynamics whats the point of HQPlayer? Sometimes less is more.

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