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Derneck

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  1. Hello, Would anyone know if it's possible to use Foobar instead of Korg Audiogate and still upsample all music files to double-DSD? (DS-DAC-100m). Reason why I want to use Foobar rather than KAG is because the former can be remotely controlled by MonkeyMote. Thank you in advance!
  2. So to answer my own question, Atom 1.6 / 1GB Netbook running Daphile appears to be more than sufficient for this purpose.
  3. Hello, My apologies it this has been covered elsewhere but worst that can happen = some fresh new perspective on the subject. I am looking to acquire a device dedicated to DSD playback only. A small Windows laptop or a Macbook Air. So, assuming I optimize the OS to death for playback only, via scripts, driver removal, disabling services etc. what is the minimum that would be sufficient for trouble-free double rate DSD playback? SSD would be used in any case. 1GB ram too little? Atom 1.6 too slow? Thank you kindly for your input.
  4. Thanks for the recommendation... I bought my Luxman amplifiers from the Gramophone so I'd love to audition it there.
  5. That's great to hear. In what areas would you say it surpasses the DAC's you've compared it with?
  6. To reiterate... I realize this is not the same type of unit... but let's just regard them both as DACs, SQ being the main concern.
  7. Hello, I am looking for a long term solution for DSD playback. I spent a few weeks with a Sony HAP-Z1ES in my system and was very impressed in terms of sound quality (from mp3 / Internet radio to PCM to DSD). I ended up returning the unit because it had multiple issues, perhaps due to rough handling during shipping or whatnot. I realize this is not the same type of unit... but let's just regard them both as DACs, SQ being the main concern. I've long been curious about Luxman DA-06. Does anyone here own it, or had it in their system for a while? Maybe not very likely, but has anyone heard both the Sony and the Lux? My current main DAC (for PCM) is Metrum Hex, with the help of a Simaudio Mind 180, via AES/EBU. So get another Sony, or audition the Lux? (closest dealer 5hr drive) Any comments, opinions etc. most welcome!
  8. Does it ever help... I de-selected the Direct mode earlier today, and magic...zero issues. It wasn't the hardware, 2% CPU utilisation when playing 192/24 files - the old MacBook does not break a sweat. Metrum HEX and the much missed integer mode - dream come true Thank you again and enjoy your tunes
  9. Thanks for your input... wouldn't deselecting Direct mode preclude using Integer mode (I am away from my system currently but I'll give it a try). The MacBook is only used to play music. The only reason I upgraded to Mavericks is to have the Integer mode. And you're right, in some cases the Hex sounds bette with light or no upsampling. Do you think the new driver sounds better in your system with the HEX, than did the old one on Mountain Lion?
  10. Hello everyone, Just installed Mavericks yesterday to try out the Integer mode with Audirvana Plus 1.5.12 / Metrum Hex. Everything works great, except if "forced upsampling" is selected (powers of 2) playback randomly cuts out / stutters (maybe 30 seconds to a minute into a song). Playing native high-rez files seems to work fine. Also, if I have different bitrate files in the playlist it will just stop playing when it gets to them (for example if won't switch from 44.1 to 96 without shutting down Audirvana). Anyone experiencing the same issue? (Maybe the hardware is to "weak", late 2008 Mac Core Duo 2ghz with 4gb of RAM) - playback was flawless in every way with Mountain Lion / old Hiface driver...
  11. I still think it would be much nicer and better sonically if the balance control (or channel boost / trim) was built-in to Audirvana natively.
  12. Damien, One feature that I think would be wonderful is L/R balance control. This would enable those of us with room acoustic issues, resulting in channel imbalance, to take out preamp with balance control out of the signal path and simplify it greatly. If you don't intend to include this feature, is there a way this can be accomplished with a plugin?
  13. Has anyone here used BOTH the AO and a hardware streamer (Bryston, Simaudio MIND 180) and is able to comment on the sonic differences from experience?
  14. Hi Priaptor, Perhaps "no compromise" was not the best title. Whether I get a ready-made solution such as a Bryston streamer or build a dedicated PC, the end result should be simplicity of operation and exemplary sound quality. That may qualify as "no compromise" in my case.
  15. Hello, I am looking for some advice from people with a lot of experience with today's digital transports. My goal is excellent sound quality above all (whose isn't...) with that "ease" of correctly timed, de-jittered playback. Convenience is less of a priority, though of course it is desirable in any amount possible without affecting SQ. In my experience so far, I have had the best results with the USB inputs (vs SPDIF) of the DACs I've owned (Currently Metrum HEX, Teac UD-501 before it). I have used Audirvana on the Mac side and Foobar2000 on the Windows side. To cut to the chase... I am currently using the following setup: HP Windows 7 Core i7 laptop -> Fidelizer 4 in Extremist mode -> Foobar2000 -> Wasapi Event -> Cardas Clear -> Metrum Hex USB. The results are stunning, except for a few glitches caused by Fidelizer (occasional stutter within the first few seconds of a track). Planning for a permanent setup... I've read good things about Audiophile Optimizer. I am thinking about getting a HP Proliant MicroServer G8 to use as a dedicated transport with AO. One ineresting thing is the ability to use HP Integrated Lights Out in which case I could theoretically disable any networking on the OS side and use ILO's virtual console to operate Foobar via Ipad etc. Or... for the roughly same money as for the above (Microserver + ILO + AO), I could get a Simaudio MIND 180 or Bryston BDP. My Metrum HEX has AES/EBU. That's a whole lot less tweaking and potentially hassle. So the question for you, experienced digital heavyweights, is... Can the same sound quality, that is possible using software players / USB, be achieved via hardware players / AES/EBU? In my experience so far, Logitech Transporter SE didn't give me the same SQ when connected to AES/EBU vs. the laptop /USB setup. Close, but not quite as fantastic. This is not to say that AES/EBU has less potential... and that's what I am trying to find out here. Thank you in advance for your contributions!
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