Lowlands

I use very similar settinges (playing around with modulator & filter settings now and then), however, suggest to enable 48k DSD (if your Lampi accepts it, mine does) and up the max rate to 48k x256. That allows for integer upsampling the 48k PCM family rates (so also 96k and 192k) into 48k x 256 DSD. Less CPU load for HQPlayer and upsampling by an integer factor (which in my PCM days sounded better, have not done an A/B in this case, just went with it). Does anyone know what reconstruction filters Lampizator uses? The HQPlayer manual states some work bettrer with 5th order, some with 7th order modulators...

Major + 1

I guess it is not illogical using RAAT via dedicated end-point over a LAN (with potentially some fiber optics in it) moves SQ influence from the server to the end-point. If you combine server + endpoint in a single box in your rack (amongst other kit and cabling) and plug that into your DAC, it makes sense it should matter more to SQ. Most Taiko Extreme owners put it in their racks, not in the basement (afaik). Also: anything in the rack should look like an audio component and not like a computer..... In a split [Server] ~LAN ~ [dedicated endpoint] topology, server criteria for a reviewer to write about can still be simplicity of install & operate (plug & play factor), user interface, compatibility / versatility to serve different eco-systems, support for 3rd party streaming services, performance, heat & noise production, power usage, remote support, warranty, future-proof-ness, build quality, etc. etc. So as long as a reviewer does not make up statements on SQ improvements or differences were they cannot hear any, I would say why not?

Right.... 🤔.. makes you wonder... could be as you suggest. ..or it might be the flavour of the day / preference..? Don't know. Perhaps they were standing on the workbench next to each other 😂 ..? VERY happy with my GG1 in either case... Pretty much endgame for me.. And I also think that the format (DSD vs PCM) and tubes are way more important for SQ from my GG anyway.

Ditto. Moved from older i7 spec HP (plain fans cooled) COTS server in basement to newer i9 spec (water cooled) DIY server. With just plain Roon core & Raat to the same mRendu via the same ethernet LAN, I could not hear any difference between servers.

Important note I think is there are various forms / variants of upsampling and/or conversion: A - low rate PCM to high rate PCM, synchronous (within same family rate, 44.1 or 48) B - low rate PCM to high rate PCM, a-synchronous (not within same family rate) C - Any rate PCM to high(er) rate DSD, synchronous D - Any rate PCM to high(er) rate DSD, a-synchronous E - Any rate DSD to any rate PCM HQPlayer can be used for all of the above 'routes' (afaik). Any statement that upsampling using HQPlayer does not reap benefits triggers the question (in my mind at least) : what route was used? My ears tell me that on my GG, route C outperforms all other routes and/or alternative methods feeding my GG, including route A using a Metrum Acoustics Ambre via AES as input and not using HQPlayer at all. I do have the somewhat older PCM Engine '5942". I reckon the newer engine "S53" is likely better sounding. There is also an "R2R" PCM engine that many love. My GG is limited to DSD256 (so that is what I use) and I have the Amanero USB, but with the superclock upgrade from Lampizator.

For the purpose of alternative 'datapoints' and experiences, I found the impact and sonic gains going from PCM to upsampled DSD(256) using HQPlayer massive on my Lampi GG. Lampi has different digital 'engines' (DAC sections) floating around though, so YMMV.

Also on Qobuz: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/up-jumped-the-devil-discovering-the-music-of-robert-johnson-carmen-gomes-inc/xfi2zq4kk7kmc

Gang, HQPlayer newbee.... Went the easy route, single box, Win10Pro, Roon + HQplayer 4. Have skipped the Linux/embedded route for now. Did get it to work 1st try & in no time though :-) Am now at the stage of tinkering with SDM defaults. Not using the HQPlayer Client (Roon remote on iPad). My Q: The Settings dialog of HQplayer 4 Desktop is rather large (tall). Tinkering SDM settings via remote desktop on an ipad makes things REEAALY tiny or implies dragging & resizing & scrolling for things to show on screen, which is kind if annoying. Is there a better way of doing it remotely from my iPad ? Alternatively, can the Settings dialog be split in two? I never touch the top half (once set) anyway...

Yes. Hands down.

Artist(s): Michael Wollny with Eric Schaefer & Christian Weber Album: Nachtfahrten Track: 14 - Nachtfahrten Link / url: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/nachtfahrten-michael-wollny-with-eric-schaefer-christian-weber/0614427959232 Format: PCM 24b / 96k Demo / test usecase: Dynamics, truth of timbre Comments: Jazz trio in your room. Dynamic recording.

Artist(s): markusphilippe Album: Saxnbass Track: 2 - Hey Joe Link / url: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/saxnbass-markusphilippe/7640138840050 Format: PCM - Redbook(16b / 44.1k) Demo / test usecase: acoustic instrument palpability, imaging, acoustic bass, truth of timbre, PRAT. Comments: It puts two musicians in your room in front of you. On a good setup, spooky real great fun to listen to.

I wondered if there was / is a thread here on AS on this suggested topic..... What I would appreciate is a thread listing short & to the point pointers to the proverbial Audiophile gems and what is good & useable about them for the purpose of testing/reviewing components or changes in one's setup. I could not find it, but I might have overlooked it. If overlooked, pls let me know and I will happy kill this & join the other thread. Suggested convention for postings: [Album cover] Artist(s): Album: Track: Link / url: (to streaming service; artist site) Format: PCM (rate), DSD (rate), Vinyl Demo / test usecase: (what does this recording do right, what does it show or tell you about your setup) Comments: (further comments; if any)

Hope I'm not in over my head here, since I have not heard it myself, so it's 'hear-say' / what I've been told... I was told by multiple sources that the fixed output paired with a high quality preamp of integrated performs better. The VC on the GG/B7 is said to be good, but not 100% on par with the quality of 'the rest' of the unit / what you can squeeze out using fixed output into a high quality pre. One of those sources is a distributer of Lampi, another an Aries Cerat dealer with a considerable network of clients, Lampi users among them. Reports on WBF indicate the same. The Lampi distributer offered me my GG with fixed output when it still had the VC in it and had already ordered Lampi to take it out as part of the refurb (without a customer at that time), so he seems rather convinced. Additional benefit for me was I got to choose the front plate. That does not say you might be on for spending some serious $ for a pre if you want to trump the Lampi VC. So when it comes to music pleasure per $, you might still be WAY better off with a Lampi + VC. In my case, I did not need it (I use ASR integrated) and hence preferred to not put it in the signal path and explicitly searched & went for a fixed output SE unit. But then... YMMV. I also went with Lampi factory advice to take the Amanero + clock upgrade instead of the Amanero > JL USB upgrade (with stock clocks). There are different opinions & findings on that also here on this forum. The Pacific / Horizon are different ballgames I guess. Don't know if the VC implementation is similar or not..... I have read Pacific users on WBF preferring a pre, but the preferred pre-amp solutions there are hardly 'for free' options.... All I can say is that I'm very happy with the combo Lampi GG SE (fixed) + ASR and loose plenty sleep as a result... If you have a Lampi with VC and love it's sound, no use loosing sleep over that VC. Just loose sleep over listening to music.

If this were useable for in-room acoustics (instead of cancelation), we might be implementing room correction software in the wall(paper) instead of the reproduction chain / the music server in the future..... That would be sort of cool....