winmore

Running single PC. As we went through the beta phase I first installed Server 2019 core and spent hours over command lines. Then Server 2019 Desktop mode (GUI) which I found much easier to handle and pretty much on a par for SQ. Then, and for the next while at least, Win 10 Pro LTSC to avoid the intrusive issues that come with Win 10 and to have a stable setup without unnecessary frills - no Cortona etc. Running JRiver (64 bit) with AO and Fidelizer Pro 8.4. Tried Kinsky, Upplay, Hysolid and Jplay Femto and Server, but Jriver delivers for me. Phil has incorporated many changes to Win 10 in AO and these have had little discussion, but which seem to me go a long way to improving output SQ. And I absolutely agree with Blawre that it takes time to appreciate changes in a new implementation. I think several days.

I am running Win 10 LTSC for my non-audio computer and thought, why not for audio. So I did a clean install (which is appreciably smaller than Win 2019 Server) on my audio computer (ASUS PN60 mini-form with Samsung 970 Pro ssd etc). Lo and behold, running AO3.39 in 4D setting, probably bests Server. Organic, rich, deep and wide sound-stage with clear delineation of instruments/voices through my Wilson XLFs, from Meitner DA2 through Karan KAM2000 mono-blocks. As good as I have heard my system. Great job Phil with Win 10 as well as Server. Many thanks.

I am delighted with improvements in SQ my system reveals with AO b 36. Great job Phil. Thank you, Ron

Thank you, Phil. Another stimulating challenge for me to implement. I am now running 2019 Standard (Desktop) with JPlay FEMTO, FEMTO streamer and Kinsky and AOb36 (2 - D) and am delighted by SQ. Another lift with actual player as shell will be a bonus. I also interpret your post to mean that core has SQ advantages over desktop (certainly it did in my previous 2012 R Install) so I still have much to look forward to ...

Yes, changing shell to cmd provided a further lift in SQ. Thank you for your support. Now to chase through the settings to enable me to run JPlay Femto. And I will try it with JPlay Femto Server before trying Minimserver/Bubble.

New config and clean install: OS: Win 2019 standard (desktop) DAC: EMM - Meitner DA2 Reference Driver: USB DAC with XMOS xCore U8 output (KS) F8: Not needed Player: JRiver x64 KS: Yes AO - wasapi: did not install (have Meitner DAC 2.0 (Wasapi) driver available in JRiver Options but I think KS better SQ in my system.) HD audio controller: No With AOb36 very impressive sound.

Hi Tubeman, Thank you for your comments on SQ using JPlay Femto, Minimserver and BubbleUPnP. I will now try that combination. Minimserver is a great program that I used for quite a while with Upplay and Jplay, and even as another library within JRiver. But JRiver is just so convenient and comprehensive to use. And I do get great SQ from my EMM Reference DA2 using the Meitner 2.0 (wasapi) driver and Server 2019 Standard, Desktop. Alas I simply cannot get JRiver to run with AO through Win Server 2019 Standard (Core) although I have used JRiver/AO for a couple of years with Win Server 2012 in core. I presume it is a Server 2019 glitch that Phil will likely amend as AO beta evolves to its final release. Beyond my skills. I have considered other alternatives. BHE was great but I tired of the almost daily updates and the fiddling around to keep it working. Hysolid seems really good but is often reported to have issues coping with a large library of music files (I have not tried it). Upplay was worth a spin with JPlay and Minim... but lacks the sophistication of JRiver. Linn Kinsky has added sophistication but did not reach the JRiver levels. Hoping to once again settle down to extended listening rather than learning command lines and forever doing clean installs .... Cheers, Ron

I was responding to Phil's requests concerning DAC used, wasapi etc and noting I am unable to get JRiver to work with AO. I will move to the general Server 2019 forum for comments on alternatives. Sorry to offend guidelines for this forum.

Have now sufficient skills to get through full implementation although not to a successful outcome: OS: Windows 2019 Standard Core DAC: EMM-Meitner DAC 2 Driver: Meitner 2.0 ASIO F8: Not needed Player: JRiver x64 (but will not fully load) KS: Yes, but not used AO -Wasapi: Loaded successfully HD: Audio driver not used Have tried numerous full re-installs but simply cannot get JRiver beyond hourglass, inactive. Now thinking whether to drop back to 2019 Standard (Desktop) which allowed JRiver to run with great SQ but without AO, or move to JPlay Femto, Bubble UPnP and Minimsever plus AO?? Time will tell.... Have not tried AOb36. Ron

And that latest release listed by Tubeman is what I have just downloaded from Server 2019 - Evaluation. Sweet!

Peter, Thanks for the definitive reply. Pleased your install of JRiver was flawless. As already noted several of us have not had that experience in Server Core with AO. Roon does appear to be the choice for full details of music files in a library. I have also spent quite a period enjoying BHE - SQ not bettered for my system. But the almost daily updates and fussing about to keep it running wore me down. Thank you again, Ron

Similar issue with JRiver in my install. Following earlier comments by 'Audio' Tuesday 19/2 and Thursday 21/2, I followed 'Tubeman's install order and details to the letter which gets me to a never ending spinning hourglass after loading JRiver. My previous comment of Tuesday 19/2 was in error in that I was using Win 2019 Server Standard (Desktop) which I now realise is not core. That however, did play beautifully using JRiver. Can I uninstall JRiver and AO and try reversing the install, that is JRiver prior to AO? Or, as I think Phil said earlier, installing AO requires a clean install of Server (Core), and that is, for me at least, a time consuming process.

I am using Server 2109 Core with internet access and file explorer. I did not think I had sufficient cmd line skills to go all the way with core alone. Loaded chipset updates; AO; and jRiver. In AO I say No to remote access options, preferring to stand to change playlists etc. With AO Beta 34 I have had no issues with jRiver remaining accessible and successfully linking to library files on an internal ssd drive and a USB ssd drive. I use an EMM Meitner DAC 2 and jRiver Options show all expected ASIO, KS and wasapi options, from which I choose Meitner 2.0 (wasapi) for delightful playback. I think added depth and a more organic SQ than ever before. I have not added JPlay to the mix given its preference for KS playback. I note frequent reference in posts to add AO -wasapi for wasapi injection. I used cmd C:\> AO -wasapi which upon entry went to a blank screen.. Have I successfully loaded AO -wasapi or is my cmd syntax in error? Cheers, Ron

Hi Phil, Could I also have a PM on cost and shipping. Thank you, Ron

Hi Phil, Yes, all playing sweetly. I have AO set either minimal or core mode; Jplay set to 'kernel streaming'; and Upplay links to Jplay so afaik all is is desired. I find Upplay does not play some files from Minimserver library and so I have also tried Jriver set as shell (minimal mode) and that runs perfectly in kernel streaming accessing music files directly from my second ssd and it seems to me, matches Upplay in SQ. Nice to have really good options. I have put BH/IB aside until I upgrade to Win Server 2016 and (I presume) will be able to run BH/IB in Windows 10 compatible mode. Regards, Ron