yincr

As Miska wrote earlier, if GPU is slower than CPU, offloading could slow does the process. I tried a Dell M3800 quad core i7 2.2GHz with NVIDIA K1100, Windows 10 Pro. I can run any program choosing the NVIDIA or an Intel integrated video card. With NVIDIA, redbook to DSD256/asdm7/poly sync, playback is unlistenable, the CPU Load is about 30%. With Intel graphics card, without offloading, everything play nice.

Could you describe your network configuration?, Do you use a NAS for the OPPO and the Aurender?, do you have a multipurpose home network?, Is there a possiblity to have a dedicated audio network?.

Fiber for networking and toslink ared used in different contexts, in my case, I use fiber in a HQPlayer/NAA setup, isolating both computers through the optical link. By the way, my setup sounds better using fiber. You can find a recent thread about toslink here in CA, also, this is a very interesting thread about network isolation, just read recent posts.

Audio_ELF, I agree that balanced opinions should the best for this forum. As an engineer, I always try to filter through technical facts any doubt I have. I also accept, that I could not, do not care, is not practical, easier to try, worthless, about certain opinions, myths, etc. But, I do not accept, that just because someone brings up some technical facts, everybody should accept them, and forget about what they are listening. You measured cables, fine, are your measurements good enough to make them industry standards?. Why do all those people who know all the facts and measures, make just one worthy discovery about audio, that benefit all lf us?. Are all those wealthy people, who invest a lot of money un audio, smart about Business, but stupid about audio?. I just know, that some time ago, there were Rankins, Martins, Hansens, Diaments, Kennys, who contributed with knowledge that they tried, in real products, but now...... Of course, an open minded forum, would be a lot nicer.

You should ask Chris to change the name of the forum, instead of Computeraudiophile.com, Computeraudioscientist.com.

I think that computer-dac importance, depends on the context. If you are using HQPlayer with an Exasound E22 in an NAA setup, upsampling redbook to DSD 256, it is difficult to individualize their performance, imo the whole system is more than the sum of the parts. This has been my real experience, computer "audio performance", is as important as the DAC. I mean, computer-hqplayer-network-NAA-USB could be considered as part of the DAC.

Audio_Elf: I think there is a place for both "real" experiences and also theoretical discussions / thought exercises. Yes, that would be ideal. But not what I have been reading lately in this forum.

This thread reflects what Computeraudiophile has become. Many moons before, this was a place, where people came to share real experiences about audio, but now, instead of "REAL" experiences, threads are full of theories and speculations about how things should be, and people who are brave enough to share their experiences, must prove that they are not hallucinating.

"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.". Yogi Berra I tried optical fiber, and found a significative improvement, lowering the noise floor. As an engineer, I think, sometimes it is more cost effective, doing real tests, than talk. You just have to ordered the products from Amazon, if you feel that is not benefical, just return them. Argueing is not very cost effective either, jaja.

Hi Mentt, your experience is very interesting. Could you describe your system?, Do you have a WiFi network just for audio?.

Could you connect your DAC to your computer through that port, and play music?.

The easiest way to try HQPlayer/NAA, is connecting directly the computer that runs HQPlayer to the mac mini with the NAA, just configure with static IPs on the same subnet, like 10.10.10.1 and 10.10.10.2, mask 255.255.255.0. Just run the NAA on the Mac Mini (you just see it running on the terminal window) with the DAC connected and working. Then run the HQPlayer, in settings select NAA, choose the DAC and play some música.

Hi Mario, could youbsendnme the flamenco files?

I would add, that the key element of my improved system, has been HQPlayer.

I am listening redbook upsampled to DSD 256, using an Exasound E22 and HQPlayer/NAA. It is very interesting, that any improvement made to the system, that remove noise/distortion, has increased the transparency, and you start listening "noises" that you could not do before, even using highly regarded DACs. This noises, are people coughing, whispering, moving, etc, I do not want to think that HQPlayer can introduce this kind of noises. So, what I guess is, that there are more information store in redbook, that our equipment could retrieve, as technology is evolving, we will see what is the limit. As Roch said, just skip the technical aspects, and jump directly into listening.