vk80

Looks like you're using the latest OS and Kernel for your Odroid C2 so to your point earlier, OS is clear. Level setting on the checklist so far: 1 -- Gen3 board worked fine 2 -- Replaced Gen5 board 3 -- MacMini direct works 4 -- OS & Kernel are up to date 5 -- Adding iFi iUSB3.0 to clean up signal doesn't make a difference 6 -- selecting 24bit as default in Roon causes both 16bit and 24bit to produce same 'crackle/pop' sounds; playing at 16bit does not A few additional things: 7 -- Are you using a WiFi dongle, or ethernet with your Odroid? On the Roon support pages they do report some similar issues with Raspberry Pi devices related to using WiFi and DSD. http://kb.roonlabs.com/Audio_On_Linux. While it's different hardware and you're not playing back DSD, figured it worth a shot to ask given all the other 'green' lights in the troubleshooting checklist. 8 -- Also, if you're comfortable and willing (warning: can break your system and require a complete reinstall), you may want to try switching to latest beta kernel by running "armbian-config" command in terminal. According to this page: http://www.armbian.com/kernel/, the latest beta kernel is 4.14.18 which may bring some hardware compatibility fixes. 9 -- May also be worth a shot to post your question to the Armbian Forums here: https://forum.armbian.com/forum/16-amlogic/ (e.g., "24 bit audio playback crackle/pop").

Can you enter these two commands separately in the linux terminal and report back what it says for both? This will display the OS and Kernel info to help research the issue better. lsb_release -a uname -mrs

In my experience, Linux apps using ALSA "hardware mixer" (not software mixer) need to have the bitrate set to the max for the USB Receiver. Yggy USB chip has a 24bit max bit rate so if you have a way to select the bitrate in your apps, set it to 24bit and try again. Of note, is that when you play a 16bit file, it will play at 24bit, but those extra bits won't have any bearing on sound quality as its just extra padding; Unlike increasing 'sample rate' (i.e., 44.1k to 96k), adding extra bits to the bitrate won't make a difference in sound quality.

Also--and someone please correct me if I have this wrong--it sounds like you are using the DAC volume control, which if the DAC is always playing back at 32 bits, the extra padding offered helps with digital attenuation signal loss if I'm not mistaken. The playback, for example, of a 16 bit file by your 32 bit DAC helps minimize noise as you lower the volume. Those extra 16 bits (or 8 bits if it were a 24 bit file) are reducing signal to noise ratio as you lower the volume. Check this out: http://www.esstech.com/PDF/digital-vs-analog-volume-control.pdf

Using Yosemite here. Created a poll that will be open for the next 30 days if it helps, Damien. http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/users-what-os-are-you-using-23044/

Damien asking to understand need for older code to remain in 2.0. Original post here:http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/audirvana-2-0-a-21673/index45.html#post385193

Just want to chime in and say thanks as well. These settings compliment my Audioquest Dragonfly v1.2 + JH16s very nicely. Biggest observed change is the details; hearing the most subtle of things coming through. Bravo!

Brew your favorite tea or cup of joe and check out this thread: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/izotope-sample-rate-convertor-15352/

Not to speak for SuperDad or Jud, but I believe that's sort of what Damien attempted to do when enlisting their feedback for some of the more recent 'closed beta' builds: "Tell me what you hear, which sounds better, etc." SuperDad shared some his direct feedback communication with Damien a few comments back at this post. So... Pessimist view: I think trying to set a standard with all CA members on how to comment on what they are hearing will prove difficult, so that's why Damien went to some trusted sources (SuperDad and Jud) behind the scenes. Optimist view: I don't know how to do this via these forums, but if someone wanted to set up some voting type functions or survey where the selections were predefined (with definitions/descriptions), then maybe that'd be a solution to what you seek. E.g., Question 1: Has the SQ improved in your opinion? Yes/No; Question 2: What is the greatest improvement? a. Imaging, b. Presence, c. Attack, d. Decay (all with definitions to help folks select the right thing). and so on and so forth line of questioning.

Genuine question here, no malicious intent: Wouldn't memory playback denounce the impacts of HDD type (internal or external) and associated connecting cables for them? And tongue in cheek: Is the next upgrade going to be audiophile RAM?

Seeing as how this release brought SQ changes, it comes with the territory so, no harm, no foul in my book.

Since I'm on a roll... Here are the iTunes versions of a few EQ profiles for reference. It's only a visual so can't speak to the exact measurements to dial in for each of them using the A+ > AppleEQ plug-in. Also, to make things simpler, since the iTunes versions are for 10-band EQ, you can switch to that within the A+ > AppleEQ plugin (the '31-bands' drop down button, change it to 10-band). ACOUSTIC CLASSICAL JAZZ

If it helps for now: 1. Fire up the AudioUnits tab in Preferences 2. Check mark the box to Use AudioUnits effects 3. Check mark the box for Realtime AudioUnits control and setup 4. Select Apple: AUGraphicEQ from one of the four drop down menus 5. Click Configure 6. Click Presets 7. From here you can manipulate the EQ sliders to your preference and create/save as many presets as you want using the Save Preset button; naming to what you mentioned (jazz, acoustic, etc.) as examples 8. When done, click Apply Now when you play music, a pop-up window of the EQ will appear and the Presets button and selection list is there so you can toggle to which ever you want.

Very initial impressions: more centered image for mono instruments/voices whereas non-mono/stereo items maintain wide separation.