Really. really interesting Nick. Thanks for sharing.


Surely you haven't been doing surgery on your mobos


So the one I've highlighted in the pic? If so, how are you connecting to it? Using some sort of adaptor?


Isn't this going against the 'philosophy' of keeping active devices attached to the mobo to the absolute minimum?

Mani.

Yep, I think that's exactly the case.

Mani.

Thanks Peter.

I don't this is important really, but let me just reiterate that I didn't use XXHighEnd at all in this comparison - I was using HQPlayer in both cases. I don't think there was any unfolding going on because HQP was showing a 24/48 input in both cases. Yes, the HDD screenshot shows 'MQA 96kHz', but I have no idea why - Roon is not capable of doing any unfolding... yet. Maybe it means 'would be 96kHz if unfolded'?


OK, this was what I was really after. In a way, I suppose it's a bit of a shame because we can only work on 'half of the equation'. But on the other hand, when regular 16/44.1 files sound as good as they currently do, I'm not that upset.

Maybe non-ringing ADCs will become the standard in the future, in which case we won't need MQA anyway.

Mani.

Hi Peter, has your thinking on MQA advanced any further?

FWIW, I've compared the MQA version of 'The Division Bell' (HD 24/96 Download Version) to the CD rip I have, and I believe it does indeed sound different. But here's something weird...

In my office, I use Roon -> HQPlayer -> NOS1a pretty much exclusively. If I play the MQA version from my hard drive, it sounds very different to the MQA version streamed directly from Tidal. In both cases, a 24/48 file is being outputted by Roon, which is then upsampled to 768 705.6 in HQPlayer before being sent to the NOS1a. The Tidal streamed version sounds substantially 'cleaner'.

Because both files are 24/48, I'm assuming there's been no unfolding of the MQA file in either case. So could the difference in SQ be attributed solely to the means of accessing the file (i.e. from a HDD on my music server vs. streaming from the internet), and the respective associated noise profiles of each mechanism?

Mani.

Juan, I think you're right here.

I'm certain now what happens: the electrons get tired and simply need a rest. Not a lot of people know that electrons have a consciousness... and feelings too. This has been proved beyond a doubt now with Quantum Chromo Dynamics. This theory shows that working 24/7 is fatiguing for them.

So look, do your electrons (and the environment) a favour and switch your house off for the night. You'll never look back.

Mani.

I don't deny that there's a bit of minor inconvenience involved, but it's worth it for this level of sound.


Don't be ridiculous Peter. My clock works off a battery and clearly stated April 1st this morning.

Mani.

Guys, I've just found the ultimate solution. Last night before going to sleep, I switched off the main 100A electricity switch to the house. Switched it back on this morning, booted up the system and had simply the best sound I've ever heard... anywhere.

This is the ultimate solution.

Mani.

Having been feeding the NOS1a with HQPlayer, set to one of its most demanding PCM outputs (poly-sinc-xtr-mp/NS5/705.6) for the last few weeks with absolutely zero glitches, and really very good sound, I've asked Jussi to add the NOS1a to his 'recommended hardware' list. (Of course, it's totally his decision whether he does or not.)

Just to be clear though, I still have a strong preference for XXHighEnd in my main system - it just sounds better in MinOS mode. But being able to use Roon with the NOS1a is just perfect for my office system.

Mani.

Have you tried using an RDC connection and taking the video card out of the audio PC? Assuming you can get a LAN cable to the audio PC, of course.

Mani.

I've had it this way for the past 6 months or so. I prefer it.

Mani.

Hi Brian, I'm running everything in RAM-OS. Personally, I think this is absolutely necessary for the best sound.

Mani.

My feeling is that the majority of people who use HQP do so to 'upsample' PCM to DSD, which they then feed to their DSD DACs, ranging from a humble iFi up to a fully speced-out Lampi. And it was this crowd that I was referring to. (Whether they use Roon or not is neither here nor there.)


Oh, I think there are many over at CA who are convinced that PCM is evil and DSD pure/good. And a player that can perform the alchemy of turning the evil into good is the new messiah. Don't get me wrong, I really like HQP's DSP functionality - I've found it a great learning tool, especially with the NOS1a.


Well, if it's about me, let me say that I don't think I've ever been more content with the sound I'm getting in my two systems. I'm not saying they're perfect at all, but really, I'm at a point now where the quality of the sound is satisfying enough to allow me to just relax and listen to the music, as opposed to constantly obsessing about this or that element of the sound.

And the NOS1 upgrades still to come

Mani.

I'm now listening to internet radio on Roon through the NOS1a. The total path is:

Roon [on music server] -> HQP (poly-sinc-xtr-MP, NS5, 705.6) [on audio PC] -> NOS1a -> amp (volume controlled by Roon)

Listening to BBC Radio 3, even though it 'only' streams at 16/48 320kbps, I have to say the SQ is really very good. Time to finally take down the massive FM antenna I have on the roof of the house!

Perhaps getting the NOS1a working effortlessly with Roon/HQP may open up a whole new customer base for the NOS1a? Unfortunately, I suspect many who may have been interested in this approach in the past have already jumped onto the DSD DAC bandwagon. (Not meaning to be derogatory here.)

Mani.

I'm currently sitting in my home office listening to music through my newly-built audio PC (with RAM-OS) and Roon -> HQPlayer (poly-sinc-xtr, NS5, 705.6) -> NOS1a, and I have to say I'm very pleased with the results. So much better than the microRendu/LPS-1 I was using before.

Comparing HQP to XX has been interesting. XX just sounds more 'alive' and real. I'm not sure if this is down to the different filters in the 2 players or XX's memory capabilities. For 'critical' listening in my main room, I'll always use XX. But for listening to music in my office, the slightly 'darker' and generally more relaxed sound from HQP works well. And I like using Roon in my office, though less so in my main room where I usually know what I want to listen to but sometimes find it hard to locate in Roon.

Thanks again Peter. I'm very happy

Mani.

Hi Peter, everything's working here with 14393. Thanks so much for spending the time to sort this out - I doubt anyone else would've been able to.

I've just completed my office audio PC build (to replace the microRendu, which I sold) and this solution could not have come at a better time. I haven't tried Roon yet, but will do so soon.

Thanks again.

Mani.