Lately I was using the USB Buffer size in the Phasure Control Panel at 16ms and today I returned to 4ms that I was using with the 0.9z-7 versions, seeing also that Peter returned to use it. For me the 16ms is so far the best setting with 0.9z-8e as it has the best balance between clarity and body, the voices seem to be warmer, with more presence and the notes some way richer with more nuances. Subtle differences as always but noticeable.
I´d like know about some others opinion about this difference in SQ using 4ms or 16ms  in the USB Buffer Size.

Juan

5 x 2 = 20? Now I understand why the Netherlands economy goes better than here in Spain 

Cheers,
Juan

The sound is cleaner and smoother than with previous versions, so clean that sometimes it looks like it lacks some weight, but listening carefully this sound has it all. Congratulations once more Peter.
No more ticks except when changing format in the Playlist from 44100/705600 to 96000/768000, then I have to stop and replay the first 96000/768000 track again and the ticks are gone.

Juan

Yes, I was using a wrong shortcut. Now all is ok and there are no ticks, not even the one at the beginning of the first track. The sound seems to be cleaner than before.

Thanks,
Juan

I did something wrong installing the 0.9z-8e without Minimize OS. Now I have some problems. Minimize OS doesn´t engage.
Now I have to go away for a while, I´ll be back in a couple of hours.
Juan

Ok, I did it and the ticks are gone (except the tick before the first track that now seems weaker). In the GUI appears XXHighEnd 0.9-7-5 (C:\XXDownloads\XXHighEnd\XXHighEnd-09-z8a)
Nothing about the 0.9z-8e installed. Is that correct?

Juan

Sorry but with so many celebrations these days I´m a little lost. I installed the main 0.9z-8 version and in the same folder the z8c-01. I don´t know if now I have to jump directly to the last 0.9z-8e version and unzip it in the same 0.9z-8 folder together with the z8c-01 that´s already there.
Can someone clarify it please?

Juan

Ticks are audible at SFS 2 and 705600 in both channels but more perceptible in the left channel. I tested it only with a song that I know very well but even so the ear must be quite close to the speaker to hear the ticks, the music is at -28.5db which in my room is the volume that I use more frequently, not to loud but loud enough.
I can hear always an audible tick at the start of the first track but not in the next ones.
No way to use other settings like SFS1/352800 or SFS 0,5/176400, I receive again the message: Your SFS is too low to allow Unattended Playback!...

Juan

Q1=28/xQ1=1 receives the same message as Q1=14/xQ1=2:

Your SFS is too low to allow Unattended Playback!
The equation is that 3670016 to be smaler than 2000000

I´d like to know from others playing with Q1=14 and xQ1=2 without problem.

Juan

Thanks Nick now it works but I receive this message: Your SFS is too low to allow Unattended Playback!...

I see others that are using this setting, I mean SFS 2, Q1:14 and xQ1:2

Juan

I can´t change the Q1 factor to 2 and neither to other values like 4, 6, 9, 11..., it jumps from 1 to 3 when I move the slide bar, the wheel in the mouse doesn´t work either to change values.

Juan

Fantastic, thank you Bert!!

Juan

Congratulations Peter, you deserve such a good review but hey! there is also a little homage to all of us  :

"It's only with the help of an active online forum that many of the hidden options and features derive full meaning. Only humans can assess that quality albeit just on an individual basis. Bringing together numerous interpretations in one forum help us understand music reproduction step by step."

Interesting the part that talks about the non-earthed connections.

I like the final conclusion: "...to us XXHighEnd is currently the by far best software player extant. In combination with the Phasure NOS1 DAC the sound quality sits lonely at the very top".
YES WE ALL AGREE WITH IT!!

As a plus the review unveils the "Peters Mystery Feet"...or maybe not totally....mmmm.

Btw, I liked to see Concha Buika in the review, she is an amazing Spanish singer with a very personal voice.

Yes, Happy New Year to all of you!

Juan

Yes, of course this is other solution, my Corsair AX750 is absolutely silent and I also doubt that the fan has ever been working on sometime.

Juan

Paco de Lucia - Concierto de Aranjuez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYwN85tbEi4

The complete Concierto is beautiful but if you only want to listen the famous Adagio it is in 6:20

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concierto_de_Aranjuez

Best regards,
Juan