XXHighEnd - The Ultra HighEnd Audio Player
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91  Ultimate Audio Playback / Playback Tweaks and Source related subjects / Re: How to build a silent PC for XXHighEnd on: September 28, 2013, 04:30:31 pm
FYI:

I will be opening a separate forum board soon for the "XXHighEnd PC". This is dedicated to the PC we build. So, you might want to wait for that. Notice though that with the 135W processors this is to-tal-ly silent and doesn't need underclocking at all (even overzlocking is allowed). Temperature is just above 40C / 104F at ambient temperature of 22C / 72F.

Dear Peter,

Any news here?

------------------------

I am keen on getting me an "ultimate" PC for music playback only. Tailored to work with your NOS1 DAC, of course and nothing else.

On my wish list, there are:
*Linear power supply. (No switching PSU what so ever).
*MotherBoard same as you, so I can simply copy your settings whenever you improve your settings.  Wink

-It seems the linear PSU is the difficult part to find. Here is one alternative, not that expensive, but it outputs only 35watt each voltage: £349 Item Audio Tri-Linear ATX PSU. -Narrowing down the choice of processor.

What to do?  scratching

PS: Seems that "Lab PSU units like the Item Audio Tri-Linear" are to be avoided, since the rotary knobs easily can change the voltage accidently and ruin your whole PC.

Here is a relevant thread from another forum. Some DIY guys exploring exactly the same trail as us: http://jplay.eu/forum/computer-audio/linear-power-supply-for-pico-psu-anyone-done-this/
92  Ultimate Audio Playback / Playback Tweaks and Source related subjects / Re: PC motherboard upgrade on: September 27, 2013, 09:46:41 pm
After fitting the new AsRock X79 Extreme4-M board I noticed that it is the same board that I think Peter uses/supplies in the the Phasure Music PC so I now have some sense of how good these PCs must be sounding for the people who have bought them.

Hi guys!
Inspired by your findings, I have decided to purchase this Mobo too. I will go for the non-M version.
Any other advices? -Which processors should I buy for it?

Today I am running all software on Flash memory. Should I put the XX on a regular HardDisk? -Which one to purchase, then?

Any input is appreciated!


93  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Windows 8 Soundstage with Q-sound recording on: September 18, 2013, 04:56:02 pm
(too few QSound albums around).

Here is a list of the few Q-sound albums there is: http://www.qsound.com/spotlight/users/recording-artists.htm
94  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: Serious Complaint on: August 29, 2013, 10:45:23 pm
By the way that link does not connect to anything for me. Looks like Peter has brought the whole site down ha ha!!

Peter enters the thread on end of page 2.
95  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: California Audio Show 2013 on: August 08, 2013, 09:13:51 am
Sony/Philips launched DSD way back in the 90s, at a time when PCM still was in a “low-rez” state. (At that time most PCs featured an Intel 486 processor and homes didn’t even have an Internet connection).

But 20 years is an eternity in digital technology, and PCM recording/playback has developed enormously. And it will continue to develop rapidly, due to its huge momentum. Studios started out recording at 48kHz sampling frequency. Then doubled to 96kHz. Then they doubled again, to 192kHz. Now, some have moved on to 24/384. Here at Phasure.com, PeterSt has pushed his PCM playback technology as high as 768kHz sampling frequency.

To my eyes, the original deed of DSD – the extra bandwidth – has now been accomplished by PCM, too.

I never heard a 100% pure DSD record/playback system, so I can’t comment on its absolute SQ. But like its cousin PCM, it comes with theoretical handicaps; the waste amount of noise shaping and high frequency noise. Probably neither DSD nor PCM are 100% perfect/transparent medium, but when utilized through the best present/future technology, I guess the differences in SQ will be of academic nature.

What’s left is the fact that DSD occupies one third the storage space of PCM 24/352.8, which might be a practical factor for online distribution. On the other side Bytes are cheap and PCM is light years ahead in market share, functionality and price.

To me, it seems like DSD is a waste of time.
96  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / PCM versus DSD on: August 07, 2013, 10:11:26 am
PCM versus DSD

I don’t expect any improvement from DSD, because high quality PCM recording already is “perfect” or near-perfect.

The subject can be seen from two sides: The RECORDING phase and the PLAYBACK phase.

RECORDING
Here, we have reliable sources stating that recording at PCM 24/192 or 24/352.8 kHz is identical to listening to the live feed in the studio control room. -Switching back and forth between the live mic feed and the PCM recording, the engineers struggles to hear any difference. That is, when using high quality equipment of course. Not some off-the-shelf $999 gear.

My most reliant source in this matter is world renowned producer and recording engineer, Morten Lindberg at www.2L.no. He records the most demanding music (close miked classical orchestra and choir). Doing most of the job himself, he is at the venue from start to end, and he spends weeks/months in is studio afterwards preparing the various formats and mixes. I have visited his studio facilities and listened to his equipment. -I can assure you the man is 100% serious about State Of The Art sound reproduction.

He uses modern top-level microphones and equipment. Some years ago he chose DXD as his recording and mixing format, because it performs equally well with PCM and SACD post production/releases (the latter being the most relevant format for multichannel releases at that time, back in 2006). Read more here: http://www.sa-cd.net/showthread.php?page=1


PLAYBACK
Here, I don’t trust any listening reports, unless the Phasure playback technology is involved…  smile

The Achilles heel of PCM is the inferior impulse response, due to the low pass filtering. This area is where DSD excels, due to its much higher sampling frequency. 

However this area is exactly where I see NOS1/XX as a game changer. Utilizing the Arc Prediction function + NoOverSampling, restores the high frequency square waves! Achilles heel is healed, in other words. -Rather than chase DSD, people should adopt the Phasure technology already working with PCM.  

--------------

Apart from this, I do wish for DSD playback functionality within XX, in order to rip and play ISO images from certain treasured (remastered) SACD titles not available as PCM.  
 
97  Ultimate Audio Playback / Playback Tweaks and Source related subjects / Re: C1E and E1ST speedstep BIOS on: July 25, 2013, 08:33:25 am
Quote from: manisandher
Thinking about it, I reckon we should organize an XX meet every couple of years or so. The venue would have to meet the following criteria:
- large international airport reasonably close by
- great hifi system
- lots of room in which to mull around
- access to good food & drink
- ???

Oh and a view over a lake or something would be really nice. Hmm... anywhere spring to mind?
I'm in!
98  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Latency settings on: July 23, 2013, 07:56:15 pm
Hi Pedal,

You express things as I feel them !

I thank all of those who take the time to decrypt the mysteries of audio and allow us to appreciate such a spirit touching art !

Regards,

Alain
Thanks Alain! The XX community is certainly a special breed with so much *sharing* and positivity from the many members.

-I think it reflects the unique spirit, contribution and efforts by it's founder; PeterSt.  thankyou
99  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Latency settings on: July 23, 2013, 01:05:45 pm
Hehe, Peter, I know your skepticism about Hi-rez. In which I do agree/disagree  LOL

Any how you are perfectly right,it WAS Machine Head which I was listening to this morning (being the only DP hi-rez title I own.) I'll try In Rock later on, too.

---------

PUZZLE
With KS mode = Normal, I should not be able to hear any difference with the various Q-settings, right? But I do! How can this be?
100  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Latency settings on: July 23, 2013, 11:39:16 am
I have just updated my signature to present settings. My intention was to investigate further into the settings, but - sorry - I am not able to discipline myself enough for such *boring* activities.

Right now I am on a joy ride. -Playing Deep Purple/In RockMACHINE HEAD (2496/DVDA) at +100dB and it is absolutely kickass! I always found this recording completely dull and boring. Not only because the best tracks was performed better live on Made In Japan, but also because the recording was so dull and dark sounding.

But NOW, oh boy, it is a completely different  beast. Ian Paice' drum kit hits me like a tommy gun. Treble is still dull (probably due to poor recording equipment, overdubs and 1st generation Dolby noise reduction) but now the over all SQ is much better than before, and it is easier to adopt to (ignore) the dullness.

On the other side I wont say the current setup is a one trick pony. Well recorded jazz and acoustic music sounds as natural as ever. Jimmy Cobb Quartet - Jazz in the Key of Blue (HDTRACKS 2496) has some wonderful trumpet solos. Try track 6/I Had the Craziest Dream: It gives me the most realistic and dynamic REAL trumpet sound I have heard, ever, from a stereo.

UPDATE:
After reading PeterSt advice on Q5 settings, I lowered the clock resolution from 1ms to 0,5ms. Rather minor difference, the latter perhaps slightly more transparent/lighter in character. Then I tried 0.5ms/Q5=5 which certainly was slightly more relaxed and laidback than 1ms/Q5=3. Which one to prefer?  Hmmm, not easy to say. Gotta play more, but running out of time. Wife is complaining. Sun is shinning and better take the family to the beach. More later! Happy
101  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: Hunting for noise on: July 20, 2013, 01:01:05 pm
Wow, hats of to you guys.
I will read the full thread later, but it seems you have made a world discovery!

The i2S is the internal interface/signal format within all integrated CD players, right?

Does this mean that ALL CD-players suffer from this kind of distortion?
102  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Latency settings on: July 18, 2013, 05:53:35 pm
Anyone ever compared the difference between redbook ad HD versions?
This was recorded in 1993, IIRC, at 44.1/24bit resolution utilizing DG proprietary "4D" technology. -Traditional PCM technology but with the A/D converters placed on the stage, next to each microphone. So, no long runs of analogue cables, then.

I'll take a fresh listen between Red Book and download to see if the 24 vs. 16 bit makes a difference.

The recording is close-mic'ed. But apart from this the SQ is stunning, when replayed through XX/W8!
If you search various forums you find several dissatisfied listeners complaining about hard/edgy sound. But - HEY - they don't have the playback technology which WE have ;-)
103  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Latency settings on: July 18, 2013, 02:53:29 pm
Thankfully I was able to fit a couple of days off to work on my sound system.

 Connected my 2 bass towers again (7 pcs 12" each). Those you saw but never heard. I have run my system as 2-way for a while, but are now back in 3-way mode. Ohhh how nice it is to feel the floor vibrating again!

I did get my code! You even refunded, in spite I said you should keep it. Remember?

XX works fine. Can play for hours.  The top text in red and "minimize OS" works fine. (But struggling with unattended playback, though).

:-)
104  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Latency settings on: July 18, 2013, 01:12:43 pm
PEAK EXTENSION:

Tried also a couple of tracks from Anders Widmark CD "Carmen" . A Swedish jazz beauty from 2001. Highly recommended both for music and SQ. [Check it out on your HD, PeterSt!]

WITH PE: Slightly brighter, more focus on the right hand keys.

WITHOUT PE: More woody tone and body to the piano. Slightly more impact on the big drums. Also slightly more punch to the lower notes on the big bass in the opening track. Bigger space (acoustics). I think for this album it's better without PE.

-------------

I think I get the difference with/without PE. Will continue trying this out on a longer term. -Play WITHOUT for an extended period, and then try to switch back and see what happens.
In my main system, with the NOS1, I mainly play good sounding recordings, mostly acoustic music. The compressed pop/rock I play mainly on an iPod in the car, etc. -So I really don't need the PE feature.
105  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Latency settings on: July 18, 2013, 12:52:00 pm
Hey Pedal, you may notice that Peter's signature makes no mention of Peak Extension. You may want to take a listen with it off, but you have to remember to lower volume by 3db. My sound took a big leap forward when I turned it off.

Ok, took a quick check with one track: Blues At Sunrise from Albert King Stevie Ray Vaughan (HDTRACKS v2 24192).

WITH PeakExtension: Somewhat lighter, faster, more snappy.
WITHOUT PeakExtension: More earthy, slightly darker. Not as "clear", though...
(Yes, I corrected the 3dB).

Frankly, I preferred WITH PE. But of course gotta check more tracks and listen more closely. (This recording isn't the most demanding in the first place).
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