XXHighEnd - The Ultra HighEnd Audio Player
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14386  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: DTS WAV playback broken from 0.9-u4 onwards on: March 30, 2008, 10:14:16 am
Quote
I just tried 0.9U-9 and everything works fine for the DTS files in that version !

Are you sure that counts for 48/24 just the same ? (or 24 bits in general)
14387  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: DTS WAV playback broken from 0.9-u4 onwards on: March 30, 2008, 10:12:02 am
G'day there Russ,

I do have 44.1/16 DTS files, but I don't have any 24 bits. So that offered link would be much appreciated (PM please). BUT :
Since indeed I have no DTS receiver, how can I see it works properly ? If I can't see it on anything, then never mind the links.

Of course your latter information is VERY useful, so I hope I can do it with that. I'll try anyway. When I think I found the culprit, I'll upload a test version in here, so keep in touch !

PS: hahaha
14388  Ultimate Audio Playback / Download Area and Release Notes / XXHighEnd Model 0.9u-10 (solves wrong byte assignments) on: March 29, 2008, 06:44:40 pm
It is strongly advised to not use your system without a preamp (or the pre-amp at max volume for that matter) if you or your speakers won't be able to handle a situation that e.g. the file contains wrongly formatted data or otherwise - because of which cracks may emerge with an energy beyond imagination.


  • The before version attempted to use the 16 bit domain when nothing more is needed, despite the DAC being set as having more than 16 bits; this failed for Double and Quad settings. blush1 This is solved now.

  • Since 0.9u-7 the input bit rates show properly on the Wallpaper Coverart. However, since then for MP3 nothing was shown. This has been restored.


Sorry for the inconveniences caused by the before upgrade.

Edit : Might you want to play DTS, or test with that, please download the XXEngine3.zip from this post and after unzipping put it over the XXEngine3.exe in your XX folder.

Edit2 : When you are new here, it is better to download 0.9u-6; later versions are not stable enough to the sense of playback may stop after a track has been played, or gapless not working properly.
Sorry for the inconveniences.
14389  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: problem upsampling with 0.9u-9 on: March 29, 2008, 02:14:27 pm
No Mani, just a great help.
14390  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: problem upsampling with 0.9u-9 on: March 29, 2008, 01:08:11 pm
Ok. It looks like this becomes unmanageable. heat
sorry
14391  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: problem upsampling with 0.9u-9 on: March 29, 2008, 12:50:20 pm
This appears to be when the Digital Volume is not used. With, it's ok.

swoonswoon
14392  Ultimate Audio Playback / Download Area and Release Notes / XXHighEnd Model 0.9u-9 (solves crackles and speed problem) on: March 29, 2008, 09:48:25 am
It is strongly advised to not use your system without a preamp (or the pre-amp at max volume for that matter) if you or your speakers won't be able to handle a situation that e.g. the file contains wrongly formatted data or otherwise - because of which cracks may emerge with an energy beyond imagination.

Edit : This version is NOT okay when the Digital Volume is not used, together with Double (etc.). When you actually don't wish to use the Digital Volume but want to Double (etc.) please set the Digital Volume to -6dB.
At ticking the Mem checkbox there's even more things going on.
Please only download and use this version when you think it's important for the below mentioned topics to check whether they indeed are solved.

The following changes have been applied (all Engine #3) :

  • For clipping files (or better, files containing amplitudes reaching the maximum digital levels) additional (!) crackling would occur at those max levels, when the Invert checkbox was not checked. This has been solved now.

  • As a derival of the above, the anomaly could occur that a Cue File album did not trip on Crack Detect at the first track played, but it did at the second and so forth. This was caused by the above bug actually changing the complete album file *after* the first Crack Detect had been applied, and when the next track played the, Crack Detect tripped (accurately !) on the changed (errors in the) file.
    One could say that the Crack Detect code should be applied after any changes to the file, but this is not possible in many occasions anyway (or it will disturb SQ yes).

  • It was found that 44.1/16 files with the Digital Volume at -0dB *and* a DAC being more than 16 bits, played at the wrong speed. This has been solved now.

  • More or less together with the above it was found that such files played with the "wrong code" to the sense of it playing in the 32 bit domain while it was not necessary.
    It is not sure whether this can actually have happened (because of before topic), but anyway there is a difference in theory for SQ. Now, when the environmental situation does not require playback over 32 bits, it will play in just the 16 bits needed. Note that this at least halves the data stream (but the additional 16 bits which were used before in this situation would be zero).

  • WMP rips are not conform any defined standards, and at some stage this was anticipated upon;
    From off 0.9u-5 this was eliminated because it was thought that the general approach to capture improper file header data would suffice. It now appears it does not, and the earlier code to anticipate on WMP header data has been reactivated.


Note : The soft (vinyl like) ticks which can occur near the end of a track, have not been solved at this moment, because it looks like that this behaviour can not be copied at will. It looks like a similar problem as "XXEngine3 stopped working", which has not been reported, but for sure occurs with you out there (it does here). If anyone sees the pattern in either of these happenings (click or stopped), please let it know. The clicks are there since a few versions back, the stopped has been there forever.

Better not download this version. See above !
14393  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: Hissing and clicks going from one song to the next - MP11 ripped WAVs - V. U8 on: March 29, 2008, 09:02:10 am
Hmm ... From off 0.9u-5 the WMP pre-processing has been eliminated, thinking that the general approach which is in there now, covers for all. Apparently not ...

I will put it back.
14394  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your questions about the PC -> DAC route / Re: Goodby USB, Hello SPDIF on: March 29, 2008, 08:13:00 am
I don't think the wordclock connection should be used to reclock better. Especially not when it is not the DAC. The wordclock connection is to synchonize (pro) stuff, behind that is again a DAC with good or bad jitter behaviour.

It's all apples and oranges, and yes, I came to such a configuration because I thought it was the best like that.

It would be my conclusion that the pro world stuff certainly is NOT the best (but it has its purposes), that the cheap stuff in 100% of cases also isn't right, and that if you buy from each part of that chain the best for its purpose, you end up with something optimal. So that's how you snobbishly end up with a 1300 euro Fireface800 which only passes through SPDIF. But indeed, it's outside of the PC, and it has its ferrite core filter. About the reclocking ... I actually don't know. Keep in mind the "strange" situation that the life of the soundcard starts behind that Firewire cable, which doesn't seem like a normal input to me. Also, when I had it behind a 10m Firewire cable it sounded worse. Smeared in the highs. "It" is the DAC behind it, SPDIF connected.
What I myself really should do, is find the best Firewire PCI card, because *that* makes all the difference of the world.

... but I actually stopped tweaking for a long time, because that happens in software in this modern world. Hahaha. Nonsense of course, but I really stopped, because otherwise how to judge the software.
14395  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: Crack Detection ? on: March 28, 2008, 10:54:17 pm
I forgot : untill the new version is uploaded you can solve this crackling by means of checking the Invert box.
This will not remove the clipping of course. no
14396  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: A giant step for mankind...U8 version on: March 28, 2008, 08:41:32 pm
LydMekk, thank you. I was really hoping for someone to say that, because I agree so much myself.

Joaquin, your observations are appreciated just as much !! why ?

Well, firstly because I appreciate just every observation. But this case is special I think;
I think LydMekk has a very high "energy" high frequency output with his speakers (where is that picture ? grazy), and I myself have that too. Somehow that didn't turn out completely right from off 0.9t. More importantly indeed the bass suffered from the changes that started at 0.9t, and I really hated that ...

The much "forward" sound of 0.9t is hopefully compensated a bit by means of 0.9u-7 and especially -8, while it kept the more metal in cymbals I created 0.9t for. Now :

Depending on your playback means (settings and all), with 0.9u-8 you should be able to revert to the 0.9u-6 sound by means of the Mem box. BUT, please check whether it works for you by means of looking at the memory useage. With the Mem box checked you should be using more memory for a track; does it remain equal, then the SQ should be the same and it does't work for your settings. I hope you can derive from the 0.9u-7 and 0.9u-8 Release Notes which "settings" I mean.

Peter
14397  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: Speed problem with 44/16 playback in U-8 version on: March 28, 2008, 08:15:41 pm
Actually I just was ahead of you (at solving it) : Re: Crack Detection ?.
14398  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: Crack Detection ? on: March 28, 2008, 08:14:57 pm
Ok, like plain accidents are never caused by one error only, two hours of not understanding at first, brought this :

1. The fact that the Crack Detect only tripped at a second track with Cue Files was caused by *after* the Crack Detection code was applied for Invert. See 2.

2. The code for Invert appeared to be wrong (and it always has been so); this is about an easy to make logical mistake and specific code needed to capture for minus (voltage) values going to -32768 (in digital decimal for 16 bit files) and positive values going to 32767. At inverting something has to be done about this non-lineairity, and the code did this *without* being subjective to the Inverting itself. See 3.
Regarding 1., after the first Crack Detect analysis, the whole Cue File album is changed (wrongly because of this), and at the second track the wrongly applied changes are captured ...

3. The bad news ... (for Dave) : With the Cornershop album als the example, this pressing is clipping all over. This means that digital (decimal) values reach their maximum ... -32768 and +32767 respectively. The wrong code from 2. tripped on that and changed the minimum voltage into the maximum voltage. Crackle ...
The 13750 number of heavy cracks as this album shows at Crack Detection, shows that this number of times the data actually clips. sorry

At solving this, I found that only with the Digital Volume at -0dB and the DAC set at being 16 bits this all happened. Since I always use the Digital Volume, and at some further checking, I found that normal 16 bit playback without Digital Volume had some wrong settings applied, and all played at Mickey Mouse speed. I thought "strange that no one noticed", and then found this 5 minutes ago : Speed problem with 44/16 playback in U-8 version.

14399  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your questions about the PC -> DAC route / Re: Goodby USB, Hello SPDIF on: March 28, 2008, 03:53:17 pm
Quote
Any comments, Gentlemen?

a. The Fireface obviously comes in the 400 version for 800 euro or so.
b. Reclocking of the Fireface is at some 800ps. It is not *that* good (20ps would be Happy).
c. I am not sure what the true merits of b. are, because there's many parts in the chain, and e.g. a 100ps USB DAC could be destroyed by USB itself, or the fact that it won't connect with 96/24 for that matter. Just examples.
d. Now you have an XLR connection, and again there are compaints ? hehe, anyway keep in mind that the "mechanical" converter plug as you mention it, is not only a plug. A "working" one would have a resistor (or two, I'm not sure anymore) as well.
e. My current configuration won't last long anymore. Don't let it be an argument please.
f. If you are going to invest in a "reclocker", I think there are other options, which by pure coincidence (nea) connect by means of SPDIF. I didn't read this myself : http://www.teac.com/esoteric/G25UFinal6moonscomReview.pdf

14400  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: 09-U8 & 16/44.1 on: March 28, 2008, 09:49:45 am
I thought ok, I'll rip a couple of these having trouble to Song Wav files and use No cue file.  They still play back with crackles.  I'm not sure I've mentioned this?  So small individual song wav files with no cue files around are exibiting poor crackling sound.

Dave, please stop looking for more albums that exhibit this; better start listening to those who don't exhibit it. BUT :
I have no technical explanation for this apart from it being real. But I guess that is stupid thinking of me ... yes

I must say honestly that I forgot to look into the fact that the Crack Detect shows nothing at the first track, but does at the second, while it should be so that the complete album is scanned in either occasion. This stinks. This suits your observation about the first track not crackling (at least you did not mention that I think) and the second does. But how in the world can this be correlated to the individual tracks show the crackles as well ?

I have a major stupid idea again :

Let me first tell you how surprised I was that the transients can be as high as I found. So, it is the transients I use for checking for crackles, and believe it or not, it trips when over 20 times a decimal value change of 60000 (!!) has been found (while max can be 65536 for 16 bit data).

Note that I started with a value of 100 to rip upon, because I thought that would do fine. I then ended up with 8000 which could occur over 50 times on one track, and when I found this, I thought I had some news for this world, or IOW I thought now all CD recordings s*ck all over.
Then I asked a recording guy who could know, and he said that transients of close to the full 65536 just could happen. So, I was satisfied with that, and built in the tripping at 60000.
Btw, from pure electrical thinking I can't believe this is right, because a negative voltage near its far end, goes right to positive to near that far end, and that happens within one adjacent sample. Whatever instrument or voice could do that within 0.00002 second ? But the guy said it ...

At this moment I can't tell anymore how many things are wrong at audio playback, but I do know that things can be improved. We claim this is jitter doing that, because we don't know other explanations, but please keep in kind : I already think for a longer time it is not jitter what we're influencing. Or not jitter *only*. Ok, just keep this in mind, in case it becomes important later ...

When I found those huse amounts of decimal 8000 transients, I looked at such a file for confirmation. Btw, the 50000 occasions of decimal 8000 in one track (the 8000 being an 1/8 of the total range) is a relative small amount looking at the number of samples in a whole track. Mind you, there are 44100 in one second, so a 300 second track would contain those steep transients in around 1/300 part of it, totalling to one second, or roughly 150 occasions per second (never mind my math). How can it be so that 150 times per second a transient occurs of which at least I myself cannot imagine how it can happen in nature ?
So, looking at the file - and I often look at files - it indeed showed those "endless" going up (or down) straight voltage changes, but, I never saw them before. Why ? well, because when there are 150 in a second, there are 43950 more normal sample-changes, and the chance to meet a strange one is 0.3%. Also, if you are expeerienced on this, you will know that you'd *never* find such an occasion by accident, which is related to the scale you are looking at, and or the zooming is so small that the peaks won't show, or the zooming is so large that only, say, 10 decimal fits vertically in the window, while we talk about 8000.
Well, since the Crack Detect showed that they are there, and aith some addtional data I knew where to expect the "cracks", I indeed found them. It looks completely ridiculous, and I keep on saying it can't be. On this matter, note that any vibrating source needs a start for a couple of cycles before it comes to full amplitude. Even electrically (like in an amp) this is so, I think.

Rather important side note :
When indeed it is normal that such huge transients exist, upsampling just can not work, meaning :
When a transient with 16 bits comprises of 8000 decimal, you tell me where to split that transient. At 4000 ? at 7000 ? at 100 ? mind you, it happens at 4000 because it is the only thing to "know". This is *very* different when one expect transients so be, say, 20 at max, and the relative error would be infinitly smaller. Also, who says that such a *transient* should be cut ?

Back to my rather pretentious thinking I tried to start this subject with : what if playback implied so much more accuracy (of whatever it is that can happen in the DAC) that we start to hear those "crackles" ? And please keep in mind : those huge transients MUST be heard as crackles. I wouldn't know how to perceive them differently. And they just *are* in the data ...

To put things in the proper perspective : when one such a transient would be there I think it is virtually impossible to hear it. On that matter : 0.00002 seconds is the time one sample takes, and the crackle you hear sure takes longer. This could be caused by nature physics (like ringing), but I don't think so. What I do think, is that only more of them can exhibit as being there, and indeed in the file it's not single spikes showing. It's always more, and it always looks like no accident. So, say that 10 of those become audible, it's only a matter of meeting them at the right place (like in the otherwise coincidentally low amplitude of ambient sound).

Dave, so far I only listened to the second track of that Cornershop album, and as I said before, this didn't sound right to me, *but* it was on the edges of the rythm. Wat does this tell ? bad recording ? something overhoots ?

In order to understand the difference between versions ... things *have* changed, but if all is right, nothing that could incur for something being wrong now. More accurate (in my theoretical perception on things that change sound) yes. The last version (0.9u-8) more than the one before.
I too have been walking to the speaker a couple of times because from a distance I thought I heard a "distortion", but being upclose I thought nea.


All of the above may later turn out to be somepletely senseless, when I find something wrong in the software afterall. But if the latter is not the case, the world news is written in the above : CD recordings s*ck all over, and it only needs more accurate playback to discover it.
However, so far I believe the guy who told me that those transients can exist. But keep in mind : this is what he saw on his DAW, looking at the master before pressing to CD. So in the end he might just have seen the same as I did.


Quote
Another weird thing I ran into, a few times (like once/twice a listening session) 09-u7/8 would ... like... the musicians would false start but immediately start up again from hiccup, this was usually at the beginning of a song. no distortion, kinda seemless.  If you're listening to rock it might seem in place Happy

I believe it, but can't imagine what you exactly mean.
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