XXHighEnd Model 0.9z-4-1

[boleary]

Geeze, I never saw your post until now. I used a Hiface and a JKenny modified Hiface as an interface between my laptop and my old DAC. Both worked well with kernel streaming. The modified JKenny is a liitle more than twice the price of the standard Hiface. I thought it was worth it.

[hwk]

Hi Fellow XXHighenders, 
the last few weeks, I'm a "believer" like you all here. I started my listening to WAV files since3 december 2010 via Foobar 2000, since it was recommended by the supplier om my new HTPC. I was a happy listener, because with this software this PC/Soundcard sounded a lot better than my old and loyal Meridian 588 Player (Price in 2002: Euro 3200,= or so) But, I bought a dedicated HTPC because my good friend Johan is a true XXHe-believer since the stone-age. I listened to the progress of XXHe since many years and with the release of 0.9 Z4-1 it was clear to me, that it was a good product, albeit a bit ugly and rather complicated and tweaky to use.
But, if it was better on my PC than Foobar? Since my pal didn't want to compare it with Foobar on his system, the only way to find out was to try it myself. Till then, XXHe and it followers seemed to me like a sort of cultus, following a Guru, who spoke in tongues   
Well, trying XXHe was not thàt simple for me. I had all kinds of trouble in installing XXHe and making it work properly. Screens full of warning messages in some sort of computerlanguage and all   
But now, TADA!: Yes, it's working all right. All my settings of XXHe are written below. The SQ is outstanding. Especially with live recordings from classical -, jazz - and other sorts of instrumental music the soundstage is livelike. Applause and yelling from the public is allmost like real. All the fine details-in-the-details. The cymbals: finally like real. With 16 Bits source. The only (small) remark: I have sometimes the illusion, that some extra "warmth" in the mix would be nice. Especially with some Pop and Rockmusic this is noticeable. Or is it that the recordings are lousy? My Magnepans are not that "bassy" sounding, but if a recording has real low frequencies (like Mussorgsky's Pictures by Jean Guillou) The drinking glasses are walking out of the cupboard. Perhaps I have to try some other settings here and there. Any suggestions?

[PeterSt]

Haha, what a nice story ! well,
!

Ok, I must say that it is not completey clear how you want to combine "more warmth" with "less sub" (or something which makes your glasses stay in place), but what I notice from your current settings is an inconsistency in the Mode you use (Special) and its intentions (ultra low latency), while in the mean time you hardly won't be able to go higher on the latency for Special Mode. I don't say it is "impossible" (because allowed), but it's not really made for it. So I would say : if something incurs for these higher settings, better use Adaptive Mode. Not saying either that this will sound better, but at least that is made for higher latency. Btw, Normal Mode is for "normal" Latency which is relatively "high" (all still adjustbable).


With the upcoming 0.9z-5 I tried to improve on "messages" during the install and first playback attempt. So let's see what comes from that. Too late for you, but hopefully more comfortable for others.

Thanks for the story,
Peter


Edit : PS : Yes, applause is one of the best things to listen for, to catch almost all the qualities of sound in one go ... 

[hwk]

Hello Peter,
Thanks for your advices, I wil try them out asap.
Of course I like real low frequencies. What I mean with warmth is: low mids (or hig bass) It is a very subtile thing and perhaps something personal: I have Planars, so they have no "box-like" sound, for they are not "boxes". In some recordings (perhaps (almost certainly..) monitored on "boxes"), some soundtechnicians will compensate this. This will have the effect on my speakers that the sound will be slightly "lean"
For this sort of recordings or other dull recordings (mostly Pop/Rock) I sometimes use my Aural Exciter Aphex 204. It ads some 2th harmonics to the bass sound, thus "thickens" it. I could also do that with the high frequencies. You may find it a horrific thing for high-end use, but it has the effect, that sounds of drums and cymbals, the s-sounds from voices will appear a bit apart from the recording. So it ads room for them. You can hear them better in the mix. It makes the sound less dull in a subtle manner. BTW: this apparatus is used in soundrecording studios since the seventies.

[hwk]

BTW Peter, my Latency checker reads 162 Microsec. max during UnAttended playing. Is this low enough? Or can it still be lower with other settings? Which? Thanks in advance.

[PeterSt]

I always found this quite unreliable. So, no real thoughts on it.
Notice that it can also get *lower* (for some) when playback starts ...

Nice about that exciter. Well, as long as it's not a modern digital one ... haha.