bogi

I expect you have that already proven with your previous DACs. You mentioned Intona many times in the previous years.

@AudioExplorer As the first thing, with HQPlayer not running, you can move your %LOCALAPPDATA%\HQPlayer\settings.xml (usually C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\HQPlayer) to some other directory and start HQPlayer. It should then start with default settings. If that doesn't help, move the settings file back. Do you have still the previous version installation media stored? If you can, try to return to your previous version to see if that version behaves still flawlessly. You can try this more pedant reinstallation procedure for Win11 application: Reboot (to ensure that no process blocks full uninstallation) Settings -> Apps -> Installed Apps -> uninstall Signalyst HQPlayer 5 Desktop Check if files in C:\Program Files\Signalyst\HQPlayer 5 Desktop were deleted. Install the new version. Check if you didn't start using some kind of software you didn't use previously. Check if you didn't start to experience any other issues with your computer, which are not related to HQPlayer.

You would need to try some DAC without USB treatment to be able to compare USB cables or to perceive the effect of added Intona. Find some $20 on aliexpress for such a testing. 😁

Press [Options] You can set graphics adapter of your choice for specific applications which usually run when you are using HQPlayer. It is also possible to do that setup in nVidia Control Panel. See https://techwiser.com/set-default-graphics-on-windows-11/

With Intel CPUs containing their own integrated graphics one can set applications like web browser to use Intel graphics and thus to free maximum CUDA resources for HQPlayer. I explained it more times in the past and included also some pictures.

As you noted, one has to compare concrete DAC devices. Many R2R implementations produce noise and distortion at very high levels. On the other side, for example R2R measurements of Holo Audio May are excellent. But that's rather an exception, reflected in the product price. With PCM source, cheap mediocre delta-sigma implementations provide better price/performance ratio than cheaper mediocre R2R implementations. It is cheaper to obtain desired performance from delta sigma technology than from R2R one.

You can try poly-sinc-gauss-halfband.

There is difference between DACs in many aspects of sound presentation. They don't sound the same. If you would search for differences between for example Spring and T+A DAC 200, you could find that DAC 200 could you suit you better for EDM. With PCM to DSD conversion, of course.

Many of us still remember the analog world of music. When CD players were first time introduced, people found that the same albums sound differently, with hardened transients, many times listening was not so relaxed and enjoyable than from vinyl source. But after some years new generation didn't hear anything else than sound of cheap delta sigma implementations. The deformation coming from these cheap and low quality solutions became a standard and people started thinking "this is how it should sound". By paradox, when those people hear clean analog sound, they are often missing the distortion of delta sigma chips. When testing PCM to DSD conversion in HQPlayer, concentrate yourself on fine detail of transients and answer yourself, what you like more. Maybe one needs longer listening period to accomodate to a new sound to be able to judge what is better. My personal opinion is that the PCM to DSD conversion in HQPlayer brings cleaner, more relaxed, more enjoyable sound. PCM source listened without HQPlayer through typical delta sigma chips like wiim IMO results to added distortion creating false effect of more attack but with loss of fine transient detail. But that's only my opinion. Use your ears, not mine or goldensound's opinion. It's like with taste in the case of meal. Anything will be result of your evaluation, it's your truth. Your taste - your enjoyment.

Your VAC shows 48k/16 as current source format. You need to set HQPlayer input URI to that rate: When URI line is set, press <Enter> in the input box: Then you see the new entry as track #1: Now, after the previous steps are done, you can start playback by any available method. When playback is running, you see the actual format conversion. Of course, you can use HQPlayer Client to conveniently switch filters, modulators, Matrix pipeline presets etc.

Just not to confuse kayne ... of course you meant HQPlayer Client.

Yes, 1bit nature indicates that, but it doesn't tell anything about if hardware based digital processing can be bypassed (the topic of this thread). I am skeptic in this regard when we speak about Topping products ...

No mention about internal oversampling in the case of PCM input. No clear information about DAC architecture - their PSRM abbreviation is not explained what does it mean according to Topping. No mention about direct DSD path. Their product description is rather a marketing blablabla which tells nothing about DAC implementation.

You could use a virtual audio cable product to pass DAW output to HQPlayer.

Of course, it si still USB2 but that limitation comes from your Fibbr Alpha. For full USB3 connection you would need to substitute Fibbr Alpha with something else. I believe with my suggestion you could potentially provide more power to iFi USB port but of course still using USB2 data connection. One would need to check if it makes any diference against Teddy connected to Fibbr Alpha and no USB adapter.