XXHighEnd

Hi Peter,


When I'm playing seperated 96/24 (my dac-freq.) Flac-tracks (and ONLY high 96 khz Flac, not Wave for example, and without a cue-file), a message “End of track” appears after any track, which result in no sound. Clicking “OK” on the message gives a loud white noise. Track slider will keep on running, until the end of all next tracks if I let it go. Stop and play again will help, for just one track again. Any idea what's wrong?

Looks like something in the area of 24 bit input while there's also 24 bit output (far more common is 32 bit output).

I will check this myself.

but

Be careful, because the hiss coming from clicking away the message also may tell that your DAC doesn't accept 24 bits input (but 32). You really have to know this first. Try 16/44.1 material for this, and set the slider to 2x and switch On Arc Prediction.

(maybe you can't use 88.2 for your DAC at all ? I forgot ...)

Hi Peter,

I tried your suggestions. My usb-module accept the following rates only: 44.1, 48 and 96 khz. So doubling the rate by slider to 88.2 khz is no option. The Pink-Faun dac is a “24 bit dac only”, will not play at 32 bits setting (message “Device allocated but can’t play…”). Arc-prediction activated will not affect anything due to the problem of “End of Track” while playing 24/96 material with separated flac-files (XX will playback the same as switching it off).

I also got this error message a few times playing a 24/96 wav file. My Weiss AFI1 interface can accept 32 or 24 bit - I have it set to 24 bit. I'm not sure if there's an issue with a 24/192 album. Let me try this later today.

Just a couple of points from my side:
1. I haven't used the Weiss/PM2 combo for playback duties for a while now, and have just started using them again a few weeks ago (whilst my NOS1s are being upgraded). But when I was using this combo daily, I always had the Weiss set to 24 bit without any issue whatsoever.
2. I only just upgraded to 0.9z-5-2 yesterday - had been using 0.9z-4-1 for ages and ages.

Peter, let me know if there's anything you'd like me to try.

Mani.

Samda,

Maybe I'm a bit responding to your PM as well ... :)

Just to be sure that you (or others) get what this deep down is about ...
A DAC which is able to play 24/96 but which is not able to play 24/88.2. This makes no sense.

One of the powers of XXHighEnd is its Arc Prediction. Ok, too bad you can't use that. But now you are "desireing" that some most stupid upsampling mechanism is used to play with ... well, upsampling. You should NOT do that, because it won't even sound good. Playing 16/44.1 natively (though onto 24 bits which is okay if it were for me) will be better without exception, assuming the Pink Faun is not an NOS DAC.
The Anti Aliasing (AI) filtering is there for people to compare with Arc Prediction, but now only for NOS DACs. Remember, an OS DAC is doing these things (filtering) internally, and you won't be able to improve on that, unless with Arc Prediction (well, not you :sorry:).

As said before, that native 24/96 is ot playing for you (24 bits only) bad luck at this moment, but in the next version that is solved. And if I'm allowed to say it : don't worry about 24/96 not being playable for you, because I yet have to find 24/96 which sounds good. (they are all wrongly produced).

All 'n all it seems that you force yourself into problems which shouldn't be there in the first place - when you play as should in your situation (which is 16/44.1 not upsampled or anything).

Do you experience problems with this too ?

Kind regards,
Peter

I do not have any problems playing files at resolutions my dac supported, not using any upsampling by the way (not supported). I play any file the way as it should,  in original resolution. Also I’m not force myself into problems so far I know, there is just the problem as mentioned in this topic (stopped playing after each 24/96 FLAC file, message “end of track”).

I’m really hope the problem will be solved next version.

Ok, the "End of track" is an illegal situation. This is some combination with track length and buffer size used.
Btw, the same situation can easily be mimiced when using AI filtering, when this happens at the first track after one minute or so (this is a bug within itself, but implies an unexpected track length).

It is more difficult, and therefore quite impossible to troubleshoot without having the same DAC (or AFI1 interface, Mani), because it -thus- is DAC (Driver) buffer related. On this matter you could try to higher the buffer (IIRC you (Samda) have it set at 96 samples). It may make the difference.

However, since it seems that it is also 0.9z-5-2 related (or post 0.9z-4-1 anyway), and more clear bugs somewhere "in that area" sure *can* be solved, I will do that now and next we must see how that impacts your situation.

I hope this is okay for now.
Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your answer. I had the idea to uninstall the program totally and then a clean re install and configuration again, same settings. And you know what? Problem wasn’t there anymore! So it’s now playing correctly any high-def 24-96khz flac file, for now. Don’t know what the cause was...or if the problem possibly appear again, not until now (a week tried). Looking forward to the next version anyway!

Oeps! Next version was there allraedy.....now greatly running version 0.9z-6 with Minimize OS - function active. Amazing improvement!! All issues I was bordered over are solved (so far I can see/use). Thanks!

Thank you for the feedback !
And sorry that you missed it at first ...  :)

29/96k "End of Track" error, no sound

Hi Peter,

Just downloaded a NAIM 24/96k wav track and cannot play it in 9z5.2. I get the End of track error immediately at "play". If I click on the error msg, I hear a quick burst of white noise, then nothing. Looks like the play slider is moving though.

If I move the upsample slider incrementally, (using arc predict on) I get a different message: "24 bit second stage crack detect when slider moved to 192 upsample".

The tracks seem to play on my mac fine using Amarra.

Any thoughts?

using 9z5.2 with sfs 430, Lynx aes card to Alpha Dac. 32 bit setting on dac.

Thanks.
/Lee Mincy

Thank you Lee. But I think this was solved in the latest version (which you don't seem to use).

Regards,
Peter

Ok, thanks Peter. I thought that might be the case, but wanted to mention it.

Best.
/Lee

Peter,

Just installed 9z6-1 according to your instructions and am not able to hear any 24/96k tracks. As I said earlier, I downloaded some Charlie Haden 24/96 from Naim and 9z6-1 looks like it is playing the tracks, but no sound. One change from 9z5-2, I am not seeing any more error messages.

Am playing KS streaming thru a Lynx aes16 card in to my Alpha dac and the dac shows 96k track is attempted, but no sound.

24/192 plays fine, just takes awhile to load into mem buffer, which is normal I assume.

Minimize OS mode seems to work ok as well. Sound is a bit dithered-sounding, a bit warm and rich. But I need to explore a bit more with it.

Any suggestions for getting 24/96 playback working? The Lynx  has managed 24/96 before, so I don't understand why this latest download fails to play.

Thanks for any thoughts on this.
/Lee

Can you post the X3PB log file of both a 192 and a 96 session ?

What I'd like best is that you first kill the sound engine (the Off button in the Q panel) and then start 192. When it plays, do nothing and grab the log file (in TemporaryData under your XX folder and with logging switched on).
Stop playback, kill the sound engine again and now do the 96. When you're sure it should be playing, grab the log file again.

Of course don't use Minimize OS and set your SFS low, or otherwise it won't go after killing the sound engine.

Can you do that please ?
Thanks,
Peter

I was just thinking ... I am not 100% sure I won't need the X3 log files as well. So before I have to ask you later to do it all again, you better post those too right away.

Peter

And another thing :

Is the Lynx not so that it supports a dual wire interface for 192 ? If that is so, you'd have to select another Sound Device for 96.

The shot is too long, I'm sure ...

Peter,

I'll get log files for both 96 and 192, but I think I need another activation code? The one I used before suddenly does not work for either copy of XXHighend and I am once again in Demo mode.
/Lee

Peter,

How can I re-activate my copy of XXhighend? It is running in demo mode now, since installing 9z6.1.

Lynx card has always played 96k tracks with no problem. It is configured for single wire aes only.

/Lee

Sorry, I was out and just missed your post. But by now we exchanged some emails ...

Yeah we did. Now I have XXhighend playing at 1ms and am really impressed. sfs =430, ks scheme 3 Q1 30, 0,0,0,0.

Thanks Pete.
/Lee

Great !

Okay, about the 24/96 tracks ...

This appeared to be only about a Naim (sample ?) album which can be downloaded.

Lee, thanks for sending me an example track; it appears to have wrong header data, but it could be solved. So, in the due 0.9z-7 it will play.

Regards,
Peter

Wrong header data? So is this something that Naim should solve for? Just curious.

I am really liking 9z6.1, really impressed. Redbook never sounded so good. Hearing details I never heard before, even in 9z5.2. Also am loving the upsample slider, which I never really used much until this weekend. It ads so much to my old or poorly recorded cd's. Makes them listenable once again, even fat sounding where they used to be shrill, harsh and lack bass.

All of this is KS thru a Lynx aes16 card into a Berkeley Alpha dac. I've also recently installed the two inline Sotm filters (HD and fan power) and think they help with noise floor? Blacks seem somehow quieter.

Next experiment is to play with usb and both the Sotm and Alpha usb converters --> alpha Dac. But I honestly doubt the sound will improve much from here.

Kudos Peter!

/Lee

Hello Lee,

I guess you are the same Lee as Minzyman. If it does not take too much of your time, you may like to elaborate your signature.

I am one of those in this forum who owns both BADA and NOS1 USB. There are a number of tweaks that you can do before investing in Alpha USB interface (USD 1,700). For example, off mobo Lynx interface which requires PCI extender (Exsys EX-1095) so you can feed the Lynx card with linear psu or replacing the stock AES cable bundle with custom cable using Cardas Clear (quite expensive but mark improvement in SQ). You may like to upgrade reclocker using Grimm or Antelope and Legato USB/SPDIF interface ; earflappin has done this successfully.

However, if you really determine to get the Alpha USB, please do so and do us a favor too. Please also purchase NOS1 USB from Peter and run AB test between BADA + Alpha USB and NOS1 USB. This is something that I left out in my post here     http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1820.msg18560#msg18560  If you like BADA + Alpha USB more than NOS1 USB, you can get a refund from Peter. But I bet that you will end up with those 2 fine DACs.  Please write a review too. I am eager to learn from your experience.

On the "header data" topic, I understand that Peter uses some tagged data in those tracks which create conflict with XXHE 0.9z-5 and later. Peter has solved this already in the upcoming release.

Cheers!
Praphan

Praphan,

Thanks for the note. I'd love to demo the Phasure usb Dac. Isn't it around $5000 US? How about you lend one to Jon Reichbach at Sonic Studio (I work with him) and we can test it and hear the sound (both using Amarra on a Mac and my copy of XXHighend on my Zalman/Lynx setup. This way, I can turn it into a great demo event for the Bay Area Audiophile Society, which includes two writers from Stereophile. Would give you some great press in the Bay Area, if the dac is that good.

Just a thought. Amarra is for Mac only, so I don't see a conflict, but actually a nice opportunity.

/Lee

Hi Lee,

I wish I could. But I live in Bangkok Thailand!
Cheers!

Praphan

Praphan,

Can you explain this a bit more or point me in the right direction?

"off mobo Lynx interface which requires PCI extender (Exsys EX-1095) so you can feed the Lynx card with linear psu"

what is off mobo?

Any else tried pci extender?

/Lee

Hi Lee,

It is an accepted fact that there are still certain level of RMF and EMF emissions inside the PC case even a passive type like Zalman. We still cannot find any replacement for switching PSU for desktop PC which generates noise.

The point here is to get Lynx card out of the noisy environment using PCI or PCIe extender, depending on your Lynx slot type, which consists of EX 1095 adapter (http://www.integrate-computer.de/Exsys-EX-1095-PCI-Express-Erweiterung-Karte) and EX 1035 expansion board (http://www.exsys.ch/download/catalog/ex_1035.pdf). You will then be able to build a decidated faraday cage to shield Lynx card and feed it with external linear power supply. Connection between the adapter and the expansion board is via typical DVI cable. I think you should be able to find Exsys product in the USA.

Hope the above is clearer.
Praphan

PS. Thanks for your signature update. Most of us here have already migrated from SSD to spining disk due to superior SQ. Some of us run faster HHD solely for OS + XXHE separately from slower HHD storing music files. This is proven to yield better SQ too.