XXHighEnd

All NOS1a owners,

Because of your now isolated D/A converter ("a" version of the NOS1) there are hardly constraints in the playback software and I thought to start a topic for it. Say that all (settings) could be automated by means of denoting "Is NOS1a" in a new field, but this requires a new version of XXHighEnd and I am not up to that yet. Meanwhile many people ask for the settings now, plus you could be using XXHigHEnd in an unnecessary unconvenient setting.

I will keep this first post up-to-date and also make it more complete over time.

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Using LAN (and from there a remote over WiFi)

In the 1.186-a (or 1.186-i) version of XXHighEnd it requires a trick to make all more convenient for you :

Boot into Normal OS Mode and go to the Services section in Settings. There denote Stop Desktop Services and Stop Remaining Services. Also denote Keep LAN Services (Persistent if you like but it doesn't matter).
N.b.: For Remote Control via RDC also denote "Use Remote Desktop".
Now reboot into Minimized OS.

Go to Settings again and and now deactivate Stop Remaining Services as well as Stop Desktop Services.

What now happens for more convenience are three things (all Unattended Playback assumed) :

- The Wallpaper Coverart can be normally used in Windows 8 (8.1 the same).
- The LAN connection never shuts down hence doesn't need to come up when needed (the coming up is quite painful in Windows 7).
- You can use a tablet etc. for remote control over WiFi if only the audio PC is cable-connected to the router (which connects to WiFi).

This is all not detrimental to SQ that I know of.

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Normal main SQ settings

This should apply to all forms of playback :

Q1 = 14
xQ1 = 1
Q3 = 0
Q4 = 0
Q5 = 0
Device Buffer Size = 4096
SFS = 4
Clock resolution = 1

When you like you can dial in any other setting and it should not be detrimental to SQ. Do notice though that 1.186-i (there for the NOS1a) contains a few things which may imply "problems" with other settings. Thus it is best to just use the above - when SQ does not matter anyway.

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XTweaks settings

I would not change these. This is because related to the PC itself and the PC itself still matters (more or less).

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BIOS Settings

Same as above. Just let them be as you had those.

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Obtain XXHighEnd 1.186-i for the NOS1a

See this post (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=2944.msg31692#msg31692).

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Thanks Peter,

To complement your post would be helpful also if could be explained in detail (perhaps it is already done in some other posts) a couple of things:

- How to install step by step the LAN

- How to install step by step the remote control to use a tablet or maybe a smartphone over WiFi.

Finally a question: Using the 1.186-i version, is Windows 8.1 as good for SQ as Windows 8?

Regards,
Juan

Hi Juan,


I wouldn't count on that. Not at all actually.

Peter

Hi Peter, are your bios settings the same as posted here:
http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=2882.msg30369#msg30369

Thanks.

Brian

Brian, yes. I never changed those (without real reason, but also no real reason to change).

Peter

I added XTweaks and BIOS little sections to the main post.

Peter - I am using these settings and Wallpaper kind of works but not quite!  When XX goes into Unattended wallpaper is shown on the desktop. But the wallpaper shown is for the last album playing. If I then say increase or decrease the volume the wallpaper is then refreshed and shows correctly.

Not a big deal but thought I would mention it.

Hey Paul,

This can be because your Q3,4,5 aren't zero.

Otherwise there's this possibility :
If you recognize that you don't have any wallpaper showing after Stop (say black background only) then delete the Wallpaper.bmp from your XX folder and next set a Wallpaper officially. Then it should work.

Peter

Bingo - deleting the bmp worked.



Cheers

I spoke too soon it does not work same problem. Settings are as you prescribe and I deleted the bmp but no joy same problem. I am sure it started working correctly but now I wonder.

Hi Peter,

I´d like to know if now with the NOS1a is still important to not use PMW (Pulse-width modulation) that control the fan´s speed by the motherboard. I tried to let the mb to control the fans speed setting it to "Silent" that reduces the speed as low as 250rpm in the CPU fan which makes it really silent, of course the temperature of the CPU rises until 40ºC (while looking at the bios) although when XXHE is playing the temperature goes down again to 33 or 34ºC (I´m using the same XTweaks as you, Peter). So, the temperature of the CPU is not a problem using that Silent setting (max. CPU temperature allowed is 70ºC). What I like to know, as I say, is if in your opinion now with the "isolated" NOS1a the modulation of the fans by the mb could influence the SQ or not.

Personally I can´t ear any difference in SQ, now the PC is absolutely silent using the PMW and although the previous noise of the fans was not annoying it was nevertheless perceivable.

Regards,
Juan

Hey Juan,

It must be regarded that such things still matter. However, (honestly) I can't really tell. If you don't hear any difference then it could be good to not seek for it anyway. Well, that his how I am myself.
Now, net, it is more important that you don't perceive the acoustical noise of the fan anymore, right ?

Peter

Thanks Peter, after some more tests I´m not so sure that the PMW has not influence in the SQ. I have to test it for more time to confirm it definitively. What I´d really like is to build a fanless PC. I´ll be aware on others that are building it that way.

Regards,
Juan

Well I'd have to disagree with the idea that XX settings don't make much of a difference. On the first day I received my "a" upgrade, I applied Peters settings above. The sound was a bit strange and, accounting for break in, I immediately reapplied my settings below and the sound was much better, but still things in the DAC needed to have some burn in time. After 10 plus days of 24/7 burn in time, it's clear to me that SFS and Clock resolution settings still make significant differences in my system (this is without any clock upgrade in the PC) I think the most significant change comes with the clock resolution. Before my "a" upgrade I had to set the clock res to 15. Going lower just made the sound too harsh. Now I've found the best setting to be 1, just the opposite from before. If I now set it at 15 the sound becomes noticeably grey. If I go to .5 it becomes noticeably harsh. Though not as dramatic a change, I find that a SFS of .4 works best for me. If I go to 20 or 60 SFS the sound gets too rounded and when I go below .4 it gets too harsh. The changes with SFS are certainly much more subtle than they were before the "a" upgrade but they are definitely there.

I haven't sorted out all the settings but using my settings below I'm currently totally amazed at the level of SQ I'm getting.

I can't really comment on any of the XXhigend settings yet, I've only been acquainted with xxhigend/nos1a for about a week now.

The difference between what I had, and what I now have is so vast that it dwarfs any changes to the settings that I make:)

However, I do have some concerns about how everything is set up:

I have one Win7 Ultimate/SP1 machine which I use to control everything via  a remote desktop machine (wired, gigabit network). Here I'm not logged in as administrator, and UAC is active.

The remotely controlled audio machine runs minimized OS, unattended, no screen. Here I'm logged in as administrator, I don't use a virus scanner, I never use the internet from this machine, but obviously it is connected to the router, and thus only protected by the firewall.

Is this safe, and if not, what is the best way of improving matters without compromises in SQ?

And please don't ask me to disconnect the ethernet cable:)

Henk

Hi Brian,

And this is all with Windows 7?

Regards Johan

Yes-W7.

Me Too

Brian : Although I have never tried exactly *that*, I can imagine that W7 is more prone to SQ differences by these means in the first place. But I didn't know it (from the "a" I mean). So, interesting.

Depends on what we call "obviously". I mean, I don't. But it may depend on what you want. My situation :

Tablet -> WiFi -> Router -> LAN Cable -> Music Server (means : contains the music data).
Now careful :
Music Server -> LAN Cable -> Audio PC.

The above is the physical connection. Now the functional one :

Tablet(RDC) <-> Music Server (RDC) <-> Audio PC.
So Tablet controls the Audio PC via the Music Server.

No Audio PC is connected to the Internet here. Only to the Music Server.
The Music Server *is* connected to the Internet, but only because that is convenient for me. So if I detach the (in my case) ADSL cable from it, no internet but still all the required connections for audio.

Peter

Brian, something else :

Did you actually apply this : XXHighEnd settings for the NOS1a (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=3057.msg33103#msg33103) ?
I'm asking, because without applying that (sequence) nothing works in MinOS for what you want with it.

Peter

Will give that sequence a try. Thanks!

Hi,

  I just received my upgraded NOS 1a and running-in for about a week now.

  Must really thank Peter and Ciska for the excellent job and service.

  Initially, I tried Peter's suggested XX settings, with my Bios settings also as per what Peter had recommended. The music was really good, much improved than before the upgrade.

  But I reverted to my previous XX settings, albeit with minor adjustments, and have to agree that even after the upgrade, they do make a difference to SQ. Current settings are denoted in my signature.

  Maybe it is placebo effect. But to me, the improvements I noticed are:

1. Lower noise-floor. Musical notes are even better separated. And there's more air and plenty of spatial information.

2. I can hear more details. Bass details are better defined, less muddled.

3. Better dynamics. Music is now more charged and lifelike.

Best regards.

Daniel

 :scratching:

So this "music server" needs 2 LAN ports and therefore can't be my old lappie?

Am I correct?

Regards,
Stanley

Hi,

if you have a free USB port you can use an adapter.

http://www.advancetec.co.uk/edimax-eu-4208-usb-2-0-to-fast-10-100-ethernet-adapter-perfect-for-ultrabooks-pc-mac.html

Joachim

[Highlight mine]

I've always wanted to do this. Is the procedure as simple as getting a crossover ethernet cable and then doing this: http://www.wikihow.com/Connect-Two-Computers-Together-with-an-Ethernet-Cable ?

Mani.

I doubt you will even need the crossover cable Mani, just a normal one should be fine with modern ethernet controllers.

Yep, The magic word is "gigabit" Ethernet. Most recent mobos have these controllers on board.

Note that both pcs must have this kind of hardware support (or maybe not as I think of it).

Regards, Coen

Stanley, essentially Yes. But then of course you can use the LAN cable to connect to the Audio PC directly (better think like connecting the Audio PC to the Laptop = your Music Server for easier functional thinking) - and use WiFi for connecting to the router (with WiFi capabilities).

OK, getting dizzy of it myself. Better make such small schematics yourself, so I can see what the full picture is. So notice that your case seems to imply a laptop as "Control PC", that also containing/providing  the music, but which connects to the Audio PC via LAN cable. Can be of course, but why to have the next LAN cable then ? Internet ? so then counts what I said : do that through WiFi (from the laptop).

Peter

Hi Peter,

So I could basically buy one of these:
http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/268169/icidu-gigabit-pci-card.html

and connect the audio pc to the control pc directly instead of the router.

It's just that I feel that this still doesn't really answer my initial question... The audio pc will still be used as administrator, without virus scanner, and without UAC. And it will still be connected to the same network, right? So I have the feeling that even if I do this, it won't be too difficult to get infected by anything without even noticing (initially) Or am I wrong here?

But I have no idea if this concern is valid. Does the firewall give me sufficient protection if I don't use the internet from the audio pc???

Henk,

If you do what I proposed in response to your earlier post, your Audio PC is not connected to the Internet anywhere. Only your "Music Server" is. But whether you really want the latter is up to you.

Btw, didn't look into the link you provided. Maybe tomorrow ...

Regards,
Peter

Thanks Joachim, I wasn't aware of these adapters.

Stanley

Thanks Peter,

So it will be either:

(Tablet -> WiFi ->) Router -> LAN Cable -> Music Server=Laptop+USB HDD -> LAN Cable -> Audio PC

or

(Tablet -> WiFi ->) Router -> WiFi -> Music Server=Laptop+USB HDD -> LAN Cable -> Audio PC

Are there any differences in functionality in these set-ups?

Regards,
Stanley

Hi Stanley,

No, there won't be much difference;
Your first schematic requires two Ethernet ports in the Music Server (= your laptop and it won't have that by standard) and the second setup requires an Ethernet Port and Wifi in the Music Server ( = your laptop, and likely to be present by standard).

One addition :
Possibly you may notice a little more lag in the second setup, because of the slower (responding) WiFi now also needed for the RDC connection from the Router to the Music Server. So two WiFi connections for the two cascaded RDC connections, which connections of course word 2-way (send commands to the Audio PC, which responds by screen updates).

Regards,
Peter

Henk, Yes. And get it from Dixons. :) But I guess there must be some error in order there.
So that card goes into the Music Server which now thus provides two Ethernet (LAN) connections.

And a maybe bit longer answer to this now :


Yes, it will be on the same network (almost - see below). However, looking from the Audio PC's side of matters, that can not reach the Internet. At this time I don't know by heart what I explicitly did for that, but say "nothing" (which right away would be the reason why I don't remember it ;)).
So this connection (from Music Server to Audio PC) is on a separate LAN "Adapter" which automatically springs from the separate Ethernet Interface. Now again seen from the Audio PC, it requires a special setting on the Music Server (containing the both interfaces) so the *both* connect and allow passing on (through) the data from the Audio PC to the Router. Without that connection (which by default is never there), the data can not be passed on.

I must honestly say that I never tried to look at this from the Music Server's perspective. But think like this for hopefully better understanding :

Tablet(RDC) -> Router -> Music Server(RDC) -> Audio PC.

Thus, in my case the Music Server is a Remote Desktop, actually working on the Audio PC. The Tablet is a Remote Desktop working on the Music Server.
What you see on the Tablet's screen is virtually (but for real) the Audio PC's desktop.

When those two "Network Adapters" in the Music Server are set to connect, then I would (could) do this :

Tablet(RDC) -> Router -> MusicServer -> Audio PC.

Notice the "(RDC)" lacking in the Music Server now. This is because I now can use the Music Server as a sort of electrical connection point between Router and Audio PC.
Now the Audio PC for sure will be able to be reached from anywhere, as it would be possible to let the Audio PC access the Internet.
Regarding the latter : That is, assumed the Router is connected to the Internet, which is not necessary at all (get yourself an extra one and don't put in the (A)DSL etc. cable).

In the Music Server(RDC) situation, the connection goes (very) indirectly by software only and the copying of keyboard commands and screen outputs; just how RDC works.

One last thing :
When you'd work with Minimize OS settings that only allow LAN and Remote Desktop services, *only* the LAN stuff required for what "we" do is present, and this is not Internet. I don't say that this is required (because see above), and I just mention it for completeness.

Hope it is clear a little !
Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the effort:) appreciated.

I don't even have a tablet, so my set-up would be even simpler:
just router -> Music Server (rdp) -> audio pc

I just wasn't shure that if I do it this way that the audio pc can not be reached from the big bad world:)

On the error side of things: I think I just discovered why that network card is so cheap: No win7/win8 drivers are available.

Thanks,

Henk

I noticed also that the SQ is very sensible to the volume, more than before with the NOS1. In my case I need to get at least -21,5db to sound really well, when before it was around -33.0db.

Juan

Yeah Juan, I am never sure about that.
Maybe you recall that a long time ago we (so you as well IIRC) talked about how not paying at a realistic level (like a piano plays at 90dBSPL) implies a sort of distortion (in our minds). I still adhere this theory.

Of course this is all related to how "real" as such the sound is to begin with, but I can imagine that the better that gets, the more this "required" realistic level applies.
But mind you, this is quite a BS theory from me, based on nothing much. Still, if we think about how we may compare something we heard at a concert and play similar back home, then our brain will only match with that well when all is the same. And this includes the level.
When this matching does not work out well, it could be a tiring thing for us to make it match. Like watching TV upside down will also work after a while. But in the beginning it is quite tiring. Brain at 100% cpu until it goes automatically.

:scratching:
Peter

I find it a very interesting theory. The better the media we use to reproduce the reality, the "reality" reproduced approaches to the real reality, (what a tongue twister!). Let me put an example, if we use a lens to look at an object we´ll see that object, some way or the other, in an altered way. As better as the lens is, as "real" the object will be reproduced. But if the lens we use are our eyes the real thing becomes totally real (not philosophical arguments here, just physical). This is how I understand your theory and  I totally agree with you. Now, in our situation, the NOS1a is certainly a better tool than the NOS1, so in this case it reproduces the sound closer to the real sound and the volume is, of course, a quality inherent to the real sound. So, the NOS1a could be a more sensible tool to the volume.

Sorry if I seem confusing in my reasoning.

Juan

Like this?

(http://www.bd-design.nl/denote.png)


Like this?

(http://www.bd-design.nl/deactivate.png)

Should I shut down more services for better SQ (NOS1a) or doesn't it matter? I do not need anything else than playing tracks from my NAS so if you have some more advice to optimize settings then these will be very much welcome...  :)

Bert

PS RDC is the next step so please keep this in mind when you answer.  ;)

Hey Bert,

Yes, like that and especially for RDC usage.

And as I said, for now this is a kind of "trick" to get where you want, while a next version will do this more intuitively;
Possibly that will again shut off services not needed in this situation, with the notice that at this moment my outlay does not go further than "hey, and next leave all On as it is" ... because that is what it comes down to (see your second screenshot). But :

Maybe nothing will change for Services remaining On because when we dive into the Remote (tablet) screen mapping and more, we will see that there's quite more to it, while actually I have this all running nicely now with the Services ON.
So we'll just have to wait for the next version and see what I could make of it in the end, or wanted to make of it, because all these bits and pieces cost quite crazy much time to let work nicely. :yes:

Peter

In other words better do not use LAN (for SQ) but an external HDD with all services down as before?

Bert

No ?
I use it myself with all On. And best SQ in the world I'd say.
haha

Haha, yes - are you sure???

Saw the horns here.
http://www.monoandstereo.com/2015/02/tatsuyoshi-moriyama-horn-based-speakers.html

Wrong DAC. ;)

Those horns are wrong in multiple levels. The only thing it can do at this point in time is play loud!!

VJ

Not just that, why are the bass drivers not horn loaded! This is where most gain in qaulity can be found!

Still looking pretty amazing though, even bigger than my own speakers!  :o

"Driver potpourri"
 :)

And what are doing those tube amps placed there?. Would not it be better to place them away in some bamboo boards to avoid vibrations?  ;)

Juan