Hi
I just installed w5. After un-demoing and setting up music folder I restartet. Now, when I start XX and when I go to library I get a error message reading "VirtualMode is not supported in Tile view."

I can not see or select any item of the liberary, hence not play anything either.

Do you know what I can do to fix this?

Br Rolf

I have resently purchased a external Western Digital Harddisk (500Gb) and try to use it for storing music on. However loading of files to my PC takes too long time, so now I have gap before playing first song (>5 sec) and between songs (2 - 3 sec longer than normal).

Does anybody have a idea if this just the way it is and that I should use the disk for other purposes, or can something be tweaked to operate better to be able to play XX with it?

I found this
http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20distribution%20amp_splitter%202%20port.html

I am currently using usb as output, but have also found a HDMI switch on the net with a tos-link digital sound out. Does anybody have any experience using HDMI instead of usb? Should it make any quality difference?

I personally, think that every little bit of equipment makes some kind of difference, so maby my questione should be, has anybody tried, and was it a positive or negative change?

Rolf

I also use 16/44.1 as output so I too have played around with Q1 a bit (but I do play with upsampling using dCs Purcell instead - without getting much wise regarding what actually sounds best -always).

The first difficulty to overcome is ofcause what is your reference sound? Your CD player? The same album on LP (from maby another master, or at least mixed differently (but hopefully not "mastered to dead" like many CD's these days (aka - to high volume so dynamic is unrepearable lost)))? Just your personal taste (of that precisly album) or something else?

I have tried to use my dCs Verdi transport as a reference, but to not have to make to many changes I have to compare CD sound upsampled to DSD, with XX throu either just DAC (16/44.1) or throu upsampler as well (to DSD). I think already I have enough parameters to play with here, and then start with Q1 adjustment (puh!). Now, I have almost made no expences into PC based music yet, just a HagUSB so far - I am only testing if this is the way to go....

Anyway, so far I my plaiying around with Q1 has made me think that low values < 0 adds somthing like a little bit chorus to the sound, but also some hardnes (a bit to much "digital" sound, most noticable in the treble I think). > 14 (up to 28 - can't go further without noice) I think the sound gets rounded of somwhat - sounds maby softer and more plesant, but without any bite - or snatch. Might be like a reduction of treble (maby over 10Khz) or an increase of mid-tone?

Now, I have played at Q1 = 0 for a while, and today also tested the range 0 - 14. I think I aim for something around 0 - 4, but I am very much in doubt.... I have wanted to ask Peter if there is a "normal" level - where software does *nothing*? Is there such a place, and could you explain what Q is supposed to add?

Rolf

I might be a bit slow, so could you please tell me - are your main worry what ever happend to your soundcard or that your Esoteric transport sounds better than PC? :-)

Rolf

I had the processor running up to almost 100% a couple of times in end of a song, nothing happend exept the windows taskbar changed color from black to white, but I have not been able to either repeat nor isolate what happend - sorry! Could that be kind of same thing as problem you described?

Else I find u12 sounding good so far. I run 16/44,1 and back to upsampling via Purcell to DSD, with Q=0.

Yes, sorry! A bit quick on the keyboard there :-O
Given a second thought, it might be I hear less mid to low bass with u7? Like a grand piano suddenly appear sounding small. I only did a quick test and it is sometimes hard to pinpoint from just a small selection actually what is going on.

Whether or not then u11 is smother, or just more "full-bodied" I am uncertain. In testing I often find first impression (when not too much pre-expectations is in your head) to be, if not accurate - then more or less correct. My first impression here was that u11 sounds better. (but then again, I did nothing to change Q-settings or any other).

"All I know, is I know not all"

I will check with the dealer to see if they know.

Using DVD I am not able to provoke any muting, but something makes it happend occasionally - as I said.
With XX, I can improve situation by moving HagUSB around different spots in my livingroom(!), but I can not get totally rid of the problem - quite interesting! I might ask producer here as well.

I might as well put myself in the fridge and see what happens then....

I think I disagree a little bit with bits and parts with both of you - no offence thou.

Peter - first I tested putting myself in the fridge. It did not work well at all. Afterwards I tested a couple different versions. You say u11 is to dynamic, but IMHO it is not (now, I have only trid playing throu pre-amp (BAT VK5 Pi) and not direct from DAC which is absolutely preferable ("the less equipment involved, the better" theory)). But I will agree (maby) with your upsampling taste. I have tried upsampling throu dCs Purcell, or direct to Elgar plus (16/44,1) and for most music this sounds far better, more realistic, and more dynamic 16/44,1.

I also disagree with edward regarding tastes of the different versions (but as with all stereo equipment, you could never know what personal preferences or total system configuration/matching anybody has, now can you?). In my setup u7 sounds not more dynamic, but leaner and more hash, while u11 has more body and calm (!).

Short testing makes me belive I prefer u11 over u10 also.

Hmm - I am a bit uncertain about how vista knows I am closing the door to my fridge, but I can try watching the device when I come home. Could it be my PC also want's a beer?

I have used my DVD via same cable and DAC. Also with this equipment I have had DAC muting, but far more seldom. So it was when changing to PC I found out, turning of nearly any light between PC and electricity inlet (to house) interfered. Because of this I thought it might have something to do with cables, rf-noice or other forms of voodoo

I play using a laptop -> usb -> hagbUSB -> S/PDIF -> DAC. If turning of a light bubl (even the one in my refridgerator), my dac mutes. This happens even if PC is on battery. Does anybody have a idea how to prevent this from happening?