XXHighEnd Model 0.9u-7 (Changed SQ for higher bit depths)

[PeterSt]

It is strongly advised to not use your system without a preamp (or the pre-amp at max volume for that matter) if you or your speakers won't be able to handle a situation that e.g. the file contains wrongly formatted data or otherwise - because of which cracks may emerge with an energy beyond imagination.

The following changes have been applied (all Engine #3 only, unless otherwise indicated) :

• As the title implies : SQ is changed for bit depths over 16 bits.
  
  What actually happened is that the processing needed in order to apply the higher bit depths (and which for a large part comes down to padding (expanding) to 32 bits) has been moved from doing that in real time to pre-processing code.
  
  In order to get a grasp on where SQ changes can be expected, you can think of any playback means that implies a higher bit depth than 16. Thus, the first prerequisite for that is setting the DAC to 18 bits at least (and of course the DAC must be able to exploit those bits). Then, any means needing "expanding" the bits will trigger the new code with one exception : normal 16 bit playback using the Digital Volume Slider (because this already was implemented from the start with "pre-processing"). This will trigger the new code :
  
  - Upsampling;
  - Double or Quad without Upsampling but with using the Digital Volume;
  - Playback of any file natively having more than 16 bits.
  
  There is one other exception currently not triggering the new code : Cue Files; Because at this moment a Cue File album is processed in full (hence not per track), it will not fit in the so far advised amount of memory (2GB). See the next topic as well.
  Note that when the DAC can't exploit more than 16 bits, this doesn't matter anyway (special message to SeVeReD ).
  
  
• Because the pre-processing requires additional memory, it is expected that tracks covering near a complete album, won't fit into 2GB of memory. This depends though on several other things and combinations;
  
  When it occurs that you are low on memory indeed, you can tick the new checkbox in the left pane that says "Mem", and the old code will be used, using less memory.
  Of course you can use this checkbox just as well for comparing SQ of the both means.
  
  Ticking the checkbox changes the playback means in "real time", but note that changing the state to "pre-processing" will take some while before playback recommences. Btw, all the changes which can be applied in "real time" will take longer when the Mem checkbox is unchecked.
  
  
• The Crack Detect feature can be switched off when needed, with the new checkbox for that in the Settings Area;
  
  Note that Crack Detect trips on unexpected (read : abnormal) high transient responses, but that a track could just contain that. Thus, when a track won't play but you don't expect anything being wrong (see read text above !), you can switch it off and the track will play anyway.
  
  Another reason will be playing formats like DTS, which *will* trigger Crack Detect. Here too, playback can be forced by switching off Crack Detect.
  
  
• The Combox for Playlists now will grow wider when the (invisible !) splitbar is dragged to the right.
  
  Note that all forms around the coverart picture which needs to be near square, and it will need dragging the bottom of the form downwards just as well.
  
  
• As it appeard, 88200/24 playback was not supported. Now it is.
  
  The same accounts for 44100/24 and 48000/24, although these both were not tested.
  
  
• Since 0.9u-4 another means of determining the track lengths better was applied. Now this has been set back to how it was before;
  
  Although it is not sure that it was the cause, "plops" were reported at the end of playing a track. When you wish to check whether all is back to normal, test this with the Mem checkbox checked;
  When this checkbox is unchecked, the means to determine the tracklength are very different again.
  
  
• The Embedded Explorer has gotten rid of its "Album Count" as well as the "Link Indicators" (indicating Library Meta Data instead of physical files);
  
  It occurred that the state of the Embedded Explorer could turn into "an ever wanting to count", therewith making things unnecessary slow, and besides that it was generally more slow anyway. Net this should be better for feellings (of response).
  
  
• The bit rate on the Wallpaper Coverart for WAV files has been restored, and besides that the bitrates now show correct for all file types. This counts for all Engines.
  
  
• In the Info Area the bit rate has been added. This counts for all Engines.
  
  
• The response on stopping Playback has been worse since 0.9u-5. This has now been restored to normal.
  
  

Expectation on SQ changes for normal 44100/16 playback (UnAttended) : nill.
SQ changes for most of the other playback means : Yes. Please let know what you think of it.