double & upsampling

[PeterSt]

On another note, I already play the Q1 somewhat higher lately (4) which has a reason of course (and I can play -4 without any problem).

This has to do with the output latency, i mean 1ms is the same for all Q1 settings?
Or it has to do with data output, for example lower q1 sends, (how to say) more "accurate" signal to dac.

The 1ms may vary, and it is not about sending a more accurate signal (I don't think that would be possible). The way I do it influences the DAC though, and it is the DAC that can be more accurate or less.

Another question here has to do with phase. When i hear at -4 region if i don't tick invert phase the sound is very unconfortable.
At +2 or +4 the difference is not so huge, I'm not sure what is better. Is there any explanation for this?

Hahaha, no, not one that I can think of. It is true though, and it is the exact reason the Invert checkbox was created in the first place. It *is* part of the process though, and where you can imagine that there's a scale of being in phase and out of phase - which really is about time alignment - you can imagine that there is one best setting. There's one thing I can tell you : an amount of jitter doesn't behave the same in the high frequencies as it does in the low frequencies (generally, when you have it right for the high frequencies it will be wrong for the low frequencies).
Also, because all is software-incurred , while the base for this all can be better and worse, in the earlier versions of XXHighEnd with the Q1 slider, that slider had much more influence on the sound than it has today. The principle of Q1 didn't change, but the software in the base did ...

I hope you're not an engineer, because then you wouldn't believe your own ears ...

[PeterSt]

I think "digital" is not the right word. I saw in another post someone else use the some word, but for my ears i have a feeling of more analog,detailed and comfortable playback. I dont know if my tube amp has any influence in this.

Yes, it will. But since you're comfortable at Q1 = -4 and for that matter probably didn't reach your limit, you might try the Volume slider at -6dB. There's some indirect trick working in there as well ...
(don't go further than -24dB when your DAC plays with 16 bits)

[astacus21]

I ask all this questions just to understand how to handle Q1 and what to expect from this everytime it changes.
For sure many things changes and it's difficult to understand what is better. I understand its also hardware depended, by means that it behaves different as result, with everyones dac, soundcard etc. Also i understand that those settings, behaves different with other recordings. But for sure is less difficult to have a target and try to adjust Q1, to achive your perpose and this is the reason for all the questions.

[SeVeReD]

...phase...There's one thing I can tell you : an amount of jitter doesn't behave the same in the high frequencies as it does in the low frequencies (generally, when you have it right for the high frequencies it will be wrong for the low frequencies).

Whenever you throw out the word phase, take it back to thinking about different recordings and their phase differences...(ever wonder why audiophools have their phavorite recordings to show off their equipment ... it's not just recorded well, it also works well with their system phase-wise).  So, that's what I've found a bit.  There are times I've liked up toward 18, many times I find coming back to 14 sounds better, but now I'm trying out around the +4 area,,, I used to be able to go - with earlier versions, but the laptop can't cut it on these versions.... I hear some *analog like crackling* on some recordings at +4,,, (hmm maybe hearing into the recording better? juries out), I think the system starts to stress there.

more rambling thoughts later, but here's toward figuring out where all these q1 settings will take us, and their different sound presentations may be just that.

[astacus21]

... you might try the Volume slider at -6dB. There's some indirect trick working in there as well ...
(don't go further than -24dB when your DAC plays with 16 bits)

I f i understand well, by doing this i remove 1 bit (or 2 V=-12) of info that contains noise and distortion and is very difficult to hear anyway.
It will be a good idea to set dac is to 44/18 bit, and what it will be the result of this action for this 1 bit?

[PeterSt]

That is correct.

For the program, the 24, 20 and 18 bit settings are the same. This is more for yourselves and to understand what you are setting (because 18 and 20 bits DACs exist).