Magister, I posted some thoughts comparing the iFi Zen vs. Eversolo DMP-A6 vs. Auralic Aries G2 in the Eversolo thread:
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This happens simply because the I2S pins are incorrectly configured.
I experienced the same thing about 10 months ago, when I bought the Holo Red and there was a blur, after a couple of days someone recommended I use an AES/EBU cable and the magic appeared: that damping in the middle and upper part disappeared.
Unfortunately, between those days I had bought an Aurender n200 (which is the equipment I use now) and I have the red one stored in its box.
Any experiences comparing LUMIN U2 Mini with external LPS to Holo Red?
And who is running the Red with NAA OS and can share some insights?
Holo Red with NAA OS is really good!
I used to have HQPe - > JCat XE USB-> Luna Mauve USB - > Matrix-x-spdif-2 - > I2S - > PS Audio Directstream. I initially tried to replace the Matrix with the Holo Red using the Holo firmware. With the Holo firmware NAA configuration, it wasn’t really convincing. However, after uploading the Signalyst NAA OS image to the Holo Red, that was a totally different story. NAA OS on the Holo Red brought the SQ to a totally different level. Best SQ I have had in my system so far. Upgrade fuse with SR Purple is recommended.
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With the new config using Holo Red with NAA OS, I got rid of the JCat XE USB, Luna Mauve USB and the Matrix and the sound is way much better!
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Can you provide some guidance on how to mimic your install? TIA
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Sure.
The HQPlayer server is based on Intel i7 12700k with linear power supply (no gpu) and boots from HQPlayer embedded OS on usb stick. I sm using JCat Netcard XE (dual ethernet ports) with one port connected to EtherREGEN switch and the other port connected to the HoloRed. The Holo Red is connected to the PS Audio Directstream mki via I2S using AQ Thunderbird 48.
Main HQPlayer settings are network Audio → SDM - > DSD256 (Sinc-medium or Sinc-short / ASDM7ECv3)
Hope this helps.
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Ok, thanks. So are you using the OS that came with the Holo Red?
No. I downloaded the NAA OS from Signalist on a separate sd card. You need a USB to micro SD card adapter and, with balenaEtcher software you create a bootable microSD card that you can use to boot the Holo Red. You can find the Holo Red NAA OS here: Index of /bins/naa/images/
This is what brought the SQ to a totally different level compared to the Holo Red OS (even with NAA)
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New Red Image.
https://josmagnah.stackstorage.com/s/HdKXqSgdziY1Sh3T/nl
Only valid for Holo Red serial starting with 2305 or higher!
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Repeat question - anyone tried the Red as a Music Server as well as player using LMS yet?
(I asked a few months ago, but surely someone has tried it now 
)
Did I miss that? Sorry. Yes, I was using LMS very successfully to drive the Red. No problems that I can recall.
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did you run the server on the red too?
picoreplayer OS?
i sill think it’s a good looking piece of kit
No. In my case I didn’t see that as being necessary. I was running LMS on my main computer. It handled all the server duties while I used iPeng as the interface.
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Similar way I have mine (though a vanilla RasPi rather than the Holo Red).
You’re right of course, no need to run the server there, but I know a couple of folks who want an all in one solution
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Yes, I can appreciate that.
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Did someone try the new HQPlayer OS 5.5? Many report it improved things even more.
No one?
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I cannot comment on the latest HQP SQ with the Holo Red, as I do not have a Red. But Jussi has been making a lot of improvements to make HQP more livable. The Client now finds the server automatically and switching filters can be done on the fly now. 5.5.3 is having some glitches at present. So I am sitting at 5.5.0 for now. Once 5.5.3 is cleaned up… maybe as 5.5.4… there also is to be switching between DSD and PCM on the fly available. I understand from posts that the Holo Red OS only goes to DSD512 with HQP. But the HQP NAA package for the Red will do DSD1024. Is not so much my thing though. I either run everything at PCM 24-96 with BACCH4Mac or at DSD256 without. HQP is great for serving all source files to a DAC at the same rate, reducing pops and glitches from DACs.
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what I can tell is that with the latest HQPlayer Holo Red NAA OS and a SR Master fuse that combo is way ahead many other more expensive streamer solutions.
Highly recommended to try.
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