Well, to run multiple HQPlayer Embedded instances you need a license for each. I have only one Zone in Roon that I care to use HQPlayer with so I don’t face the issue you have wanting to use HQPlayer in multiple zones.
My main 2 channel system is my only system with a DAC that supports DSD and my only higher fidelity system. The other Zones use PCM DACs that support a max input rate of 24/192. Those Zones sound fantastic for what they are and intended to be.
From that same dropbox , you can easily select to which NAA hqplayer shall send the signal, provided that you use only one at a time. You really should try to keep computers doing heavy tasks away from your dac, at least on your most resolving system. At least experiment. In my experience, the difference was not subtle.
It is easy. Just download the naa image from hqplayer website and boot the computer from usb. You don’t even have to change a single setting, apart the bios boot device.
https://www.signalyst.eu/bins/
If you like the results, you can go for a low power computer. The benefits will be even greater.
Well, that’s a fair point. But even though the software might be loaded on two of the computers in the house, I’m only running one instance on one machine at a time, which it appears I can do from the terms of the license agreement.
We hereby grant you a nonexclusive license to use one copy of the Software on any single computer, provided the Software is in use on only one computer at any time. The Software is “in use” on a computer when it is loaded into temporary memory (RAM) or being executed in other ways.
But I will experiment with other ways of doing things.
While my two stereos sound good, I don’t know that they are revealing enough to allow me to discern the differences in the modifications you’re all describing.
403 Forbidden
You mean like a Raspberry pi?
Yep. Preferably a 4, because on the 3 usb Ethernet share the bus . Or one of those atom units. They are the ones Jussi uses and recommends.
But first, in your shoes, I would experiment with my current devices, booting from naa image. Just to be sure everything is working and I can notice an improvement. Then, and only then, I would get another box.
Curiosity got the best of me so I asked Jussi (HQPlayer developer) directly.
His reply:
It is just fine to do it the way you do. You could also do it the other way and have NAA (Network Audio Adapter) software at the endpoints which is similar to RoonBridge, exposing remote DACs over network to HQPlayer.
Since HQPlayer DSP can be pretty heavy, it is best placed somewhere where you have most computing power and where possibly loud fans don’t disturb listening. But if you are not encountering problems in this area, you can as well keep HQPlayer in the listening space.
For what it’s worth, these Mac Mini’s were originally servers, and they are nicely spec’d. They each use a pair of SSDs and I don’t think I’ve ever heard the fans running.
What you are doing works and is “just fine”. It’s just not the best way to do it for the best sound quality. If you are on this forum I assume you care about sound quality.
It’s not about the fans running either although that is a problem too. It is about about having a lightweight computing device as the NAA. Jussi does not talk about electrical noise as a problem. I think he ignores that so he does not have answer questions about it. Mac Minis make a lot of electrical noise…
I’ve got a big stick. Now where did that horse go?
It’s called a discussion, @Elk.
yeah, but I have what I have and in the several hours since I first posted, I haven’t gone out and replaced everything. Been listening to music. 
I guess I was reacting specifically to your comment that I was doing things “bass-ackwards”. I might suggest that Jussi’s statement refutes that, but I’m always willing to explore new and better ways of doing things.
You can call it whatever you would like. The horse is still dead. 
Or as PETA wants us to say, feeding a fed horse.
I wouldn’t say Jussi’s statement refutes what I said. For example, you could use a 8 CPU server with 6 spinners, 6 USB ports, 4 Ethernet ports, and 1100 watt power supply as a Roon Endpoint. It would work “just fine”…but it is counter to the whole idea of the Roon Endpoint.
I’ll beat the dead horse some more…
The whole idea of these Endpoints is to use the least amount of hardware possible so you have the least amount of spurious electrical noise fed to the DAC. Look at these photos, first of the microRendu and then the ultraRendu:
There is hardly anything there to create electrical noise…and what is there was designed to be as electrically quiet as possible. They sound even better with quality linear power supplies.
Any general purpose computer is going to make tons more electrical noise just based on the power supply alone. Then all that extra circuity plus the one or more HDD or SSD storage.
LOL, as if parts count indicates anything at all about noise.
Just one of those parts could be troublesome, then your less parts equals silence argument goes right up in smoke.
You should focus on the weight of the endpoint, it’s just as telling.
You’d be right except I guess you either didn’t read or missed the second part of the following sentence:
hey, @speed-racer, I’m giving you credit for your better way of doing things, and I’m also admitting to being a novice and game to learn more. But I’ll be honest: I’m also trying to defend myself a little as to your “bass-ackwards” comment.
But I’m starting not to care anymore, so I am just going to listen to some music, which, for me, is the bloody point of all this gear.
I find it fascinating that the folks who are quick to claim “you’re doing it wrong” I never see in any of the music threads.
i think @elk might be right at this point about the horse 
Music is the best! 
Interesting. I never once insinuated that you were somehow an inferior person. Thanks!
I don’t discuss music in the so called “music threads” because I find musical tastes and preferences far more “religious” than even hardware tastes and preferences. I haven’t touched my 2 channel setup hardware in over a year. Why? Because I am pretty much completely satisfied with it and just “listen to music”.
Equals not much isolation from upstream Ethernet noise too
sorry if I got snippy. No worries. Just trying to learn how all this stuff works. But I feel like so much of the time the music is used to listen to our precious audio systems, as opposed to using our stereos to listen to music.
Roon has been a revelation for me, and HQPlayer, too. But the sheer number of acceptable ways to skin a cat tends to be mind-numbing. Especially when there’s this sense that, even though the way I’ve discovered sounds great to me, it’s somehow less acceptable in someone else’s eyes.
Anyway, carry on. I’ve derailed this thread plenty.
Speakers matter so much more than all of this. Run an iPhone as a source into Zu = better SQ than $80,000 into analytical and “refined” speakers.
