Check out MQN

mjock3 · « **on:** 24 Sep 2013, 11:33 pm »

Has anyone checked out MQn? It is some kind of optimizer for windows 7 and up. It is much like the very early Jplay in that it has no gui interface. But boy what it does for the sound is outstanding. More clarity, low level detail, and so on. You should check it out and let others know what you think. Here are some links:

http://mqnplayer.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.tirnahifi.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2418

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/visual-studio-2012-c-and-wasapi-minimalist-player-15401/

Mark

*Scotty* · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Sep 2013, 11:38 pm »

mjock3, are you currently using MQN on your computer at this time?
Scotty

mjock3 · « **Reply #2 on:** 25 Sep 2013, 12:15 am »

Yes, I just started to do so.

*Scotty* · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 Sep 2013, 01:14 am »

Have you compared it to WASAPI event, foobar2000 running in memory mode,ie full file buffering at 2,000,000(kB) with MMCSS enabled.
Scotty

mjock3 · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Sep 2013, 01:51 am »

No Scotty I can't say I have. I am not even sure how to try what you have just described. Could you give me some insight as to how to do that?

Side note have you tried the MQn?

Thanks,

Mark

*Scotty* · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Sep 2013, 02:46 am »

You will find the WASAPI event option in the drop down menu that appears when you click on library, configure. Choose,playback,output,device, find your DAC and choose WASAPI event. Click apply. Next click on the Tools at the bottom,Advanced. Click on playback and the drop down menu will appear with File buffering up to (kB).Click on the number shown and change it to 2,000,000. Next check High worker process priority. After that check MMCSS under thread priority.
You have now set up foobar for playback from memory with WASAPI event chosen for your device/DAC. This should be fairly competitive sound wise with many other players. Be advised that due to changes to the Windows operating system
Win 8, 64bit sounds better than Win 7, 64bit.
I am not a Rapidshare user which appears to be a requirement before any download can be initiated.
Is there another site from which MQn can be downloaded.
Scotty

*Scotty* · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Sep 2013, 03:01 am »

You can also try toggling MMCSS off and on during playback by pausing and then going to the drop down menu, unchecking the MMCSS box and then resuming play. You may find a difference in sound between having the MMCSS box checked or unchecked. If this is the case you can chose the condition that sounds best to you.
Scotty

mjock3 · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Sep 2013, 03:23 am »

Thanks for the explanation on Foobar, I will give it a try.

As far as I know you can just download it from the UK website: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3vvH5WBfg8PdlZmeDhNZ1Utbm8&usp=sharing .

Nige2000 also has it available to download in zip form from his dropbox, or if you have a drop box you can download it unzipped. Post number 2 of page 2 on http://www.tirnahifi.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2418&sid=6ec9e01af26c96e79b68e80c6f7e120a&start=10 .

I have tried the 16 44 and liked it alot. The latest I only listened to for a bit, but prefered the 16 44.
Mark

wushuliu · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Oct 2013, 01:52 am »

Just installed MQN. Oh, it's good. Reaaal good. Better than Jplay? In my single PC setup, yes.

I have an AMD PC and MQN is optimized for Intel I believe. So I guess it can only get better.

an absolute must for anyone that is okay with its minimalist approach.

And yes Windows 8/8.1 is much, much better than 7 for audio.

Very happy I stumbled across this player. Such a great time to be an audiophile.

wushuliu · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Oct 2013, 08:27 pm »

Ok, this is the best player I have heard period and I've heard a lot. As much as I love Jplay it wasn't a huge leap better (in my setup) than say StealthAudioplayer. MQN *is* to my ears at least a notch higher than either. I agree with mjock the noise floor seems way lower and the clarity is stunning. Wish I could be more descriptive, but it's not like it's adding it's more what it takes away. So clean, any power conditioner fan would know what I mean. This is the best my (admittedly modest) playback system has ever sounded - and I rarely say stuff like that. I can only imagine what it would be like through serious gear.

mjock3 · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 12:25 am »

Have to agree on it being the best I have heard. I think it is the best digital I have heard. But I will admit I have heard limited digital in recent years.

*Scotty* · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 01:20 am »

I still can't make it work. Win 8 with Malwarebytes and Webroot Secure Anywhere. I have downloaded the MQN 2.48 version all files in a folder on the desktop. Any suggestions? Downloaded from https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tw9i3e9dkky9j6q/Qe7aL08-jF
Scotty

wushuliu · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 01:29 am »

Quote from: *Scotty* on 23 Oct 2013, 01:20 am

I still can't make it work. Win 8 with Malwarebytes and Webroot Secure Anywhere. I have downloaded the MQN 2.48 version all files in a folder on the desktop. Any suggestions? Downloaded from https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tw9i3e9dkky9j6q/Qe7aL08-jF
Scotty

At what point does it fail? Do you get as far as the command prompt window (after double clicking 'mqn')?

*Scotty* · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 01:38 am »

The command prompt window opens for a fraction of a second and then closes.
Task Manager shows the program opening for a second and then closing.
Scotty

*Scotty* · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 01:45 am »

I copied and pasted the file I wanted to play into paste and the command prompt window is now staying open and says playback has commenced but no actual playback is occurring. The numbers next to the line Playback Commenced do not change.
Scotty

wushuliu · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 02:07 am »

Quote from: *Scotty* on 23 Oct 2013, 01:38 am

The command prompt window opens for a fraction of a second and then closes.
Task Manager shows the program opening for a second and then closing.
Scotty

Hm. You may want to start off by using the newer files e.g. 2.6x just so you're up to date.
And use the files from the main google directory just to take out the middle man - I'm a little confused by the dropbox listings.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3vvH5WBfg8PR0lHZzR6d012OXM&usp=sharing&tid=0B3vvH5WBfg8PdlZmeDhNZ1Utbm8#list

Edit: So you've got the window there so that's good. I'd say try out the 'mqncontrol.exe no affinity' versions from the main directory and use one of the newer files. Don't select any with SSE4 unless your cpu supports it or 4 core unless you're running quad core.

mjock3 · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 02:47 am »

Scotty did you change the second line in the bat file to point it to where you have your music files?

*Scotty* · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 03:37 am »

No. I thought all you had to do was drag and drop the file into paste.
Scotty

mjock3 · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 04:37 am »

The first time you need to point the bat file at where you music files are. So let's say D:\music or where ever they are in your system. Right click on the MQn file and edit it. Here is mine: @echo off

cd \\DISKSTATION\Music\DR-MARK-THINK-Mark\latest\DRIVEE

*Scotty* · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Oct 2013, 06:21 am »

My BAT file is a little confusing, this what I found, cd c:\musicplayer If I change this to C:\Users\owner1\Music\My Music\My Music2, it still doesn't play anything.
Scotty