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ESOTERIC HR Audio Player
Audio playback application for Esoteric D/A converters with USB
OWNER'S MANUAL
Contents
Overview ...........................................................3
Support for high-resolution audio file formats ...................3
Supported models and operating systems .......................3
Features ............................................................4
Easy music playback with high audio quality using supported
Esoteric equipment .............................................4
Simple screen design reduces CPU load and contributes to higher
sound quality ...................................................4
Other features ...................................................4
Making settings in Windows ........................................5
Starting the application .........................................5
Precautions before use ..........................................5
Deleting the application .........................................5
Configuring the device (D/A converter) ..........................5
Enabling playback with even higher audio quality ...............6
Making settings in Mac OS X ........................................7
Starting the application .........................................7
Deleting the application .........................................7
Configuring the device (D/A converter) ..........................7
Enabling playback with even higher audio quality ...............8
“DSD” is a registered trademark.
ASIO is a trademark and software of Steinberg Media Technologies
GmbH.
Using the application ...............................................9
Preparing audio files .............................................9
Playing back audio files ........................................ 10
Managing playlists ............................................11
Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries.
Apple, Macintosh, Mac and Mac OS are trademarks of Apple Inc.,
registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Other company names, product names and logos in this document
are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
owners.
2
Overview
Support for high-resolution audio file formats
This Windows/Mac application supports playback of
5.6MHz DSD and 384kHz PCM audio files.
ESOTERIC HR Audio Player, which is available for both Windows and
Mac operating systems, is a high-quality audio playback application
that can handle high-resolution audio files. You will be able to enjoy
the playback of high-resolution audio files, including DSD, at high
audio quality without a complicated setup by using this application
in combination with a Grandioso D1 or another Esoteric D/A
converter with USB that supports such files.
Supported models and operating systems
Grandioso D1, D-02, D-07X, K-01, K-03, K-05, K-07
Windows Windows Vista (32/64-bit)
Windows 7 (32/64-bit)
Windows 8 (32/64-bit)
Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit)
Mac OS X Lion 10.7
OS X Mountain Lion 10.8
OS X Mavericks 10.9
This application can be used on the above operating systems (as of
March 2014).
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The D-02, D-07X, K-01, K-03, K-05 and K-07 are only supported
when the USB setting is HS-2 (asynchronous) mode .
While many previous DSD playback applications have been
specialized, requiring a high level of understanding and complicated
setups in order to play back high-quality audio, the Esoteric HR
Audio Player allows you to complete a high-quality audio playback
environment by simply installing the application and selecting the
connected device. After doing this, you will be able to play back
high-resolution files with high audio quality by simply dragging and
dropping the music files into order in the player.
In addition to providing a playback environment for high-resolution
files with little difficulty, this application has also been designed to
maximize the potential of supported devices with high-quality audio
playback. Simplifying the application screen and reducing CPU load
contribute to enabling even smoother playback. When playing
back DSD files from a Windows computer, DSD native playback is
supported using DoP and ASIO 2.1 modes. Each listener can set the
playback method according to personal preference. For listeners
that desire even better audio quality, the included RAM buffer
playback function prevents the degradation of audio quality due to
fluctuations in CPU load by loading the data temporarily into the
computer's memory.
3
Features
Easy music playback with high audio quality using supported Esoteric equipment
You will be able to enjoy the playback of high-resolution audio files
at high audio quality easily by using this application in combination
with a Grandioso D1 or another Esoteric D/A converter with USB that
supports such files. Unlike specialized applications, this application
uses very simple settings and does not require other plug-ins, for
example, to be installed.
Supported models:
Grandioso D1, D-02, D-07X, K-01, K-03, K-05, K-07
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The Grandioso D1 is the only model with which DSD file playback
is possible (as of March 2014).
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A file cannot be played back if it exceeds the supported format
specifications of the equipment.
Support for playback of 2.8/5.6MHz DSD files using
ASIO 2.1 and DoP
Simple screen design reduces CPU load and contributes to higher sound quality
By using a simple screen design, the CPU load is reduced, and
this contributes to higher sound quality. For listeners that desire
even better audio quality, the RAM buffer playback loads the data
temporarily into the computer's memory before playback to enable
playback with even higher audio quality.
Other features
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Playlists can be created, saved and loaded
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Repeat playback function for playlists and single tracks
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Shuffle playback function for playlists
When using Windows with a Grandioso D1, DSD native playback,
which converts DSD directly to analog without conversion to a PCM
format, is supported. Playback using ASIO 2.1 and DoP (DSD Audio
over PCM Frames) is possible, and both 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz DSD
files are supported.
Playback also supported for various other high-
resolution file formats
In addition to 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz DSD files, playback of PCM files is
supported for resolutions up to 384 kHz . Furthermore, the playback
of FLAC files with resolutions up to 384 kHz is also supported.
Supported file formats
DSF (.dsf ) 2.8/5.6 MHz
DSDIFF (.dff ) 2.8/5.6 MHz
PCM (.wav) 44.1 kHz – 384 kHz,16 bit – 32 bit
FLAC (.flac) 44.1 kHz – 384 kHz,16 bit – 32 bit
MP3 (.mp3) 32 kbps – 320 kbps
DSD file playback also supported on Mac OS X
DSD file playback using DoP mode is supported not only on
Windows, but also on Mac. (DoP is the only playback mode available
with Mac OS.)
4
Making settings in Windows
Starting the application
ESOTERIC HR Audio Player does not use an installer. Double-click
the ESOTERIC-HRAudioPlayer.exe program file inside the folder that
appears when the downloaded file is opened.
Place the folder on the desktop or anywhere else you like.
NOTE: Start this application after connecting the D/A converter to
the computer.
The main screen appears when ESOTERIC HR Audio Player is
launched.
Configuring the device (D/A converter)
Select [Device] from the [Configure] menu.
When the [Configure] window appears, select the connected D/A
converter in the [Device] field.
Precautions before use
Do not remove the “ESOTERIC-HRAudioPlayer.exe” program from the
folder that appears after downloading
If a “Plugin” folder and a “wasapirenderer.dll” file are not in the same
folder, this program will not function properly.
Deleting the application
If you want to delete the ESOTERIC HR Audio Player application,
delete the entire folder that contains the ESOTERIC -HRAudioPlayer.
exe program file.
This enables ESOTERIC HR Audio Player to output audio from the D/
A converter.
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If this application is started before the D/A converter, the Device
settings might be cleared.
If this occurs, quit the application, connect the device, restart the
application and then configure the device again.
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When using a D-02, D-07X, K-01, K-03, K-05 or K-07, select
"WASAPI:ESOTERIC USB HS ASYNC AUDIO DEVICE".
Continued on the next page e
5
Making settings in Windows (continued)
Enabling playback with even higher audio quality
Selecting the DSD decode mode
With the Windows version of ESOTERIC HR Audio Player, you can
choose the playback format.
Select [Device] from the [Configure] menu to open the [Configure]
window.
Set the [Decode mode] item to [DSD over PCM] or [DSD Native], as
you prefer.
DSD over PCM
Using the DoP (DSD Audio over PCM Frames) playback method,
the DSD signal is embedded into an ordinary PCM format signal
for transfer.
Selecting the data loading method
You can set how data is loaded for file playback.
Select [Device] from the [Configure] menu to open the [Configure]
window.
Set the [Audio Data Handling] item to [Normal] or [Expand to RAM].
For playback with even higher audio quality, select [Expand to RAM].
DSD Native
Using the ASIO 2.1 driver, the DSD data is transferred directly
without PCM conversion or other change.
Normal
Data is loaded in the same manner as ordinary file access.
Expand to RAM
The file to be played back is loaded into RAM once before
playback. Playback can be made more stable because loading
does not occur at the same time, and this enables playback with
higher audio quality.
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When [Expand to RAM] is selected, it may take some time to
start playback if the processing speed of the computer is slow.
6
Making settings in Mac OS X
Starting the application
ESOTERIC HR Audio Player does not use an installer. Double-click the
ESOTERIC HR Audio Player icon inside the folder that appears when
the downloaded file is opened.
Place the folder on the desktop or anywhere else you like.
NOTE:
Start this application after connecting the D/A converter to the
computer.
Configuring the device (D/A converter)
Select [Preferences...] from the [ESOTERIC HR Audio Player] menu.
When the [Preferences] window appears, select the connected D/A
converter in the [Device] field.
Deleting the application
If you want to delete the ESOTERIC HR Audio Player application,
delete the entire folder that contains the ESOTERIC HR Audio Player
icon.
This enables ESOTERIC HR Audio Player to output audio from the D/
A converter.
o
If this application is started before the D/A converter, the Device
settings might be cleared.
If this occurs, quit the application, connect the device, restart the
application and then configure the device again.
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When using a D-02, D-07X, K-01, K-03, K-05 or K-07, select
“ESOTERIC USB HS ASYNC AUDIO”.
7
Making settings in Mac OS X (continued)
Enabling playback with even higher audio quality
Selecting the data loading method
You can set how data is loaded for file playback.
Select [Preferences...] from the [ESOTERIC HR Audio Player] menu to
open the Preference window.
Set the [Audio Data Handling] item to [Normal] or [Expand to RAM].
For playback with even higher audio quality, select [Expand to RAM].
Normal
Data is loaded in the same manner as ordinary file access.
Expand to RAM
The file to be played back is loaded into RAM once before
playback. Playback can be made more stable because loading
does not occur at the same time,and this enables playback with
higher audio quality. When [Expand to RAM] is selected, you
can set the maximum amount of memory to be used with this
function.
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When [Expand to RAM] is selected, it may take some time to
start playback if the processing speed of the computer is slow.
8
Using the application
Both the Windows and Mac OS versions of the application are used
in the same way.
In this manual, we explain how to use it with examples from the
Windows version.
Preparing audio files
Prepare the audio files that you want for playback using ESOTERIC
HR Audio Player.
The playlist appears in the lower part of the main window. First, add
the tracks that you want to play to the playlist.
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You can also add files on the computer by dragging and
dropping them here.
Select the desired file in the window and then click the [Open (O)]
button to add it to Esoteric HR Audio Player.
During selection, you can also select multiple files and then click the
[Open (O)] button to add them all at once
Select [Add file...] from the [File] menu at the top-left of the main
screen to open the [Add file] window.
Continued on the next page e
9
Using the application (continued)
Playing back audio files
After creating a playlist, click the [PLAY] button to start playback
from the beginning of the list.
Click the [Stop] button to stop playback or the [Pause] button to
pause playback.
After stopping playback with the [STOP] button, press the [PLAY]
button again to start playback from the beginning of the file where
playback was stopped.
To start playback of a specific file, double-click that file’s line in the
list.
During playback, you can change the playback position as desired
by using the mouse to move the slider below the time display.
You can also control playback from the Playback menu on the main
screen.
Stop
Stops the file that is currently playing. This has the same function
as the [STOP] button.
Pause
Pauses the file that is currently playing. This has the same
function as the [PAUSE] button.
Play
Starts playback. This has the same function as the [PLAY] button.
Previous
Skips to the previous track (one above the current track in the
playlist).
Next
Skips to the next track (one below the current track in the
playlist).
Shuffle (playlist)
Starts shuffle (random) playback of the tracks in the playlist.
Order
Use this submenu to set the type of repeat playback.
Order > Default
Playback does not repeat.
Order > Repeat (playlist)
The playlist tracks are played back repeatedly.
Order > Repeat (title)
Only the currently selected track is played back repeatedly.
10
Using the application (continued)
Managing playlists
Tracks that have been added to the playlist can be saved as a playlist.
This function is convenient for creating playlists of tracks that you
play frequently.
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If you do not save a playlist, it will be cleared when you quit
ESOTERIC HR Audio Player.
Saving playlists
After adding the desired tracks to the playlist, select [Save playlist…]
from the [File] menu. When the [Save playlist] window opens,
choose the desired location and click the [Save (S)] button to save
the playlist.
If a playlist has already been created (tracks added), the following
window will open.
Click [Yes (Y)] to save this playlist. Click [No (N)] to not save this
playlist.
When the [Load playlist] window opens, select the desired playlist
(.ppl extension) from where it is saved, and click the [Open (O)]
button to load it.
Loading playlists
Immediately after ESOTERIC HR Audio Player is launched, no tracks
appear in the playlist. By loading a previously saved playlist you can
conveniently prepare for playback. You can also load another playlist
when a playlist has already been created (tracks have been added).
Creating multiple playlists according to genres and audio file formats
can make playback more convenient.
Select [Load playlist…] from the [File] menu.
11
Software changes
Mac
Version 1.0.0.3
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At the end of playback of certain files, the application would stop
responding. This has been fixed.
12
0714 MA-2065B
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