In order to upsample 16/44.1 stream to, for example, 24/96 and play it on the Transporter you need:

  • Download, compile and install SoX (Sound eXchange)
  • Tweak convert.conf in the slimserver root directory. It can contain the following:
    • flc flc * *
    [sox]  -v0.995 –buffer 32768  -t flac -r44100 -2 -c2 $FILE$ -t flac -C0 -3 -c2 -r96000 - polyphase -cutoff 1.0

    ape flc * *
    [MAC] $FILE$ - -d | /usr/local/bin/sox  -v0.995 –buffer 32768  -t wav -r44100 -2 -c2 - -t flac -C0 -3 -c2 -r96000 - polyphase -cutoff 1.0

    mp3 flc * *
    [lame] –mp3input –decode –silent $FILE$ - | [sox] -v0.995 –buffer 32768 -t wav -r$RATE$ -2 -c2 - -t flac -C0 -3 -c2 -r96000 - polyphase -cutoff 1.0

    wvp flc * *
    [wvunpack] $FILE$ -wq –skip=$START$ –until=$END$ -o - | [sox] -v0.995 –buffer 32768 -t wav -r44100 -2 -c2 - -t flac -C0 -3 -c2 -r96000 - polyphase -cutoff 1.0

  • Restart SqueezeCenter
  • Click on Settings (SqueezeCenter GUIU)
  • Go to Advanced-> File Types
  • Disable what you don’t need

Comments:

Input file parameters
Output file parameters
-v - volume adjustment
-t - file format
-r44100 - sample rate
-c2 - two channels
-2 - 16bit
-3 - 24bit
-C0 - no compression
polyphase - upsampling algorithm

Please note:

  • you have to convert 24/96 stream to FLAC, because SlimDevices Transporter has two issues with WAV format:
    • plays 96kHz stream too slow
    • does not recognize 24 bit stream

      • (see here)

  • Polyphase algorithm  is VERY CPU intensive. Don’t be surprised if your CPU is under 100% load.
    • # top
    . . .
    PID USERNAME LWP PRI NICE SIZE RES STATE TIME CPU COMMAND
    19683 root 1 0 4 8052K 4356K run 0:03 77.23% sox
    . . .

    # prtdiag
    . . .
    Version Location Tag
    ——————————– ————————–
    Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU X5355 @ 2.66GHz CPU1
    . . .

Now how it all sounds. The difference is subtle (again, in my system!) but can be described as rough (16/44.1) vs. treated with sandpaper (upsampled to 24/96) surface. More liquid, “rounded up”, with more air between the images with no “splinters” No, not “night and day” but easier to listen. Like a good power cable but for free ;-)

More on upsampling: