Shootout at the Linux Corral: AudioLinux vs Euphony

I’d like to point out that all my problems were operator error and not the fault of Euphony OS. 

I would like to reopen this topic. I am using more than 1 year Euphony V3, wanted to change to V4, but have there problem with my network card, so V4 is useless for me. But now after Roon upgraded to 2.0 I am not able to use V3 with Roon. It wants an update, but during it writes an error. I am more than 3 month in contact with Zeljko, but without any positive results. 

So my thoughts are, I would change to audiolinux. Is anybody here, who has compared sound quality between this two distros? Because V4 plays fantastic. 

Thanks

Sadly nobody has responded to this question…

me too would like to know the progress of these  two … how has AudioLinux evolved since?

...Going to another planet... :):)

Audiolinux V3: the revolution!
The new Audiolinux headless and lxqt V3 versions are available with the following specifications:

1) Most of applications and libraries are compiled with x86_64_v3 architecture and LTO
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Arch-Linux-x86-64-v3-Port-RFC
https://www.phoronix.com/forums/forum/software/desktop-linux/1244867-x86_64-microarchitecture-levels-benchmarked
https://www.phoronix.com/review/clang-lto-kernel
All packages and kernels will have around 10% performance uplift and some packages can have higher performance uplift (15% or 36%!)

2) The kernel is compiled with x86_64_v3 architecture, LTO FULL and many patches including Audiolinux ones

3) Audiolinux V3  will offer kernels optimized for your CPU. At this time pre-compiled kernels are available for HASWELL, SKYLAKE, ZEN, ZEN2, ZEN3, TIGERLAKE, ALDERLAKE, ROCKETLAKE. If your CPU is not on the list you can ask support for a new optimized kernel that after will be updated regularly or you can compile the kernel automatically yourself

5) The Audiolinux V3 price is now 99$ because of the extra work involved. You can switch to the new version for 50$ if you already have an active subscription. This price is still much lower than alternative audiophile OS… and remote support with AnyDesk is included!
-> For 1 year subscribers that have already paid 35$ for custom V3 kernel the upgrade cost will be 15$ 

6) Wonderful latency test with average delay < 1 microsecond (AMD ZEN3 5800X, Boot EXTREME2, Watchdog and Linux Journal disabled, Mitigations service enabled, ramroot, hyper-threading disabled)

T: 0 (116176) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 1 (116177) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 2 (116178) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 3 (116179) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 4 (116180) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       4
T: 5 (116181) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       4
T: 6 (116182) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 7 (116183) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3

Hi Piero @hifi25nl, long time no chat!

It's been some time since I used AudioLinux. Considering to try again. Does this latest v3 have a player? Last time I stopped was because I spent too much time adjusting the settings and not enough playing music. Is there now a simple interface to access music? On your website it lists 3rd party players like HQP and Roon. Is there an optimised one by AudioLinux for sound quality alone?

I think I will never make an Audiolinux player. Too many already available (and some are only a nice interface to mpd...)

In Audiolinux, since the system is open and has root access, you can install all players available in linux.

You are not obliged to spend time adjusting the settings. You can use the default.

Anyway a lot of them are not available in other distributions.

Do you have a suggestion for the preferred music player to use with your AL?

Is there a simple way to install AL from say a USB boot drive. Please give a link for the download of your software and link with instructions about the installation process. 
 

Thanks! 

The installation guide is on the second column of the site 

The link and password for download is given at purchase.

There is not an installation application. You should only clone the IMG file that is a bit by bit copy of the original development installation.

I’m not moving very fast. Lots of things happening in my system and it’s still settling down at this time. 
 

It might be some time before I get anywhere. I’m also a little concern about having to switch to a new player. Stylus sounds great 
 

Revisiting an old thread..

Has anyone done a recent comparison of Audiolinux vs Euphony using their latest versions?

Keen to know if AL can be configured to sound as good as or better than Euphony.

Thanks.

13 hours ago, msb1 said:

Revisiting an old thread..

Has anyone done a recent comparison of Audiolinux vs Euphony using their latest versions?

Keen to know if AL can be configured to sound as good as or better than Euphony.

 

Thanks.

Yes, I have in the past few years, and preferred AL when it is configured for ultra-low latency (ram root, extreme mode, etc.). I have AL running on a latest-gen NUC in fanless case, no internal hard drive (this is key—music is on an externally ssd that has its own LPS), Optane for the OS but then booting into ram root. It sounds very very good for a reasonable price.

6 hours ago, atxkyle said:

Yes, I have in the past few years, and preferred AL when it is configured for ultra-low latency (ram root, extreme mode, etc.). I have AL running on a latest-gen NUC in fanless case, no internal hard drive (this is key—music is on an externally ssd that has its own LPS), Optane for the OS but then booting into ram root. It sounds very very good for a reasonable price.

Are these easy configurations?

12 minutes ago, msb1 said:

Are these easy configurations?

I would say no. This takes a little expertise with linux command line.

On 1/19/2024 at 2:12 AM, atxkyle said:

Yes, I have in the past few years, and preferred AL when it is configured for ultra-low latency (ram root, extreme mode, etc.). I have AL running on a latest-gen NUC in fanless case, no internal hard drive (this is key—music is on an externally ssd that has its own LPS), Optane for the OS but then booting into ram root. It sounds very very good for a reasonable price.

By any chance, do you have a list of configurations that you made?

On 2/8/2024 at 4:52 AM, Meridimac said:

Yes, please. It would be helpful to gather current learnings here in order to create an up-to-date matrix of recommended settings.  
My goal is to share how we can fine tune AL V3 for optimum SQ.

How are you getting on with this? Would love to hear your feedback. My Euphony license is running out and I'm exploring other options to run on my 10i7NUC server.

Hi all, still no feedback in this thread... almost too quiet. I now have both a NUC10i7 and a NUC8i7 at my disposal.

Can anyone suggest the best audio quality with server + endpoint? Got an unlimited AudioLinux license and my Euphony Stylus is running out in a few days. Can any Roon user suggest an ideal configuration for these two NUCs. I'm not ready to invest in HQplayer yet. Would like to try other option still.

It’s not easy to recommend settings because so much depends on the context. Off the top of my head. Finish up by putting the OS into rammode but do the following first:

prioritise irqs appropriately for you reqs. 

set power for important usb or ethernet adapters to always on

use extreme or extreme 2 settings

set journal off (I had problems with this and ended up not being able to do it but sounded better off when it worked)

there was one other setting near the journal setting but can’t remember what it was. 
 

I got better sound out of my nuc when I changed the psu to a battery one But they’re not the best sounding solution. 

no idea about euphony…I tried is but didn’t get on with it. Piero, the person behind AL, has always been super helpful to me and interested to drive performance forward.  Hope this helps. 

Hi, my feedback is probably not very conclusive becuase I have been living in temporary accommodations while my house is renovated. Hence I am currently using a skeleton streaming setup which includes only my server and library running on a NUC7I3 and a Ifi Zen stream. Both are on wireless as I cannot get ethernet connectivity, and they are both powered by a custom linear power supply built for me by my cable and power supply builder.  I do not have my network setup that included an isolated LAN via a LPS powered modified switch. Will only restore this part when back in my new audio room at home. 

Yet - I can say that I am very happy with running Audiolinux on the server as UPNP server and the Zen stream as a UPNP end point. Results were better than using a second NUC as end point. I did not compare to Euphony which I left, but compared to Roon core this is night and day. Even in this temp setup, I get a pretty nice sounding unit. I had quite a few hickups with Audiolinux, but piero provides stellar support. Jplay for IOS provides a control app that gives a Roon line user interface. I don't think I will change this setup anytime soon.