My Salkstream III server, purchased in 2016, is acting up. Since Salk is no longer in business, I’m considering replacing it. My preference would be not to have to go the DIY route.
The Nucleus One seems like an attractive option (Titan is too expensive), but I don’t know if it’s suitable for my use case;
28k tracks (9200 tracks are local files, the rest are Qobuz)
Multichannel PCM and DSD files
Some DSP use; PEQ or Convolution file, Headroom Management (I do not use Upsampling).
Playing DSD MC over HDMI with the resulting double conversion to PCM could be an issue. That is a heavy load on the CPU and probably why the Signal Path Processing Speed is 4.4x.
My current server is a NUC817BEH/ROCK. Playing DSD 256 5.1 over HDMI with the conversion to PCM drags the processor down to 1x and skipping occurs. I don’t have any DSD 64 MC files to check but do expect that would be a lighter load than DSD 265.
I would expect any Roon server playing DSD to a DSD capable DAC, without HDMI and the forced conversion to PCM, to work fine without any issues.
This is where I’m stuck and can’t fine any info. I’m hoping someone with a Nucleus One and a similar use case can test this.
Btw, the best I can remember, my Salkstream (purchased 2016) uses an i5 processor with 8gb ram. It hasn’t had any issues with this use case (though I’m currently having other issues ).
It is DSD 256 5.1 surround. I don’t choose to play those files with the HDMI connection, but Radio followup feature selects them on occasions when the queue ends.
I purchased the exaSound S88 in 2021 for DSD playback. With the Roon Ready Ethernet connection it plays up to 256 in multichannel and 512 in Stereo.
The NUC/ROCK server has no issues at all playing DSD 256 5.1 or DSD 512 stereo with Ethernet. The signal path processing speed is not displayed so over 100x.
It is the double conversion to PCM over HDMI that drags the processor down to 1x.
I haven’t found a way to stop the radio followup from selecting them.
I’m interested in a server setup that can easily handle those situations. Maybe a newer NUC has the power or the Nucleus Titan. No idea if the Nucleus One can handle that.
Eversolo DMP-A6 is roon ready with Ethernet and Multichannel DSD playback for around 750.00 Cool feature is HDMI out that plays DSD MC. If I was in the market for one today I’d have a hard time passing that up.
Eversolo has a couple of newer models, DMP-A6 Master Edition, DMP-A8 and DMP-A10, each has different features sets, costs more, but those don’t have the HDMI out that plays DSD MC.
It appears this user is successfully playing multichannel DSD 64 (converted to PCM) via HDMI from his Nucleus One to his pre/pro. I see the Processing Speed is down to 3x, but should still play fine (I think when it gets to 1 or less problems arise).
Isn’t this pretty much the same use case as mine? Does this mean the Nucleus One would work for my use case? Or am I misunderstanding something here?
It does indicate the Nucleus One will handle DSD 64 MC.
I expect my setup would work for DSD 64 and MC. I need to download some of those. Problem for me is I downloaded most of mine in DSD 256 5.1 and DSD 512 Stereo.
I had already bought the S88 so I got the files it was capable of handling. Did not expect Roon would pick those for Radio followup when using the HDMI zone. Bummer.
I still need a server platform with the power to play whatever Roon picks with whatever zone I’m using. Wish I had the funds for the Titan while it was on sale but I would need verification it could handle what I’m dealing with. Maybe I need a Cray supercomputer. Or maybe new versions of the NUC can hand it.
Hopefully the huge difference in price directly relates to a huge difference in performance.
Wish I knew of someone with a similar setup, Titan with HDMI to AVR, that could advise on how it works with Roon playing a DSD 256 5.1 over HDMI with the double conversion to PCM.
If it could have a processing speed of say 10x while doing that heavy processing I’d think real hard about getting one.
Of course it would depend on my wife. When it comes to me wanting to add equipment her favorite word is No. Even though we just did her dream bucket list kitchen remodel.
Thank you for responding. That’s great information.
If it’s no trouble, would you test it with adding a PEQ or Convolution filter in the signal path like mine shows in it’s signal path? I suspect PEQ/Convolution shouldn’t really tax the processor much more?
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