With the arrival of the latest firmware update for Bluesound, the Node and Powernode and similar Bluesound devices all support native DSD – great news! (caveat being it must be a current generation model – last several years – very old Nodes do not have the processing power for DSD.)
I’ve confirmed this by playing native DSD files up to DSD256 on my Bluesound(s) – to do this however I have had to use Bluesound’s app. At this point in time, Roon does not recognize that Bluesound supports native DSD and therefore will not send native DSD to Bluesound units (I’ve tried various workaround to no avail).
Does anyone know when we might expect an update from Roon that will recognize Bluesound as a valid endpoint for DSD?
“Now Supports Native DSD” means Bluesound now supports DSD input, which then is almost immediately converted to PCM. Automatic conversion happens internally and tacitly in most consumer electronics that accept DSD input.
As it applies to Roon, this Bluesound DSD support is hardly groundbreaking, since Roon already does its own DSD to PCM conversion — as required for compatibility or desired by the user.
When Bluesound provides Roon with an update. During certification, device capabilities are confirmed, and, therefore, any changes need to be communicated.
However, if this change is dependent on a firmware upgrade, and the update isn’t automatically applied, it would seem reasonable to maintain the status quo.
But, as @WiWavelength says, you can play DSD from Roon and let your server do the heavy lifting by performing the conversion, possibly with greater accuracy.
Now new firmware features MQS Qrono dsd conversion, their own way to do DSD to PCM with timing correction, so Native DSD signal to Bluesound devices at lease give user a choice between in-machine vs Roon conversion.
BLUOS 4.8.21
Release date: March 04, 2025
DSD Playback on Bluesound NODE (N130), NODE X (N131), POWERNODE (N330), POWERNODE EDGE (N230) and PSB Speakers Alpha IQs with MQA QRONO dsd