I have Roon server running on Mac. It's connected to a DAC that is a module in side the Amp, when Roon Exclusive mode on is on, every time I change tracks through Albums the Dac/Amp does a servo like click sound as if switching input sources. This doesn't happen when I switch exclusive mode off
My question: Does Roon exclusive really enhance the sound quality o make a difference? I'm running this on a dedicated Mac with no other apps running and don't really play DSD
Other question is can I keep it on and somehow avoid this behavior? My DAC itself doesn't have any options on the hardware
Thanks for writing in! Sorry to hear about your playback issue.
To break down exclusive mode a bit more:
It bypasses your macOS’s audio mixer and system sound processing (Core Audio) to send audio directly to your DAC in its original format. This prevents macOS from resampling or altering the audio stream.
Ensures bit-perfect playback, which is important for high-resolution audio files and formats like DSD or PCM with higher sample rates.
In your case, since you’re not playing DSD and your Mac is dedicated to Roon (with no background apps or system sounds), the difference in sound quality may not be perceptible in typical use.
Since you’re not playing DSD and your Mac is dedicated to Roon (with no background apps or system sounds), the difference in sound quality may not be perceptible in typical use.
There are a few things you can try out!
Enable Resync Delay in Roon Settings:
In Roon, go to Settings > Audio > [Your DAC] > Device Setup.
Look for Resync Delay and increase the value (e.g., start with 500ms and adjust upwards if necessary).
This setting gives the DAC time to stabilize when switching tracks, which may help reduce or eliminate the clicking noise.
Use Crossfade Playback:
Enable Crossfade in Roon under Settings > Play Actions > Crossfade Duration.
This blends tracks during playback, minimizing or masking DAC reinitialization events. (Not ideal if you prefer gapless playback.)
Test Avoiding Frequent Format Changes:
Check if the tracks you’re playing have varying sample rates or bit depths (e.g., switching between 44.1kHz and 96kHz). Format changes often trigger DAC reinitialization.
You can enable Sample Rate Conversion in Roon (under Settings > DSP > Sample Rate Conversion) to keep everything at a fixed rate that your DAC supports natively (e.g., 44.1kHz or 96kHz).
