Hey everyone,
I’m using a NUC plugged into a Topping D90SE. I have music in 5.1 DSD that I would like to listen to without the use of a center speaker or a SUB.
Is it possible to configure Roon in this way and simply plug it into a multichannel DAC or will I need to invest in an AVR processor?
Thank you!
How do you plan to output four channel audio from a two channel DAC?
AJ
I would be purchasing something like this. Okto Research
Okay, then referencing the Topping DAC was unnecessary.
AJ
Do you have anything to add besides?
You can map channels by choice, using MUSE.
Not having tried exactly what you want to accomplish, i can only make a guess, that it likely will be possible.
(Like Andrew suggested, this all depends upon an endpoint reporting back multichannel capabilities, of course.)
I don’t see the multichannel options in ROON. I assume that is due to my endpoint being two channel only. Can anyone ascertain whether or not 4.1 or 4.0 is an option within roon with the appropriate endpoint?
Have you found the help guide yet?
Be sure to read the section at the bottom about downmixing - it’s silent about 4.0… possibly because there is no explicit standard for ‘quad’.
There are a few threads about this where users have got rather frustrated.
See what a search throws up… 
Edit - if you have only a few 5.1 sources that you want to listen to without a centre channel or sub, offline processing to 4.0 might be a better bet than buying an AVR… and would give you full control over where the centre and sub channel content appears. A ‘proper’ downmix is not simple…
Roon does not offer any internal downmix options from 5.1 to 4.0 or 4.1. You have to make it output the native 5.1 stream and have a multichannel receiver/preceiver/DAC being capable of such channel management operations externally (an Oppo via HDMI does the job but would not handle native DSD).
Roon does process native 4.0 files ´as is´ (without any channel management / downmix options) calling the channel layout ´Quad´.
So if you do not want to invest in down mix-capable hardware it is possible to use any capable DAW beforehand to do the center/sub downmix process storing the files as a quad version. Does not have to be real quad as 5.1 with silent center/sub is the more common format offering more downmix options in roon (for example 5.1 > 2.0).
If you’ll use an (digital) AVR for down mix the channels, DSD will converted to PCM.
If you use instead HQPlayer for down mixing, then you’re be able to remain in the DSD domain.
Warning in using the Okto Research DAC under linux: You must set it (in Roon) to eight channels, otherwise multichannel will not work.
What I would do in this case: Use your Roon core or a Roon endpoint (for example with Rock on it) with HDMI out, set in Roon 5.1 or 7.1, DSD → PCM and use for down mixing an AVR.
A technical better solution (also SACD-Player mostly working not correct in down mixing DSD) will cost much more (I’ve two from them) and then you should have at least a 5.1 system.
Actually it is not silent. See here
“When playing Quad content to a 5.1 channel layout, the rear channels from the content will be mapped to the corresponding surround channels in the 5.1 layout
When playing Quad content to a 7.1 channel layout, the RL and RR channels in the Quad content will be mapped onto the RL and RR channels in the 7.1 layout”
The only thing: Surround channels of Quad files will be mapped to the Surround sides and not to the Rears. And this particular is a f…k up by Roon itself about 4 years ago. From that moment on the Downmix to Stereo on Quad files does not work any longer.
I had made a support request about this and closed it a few weeks ago as they are completely uninterested to solve that.
So if you - for whatever reason - would like to play a Quad file to a stereo output you will propably hear only the half of the music.
I know. I’m aware of your quad problems over the years…
… but you are trying to play 4.0 content to a 5.1 system, not - as is the op - 5.1 to a 4.0 system.
Yes I know, you are right.
That was also my last remark in this post - no worries.
Thank you all for the answers. I decided to bite the bullet and go 5.1, well 5.0 at least. Bought a few things yesterday to make it work. You tell me if you see any issues with the idea.
Intel NUC ROCK-> Okto research → 6 channel amp. Now, what was that about Linux? I have zero experience with that. Explain it to me as you would your father (or grandfather). Sorry and thank you.
Goto to the Okto Research Website and take a look into the release notes from the last firmware…
By the way: The DAC has only balanced outputs and so take care about your amp → don’t use xlr-cinch adapters…
Ok, so setting the output to 7.1 in ROON should alleviate those issues is what I read. I bought 5 Revel F226BE’s to get that matching timbre people are talking about. With 6 channels of Purify power this will hopefully result in magic!
