Every time when using the device the maximum volume is fairly low. On my previous 2012 macbook the device had a much higher output volume. When playing an MQA track through Tidal the light on the device is green and only when the output volume is set to 100 does the light change to purple(signifying an MQA file).
Hi @Stefan_Friesen
Had it happen occasionally with the Cobalt connected thru iPhone or iPad.
I have found that if you go to DSP and turn on crossfeed then the Cobalt will turn purple signifying that it is reading MQA.
A workaround, but not a fix. But it does the trick.
Please share a screenshot of the signal path. I agree with @Rugby that DSP is probably involved or you’re not using Exclusive mode and the laptop is doing something.
I think this behaviour is more of a clue to real issue which is a very low maximum output volume. The device can play at a much higher volume from youtube for example(on the same laptop). Other devices also always show the purple light independent of the device volume.
At these setting the light is yellow. If I turn it to 100 it will be purple, but not nearly as loud as the device is capable of from other sources on this laptop.
Make sure you’re using Exclusive mode. (There’s nothing wrong with Roon’s signal path and Roon is clearly sending a bit-perfect stream with MQA signaling to the DAC.)
My settings for the Cobalt in Roon are: exclusive mode ON, device set to Renderer Only and MQA core decode ON. This works as expected. These are the same settings for all my remotes on iPhone, iPad and Macbook.
If using the Tidal app, this should also be set to Exclusive Mode.
EDIT: forgot to mention that in Roon, volume for the Cobalt is set to Device Volume.
