DSD 256 5.1not playing

Support
1

Roon Core Machine

MacBook Air 2015 8GB Ram with a lot of high res files on an external SSD-disc connected with USB 2

Networking Gear & Setup Details

Very high speed internet (ca 500mb)

Connected Audio Devices

Audio Device: Denon Surround AVC-X8500H
Playing my own files and using Qobuz high res

Number of Tracks in Library

5000

Description of Issue

When I play DSD 256 in 5.1, music runs for around 50 seconds, and then stop and move to next track with same result. I get the message “audio file is loading slowly”

2

Check your processing speed indication in the signal path pop-up window.
It might be marginal from the start, then finally causes the failure - anything at or below x1.3 will be indicative.

3

Are you using HDMI from core machine to the Denon?

I have one zone using the HDMI connection from my NUC/ROCK to AVR-X8500H. Roon doesn’t play DSD over HDMI. DSD gets converted to PCM. It’s the multi step conversion processing from MC DSD 256 to MC PCM that drags the processor down to 1x processing speed. That shows up in the signal path.

I have the same results with the HDMI zone, plays fine for a while then starts skipping.

I have a Roon Ready MC DAC to playback the MC DSD 256 now.

NUC to DAC via Ethernet, DAC to 8500H using the 7.1 analog connections. Plays the huge files as is without conversion.

4

Hi Mike, thanks for answering.
Yes, HDMI from a Mac direct to the Media Player connection on the Denon.
I don’t have many DSD- files, so buying a separate DAC for this purpose seem a bit over the top. I don’t have any experience with DACs. Would it need the files from a separate hard disk? And what kind of cables do you use? Is MC DAC a separate brand?

5

The only DACs, which can handle DSD256 in multichannel are coming IMHO from exaSound (I’m using the e68) and they are not really cheap.
If you’re using cheaper DACs (for example the topping DM7), then only DSD128 will supported in multichannel and also here Roon must resample DSD256 to DSD128 for which your core has perhaps not the power.

If you’re using in your Denon any DSP (also bass management), then the AVR will convert all DSD input to PCM.
So the easiest solution for you is, to convert your DSD files offline to PCM 24/176,4 (e.g. with foobar2000) and play the resulting files.

6

Sorry, you would not need the Multi-channel Dac unless you wanted to play the DSD multi-channel files without conversion to PCM.

The HDMI zone works great with the 8500’s for Stereo and Multi-channel files that don’t require conversion for playback.

The Dac I have is the exaSound S88 MK II, and as @Burkhardt_Petermann mentioned, they are expensive.

I’ve used the mid-range Audioquest RCA interconnects for the 7.1 connections from the Dac and an OPPO 205 SACD player to the 8500.

8

This topic was automatically closed 45 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.