DSD 512 Playback Issue with Roon Nucleus Titan and Mclntosh 12000 (ref#JQOUAN)

Support
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What best describes your playback issue?

· Music stops playing unexpectedly

What type of Zone is affected by this problem?

· *Directly-connected Zones* are affected.

Does the issue affect all file formats?

· The issue affects *multiple/all* file formats.

Does the issue happen with local library music, streaming service music, or both?

· *Only local library *music is affected.

Where is your local content stored?

· On the same machine where RoonServer is running, internal drive

Please try playing content of a lower sample rate (44.1kHz or 48kHz), does this work as expected?

· The issue only impacts higher sample rates

Do you have an approximate timestamp of when the issue last occurred?

· sorry, I fotgot this info...

What are the make and model of the affected audio device(s) and the connection type?

· My gear : Mclntosh 12000 with DAC & Roon Nucleus Titan

Describe the issue

Dear,

My gear : Mclntosh 12000 with DAC & Roon Nucleus Titan

The connection is USB-C (Nucleus Titan) <-> USB-B (Mclntosh 12000) currently but i got an issue that the roon client shown "An audio file is loading solely. This may indicates performance or hardware problem" when I choose DSD 512. Plesae advise.

Thanks and Regards,
Matthew Cheung

Describe your network setup

Network cable direct connect between Roon Nucleus Titan and router

2

What cable are you using for USB-C to USB-B? Have you tried different ones? Have you tried the 1 x USB 3.2 Type A port on the Titan?

P.S. I realize something in retrospect. The DA2 module can only accept DSD 512 as Native DSD via Windows ASIO, using the drivers downloadable from McIntosh. I believe that the Nucleus, running Linux, might only talk DoP to the DA2 module for those higher DSD rates, limiting you to DSD 256. I could be misremembering, but if different cables don’t help, I believe this will be the problem.

3

The McIntosh 12000 does not use the DA2. It a different design and uses 2 ESS DACs.

I had a McIntosh 12000. It is spec’d to play DSD 512 but I was never able to get DSD 512 to work reliably via Roon Nucleus.

Dan

4

Yes it does.

5

I that the 12000 was a reference to the MCD 12000, sorry.

1 Like
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I don’t think it will do DSD 256 DOP either. That would require the DA2 module supporting 705.6 PCM, which it doesn’t. DSD128 would be the maximum from a Nucleus via DOP.

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If the OP wants to get DSD512 to the DA12000 it’s going to require a machine running windows with McIntosh’s drivers. This windows based machine could be a Roon Server itself or a intermediate windows machine running Roon Bridge.

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Thanks for confirming my PS :slight_smile:

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Hi @Cheung_Matthew,

First off, welcome to the community! We’re excited to have you here - sorry to hear about your playback issues.

Based on the information provided, achieving DSD512 playback with your current setup—your Titan connected via USB to the McIntosh MA12000—may not be feasible, as others have mentioned.

The McIntosh MA12000’s DA2 Digital Audio Module supports native DSD512 playback; however, this functionality typically requires a Windows-based system utilizing McIntosh’s specific ASIO drivers.

The Roon Nucleus operates on a Linux-based system, which may not support native DSD512 playback with the MA12000. In this configuration, the maximum achievable DSD rate might be DSD128 using the DoP (DSD over PCM) protocol, as higher DSD rates would require PCM support beyond the DA2’s capabilities.

As others have accurately suggested, to enable DSD512 playback, consider integrating a Windows-based machine into your setup. This machine can run Roon Server or function as an intermediary running Roon Bridge, facilitating native DSD512 playback through the appropriate McIntosh drivers.

Please note that even with the correct drivers, some users have reported challenges achieving reliable DSD512 playback with similar configurations. Therefore, it’s advisable to test your specific setup to ensure compatibility and performance meet your expectations.

Certainly, let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns! We’re happy to help. :pray:

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