I’ve been trying Roon for a few days - and so far I’m loving it!
But I have one major issue with DSD playback on Mac OS X Yosemite (10.10.5). I’m using a Sony UDA-1 DAC and I can play all high-res files fine, but when I play DSD I get a very, very, low volume and a lot of “hiss” sound when set to “Device Controls” or “Fixed Volume” in the settings.
After some trial and error I found that if I change it to “DSP Volume” the volume plays fine, but it will downgrade and covert to PCM.
I had actually solved this somehow and had it working with DSD and normal volume, but I had to change some settings to get it working with my wireless speakers, but I can’t seem to get the volume working normally again for DSD files (it plays all other files fine).
Attached is a screen of the path - so looks like the DSD files are playing fine, it’s just the volume output that’s the issue.
Thanks for the quick reply Russ. Actually, I have volume levelling turned off.
The strange thing is that Roon is actually able to play the DSD files and I can even hear it but it’s with the same low volume/hiss others have described with some DACs on a Mac.
I know there’s other owners of the Sony UDA-1 on the forum using Roon - it would be great if any of them could let me know if they have the same issue and if not, what settings they are using?
Yes, you can playback DSD audio files on the following Apple® Macintosh® computers by installing a driver software for the computer and updating the Hi-Res Audio Player app to version 1.2.3 or later:
Apple Mac OS® X 10.6
Apple Mac OS X 10.7
Apple Mac OS X 10.8
Apple Mac OS X 10.9
Apple Mac OS X 10.10
Apple Mac OS X 10.11
Software and driver updates for your Sony product are available online.
NOTES:
DSD files cannot be played using playback applications other than Hi-Res Audio Player. Playback of files in DSD over PCM format is not supported.
Since the device doesn’t support DSD over PCM, you will have to use the “Convert to PCM” setting in Roon.
@brian thanks for the additional info and help. Much appreciated!
I wasn’t aware DSD over PCM wasn’t supported on this DAC - Thanks for letting me know. I thought it was OK since I am able to play DSD over the VOX Mac player (see screen below) but I guess it must also be converting to PCM before playing it (like Roon).
One strange thing I did find - when I use players like VOX for OS X, the system sound settings show my DAC selected as the output source (as expected). However, when I play a file using Roon using exclusive mode, my output source changes to “internal speakers” for some reason - though I can still hear the sound from my DAC. Why is that?
Last, can you recommend any DACs (that you guys have tested) that will play DSD directly on Roon without converting?
For example: does the Auralic Mini work well?
One strange thing I did find - when I use players like VOX for OS X, the system sound settings show my DAC selected as the output source (as expected). However, when I play a file using Roon using exclusive mode, my output source changes to “internal speakers” for some reason - though I can still hear the sound from my DAC. Why is that?
This is a side effect of exclusive mode–when Roon takes exclusive control of the device, it is no longer available for the OS to use as a default output device, so the OS picks another one. Once Roon lets go of the device, the OS should take it back a few seconds later.
I am not familiar with VOX, but it seems like it wasn’t taking exclusive control of your device. Which is consistent with your conclusion that it was doing a DSD->PCM conversion, since DSD playback doesn’t really work outside of exclusive mode.
Last, can you recommend any DACs (that you guys have tested) that will play DSD directly on Roon without converting?
There’s a list of devices that we have in-house here. We have relationships with these companies, so we avoid playing favorites, but I’m sure if you post a topic that describes your constraints + goals, some of our users will pop up with some good advice.
For example: does the Auralic Mini work well?
The Auralic Aries Mini is a network device, and is not Roon Ready (unlike the non-mini Aries, which is not a DAC, but IS Roon Ready. Confusing, I know…).
@brian Thanks very much for the fantastic support! Really appreciate it.
This DSD issue was driving me nuts! While not ideal that my DAC has to convert, at least I know it’s not a wrong setting on my side. If I can find the right DAC to setup/test with DSD, it will be hard to resist becoming a subscriber.
Roon is amazing! Great work!
I had the very same issue with my RasbPi feeding a DSD capable DAC. Are you sure you actually selected DSD over PCM v1.0 in the Audio Setup dialogue of Roon?
In my case the “endpoint” is just treated as a RAAT transport, but Roon haven’t got any idea what capabilities the DAC beyond have. And when trying to play “Native DSD” to my DoP capable DAC the result was a loud hissing and audible music in the background…
Took me a few minutes of serious brain massage to discover what was wrong though! (I’m not used to RaspberryPi and just got it today!)
PS, nevermind, i just saw that your DAC didn’t like DoP (DSD over PCM)
That should not be the issue then!
While not ideal that my DAC has to convert, at least I know it’s not a wrong setting on my side. If I can find the right DAC to setup/test with DSD, it will be hard to resist becoming a subscriber.