How to make the DSD512 native output via usb in Ubuntu

[alon_cheng]

I’ve installed roon core and bridge in Ubuntu. But now it only supports DSD128 output to Dac.
How can I make high native output possible?

I’ve already tried the steps of article “Linux native DSD playback support”. But the in the section " Native DSD support for XMOS based devices", it’s not easy to complete the installation of three ways, I guess, which were tested in Fedora but not Ubuntu? Such like rpm cannot be installed directly in Ubuntu,

sudo yum localinstall kernel-3.17.4-200.jk6.fc20.x86_64.rpm

and I couldn’t succeed installation of DSD upgrading even though I used some tool to install, such as alien.

Who can help?

[mjw (Here I am with a brain the size of a planet and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper. Call that job satisfaction? I don't.)]

Welcome to the Roon community, @alon_cheng.

It would be really helpful if you provided additional information about your setup. For instance, the:

• version of Ubuntu you’re using,
• make and model of the DAC, and how this is connected to your core, and
• where to find the Linux XMOS device drivers for your DAC.

I’d also caution about using a GitHub repo that no longer maintained, and based on an old kernel.

Incidently, you don’t need to instance Roon Bridge when Roon Server is already installed.

[alon_cheng]

• Linux: Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS
• Dac: Combo384 Amanero ( https://www.amanero.com ）
• XMOS: tried the general one from GitHub repo

Thanks for your remind of unnecessary installation of Roon Bridge when Roon Server is installed already.

[alon_cheng]

Yes, rebooting several times when installation was successfully. Only one warning message from system was about rpm package error.

[mjw (Here I am with a brain the size of a planet and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper. Call that job satisfaction? I don't.)]

According to the link provided…

NO Drivers needed for Mac OSX 10.6+ and Linux with UAC2 compliant kernel.

This means a USB Audio Class 2 compliant kernel, which is supported in recent distributions.

If you’re note getting the expected output, please share a screenshot of the signal path.

[alon_cheng]

This means an USB Audio Class 2 compliant kernel, which is supported in recent distributions.

How did you know this kernel has been supported? Where to download?

[mjw (Here I am with a brain the size of a planet and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper. Call that job satisfaction? I don't.)]

Because UAC2 has been supported since 2.6, and Ubuntu is now using 5.x.

[alon_cheng]

So it means this kernel has been integrated into the system already. But the question is why it only supports DSD128 native output?

[mjw (Here I am with a brain the size of a planet and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper. Call that job satisfaction? I don't.)]

Please share the signal path.

[alon_cheng]

Here you go.

======Normal lossless playing======

======High Quality Playing (Down-streaming)======

[alon_cheng]

======Device Setup======

[alon_cheng]

By the way, it always makes the linux network blocked if it plays the high rate (256 & 512). Not sure if this was caused by Ubuntu network drive issue?

[Traian_Boldea]

Hi @alon_cheng, sorry if get in.

Why do you have selected DoP and not Native?

@alon_cheng

network blocked

do you use a switch? If it is a managed one I had to enable Flow Control on it.

I just started to play with an ubuntu on an old iMac (just to learn) so I’m a newbie. But it worked just out of the box (+just a bit of help from @mjw Fix easy install on minimal install Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS (server) - #6 by Martin_Webster). I did get all the specs for my Dac. Have to say that the specs on OEM Combo384 Module are not too clearly written for my slow table only brain.

[alon_cheng]

Hi @Traian_Boldea thanks for your involving to help!

Why do you have selected DoP and not Native?

Because there is no such option. The last one “Initial dCS method” doesn’t work when I selected it.

I just started to play with an ubuntu on an old iMac (just to learn) so I’m a newbie

Actually me too.

I solved all the problem when I tried to install Roon in Ubuntu except high native DSD output drive

[Traian_Boldea]

Do you have another dac just to try?
I remember that some dacs do not work dsd natively on Mac and linux. I was researching this for the Cambridge Audio 200M. I know there is a way to update the kernel or something depending on the usb card but that was waaaay to advanced for me (I might be wrong it was some months ago).

I get them all. I do not remember if I did install something for the usb but maybe that was HQP related, I still have not been able to make it work on the machine.

[Traian_Boldea]

Yes that is still the case for the CA 200M on ubuntu. It does not work native dsd on linux. Now I understand the writing on the specs from your dac: DSD64,DSD128 - On Windows DSD256,DSD5 it should be better stated DSD64,DSD128 - Only Windows DSD256,DSD5.

As I have told you, (sometimes) there is a way to pass over this problem but it is over my knowledge. There are some things to do depending on the usb card that is used.

[Traian_Boldea]

On Linux, in most cases, DAC-s that are UAC 2.0 compliant should work out-of-box without any configuration. This is almost rule of thumb, with some exceptions. Amanero384 boards ship with old half UAC compliant firmware limiting DSD playback mostly to DoP mode.

from: Playing DSD files on Linux | NativeDSD Help

[mjw (Here I am with a brain the size of a planet and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper. Call that job satisfaction? I don't.)]

As @Traian_Boldea says, you’re limited to DSD128 because you’re using DoP, i.e., there isn’t sufficient bandwidth over PCM for anything higher.

On Windows, there is driver support for native DSD. However, I suspect the DAC converts DSD to PCM anyway, so I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

[Traian_Boldea]

I do not know if is going to work for your dac

So I did a bit of research. Not for your dac as I do not have how to test. For my 200M that with default ubuntu install only works on DoP. Reading around I’ve found that volumio might have the right kernel installed by default for the CA 200M. So pulled out my old old white MacBook that now has volumio on it.

And on volumio with roon bridge I have full specs for 200M

[Mikael_Ollars]

You know that Combo384 by Amanero is not the DAC, it is the USB Reciever chip?
It is also very old and needs specific drivers to enable/allow native DSD output.
(The same chip was present in my old Nagra HD DAC)

Still, with the Nagra i had bigger gains from removing the power from the USB path than doing higher resolutions…