iFi Zen DAC not correctly recognized resulting to DSD capability limited to DSD 128

Sebastien_Massot · April 8, 2020, 6:59pm

Core Machine (Operating system/System info/Roon build number)

Nucleus + / Roon V 1.7 (build 528)

Network Details (Including networking gear model/manufacturer and if on WiFi/Ethernet)

Ubiquiti Unifi switch and router / Connected over ethernet

Audio Devices (Specify what device you’re using and its connection type - USB/HDMI/etc.)

iFi Zen DAC connected via USB to MacBookPro 15 inch 2016 running Mac OS Catalina V 10.15.4

Description Of Issue

Hi support team,

It looks like this DAC isn’t correctly detected. The DSD playback mode does not offer native as an option and the max frequency rate is limited to 128 instead of 256 (real device capability).
I’ve changed playback mode to DSD over PCM since Native isn’t available.

Best

noris · April 8, 2020, 8:27pm

Hi @Sebastien_Massot,

Welcome to the forum! Native DSD requires ASIO drivers and ASIO drivers are generally limited to Windows Operating Systems (except for custom solutions on Mac). Since you have a MacOS client, outputting native DSD is not possible, you will be limited to DoP (and DoP rates are half of the maximum native DSD rate). Hope this helps!

Sebastien_Massot · April 8, 2020, 9:07pm

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your reply and explanation.
Would this works as expected if I Plug the DAC directly to the USB output on the Nucleus + then?

Best,

Sébastien

ged_hickman1 · April 8, 2020, 9:15pm

Same as the Mac I believe DOP only as nucleus is Linux
“Using Mac or Linux? Then check out our exclusive iFi firmware. Download ‘Limoncello’ 5.2A to unlock DoP256 for Mac/Linux.”