Issues with Roon and PS Audio Direct Stream Junior

Support
1

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

Running current Roon on Imac as core. iMac on Chrome, wired to ethernet.

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

Eero system

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

PS audio DirectStream Junkier running latest upgrades - hardwired via ethernet and using in Bridge mode

Description Of Issue

I’ve had Roon running on my Directstream JR for several months and it’s been 90% stable, infrequent hang ups at times. I’ve been using my MacBook laptop as the Core unit a couple of weeks ago. I then loaded it onto my iMac as it can stay on all the time and I didn’t like having to keep my laptop open all the time. I control Roon either via the laptop or my iPhone now.

I’m using the bridge input, wired on the PS Audio DirectStream. I only really use Tidal and Quboz. I have a couple of Bluesound nodes in other parts of my home and Roon streams to them fine and is stable.

Recently Roon specifically on the PS Audio DS has become buggy. It’ll work fine for a day or two and then suddenly freeze up while playing, music may continue playing but I"ll be unable to stop or navigate through a song; other times it’ll just go silent and the zone with the PS audio unit drops off entirely. The only way to get it back is to shut off the PS audio piece and reboot it.

I have parametric EQ set in Roon for some slight bass hump reduction, no other processing.

I’ve had the PS Audio running in 24 bit mode and it seemed fine but some articles I’ve read say it should be in 16 bit mode. Doing this appears to downgrade the signal though.

What are the optimal / correct settings in Devcie Setup on Roon for the PS Audio DirectStream Junior and what might be causing this instability?

It’s getting frustrating having to regularly power off / on the Direct stream unit. I had similar issues when first using Roon and the PS audio unit but then the issues went away and it’d been very stable until recently.

Lastly, if I’m only streaming is there any real advantage to using the Bridge input on the Direct Stream or can I revert back to using a BlueSound Node fed via ethernet and then feeding coax output to the DirectStream DAC? Sound quality should be the same I’d think and I can still use the Roon parametric eq functions?

thanks

3

Hi @Andrew_Cowan,

Thanks for reaching out. Since the Bluesound Nodes you have around the house are stable, we should take a closer look at the DirectStream unit. I have some follow-up questions:

  1. How is the DirectStream connected to the network? You mentioned you have an Eero system and that it is Ethernet-connected, but are there any switches between the Core and DirectStream?

Does the same behavior occur in both configurations?

When this behavior occurs, are you presented with any error messages in Roon? Does this issue only happen when playing specific types of content, such as higher-resolution or DSD content?

As a temporary test, I would try disabling all DSP functions and verifying if the same behavior occurs.

4

Hi thanks- yes, I believe there’s a switch between the PS Audio piece and the
modem/router. Cable comes into the house, goes to a modem/router, a
hardwire cat 5 comes out into the eros unit, then the output of the Eeros
loops back to a switch that has several outputs, one of which is hard wired
to the PS Audio unit. It’s been this way for over a year and had no issues
though.

No error messages at all in Roon and its usually a slow, buggy transition
to a complete failure- I may not be able to advance a song, or not click
out of an album but the music will continue to play until a few minutes
later when the zone will drop entirely and then the PS audio unit is no
longer visible as a zone. I have to power it off and restart it and then it appears again as a Roon endpoint device and will work again.

I’ve tried no DSP and it makes no difference.

Problems only happen with the PS Audio piece, it’s stable elsewhere in the
house. I plan to call PS audio as well-

What settings do you reccomend for the PS Audio piece in Device Set Up and specifically what about the 16 bit versus 24 bit setting etc?

thanks

5

Hi thanks- yes, I believe there’s a switch between the PS Audio piece and the
modem/router. Cable comes into the house, goes to a modem/router, a
hardwire cat 5 comes out into the eros unit, then the output of the Eeros
loops back to a switch that has several outputs, one of which is hard wired
to the PS Audio unit. It’s been this way for over a year and had no issues
though.

No error messages at all in Roon and its usually a slow, buggy transition
to a complete failure- I may not be able to advance a song, or not click
out of an album but the music will continue to play until a few minutes
later when the zone will drop entirely and then the PS audio unit is no
longer visible as a zone. I have to power it off and restart it and then it appears again as a Roon endpoint device and will work again.

I’ve tried no DSP and it makes no difference.

Problems only happen with the PS Audio piece, it’s stable elsewhere in the
house. I plan to call PS audio as well-

What settings do you reccomend for the PS Audio piece in Device Set Up and specifically what about the 16 bit versus 24 bit setting etc?

thanks

6

Hi @Andrew_Cowan,

Thank you, do let me know once you hear back from them. I would possibly try connecting the PS Audio DAC directly to the router, bypassing the switch (just in case the switch is causing some strange behavior).

I took a look at our device database and I see that the PS Audio Jr supports both 16-bit and 24-bit content. I would leave it as the default 24bit max unless it’s causing any issues. If you wish to use the Roon-recommended settings, you can go into the Device Setup tab and click on “Load Defaults” and the proper settings should automatically be applied.

7

This topic was automatically closed 365 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.