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1. Setting up: Marantz AV10 ethernet - ROON software does not give me a MULTICHANNEL option in DEVICE SETUP.
Netgear Orbi RBR50/tp-link TLSG105 Gb switch/NucleusOne and Marantz AV10 - all hardwired- new CAT6
Marantz AV 10 does not support Roon Ready multichannel. None of the Denon/Marantz HEOS capable components do.
AJ
Does stereo work? There are some threads here stating that most roon ready AVRs simply don’t process multichannel, thus not showing this option in roon. Does your manual say something here? Usually such details are hard to find in published form.
A Marantz gent named Marcos claimed the AV10 was Roon Ready (Marantz Support) on 11/25. I bought the unit, my Nucleus One/Roon DID see it and labelled it ROON READY (Unactivated). Of course it didn’t work. After a firmware update, it came up as ROON TESTED. My main concern is multichannel DSD playback. Here is the response from my query to Marantz support that may. prove helpful to others.
12/4
Hello Keith,
Thank you for your patience as we worked through this matter. To ensure bit-perfect audio playback from your Roon Nucleus One, the setup needs to be done through HDMI with a compatible player that can process the multichannel audio. For USB or server-based audio, only 2-channel DSD files will be supported. For 5.1 or 6.1-channel DSD, HDMI is required as it provides the necessary bandwidth to handle the audio without downmixing or sample rate conversion.
Kind regards,
Gengsly
Do you understand what he means by a “compatible player that can process the multi-channel audio”. I thought my NucleusOne accomplished that (if I used HDMI output)?
Thanks
Keith
For multi-channel from Roon to your AVR you need to use the HDMI connection. That will play Stereo and Multi-channel PCM files as recorded. However, Roon will not play DSD over HDMI, MC DSD will be converted to MC PCM before playback.
To play MC DSD you will need a compatible device between the Roon Server and the AVR.
There are MC DSD capable DACs on the market. I think the Eversolo DMP-A6 is the least expensive one I’ve seen. It is Roon Ready, will receive the files as recorded PCM/DSD, 2 channel and Multi-channel, Via Ethernet and has HDMI out for your AVR.
There is one player that can do it Eversolo DMP A6 that it’s a reasonable cost. Not sure about others but there are a few.
Using the Nucleus HDMi output will result in it all be converted to PCM as PCs don’t handle it over HDMI.
HEOS has never supported mulitchannel in any form, it requires a full hardware update to the streaming architecture. There isn’t many at all that I know that handle it over network, it’s HDMi from a compatible device of which there are few.
As others have mentioned,…
Very few things actually do multichannel DSD correctly. You should look into getting a DMP-A6 which is one of the few network endpoints that actually can pass multi-channel DSD out via HDMI.
My Oppo SACD player can send mch to the AV10, but only if it converts it to PCM first. The manual is quite clear in its claim that it processes multichannel for all of the immersive vid formats. Marantz Customer Care says that HDMI is required to give me multichannel DSD. Like the Oppo, it gives me a soft pink noise when ‘playing’ any DSD data. Unfortunately ROON doesn’t let me feed multichannel DSD or mch DSD converted to PCM!
What connection do you have between the Nucleus One and the AV10?
If you have the Roon Tested option for the AV10 enabled that is using the Ethernet connection and that is Airplay2, no DSD and 2 channel only.
Have you setup the HDMI zone for the AV10 in the Roon - Settings - Audio?
That HDMI connection is necessary for Roon to Play MC PCM/DSD. If the file is DSD Roon will convert it to PCM during playback.
Hi Mike_LC
What connection do you have between the Nucleus One and the AV10?
Both HDMI and ethernet. I turned off AirPlay in hopes it’d get out of the way - of course it didn’t work.
Have you setup the HDMI zone for the AV10 in the Roon - Settings - Audio?
Yes, though it gives me DSD out via DoP and PCM, I have no option to make either multichannel.
Thanks
Keith
The AV10 is just out of the box, so I will be able to return it (probably). The exasound s88 would be the best option, but, their site seems to indicate there are none for sale - there are no buy buttons or prices listed these last couple of weeks.
The DMP6 and 8 HDMI multi DSD capability and DLNA is very interesting, but I would still need a multichannel processor/preamp.
Can you think of any other ROON READY 8 channel (or more) processors/preamps that handle mch DSD natively? (I have amplification taken care of)
Thanks,
Keith
You want the PCM option for HDMI. Also when you go into device setup for the HMDI zone - show advanced - and scroll down to the bottom - you should have an option for channel layout. My Denon AVR-X8500H is setup that way.
Can you take a screen shot of your settings - Audio page and post it here?
I bought the exaSound S88 MKII in 2021 when I was frustrated with the lack of DSD MC with HDMI. Its connected to my NUC/Rock server with Ethernet and my Denon AVR-X8500H via the 7.1 analog inputs. The S88 has the same 7.1 outputs as does the OPPO SACD players.
Don’t now why the exaSound web site doesn’t have the order option displayed. You could contact their customer service.
I did find a link to an order page but copy link didn’t work. Here is a copy paste of the entry showing s88blacksale for 6599.
[
[image]
exaSound
https://exasound.com › Store › s88BlackSale
](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://exasound.com/Store/s88BlackSale.aspx&ved=2ahUKEwjq84eGh5CKAxWH48kDHWkaB-wQFnoECA8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw1CC5KPNOlcBAZvPD5O2M5B)
Sale Price US $ 6,599. exaSound s88 MKII 8-Channel Streaming DAC - Black Regular Price US $ 7,599. Contact us for a free pre-sale consultation.
$6,599.00 · 30-day returns
The DMP A8 does not have the Multichannel via hdmi only the A6 has this feature.
are you on latest version of RoonOS on your Nucleus ? They had issues with HDMI on release and had to patch it I believe, but that I think was to make it show up at all as an option.
I use the eversolo A6 as some sort of bridge. It accepts DSD and PCM mch from roon/RAAT via Ethernet. And it sends the same to my Denon AVR via HDMI. My AVR is not roon tested or ready.
Again, an AVR that (usually) processes mch in different formats via different inputs does (usually) not mean that it can handle the same via roon/RAAT. Some here say that there’s often no clear statement in the manual from the device manufacturer regarding mch support via roon/RAAT. You seem to be the next one 
You should be seeing the option to choose multichannel in the Advanced section of Device setup…
You may need to scroll down to reach these settings - and there is no scroll bar shown, so it’s not immediately obvious that the settings are there…
THANK YOU - the update was part of the problem! I do have Multichannel settings on Roon now -
Next - I need to see if the AV10 will let me retain the DSD without PCM conversion. Info on the AV10 shows its seeing a 5.1 signal coming in through HDMI, just the PCM plays, the DoP is quiet noise.
My retailer has connections to what he calls “Tier 3” support at Marantz. They are supposed to get back with me today. Maybe this damn box will work out. I’ll let you a
You are getting DoP which is DSD. Native DSD is not a Linux thing and things have to be set on the kernel and device.
So you are good. You might investigate the Dmp a6 if you want “native”.
Btw,If you are using any room correction on the AV then not of this matters since the room correction process will decimate to.pcm prior to running the corrections.
Great to know you’re familiar with the exasound s88. I would also take advantage of the 8 analog outs.
And, sending me the link is super kind - but I think its bringing up an outdated/buried page because of the line “Offer valid until December 03, 2023, while current stock levels last…” When I visit the site and hit any buy button I see this:
And there may not be a component on earth that supports HDMI DoP. It just is not a thing in the AV realm, hence “the DoP is quiet noise” on the Marantz.
Yup. I repeatedly have to post the same every few months as threads like this pop up. AV guys fixated on seeing DSD input to an AVP/AVR fail to acknowledge that any DSD probably gets sample rate converted to 96 kHz at best, but more likely 48 kHz.
And it is not just digital room correction. Add channel level trim, channel distance/time delay, channel remapping, bass management, graphic/parametric EQ, etc. All of these useful and common functions in AV components may or do cause unspoken internal conversion of DSD to PCM.
Like so many others, Keith probably is chasing a DSD ghost here. Not worth the effort.
AJ
DoP is supported over spdif and usb in some cases but will be DoP for two channel as no way you can do multiple streams over DoP. You need 192/24 for just DSD64 with two channels. Marantz don’t support more than 192/24 pcm period. So you’re chasing something not possible here. If you want to maintain DSD via HDMi you need a streamer like the DMP A6 nothing else will do what you want without an external dac like the Exasound.
