MQA Decoding and rendering

cary_vokes · February 11, 2020, 5:57pm

Core Machine (Operating system/System info/Roon build number)
Windows 10, Tidal.

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

Audio Devices (Specify what device you’re using and its connection type - USB/HDMI/etc.)
NAD D3040 amp via USB port.

Description Of Issue
Which doing the decoding and rendering, my amp with built in DAC or Roon?

Jim_F · February 11, 2020, 6:32pm

If you have a full MQA capable DAC, you can turn off the Roon first MQA unfold and setup your DAC to do decoding and rendering.

dylan · February 11, 2020, 6:33pm

Hi @cary_vokes,

This will depend on your endpoint and the your settings — You can read more about Roon + MQA here:

https://kb.roonlabs.com/Roon_x_MQA

cary_vokes · February 11, 2020, 6:54pm

Here’s a couple of snapshots. Am I setup correctly to use dac decodin

g and rendering?

Jim_F · February 11, 2020, 6:59pm

I’m certainly not the expert here, but if your DAC can do MQA decoding and rendering, I think you should turn off the MQA core decoder in Roon.

Henry_McLeod · February 11, 2020, 7:06pm

There are two approaches.

Set endpoint to decoder and renderer, switch off core decoding and apply no DSP.
Set endpoint to renderer only, core decoding on. Apply DSP if desired.

The next step is to look at the signal path which tells you exactly what is happening.

Jim_F · February 11, 2020, 7:08pm

So, that’s the difference. DSP can be used if Roon does the MQA decoding. Is there any disadvantage to doing it this way? Thanks.

cary_vokes · February 11, 2020, 7:20pm

to switch off core decoding do I switch off decoding in screenshot # 9 ? How do I switch off dsp?

Jim_F · February 11, 2020, 7:23pm

Where is says “Enable MQA Core Decoder.” For DSP, you don’t have any unless you turned some on.

cary_vokes · February 11, 2020, 7:28pm

Got it ! thanks so much.

cary_vokes · February 11, 2020, 7:39pm

Hi Jim. I hope it’s all good now. Here’s a couple of screenshots.

Jim_F · February 11, 2020, 7:42pm

I think Henry would tell us something is still not quite right. I’m not sure what.

Jim_F · February 11, 2020, 7:45pm

I think it should look like this:

Jim_F · February 11, 2020, 7:48pm

Turn off volume leveling.

BlackJack · February 11, 2020, 7:51pm

The volume levelling - a DSP operation - invalidates the MQA authentication.

cary_vokes · February 11, 2020, 7:53pm

Hi Henry. Here’s a couple of screenshots…hope I’ve got the setup right. Does it look ok to you?
Thank you.

Jim_F · February 11, 2020, 8:07pm

You need to turn off volume leveling.

cary_vokes · February 11, 2020, 8:43pm

how do i turn off volume leveling?

Jim_F · February 11, 2020, 8:46pm

Click the speaker looking ICON at the very bottom right corner of the page where your music is playing, then click the gears. Evidently is has to do with zones or something.

cary_vokes · February 11, 2020, 8:59pm

Thanks Jim! Got it! It’s off now.