· Other
I am trying to play a DSD512 file downloaded from PS Audio, on my Nucleus Titan with an internal SSD for music connected to a dCS Vivaldi APEX Upsampler, but after a few seconds of playing while automatically downsampling to DSD128 (maximum for my DAC), Roon complains about slow download from disc and stops. I have the latest version of Roon server software installed.
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Take a look at the signal path while this is happening and post it here.
Need to see what it shows for Processing Speed in the signal path, among other things.
Does this mean that the file was first (some time ago) saved on the PS Audio, but then you downloaded it to the internal SSD of the Titan and are now playing the Titan‘s copy?
Because if so, the PS Audio and the network are irrelevant and can be excluded from the possible causes.
No. It means that PS Audio releases music recordings.
AJ
The first screenshot shows the signal path while it is playing seemingly find during the initial 10 seconds or so; and the second one after it stops in silence.
Ok, that processing speed 0.9 is most likely what is causing the issue.
With that much load on the processor for the conversion it does not leave much for the other roon requirements.
Right 
Sorry if it was not clear, but I referred to the PS Audio Octave Studios as the source of the DSD file only to indicate that the DSD file is probably not problematic. The file played is the one on the internal SSD disk inside the Titan.
I wonder if there is a way around this, other than not playing DSD files that require that much downsampling?
The best my current DAC can do is DSD128. As an aside, Roon can downsample and play DSD256 just fine. In retrospect, I should probably download DSD128, but what audiophile would not be tempted to download the highest resolution file available
It would be great if PS Audio allowed their customers to download files in any and all resolutions. I could not find that option on their web site now, although I vaguely remember this may have been possible in the past (or I could be confusing it with another web site source).
Ah. I thought it was PS Audio hardware with a storage drive where the file was stored previously (and possibly played over the network).
Anyway, same thing: we can safely ignore where the file was previously stored or downloaded from.
Any convenient programs out there that can downsample DSD512 to DSD256 or DSD128?
Not great for a $4k device whose specs state „All MUSE DSP functions available“ (as opposed to the N One which explicitly says that „certain combinations of functions using DSD, upsampling, or multichannel processing may not be possible“)
I have one dsd 512 Stereo recording. I’ll try playing that with the HDMI zone and see what happens.
Usually for me, when an attempt is made to play a DSD 256 5.1 file over HDMI there is a double conversion to PCM that drags my processing speed down to 1x. Results is skipping and such.
I was hoping the Titan would handle that without any issues.
Just to be clear, I am not explicitly using any Muse filters. It is the automated downsampling triggered for a DSD512 file by the DSD128 limit of my DAC.
But you are still right about Muse, if the load required for DSD512 downsampling is indeed an issue.
Interestingly, the Roon message points to the file I/O as the problem, not the processing power. I guess the processing power could still be the limiting factor, especially given the “0.9x” status. Not sure what “0.9x” processing actually indicates, in terms of threads / cores / CPU …
Under normal playback the processing speed is not displayed . It is only displayed when the processing speed is below 100x.
For instance, I have numerous DSD 256 5.1 files and the one DSD 512 Stereo. When playing those using the Roon Ready S88 zone that handles up to DSD 256 5.1 multi-channel and DSD 512 Stereo the processing speed is not displayed.
So if the conversion is hogging the CPU other functions including i/o could be affected.
If that is indeed the issue then maybe Roon needs to offload the conversion to one CPU and use another or others for the remaining processing. But what do I know, just a thought.
Yeah I figured, but if the specs imply that all DSP functions are possible including with DSD (at least that’s how I read it), I’d have expected that it manages 512 to 128 downsampling.
It’s what the value is for - below 1 it can’t keep up with realtime needs and problems are guaranteed.
But yeah, just download the appropriate version.
At that price I would expect it to as well, but a laptop processor is still a limiting factor here.
Totally agree.
My Lenovo i5-8400T, 16gb RAM for £130 scrapes by doing this.
I’ll test with DSD512 based on the OPs MUSE settings.
Sure, but then the specs could be more detailed.
Well at x1 it’s also living on the edge 
