I can easily play from my Roon Nucleus+ folder via WiFi to my Windows 11 notebook highres files with highest resolution. MiniDSP ASIO driver installed on my notebook running Roon.
However my Nucleus+ plays those highres files only with heavy distortions. DAC is detected and can be activated. ALSA is shown.
In Device settings DSD to PCM. Selecting DoP results in no sound. Selecting dCS results in random clicks.
Why can Windows 11 handle the DAC and Linux based Roon Nucleus doesn’t cooperate?
Regards
Michael
Thanks for writing in and sharing your report! We’re seeing a few interesting errors in a recent Nucleus diagnostic report that we’ll need to discuss with our development team with.
In the meantime, can you please share a screenshot of your Signal path when you experience playback issues?
It may be good to review your device audio settings as well during this time - head to the volume icon > cogwheel > device setup > show advanced.
Have you by any chance tried to use a different USB cable to connect the DAC to the Nucleus? If the cable is malfunctioning, it is possible that it could be the cause. Also just to confirm, other zones work as expected when controlled from the Nucleus?
I would also suggest a RAATServer refresh to see if this helps. You can generate a new RAATServer instance on your device by following these instructions, but please be aware that this will reset your Roon Settings → Audio Tab to factory settings and I would advise making a backup of any custom DSP settings you have:
Thanks a lot.
However I see no possibility to perform your recommendation for my Linux based Roon Nucleus+ using my iPad-app. Do I have to add a monitor and keyboard?
And please see my already hint that things are running on my Win11 notebook - same USB-cables used.
On my Win11 notebook I have no problem to open „advanced settings“ in the Roon app for the DAC attached via USB.
Or do I get your recommendations totally wrong?
Regards
Hi @Michael_Graw,
There’s no need to add a monitor or a mouse. You can access the Nucleus’ web admin page from any computer that is on the same network as your Nucleus. This article will tell you how to access it. https://kb.roonlabs.com/Nucleus_Web_Administration_Interface Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Roon is not sending a 352.8 file, it is sending a 44.1 MQA file which has NOT been decoded. The Authenticating line is just Roon saying, “yes, this is a valid MQA file” it is not decoding it.
Yes, connecting my Win11 notebook (driver for the DAC connected: miniDSP UAC2 v.5.12.0) and playing the highres tracks from my Roon Nucleus Storage shows no problems.
Since the Nucleus is Linux-based, its class-compliant and doesn’t rely on the UAC2 driver. We’re more interested in the firmware installed on the MCHStreamer directly - it has to support DSD over PCM, and whatever DAC or receiver you’ve connected beyond the streamer must also accept DoP.
The latest available firmware from miniDSP is v1.9 or above. For due diligence, please verify this is the firmware installed on the streamer.
What is your audio chain outside of Roon, beyond this MCHStreamer? To which device are you passing the signal?
From the Console App on my Win11 notebook I can see that the miniDSP driver is labelled as ASIO driver version v1.9. The DAC connected to the Nucleus is a „Purist Statement DAC“ manufactured by AMI HiFi.
Thank you again and our apologies for requesting redundant detail here.
Reviewing the manual of this DAC, it can accept DoP at 128, and native DSD up to 256. You might be attempting to feed a digital stream outside of this endpoint’s supported format range.
Are you absolutely sure, Connor?
I can read from the manual:
Unterstutze Audio-Formate:
USB Input PCM up to 32 Bit / 384 kHz (bis zu 8 Kanälen), 24 Bit / 192 kHz bis zu 10 Kanälen
USB Input DSD up to DoP-128 und DSD-256 (bis zu 8 Kanalen)
SPDIF Inputs RCA / AES / Toslink SPDIF Inputs PCM Up to 24 bit / 192 kHz (2 Kanal stereo Unterstützung)
And why is it possible to play DSD tracks and DXD tracks from the internal storage of my Nucleus via the Roon App on my Windows11 notebook connected to this DAC but not directly from my Roon Nucleus to this DAC connected via the USB port of the Nucleus?
And shouldn’t the Roon Nucleus automatically downsample those highres track?
Thanks for the follow-up! It could be a case where your DAC relies on Windows drivers for full DSD functionality, which the Nucleus (running Roon OS, a Linux-based system) may not be able to use. This could explain why it works on Windows but not from the Nucleus, but we’ll need to discuss things further with our development team.
My apologies if this has already been glazed over - have you set up sample rate conversion in MUSE that could downsample any tracks for you, if the DAC isn’t playing the higher-res content natively?
Many thanks, Benjamin.
In shall activate MUSE to see (hear) if things will get playable. I am sure your technical experts will find a solution for this Linux issue.
Regards
Michael
Michael is making a mess of this Support request, refusing to confirm the specific miniDSP component, muddying the waters further by referring to AMI HiFi DAC capabilities, and failing to describe adequately all of the physical connections involved.
Judging by the Roon Signal path screenshots, my guess is that the miniDSP component is the MCHStreamer Box:
If so, it is a USB to TOSLINK converter. And TOSLINK always is going to be limited in its signal carrying capacity — usually to 96 kHz, sometimes beyond specification to 192 kHz, and never greater than 24 bit.
Sorry, your guess is totally wrong. All connections were described already. And from the „Audio“ menu in the Roon Nucleus setting the device connected and detected by Roon was simply activated. It’s as simple as it is possible! The DAC used is not a Roon endpoint - no LAN connection. Thus only a USB connection is possible. And as already mentioned: all other DACs and DDCs available here and connected via USB to my Roon Nucleus work as intended! What is your proposal for getting a solution? I cannot see a constructive answer/comment! Go and listen to your music for changing your mood!
