I built mine after I bought a streamer for my DAC and I’m not sure I am getting the best sound from ROCK this way with the streamer endpoint going into my DAC.
My equipment on the digital source side include a NUC7i3 running ROCK, NAD CS1 network streamer and roon ready endpoint, SMSL DO300 DAC connected via coax to the CS1 and also USB to the ROCK.
The DO300 is supposed to be a full decoder for MQA, but only seems to display that it’s in that mode when I run roon straight through USB, when I go the route through the streamer, which should be passing the same info through via the coax, my DAC doesn’t show the MQA logo which it does when running direct.
I am not sure which is the better method, I understand the endpoint is meant to be the choice I should make for sound quality, but I think the USB source provides a higher resolution and the audio source on ROCK even shows the enhanced MQA signal path when connected via usb and doesn’t show the same unfolding when run through NAD, which is what I had hoped for.
What other ways can I test and check to see which setup is the actual best performance? Audibly I like them both, but when I don’t use the CS1 I feel like I get an extra level of depth in my system, which I wasn’t expecting.
I have split your post and @Marin_Weigel’s helpful reply from the other thread because you are seeking help on using Roon. Moreover, it’s best to keep the original thread on-topic with responses addressing the original posters’ (OP) questions.
The SMSL DAC sounds incredible running through USB, especially so when controlled by roon/ROCK.
Is power supply noise the only downside to running audio straight out of the ROCK usb to the DAC? Or am I setting up my CS1 incorrectly? I might try another coax cable to see if the cord isn’t handling the output properly, I am starting to feel like I wasted money on the CS1, but I suppose I can relocate that endpoint to another stereo and run my main setup direct from ROCKs USB into the DAC and group them, my other stereo is running a Chromecast audio into a SMSL DO100 DAC. I could also try the HDMI from the ROCK into the DAC but I don’t expect that would change much.
If at all, then yes.
And it can be galvanically isolated for about the same amount a RPi-setup costs.
And you’re running audio data, so better relegate typical audiophile myths to where they belong.
RTFM - sorry for shouting
Don’t waste your time and money, definitely not the problem!
You’ve likely invested in the wrong device for what you seemed to have in mind.
Do that, and/or …
… any combination possible with what you have on hand to hear for yourself what it affords, sonically.
Thanks, I did read the manual, I became under the impression the CS1 would pass through the MQA stream for my DAC, but those indicators only display on the DAC when I go direct through USB, and the CS1 doesn’t have a setup interface really so I can’t adjust anything that I’m aware of, I was hoping someone else had a similar setup and got the desired result.
For now I’m going to keep it hooked up both ways and just compare for a while, I guess that’s the only test that really matters.
Most DACs only do ‘proper’ MQA when connected via USB. The SMSL DO300 has SoTA measured performance. I wouldn’t worry about connecting it to your ROCK via USB. Claims of power supply “noise” are highly exaggerated IME and most measurements place them well below the threshold of audibility.
