I now have access to my DSD file, does anyone know how to send it to my DAC without converting it?
The device setup doesn’t give me a “native” option, only “Convert to PCM”, “DSD over PCM”, and “Initial dCS method”. Only the “Convert to PCM” option produces consumable sound. With the other two, there is a large amount of noise.
Edit: Nevermind, after plugging the DAC in and out, it now does accept “DSD over PCM” without producing noise.
Good your all set. I’ll mark this as solved.
Not sure but read this for ideas?:
This for DSD settings “strategy”:
DSD Playback Strategy
If you didn’t go out and buy a “DSD DAC”, or you don’t know what that means, leave this setting >at the default “Convert to PCM” value and feel free to skip the following:
If you did buy a DSD DAC, this is the approach we recommend:
If Roon offers “Native” as an option, set it up that way and try out some DSD files. If >everything works, great you’re done. If things do not work, unplug your USB cable, and power >cycle the DAC–some DACs misbehave after failed attempts at Native DSD playback.
If “Native” playback wasn’t an option or it didn’t work, try “DSD over PCM v1.0 (DoP)”.
If that doesn’t work, you either:
- Don’t have a DSD DAC after all
- Have a bit-perfect playback problem
- Have a very rare and early DAC that needs the “Initial dCS method” setting. If your DAC >>wasn’t manufactured by dCS, this probably isn’t you
And if you want to know more:
If you experience this again, you may want to try adding a little Rsync delay in Device Settings (speaker icon, gear) as this may help the DAC to sync when switching formats.
It happened a while ago. Restarting the DAC fixed it again. Not sure what to make of this. Outside of DSD, the DAC has no problems switching gears (incl. bitrate) on the fly.
When it happened again a moment ago, I added 1000 ms delay but it didn’t help.
Even without the delay, I can hear that some switching occurs because every change of gears (annoyingly) produces a click sound (the clicks are a known problem with the DAC, so the click is not Roon’s problem).
Not sure what DAC You have however, in my experience my DAC (Schiit Yggdrasil) “clicks” when bit rate changes due to the muting relay, which is a not really an “problem” per se as it is the design intent to protect the system.
Here’s Schiit FAQ from the Manual (If you wanted to know, LOL):
Hey, this thing clicks between songs/between inputs/etc!
Yes, it does.
Care to explain why, smartass?
Sure. That’s the muting relay engaging when there’s no input. Many
computer sources turn off the digital audio output between songs
and when changing sampling rates. We went with a muting relay
because it’s the best way to ensure there are no clicks or pops when
the input is unlocked. But it does click a bit.
This may or may not apply to your DAC???
Oooh, so they are using a relay to avoid ”clicks or pops” in the headphones, but the relay makes a click sound in the DAC, i.e. outside the headphones. In that case, I need to be clear about what kind of clicks I’m complaining about and it’s the in-the-headphones-clicks. My DAC also makes in-the-DAC-clicks, but only when turning on or off. So, I assume that my DAC lacks exactly that muting relay that yours has. Mine is a an SMSL DL200, btw, and I seem to remember reading about one of its siblings (or its successor?) that it does not produce that click (which probably means that they added that relay).
So far (i.e. before Roon), it wasn’t a problem; I rarely heard any click because music was coming at a constant bitrate. But with Roon, especially Roon Radio, bitrates change all the time and the clicks are getting on my nerves. Provably need to fix the bitrate in Roon. But it’s a bit of a hack to sample up lower bitrates just to avoid the clicks. Plus: the bitrate shown on my DAC will be misleading.
So I’d hope there is another way. Maybe macOS can be told to not turn off the audio source? Otherwise the easiest way is probably to get a different DAC. Though it may be less easy than it seems, cause: how do I know which DAC has which kind of clicks?
The way to know is to look at the specs (if they list it there), ask the dealer/maker of the DAC, read good reviews, see if they have an In-home trial available, and finally go listen to the DAC yourself.
I went to several CanJams and Audio shows to demo equipment before spending my money. Was a good excuse to go on vacation to various places…
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