I am speculating here when I say that convolution and other DSP actions work only in the PCM format
You’re right, you can’t perform DSP on a two-level signal. I just don’t understand Roon’s inefficient mix of convolution and up-sampling.
Maybe this is a good question for Roon developers around here. Would be interesting to know the pros and cons of either option.
Not quite correct when using DSD source files, check out Roon - DSP - Sample rate conversion settings:
Also, Brian explained it here.
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I don’t think “64-bit DSD” is a thing, but it’s just semantics.
Time to dust off this old nugget… Been toying a bit more with ARC over the last few days – does not sound half bad: 
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lovely
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Here is a copy of my Signal Path from my iPadPro controller…This is shot with my Convolutions turned on! They are built by HAF’s Thierry…since I do not use convolutions in my Office system shown below…,.
But can someone show me where I would TURN OFF Volume Leveling? Seems that it completely destroys dynamics!
Marin, Thanks for the help! Don’t get me wrong I use Headroom Adjustment to compensate for my Convolutions…I was surprised that I had to go as high as -8 db to the Red Light to stop the red blinking light…But you are saying Volume leveling can not effect music dynamics? I can’t seem wrap my brain around that…
It‘s a static adjustment and doesn’t dynamically vary during a song/album, so how should dynamics be affected, technically?
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You are thinking of dynamic range compression, but this is not the same thing.
Volume leveling analyzes the files and makes it so that their their louder parts are approx. the same. It’s to avoid readjusting the volume all the time because different albums are mastered with different peak loudness.
- With the “Track” setting it does that for each track, e.g. for playlists, but the loudness differences within a single track remain unchanged.
- With the “Album” setting it takes the whole album into account; the loudness differences within a single album remain unchanged.
- (The “Auto” setting uses “Album” when playing albums and “Track” when playing playlists).
The DSP calculations are the same as it uses for headroon adjustment, it’s just that it chooses a target loudness based on the analysis of tracks/albums.
Note that volume leveling nearly always reduces the volume, so it can sound more lifeless because the human perception always hears louder as better. So you have to turn up the volume on the amp by the same amount to make an SQ comparison (and there will be no difference once properly adjusted)
There is a whole standard around how to do this:
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Thanks for the reply…it makes more sense they way you explain it…Maybe I was thinking about DRC…Headroom adjustment does also lower the volume some, but like you say…There is more volume to be had…and I do like volume when it’s an Album or a Track I really like…!
Thanks again Suedkiez! My mistake…
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