U1 Mini with Mcintosh DA1 DAC in a MAC7200

[Wayne_Fiala]

Peter, I cannot find where I just read this again, I was searching, but it was from you a few years ago.

I have a Sonic Transport for my ROON Core and a U1 Mini for streamer. The U1 is feeding my Denon PMA-110A 110th Anniversary Integrated with DSD DAC. I run USB from the U1Mini to the USB input on the Denon. It all works fine including getting at least 2.822 DSD, at least that is what ROON, the Denon and Lumin report.

I was looking to get a Mcintosh MAC7200 with the DA1 DAC, but have read you cannot get native DSD from the DA1 DAC, if you are not using a Windows computer, which was the whole point of getting the Sonic Transport.

Then you commented, that cannot fine again, something about the U1 Mini upgraded to do native DSD with the Mcintosh ? Not wanting the headaches of stuff not working, I wanted to follow up with you on that comment, and or what do I need to do for that U1 Mini thing to happen.
Thanks, Wayne

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

This might be the thread you are remembering. But, Peter was not saying it did native DSD.

McIntosh DA2 (DAC Module)

If DoP works fine for you and you don’t need to play more than DSD128, then use DoP. No reason to use the old dCS standard. I don’t think you could have got DSD256 from Linux via dCS protocol on DA1. You can use native DSD if you direct connect the DA2 to Roon on Windows, or if you use our Lumin U1 / U1 MINI streamer, since we have recently added specific native DSD support for McIntosh DA2. A likely reason between the different USB behavior of DA1 and DA2 is that they use different USB proc…

Bottom line is these devices use Linux and will be limited to DoP. This is all about McIntosh’s implementation. The only way to get native DSD to that device is via a Windows box running the ASIO driver.

That being said you can get a cheap prebuilt mini for about 150 bucks on Amazon Just load the ASIO drivers, load RoonBridge. plug it up to ethernet and the USB to the McIntosh.

Maybe you could contact McIntosh tech support for a pre-sales tech question, describe what you want to do and see if they have another option. OR, think about a different DAC/AMP that WILL do native DSD with the hardware you have.

[Wayne_Fiala]

@McIntosh DA2 (DAC Module)

You can use native DSD if you direct connect the DA2 to Roon on Windows, or if you use our Lumin U1 / U1 MINI streamer, since we have recently added specific native DSD support for McIntosh DA2. A likely reason between the different

Daniel, he did say above in that note, so I am confused, since I use the U1Mini ?

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

I mis-read that, so sorry about the message. Peter should be able to sort you out.

Over the years in helping others, native DSD is confusing for a lot of people, who don’t even know you need to pay attention and ask questions. Let me explain a little bit more. Linux (like MacOS) is built to only do DoP, not native. However, the Linux kernel can be patched for each specific DACs to work.

Sounds good, however, every Linux device uses a different flavor of Linux, many custom (like the ROCK OS). So that means that each Linux OS device needs to be patched for each individual DAC (assuming that is even possible there are many DACs, especially older ones which cannot work natively with Linux at all). That is so much bother that in the end most manufacturer’s of the linux devices don’t bother and neither do the device manufacturers.

Which is why I always call the tech department of any audio device I am thinking of purchasing first to ask how it really works in the environment I’m setting up. I think I suggested as much in an earlier post. This is especially true for native DSD with Linux streaming devices or computers (like a Nucleus).

I hope it works out and that you enjoy your new purchase.

Cheers,
Daniel

[wklie (Peter Lie)]

@Wayne_Fiala

Mcintosh MAC7200 with the DA1 DAC, but have read you cannot get native DSD from the DA1 DAC, if you are not using a Windows computer

Yes, that is correct. The reason is DA1 was using a chip that does not support Linux native DSD.

@Wayne_Fiala

U1 Mini upgraded to do native DSD with the Mcintosh

For DA2 only, not DA1.

You can get a Lumin model with analog output, another third party DAC, or DA2.

Generally, my recommendation is this: you will get better sound quality from a separate device than from integrated DAC, regardless of brand.