I might be confusing things here, but I'm bitstreaming stereo DSD files to my Aries Mini and multi-channel DSD files to my 105. Works in both instances and I can't see where a conversion to PCM would occur. Do you think MC converts to PCM when sending files to the 105, although bitstreaming is enabled?
This is all so complicated and confusing that people frequently think they are doing one thing, when in fact they are doing another. I mean no insult to you or anyone else. It's just that there are many many pieces of the puzzle and it's easy to miss one, especially with SO MANY different ways to do things!
For example, it's unclear what you mean about the Aries above. You simply say "bitstreaming", which (in the JRiver world) normally implies a direct wired connection via USB, optical or coaxial digital, etc. But I see, looking at the specs of the Aries, that it is mostly a network device. So you must mean that you are doing DSD over DLNA, as per the link above.
If you've enabled the bitstream DSD check box, and have stopped and started MC, then I would expect that MC is trying to send DSD via DOPe to your various DACs. But only if the appropriate DLNA profile is associated with your DLNA renderers. Otherwise, it might be using the default profile or some other one. See what I mean?
So this is why I ask how you are sure. If there's a front panel indicator or something similar, this would be the most affirmative way of knowing.
Brian.