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[eska]

Hi,

I've received the Fiio BTR5 which is capable to play native DSD. Unfortunately i'm not able to play ISO DSD file on this small DAC from JRiver, though It's working fine on my mobile with the Fiio app (USB DAC mode, not bluetooth and the same ISO File). With the exact same settings on JRiver I can play native DSD on the Nano IFI DAC so I guess the settings are right on the playback options. Is JRiver could not support this DAC ? I don't think so because it's recognized in the driver section, I tried all of them (plughw, hw, sysdefault)  but the same thing happen: "Something went wrong with playback"...

I'm on linux MintOS

Any help would be very welcome
Thanks

Pierre

[eska]

I solve part of the issue by unchecking "Ouput DSD files in native DSD format" in the Alsa Audio Settings of JRiver. It seems that it's only possible to use DSD over PCM with this dac and JRiver....

[Awesome Donkey]

I thought native DSD on Linux only works for DACs that have support for native DSD added to ALSA and/or the Linux kernel itself? I mean, if I recall correctly, it's been awhile.

I'm not surprised DoP works though. Ultimately it shouldn't matter which is used (native or DoP), the end result is the same.

[bob]

I thought native DSD on Linux only works for DACs that have support for native DSD added to ALSA and/or the Linux kernel itself? I mean, if I recall correctly, it's been awhile.

I'm not surprised DoP works though. Ultimately it shouldn't matter which is used (native or DoP), the end result is the same.

Correct on both points.

Also, MC supports only DSD_U32_BE (by far the most common format)
You can see what your device supports by running this command from a terminal window:
/usr/lib/jriver/Media\ Center\ 26/alsacap

[chrisc]

Slightly different FiiO BTR5 question:

The BTR5 is connected to a Windows 10 PC via USB

I can see the settings for volume, filter, etc on an iPhone screen
None of them seem to make any difference to the output (I am aware that EQ does not work on USB out, but this set to NONE anyway)
No volume adjustment
Only the UP and DOWN buttons on the device itself vary the volume
There is no volume adjustment in Windows
The Sound Device is shown as FiiO Q series

The amplifier is connected via the 2.5mm socket
What values would be best for Load and Sensitivity?   The amp nominally requires 0,775V for full output

One peculiar operation is music playback via JRiver 26
Again, the playback device is FiiO device (WASAPI)
None of the volume choices operate
It plays back everything fine.  However, if the track stops, a buzzing noise comes from both speakers and only goes away when the next track is played

Tried VLC media player - This works 100%, volume and all

[bob]

Slightly different FiiO BTR5 question:

The BTR5 is connected to a Windows 10 PC via USB

I can see the settings for volume, filter, etc on an iPhone screen
None of them seem to make any difference to the output (I am aware that EQ does not work on USB out, but this set to NONE anyway)
No volume adjustment
Only the UP and DOWN buttons on the device itself vary the volume
There is no volume adjustment in Windows
The Sound Device is shown as FiiO Q series

The amplifier is connected via the 2.5mm socket
What values would be best for Load and Sensitivity?   The amp nominally requires 0,775V for full output

One peculiar operation is music playback via JRiver 26
Again, the playback device is FiiO device (WASAPI)
None of the volume choices operate
It plays back everything fine.  However, if the track stops, a buzzing noise comes from both speakers and only goes away when the next track is played

Tried VLC media player - This works 100%, volume and all

DSD is a digital bitstream, you can't change the volume on anything but the device.
If VLC is doing it, I don't believe it can be doing anything other than converting to PCM.

[chrisc]

Thanks

I understand that DSD is digital and the volume cannot be adjusted on the PC

Would the same necessarily apply when playing a 24bit 96KHz FLAC file?

[Awesome Donkey]

PCM isn't affected, you can use DSP with it just fine. You can't use DSP when bitstreaming, like with DSD. You'd have to convert DSD to PCM to enable the use of DSP (and volume control).

[chrisc]

I think I may have expressed the problem incorrectly

Been using JR for a few years with several different DACs, most successfully with a Denafrips ARES

Here in SA the electricity supply is decidedly dodgy and we experience what is euphemistically called "Load Shedding" at frequent intervals.

The drop in power is no problem, but when it comes back on, it is often not a clean restoral, but on-off-on-off-on a few times.   To circumvent this, I had a relay fitted which switches the power back to the house DB 5 mins after the power settles down.   In August this was not sufficient and not only did the on-off-on cycle continue for a while, it damaged the 3000VA UPS in front of the audio equipment, but also a power conditioner such that smoke came out of it

After that, the ARES DAC, Meredian amp, a NAS box and computer did not work.   The value of the damaged items far exceeded the maximum compensation from the insurer, so I received about 1/4 of the value.   This could not have occurred at a worse time, as due to Covid-19 and a national lockdown, my income dropped considerably

To get myself going with music, I acquired a FIIO BTR5 DAC which uses a USB-C cable to connect to the PC

When it is playing music, it works very well, but there is a peculiarity in its useage that I have not been able to figure out

The BTR5 has two sockets, a 3.5mm stereo socket and also a 2.5mm stereo socket.  The latter is said to output a "balanced signal as per the diagram below



I press the power button on the BTR5 and the word "Fiio" appears and it shows the bitrate of the audio signal

While it is playing, it works fine.

There are 2 anomolies

1 - The volume cannot be adjusted on JR, nor with Windows volume.  This is playing 16 bit 44.1KHz music files
2 - As soon as the music stops, there is a buzzing sound from both speakers

However, if I view a YouTube video via a web browser or use VLC media player, then Windows can vary the volume

I asked FIIO about this and the instruction was to switch on "DS mode" in the playback program.  I don't know how to do this in JR, if it is possible

This is what they said:



I have no idea whether this is an optimal setting or not

This is the Playback settings in use

Also, what should be chosen for "Output Encoding" if anything?   I resort to taking guesses



So I am not making much, if any progress and would be extremely greatful if you could give me some pointers so I can overcome this

Thank you

[chrisc]

Been looking a bit more...

If the ASIO driver is chosen, then Windows and JRiver volume does not operate, on FLAC or DSD files but it plays them fine




If the WASAPI driver is chosen AND "open device for exclusive access" is unticked then JR can adjust the volume. 




But it then won't play DSD files and shows this message when Bitstreaming is chosen:




And this message when it is not (and also won't play 192KHz FLAC files or anything greater than 16 bit 44.1KHz)



Can you tell me where I may have gone wrong?  There are many permutations and I may be choosing an incorrect combination

Thanks

[JimH]

I don't think you have bitstreaming set if you're getting a message about DOP.

Bitstreaming just gives the file unaltered to the device.  The wiki has a topic.

[chrisc]

Maybe I don’t

I looked at several articles dealing with the term “bitstreaming” and while they explained the concept, there seems not to be a direct guide on how to implement this on JRiver

Is there something I can read that sets it out in a logical way?

Thank you

[Awesome Donkey]

Volume won't work if you're bitstreaming. Also it sounds like the DAC only supports native DSD output and not DoP, so there's a chance trying to use WASAPI probably won't work and ASIO might be your only option for DSD.

Volume for FLAC files should work unless you've got DSP Studio > Output Format > Output Encoding set to DSD. If that's the case, set Output Encoding to None.

More info on bitstreaming: https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/DSD

To enable DSD bitstreaming go to MC's Options > Audio section and under the Bitstreaming option set it from None (recommended) to DSD. Make sure you're using the ASIO audio device for your DAC and give that a go.

[JimH]

Try a Google search.  You'll find it discussed here.

[chrisc]

Thanks, very good info here.  Let’s me make some progress