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[Chyron]

Hello everyone.

I have a Questyle CMA400i DAC/amp that I am using with my EVGA NU Audio card.  The Questyle is a full DSD, fully balanced, current mode DAC/Amp.

I am using the Hifiman HE1000v1 headphones. I am using the Iriver 64 bit version player.

I am trying to configure MC for the best possible playback, and I am completely lost! I am trying to read all available sources, but everything is just over my head, and I am lost as to the BEST way to configure MC.

I have been trying for several months. I have looked at these forums in the past, but it always leaves me confused.

Can some kind soul just give me a down and dirty walkthrough of the best way to take advantage of what I have and get the best sound? And show me how to configure MC settings to take advantage of my hardware?

I would greatly appreciate the help. 

[Blu99Zoomer]

Hi Chyron,

Welcome to the Forums.  Why don't you tell us a little about your music collection, what you like to listen to, and in what format?  Sometimes that kind of background can help us understand your intent when you say a descriptive word like "best".  Some folks like to change formats, some like to move all formats to DSD, some like bit perfect, some like to send their music to a handheld unit in a different format from what they store it in, some like to dial into their server while driving, etc.  There are many different ways to be "best".  So knowing what your "best" is defined as to you will help us and you tailor this great program to your needs.  Looks like your hardware will allow a lot of variety.  Good for you!

[wer]

It would also be helpful to show screenshots of your current JRiver audio settings, and of your settings in the DSP Studio modules.

In addition, are you trying to correct some audible deficiency you currently experience, or are you just after "best" because it is "best"?

I also wonder how you are using that DAC with the EVGA card. How are they connected?  Since the DAC has a USB input, I'm not sure what the EVGA card is for.

Understanding your goals is important.

[dtc]

I would start by downloading and installing  the USB driver from the manufacturers website, if you have not done so already.  Then, in Tools - Options - Audio, select the manufacturer's ASIO driver.  Then, in the bitstreaming option, select DSD. This will allow the native DSD to be played over the USB.

Once you have done that, you are set to play bit perfect audio to your DAC.  While playing, you can look at Audio Path (the little Gear on the top right of the display) to see that no changes are being made to the audio.

You can make changes in DSP Studio to potentially enhance the music, but I would leave those alone unless you have a specific need to change them.

Try this simple setup and you should be good to go.  If you have any questions after that, let us know.

NOTE: Is there a reason you are not using USB?

[Chyron]

I tried posting picture, but the forum says the pictures do no pass security check, to contact forum administration.... ???oh well

I chose the manufacturers asio file

output format is set to 'none'...  I guess I want output encoding to be DSD to take advantage of the dac/amp?

I took screenshots but cannot upload, so look at this link..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DwJWUT1jwKQ1XoaH9

I guess I am trying to enable DSD output...after making the changes above, it now seems to be working, and when I enabled 8Xdsd, the sound changed, and it "seems "better" ??

[Chyron]

See, I restarted MC and now it just plays static.... I turned output setting back to "none" and now it plays....   so confused......

[Awesome Donkey]

A couple things...

1) According to one of your screenshots showing your Audio Path, you're using DirectSound. DirectSound doesn't support DSD output and it goes through the Windows system mixer, so it's not bit-perfect output. To bitstream DSD, you'll need to use ASIO or WASAPI exclusive and set the Bitstreaming option under MC's Options > Audio > Bitstreaming (set to DSD). In general if you want to bypass the Windows mixer, you should be using ASIO or WASAPI exclusive regardless. Do not use DSP Studio > Output Format > Output Encoding for DSD unless you want to convert everything to DSD, which is a lossy process.

2) Some DACs need both Windows' system volume and Media Center's internal volume set to 100% for it to successfully bitstream DSD, or else you'll just hear white noise type of sounds. Fair warning though, if I were you I'd make sure there's some sort of hardware volume control on your speakers, headphones or whatever you're outputting sound to, or else you may be in for a loud surprise.

3) If you set Bitstreaming to None, Media Center will convert all DSD to PCM on-the-fly. Like I mentioned above, conversions like this are a lossy process. Any and all conversions regarding DSD within Media Center will always go a PCM stage in the middle (even DSD to DSD conversions) and will always be a lossy conversion. This is undesirable for those who want bit-perfect audio output, and bitstreaming DSD would be the recommendation (as there is no conversion whatsoever when bitstreaming DSD).

[dtc]

Setting Output Format to any of the DSD settings converts everything to DSD. When it is set to none the PCM files are played as PCM and DSD files are played as DSD.  You will see any conversions in the Audio Path window.

[Chyron]

OK, folks! When I set it to 8X DSD, I get static, but when I drop it down to 4X DSD it works and sounds great!

Thank all of you for your help!!!!

 

[dtc]

Your DAC does not support 8x DSD, only up to 4X DSD, so that makes sense.

Enjoy the music