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[henning65]

This is kind of a follow up to another "post: basic hardware advice - USB-DAC or LAN-DAC [solved]" https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,128850.0.html


I'm struggling with the setup of the DAC "Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital". Especially I like to include a high-quality setting to listen to .iso files (SACD). From the company page https://www.project-audio.com/de/produkt/pre-box-s2-digital/ I learnt, that the DAC can play DSD via DoP / and nativ.
@Wheaten included some photos in the mentioned post showing that the DAC can play DSD. But I struggle to reproduce the settings.

As I'm using MacOX (macOS Mojave 10.14.6) as computer system, I learnt DSD bit streaming is possible only via DoP.


Problem:
Szenario
(1) If MC is set to Options/Audio/Settings/Bitstreaming: DSD (=YES): No sound from .iso file
(2) If MC is set to Options/Audio/Settings/Bitstreaming: DSD (=NO): hear sound; DAC display: 352k
==> Sampel Rate of file: DSD64 (1x)

other MC Settings:
- Options/Audio/Audio Device: Pre Box S2 Digital [Core Audio]
- Options/Audio/Settings/ DSP & output format: all disabled


Question:
How to change the setting to listen to .iso/SACD with bit streaming?

Thanks for helping!


-------
In Szenario (2) Remote shows DSD 2766 kbps and SACD in the right bottom corner.

---------
I'm using
MC 27 (27.0.62 (Intel))
macOS Mojave 10.14.6 on Mac mini (end 2012)
USB-DAC Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital

[JimH]

Try this:
Bitstreaming off
In DSP Studio select Output Settings
Output Encoding > DSP in DOP Format

[henning65]

Thanks for helping!

I changed:
option/audio/settings/bistreaming: none
--> DSP Studio / Output: DSD in DoP format

strange result
on my computer screen: the audio file is playing - I "see" the file playing...
on my DAC: no output - display bottom right: 176k
on iOS JRemot: DSD 2292 kbps / SACD

[JimH]

Is your computer directly connected to the DAC?  Or is it a network connection (UPnP / DLNA)?   I assumed a direct connection.

[Awesome Donkey]

If you're using macOS you might a) need to open the Audio MIDI Setup app and set it to the highest bit-depth and sample rate available for your DAC and b) set both the macOS system volume and Media Center's volume to 100%. This is required for some DACs to work with DoP in macOS.

[henning65]

To your question: The DAC is connected via USB.

with the setting also FLAC files play (visible on computer and JRemote) but no sound!

setting
Option/Audio/Audio Device: Pre Box S2 Digital [Core Audio]
Option/Audio/Setting/DSP & output format: output format: DSD in DoP format
Option/Audio/Setting/Bitstreaming: None

[henning65]

Dear @Awesome Donkey

That did the trick!

sound is back and .iso is playing. the DAC-Display shows: DSD64

BUT
I can't change the setting in Audio-Midi-Setup: If I change the audio format to higher (than 176.400 Hz) it switches back. Might the problem be the connecting USB-cable?

AND - If if lower the audio level in MC / JRemote to -lets say- 95%, the sound is ZERO. So basically there is no level adjustment possible with MC.

[Awesome Donkey]

Well, does it still work even though Audio MIDI Setup resets the setting? If it does still work, I wouldn't worry about it then, as it may have been related to volume needing to be 100%.

[henning65]

I'd like to summarize the findings

I had to start with the setting to "MC volume level = 100%" and I started with DSD Studio "DSD over DoP" and Bitstream "none".

Later I switched back to
Option/Audio/Audio Device: Pre Box S2 Digital [Core Audio]
Option/Audio/Setting/DSP & output format: none
Option/Audio/Setting/Bitstreaming: DSD=YES

Now for .iso the MC volume level ist not available anymore at all! If I "click" on the speaker logo (left upper corner of main MC window) I get the option "Enable Volume When Bitstreaming". If I click this option: the MC volume level switches to 100% and now I can manipulate / change the level. But if I lower the sound disappears completely - so still only a yes/no option!

If I select a FLAC-file: MC-audio-level can be changed - audio plays below 100%.



@Awesome Donkey & @JimH: thanks for your help!

My remaining question: Any solution for a MC-setting which plays DSD from .iso (on Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital) AND the option to alter the volume level on MC / JRemote?

[Awesome Donkey]

Now for .iso the MC volume level ist not available anymore at all! If I "click" on the speaker logo (left upper corner of main MC window) I get the option "Enable Volume When Bitstreaming". If I click this option: the MC volume level switches to 100% and now I can manipulate / change the level. But if I lower the sound disappears completely - so still only a yes/no option!

This is normal and that's how bitstreaming works. When bitstreaming it's not possible to change the internal volume, it's not possible to use DSP, etc. That Enable Volume When Bitstreaming option only works with specific DACs, and it won't work for others... and it sounds like it won't work for yours (it doesn't work for mine either, if I try decreasing volume, all sound goes away). So in that case I wouldn't bother enabling it because it won't do anything.

That's just the nature of the beast I'm afraid when playing back DSD content without converting it to PCM. Personally I leave volume within Media Center (and at the OS level) at 100% all the time, and use the volume knob on my speakers to adjust volume. If your speakers don't have such a thing it might be worth adding one so you can control speaker volume while DSD bitstreaming. So, tl;dr it means to bitstream DSD content volume has to be set to 100% or else it won't work.

My remaining question: Any solution for a MC-setting which plays DSD from .iso (on Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital) AND the option to alter the volume level on MC / JRemote?

Nope, that's just how bitstreaming works. Media Center isn't doing any processing of the content at all and sending it directly unmodified to the DAC to decode and play it back. And the only ways around it is having hardware volume control for your speakers, e.g. a volume knob or converting all DSD content to PCM and playing that back.

[henning65]

@Awsome Donkey

yes - somehow that's the idea behind BITstreaming - streaming the bits means bits only and no additional info like "volume level".... I will adjust to this...

and .... the sound is great!


One last -bonus- question - not really related to JRiver:
Is it possible to address the DAC over the local network? From another macOS computer? DVD-players can be addressed...

[Awesome Donkey]

One last -bonus- question - not really related to JRiver:
Is it possible to address the DAC over the local network? From another macOS computer? DVD-players can be addressed...

Do you mean that you want to control the Media Center running on the main Mac that has your library (and is also the one controlling your DAC)? Like you can use a phone or tablet with JRemote to control your main Media Center, but instead from a phone or tablet you wish to control it from another Mac or PC? If so, yes you can. It's called Tremote and it's built within Media Center. I use it to control my main library running on my desktop PC using my Windows laptop. You can also use Panel in any web browser connected to your Wi-Fi network to directly control the playback of Media Center on any device it's running on.

https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Tremote

[henning65]

Thanks for Tremote

But actually its about another application running on another machine: a 27'' iMac. I like to use the screen for movies but would like to enjoy the sound from the DAC.... (which is connected by USB to an old MacMini).
... really a "bonus" question ....