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[Zipster]

Hi all,

I'm a week into my JRiver trial, and generally enjoying the experience. However, am having a few 'niggles' and hoping for a few pointers.

A 'small' speaker upgrade on my desktop has led me down the Hi Res rabbit hole !     

I'm a complete technophobe, so please forgive my ignorance.

OK, so my set up is HP-Pavilion 550-112na, AMD A10-8750 Radeon R7, 12 Compute Cores 4C+8G 3.60 GHz, 8 GB RAM, Windows 10 > iFi ZEN DAC Signature V1 > Presonus Eris SUB8 > Presonus Eris 3.5 Monitors

Occassional use: AKG K550 reference headphones

I have a variety of Hi Res files, and am trying to ascertain the best for my use. All play, (including DSD64 & 128), EXCEPT DSD256  ? 

I've tried tinkering with various settings, but keep getting this message...JRiver playback problem.JPG

These are my current settings...JRiver DSP Sudio.JPG

Any, or all, suggestions will be most gratefully received. 

On a side note, for purely listening pleasure, and with a basic lo-fi set up, what music file type would best suit ?

And are there any 'how to' guides for JRiver numpty newbies like myself ?

Many thanks,

Zipster

P.S. Hope I've posted this in the correct section...

[JimH]

DSP Studio lets you change the format.  You're there, but have not set any change (bottom of list).

You're using DSP in DOP.  Try Google to read about that, but also try turning off Output Format completely by unchecking the box.

Not all DAC's support everything.

[Awesome Donkey]

Yeah, use DSD bitstreaming and don't use DSP Studio > Output Format > Output Encoding, doing so is a very resource intensive task and is converting everything, both PCM and DSD, to DSD which is a lossy conversion. You can instead enable DSD bitstreaming by after setting Output Encoding to None, then going to MC's Options > Audio > and set the Bitstreaming option to DSD.

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

As for why it doesn't playback DSD256, it looks like you need to use native DSD to do that (via ASIO, which the DAC manufacturer likely would provide a driver for, you may need to contact and ask them if it's not easy to find) whereas DoP for your DAC appears limited to DSD128 after looking at the max PCM sample rate the DAC supports (which is 384kHz). To do DSD256 via DoP, the DAC would need to support a PCM sample rate of 768kHz.

[Zipster]

Thanks for the prompt replies, gents.

Kinda feels like I've been trying to play cricket with a baseball bat ! 

I've raised a support ticket with iFi, including screenshots of your suggestions, so we'll see what they come back with.

In the meantime, I've updated the ZEN with the latest Windows USB Driver – 5.12, and tried both your tips, but am still at square one.

The real irony is that four of the DSD 256 files which refuse to play are on 'iFi Stereo DSD 256 Sampler Album' ! 

Worst case scenario - I'll ask NativeDSD to 'swap' the 256 files for ones I can play.

Hadn't realised that DSD was such a niche and PITA, and, in all honesty, 44/96 24 bit sounds remarkably similar.

Once again, I appreciate your responses.

Z

[eve]

Yeah, use DSD bitstreaming and don't use DSP Studio > Output Format > Output Encoding, doing so is a very resource intensive task and is converting everything, both PCM and DSD, to DSD which is a lossy conversion. You can instead enable DSD bitstreaming by after setting Output Encoding to None, then going to MC's Options > Audio > and set the Bitstreaming option to DSD.

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

As for why it doesn't playback DSD256, it looks like you need to use native DSD to do that (via ASIO, which the DAC manufacturer likely would provide a driver for, you may need to contact and ask them if it's not easy to find) whereas DoP for your DAC appears limited to DSD128 after looking at the max PCM sample rate the DAC supports (which is 384kHz). To do DSD256 via DoP, the DAC would need to support a PCM sample rate of 768kHz.

Very sound advice here.

I will say that PCM to DSD can sound *very* good with the right DAC and more 'esoteric' conversion. It's not something I've really delved into heavily despite my system supporting it. I'm fine with being able to play DSD natively and sticking to PCM with resampling for redbook and hi res.
DSD to PCM conversion is arguably pretty excellent by this point, I remember when Wiess Saracon was the only serious contender in the game. SoX aint bad and the solution I used when I didn't have a DSD interface / DAC was great.

[Awesome Donkey]

Thanks for the prompt replies, gents.

Kinda feels like I've been trying to play cricket with a baseball bat ! 

I've raised a support ticket with iFi, including screenshots of your suggestions, so we'll see what they come back with.

In the meantime, I've updated the ZEN with the latest Windows USB Driver – 5.12, and tried both your tips, but am still at square one.

The real irony is that four of the DSD 256 files which refuse to play are on 'iFi Stereo DSD 256 Sampler Album' ! 

Worst case scenario - I'll ask NativeDSD to 'swap' the 256 files for ones I can play.

Hadn't realised that DSD was such a niche and PITA, and, in all honesty, 44/96 24 bit sounds remarkably similar.

Just to double check and verify, you did set DSP Studio > Output Format > Output Encoding to None then enabled DSD bitstreaming, right? This is a very important step, to avoid any and all conversions happening. Once DSD bitstreaming is enabled to get DSD256 to work you'll have to change the audio output for the DAC you're using (e.g. WASAPI) to the ASIO audio output if it's available by going in MC's Options > Audio > Audio Device and changing the output from the dropdown menu. DSD256 only works through native DSD with your DAC, which only works through ASIO on Windows as WASAPI is DoP only.

[Zipster]

Just to double check and verify, you did set DSP Studio > Output Format > Output Encoding to None then enabled DSD bitstreaming, right? This is a very important step, to avoid any and all conversions happening. Once DSD bitstreaming is enabled to get DSD256 to work you'll have to change the audio output for the DAC you're using (e.g. WASAPI) to the ASIO audio output if it's available by going in MC's Options > Audio > Audio Device and changing the output from the dropdown menu. DSD256 only works through native DSD with your DAC, which only works through ASIO on Windows as WASAPI is DoP only.

DonkeyDude, (or Dudette ?  ?), you truly are AWESOME !!!     

Muchas gracias, grazie mille, merci infiniment, & ich danke dir sehr !

That last tweak to ASIO has knocked it out of the park !

Signature is glowing a lovely shade of blue with the DSD 256 playback, and transitions effortlessly to cyan when the DSD 128 pops up.

Really appreciate your help.

Kindest regards,

Zipster