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[wildroamer]

Hello,
I am enjoying this media center a lot, but am unsure why I cannot get source bitdepth output to my usb dac. I am trying to get the most direct path, with the least messing with original flac files to output to my speakers.
I am using a Focusrite Scarlettt 2i2 and the included asio driver. The 2i2 is specified at 96kHz and 24 bit. When playing a flac file source at 96/24, shouldn't output also be 96/24? I get the blue DSP button, and output is shown as "Direct", but the numbers show 96kHz and 32bit 2ch using Asio(direct connection)
This does not change, even if I specify 24 bit instead of source.

Thanks for your time,

Todd

[wildroamer]

OK, I think I understand that as I am using Asio (as suggested), this setting is ignored and hardware's native bit depth is used. However, native on the 2i2 is 24...Unless it is mis-specified?

[Matt]

Audio Path reports the bitdepth being delivered, but some ASIO formats don't use all the bits delivered.

For example, the ASIO type ASIOSTInt32MSB24 means "give me 32bit and I'll use the most significant 24bits."

[wildroamer]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for your reply. My concern is to keep any processing of the source to a minimal. As a newb to the hd audio, lossless formats, etc. It is my understanding that one concern is delivering the original source sample rate and bit depth to my external dac. There is nothing gained, to my knowledge, in taking a 96kHz 24bit source and outputting at higher rates/depths.

It sounds like, if I get your reply well enough, this may very well be a normal situation for the ASIO driver/format I am using. That said, I wonder if a direct path other than ASIO would be preferred?

On a similar vein, but off topic a bit, perhaps I could get a suggestion on best settings for sample rate? If my external dac is rated at 96kHz 24bit, I am curious as to the best settings for the various input sample rates. Is it best to just specify output same as input, or should I keep it at 96 across the board? How about in the case of a source that is higher than the capabilities of my dac, ie 192kHz?

Again, thanks for your help and time Matt, et al.

Todd

[Vincent Kars]

192 is the simple one.
If you’re DAC is limited to 96 the only thing you can do is down-sample to 96 otherwise it won’t play.

If your DAC supports automatic sample rate switching your best bet is probably to play all audio at its native sample rate.

Best is to try a couple of settings.
Let JRiver do the upsampling vs let the DAC do it.
As a PC is very powerful compared with DSP chips there is a change that upsampling using JRiver yields better results.
Simply try as the results are in general very system dependent.

[wildroamer]

Thanks for the great info Vincent, much appreciated!

I don't have any 192 files at this point, but have that setting at 96kHz anyway.

I don't know if the Scarlette 2i2 DAC supports auto sample rate switching or not. Specifications show it supports 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz.

I will do some experimenting as you suggested. Very pleased with the MC, and the 2i2 to my 2.1 setup. Fantastic sound!

Cheers,

Todd