INTERACT FORUM

Mac => JRiver Media Center 33 for Mac => Topic started by: Tony C. on March 03, 2025, 09:33:53 am

Title: New user: DSD streaming problem
Post by: Tony C. on March 03, 2025, 09:33:53 am: Hello all,

I've been a dedicated CD user for many years, but recently decided to try streaming some high-resolution audio files. Based on the many positive reviews, I chose JRiver software.

I did read through the instructions, and various related posts on various forums, etc. When I first tried to stream, it worked, but I quickly realized that it was downsampling, and that I had made the mistake of using 256dsd files, while my DAC supports direct ("native") streaming only up to 128. So I downloaded a few 128dsd files, but for some reason, there is no sound being produced.

I am using a 2023 Mac Mini M2 > Aqua La Scala Mk II DAC (through the appropriate USB port).

This is how the stream appears:

(https://www.httpsimage.com/v2/629424da-a992-4cc7-b0d6-1e925be24e23.jpg)

Further images of my current settings are below. Hopefully I am missing something simple, but any help would be greatly appreciated!

(https://www.httpsimage.com/v2/39cfa3e9-5495-4b6a-89d3-66901fcaf19f.png)

(https://www.httpsimage.com/v2/538a676f-040c-4ff1-a580-851bca1f94fa.png)

(https://www.httpsimage.com/v2/7a09d8c6-4661-4520-8db9-e059906b4e58.png)

(https://www.httpsimage.com/v2/4851b985-37b1-4df3-abdd-72ee66f2a318.png)

(https://www.httpsimage.com/v2/2f375ef4-ccdf-455a-bc0c-6a7819739663.png)
Title: Re: New user: DSD streaming problem
Post by: Tony C. on March 03, 2025, 09:48:29 am: One more, potentially relevant image. I'm not sure which to choose, though it doesn't seem to make any difference.

(https://www.httpsimage.com/v2/1f48b646-da13-4a4d-9558-127fc5afc357.png)
Title: Re: New user: DSD streaming problem
Post by: Matt on March 03, 2025, 09:54:39 am: Try turning off "Output Encoding". You don't want that if you are bitstreaming.
Title: Re: New user: DSD streaming problem
Post by: Tony C. on March 03, 2025, 10:31:56 am: Thank you!
Title: Re: New user: DSD streaming problem
Post by: Tony C. on March 03, 2025, 11:35:44 am: Problem solved!

I found an older thread on the this forum, on which a member said that the Mac volume output must be full (100%) for DSD streaming, and mine was not. And it now works.

A bit strange, and not what I was expecting, but I'm grateful that it was simple, and not a hardware issue.

Thanks!
Title: Re: New user: DSD streaming problem
Post by: Awesome Donkey on March 03, 2025, 11:37:00 am: Yes, that's a requirement for some... well, most DACs. Also on macOS some DACs require the sample rate to be set to the highest in the Audio MIDI Setup app as well.

This comes up from time to time, using Output Formatting in effort to output DSD (when that setting converts everything to DSD, which can be taxing on a system) when DSD bitstreaming should be used instead. It can be pretty confusing. I would be interested in how you came upon using the Output Formatting option when trying to enable DSD playback?
Title: Re: New user: DSD streaming problem
Post by: Tony C. on March 03, 2025, 12:19:11 pm: Quote from: Awesome Donkey on March 03, 2025, 11:37:00 am
Yes, that's a requirement for some... well, most DACs. Also on macOS some DACs require the sample rate to be set to the highest in the Audio MIDI Setup app as well.

This comes up from time to time, using Output Formatting in effort to output DSD (when that setting converts everything to DSD, which can be taxing on a system) when DSD bitstreaming should be used instead. It can be pretty confusing. I would be interested in how you came upon using the Output Formatting option when trying to enable DSD playback?

Thanks. I came upon it in my efforts to solve the issue. :)

Just tweaking here and there to see what worked, while I clearly missed something more basic.