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Author Topic: Playback problem flac/dsd. Help needed  (Read 2153 times)

forster leipzig

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Playback problem flac/dsd. Help needed
« on: April 27, 2020, 06:27:00 pm »

Hi there.

Ive been playing flac files stored in a intel nuc, using dac Chord 2qute without problem.

Until now that I want to play dsd files.

If I change output set up to DSD, the dac indicates through its colour lights, that its a dsd file and plays great, but flac starts to skip.

So I change back to default output (none) and activate Bitstream as someone mentioned. This way I can hear dsd and flac fine, but the light indicator in the dac tells me its a PCM 384kHz file. And it wont play a dsd128 that played fine when it was set up to dsd output.

I hope its understood.

Thanks for your help, and greetings from quarantined Chile.
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Awesome Donkey

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Re: Playback problem flac/dsd. Help needed
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2020, 04:21:00 am »

MC25? Are you using Mac or Windows or Linux?

First, don't use any of the DSP Studio > Output Format settings! What you're doing is having MC convert all media to DSD, which is likely the reason your FLAC files are skipping because your PC isn't powerful enough to handle the on-the-fly PCM-to-DSD conversion. It's even converting all the DSD files (and all DSD conversions go through a PCM stage in the middle, so DSD > PCM > DSD) which is a lossy conversion. So, I'd recommend avoid the use of Output Format settings for DSD if possible!

Like you mentioned enabling DSD bitstreaming would be the way to do. The PCM light coming on sounds like it's using DSD-over-PCM (DoP) but you can check the audio path in MC to make sure. If you're using ASIO and your device supports it you might be able to go into MC's Options > Audio > Device settings and uncheck the DSD bitstream in DoP format box and see if it can send native DSD. But if it's indeed sending DoP the PCM light may not matter, since the end result is the same if it's native DSD or DoP in that case. Again, check the audio path and look at the Output on the bottom when using DSD bitstreaming.

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

EDIT: Looked at the 2Qute specs and manual, and it specifically mentions it supports DSD via DoP. How do you have the 2Qute connected to your PC/Mac? If you're not using the USB connection, you might try using that. If you're using Windows you probably also need to also make sure you have the Windows driver installed that they provide as well (especially if you want ASIO), just in case. If using Mac, you might have to open the Audio MIDI Setup app and find your 2Qute and set it to use the highest bit-depth and sample rate, as some DACs need that on macOS to get DSD working correctly.

Nonetheless, if that doesn't work check the audio path, and please post screenshots of it here while trying to bitstream DSD. It should be able to give a clue. :)

Here's the manual: https://chordelectronics.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2Qute-User-Manual.pdf
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forster leipzig

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Re: Playback problem flac/dsd. Help needed
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2020, 03:42:15 pm »

Thanks for your help AD.
To answer some questions, Im using MC23, Windows.
PC to DAC via USB connection.

I will stay away from DSD studio, so not to ruin FLAC playback.

Bitstreaming plays well, (exepct a dsd128 record that only played will dsd studio set to dsd output), but my concern is that the light on the Chord dac indicates a PCM file being played, while in DSD output mode, the dac indicates a DSD file being played. So I guess I dont know of dsd is being converted to pcm or not.

To work with DoP do you have set something up?

Thanks again


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