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[zvrk159]

Hello,

when I try to play DSD265 via DAC Oppo HA-2 I get the following message:

Something went wrong with playback.

Details:
Playback could not be started on the output Core Audio using the format DoP DSD256 (4x) 2ch.

This output format may not be supported by your hardware.
You can use DSP Studio to change the output to a compatible format.

Also, make sure that your system has a valid sound playback device and that it is a properly configured playback options.


Has anyone encountered this problem, and what are the best settings for the Oppo HA-2 DAC?

Thank you in advance for your reply.

BR,
zvrk159

[Awesome Donkey]

Looks like the Oppo HA-2 only supports DSD256 via native DSD, not DoP. Unfortunately macOS doesn't support native DSD playback, and only can support it via DoP. So unfortunately it looks like you're going to be limited to DSD128 with that DAC on macOS.

[zvrk159]

Hello,
first of all, thanks for the reply!
I will try it later on a Windows computer, where I also have JRiver installed.
Your answer confirmed what I was thinking but I wasn’t entirely sure about it.
The device specification contains:
 - PCM Sampling Frequencies - 44.1kHz - 384kHz,16/24/32-bit
 - DSD Sampling Frequencies - 2.8224 MHz (DSD64), 5.6448 MHz (DSD128), 11.2896 MHz (DSD256, native mode only)

I would appreciate if someone can take a look at my current settings in JRiver and give advice on what to possibly change (see attached pictures).

Thank you in advance for your reply.

BR,
zvrk159

[Awesome Donkey]

Yes, this is the part that's telling: 11.2896 MHz (DSD256, native mode only)

On Windows it should work as long as you install their driver and switch to ASIO. macOS is a different beast, there are usually no drivers for macOS nor is there ASIO (except for a handful of exaSound DACs only).

Change the Up to DSD512 part to Up to DSD128 and it should function fine. DSD256 and higher files will have to be converted to PCM (which is a lossy process) but it'll allow JRiver Media Center to play them without displaying the error though... assuming your Mac and its CPU is fast enough to handle the on-the-fly conversion.

[zvrk159]

I changed according to your suggestion, and now everything is fine.

Settings on DSP output format is ok?

BR,
zvrk159

[Awesome Donkey]

Yes, it's fine.

[zvrk159]

Thanks again for the help!

BR,
zvrk159

[zvrk159]

Hello,

a buffering problem occurs during DSD512 playback.
Can certain setups be set up here to avoid this?

The source is a mac mini and the music is on a connected hard drive.
I listen to music via the media stream in the internal network via the iMac to which the Oppo HA-2 is connected (there I listen to music on headphones).
Otherwise, the hegel HD 25 DAC is connected to the mac mini and that is the main system.
In general and on the main system I have a problem with buffering (specifically with DSD512 file), so if anyone can help with the settings for that.

Thank you in advance for your reply.

BR,
zvrk159

[Awesome Donkey]

Like I said above, your Mac and its CPU has to be fast enough to handle the on-the-fly DSD512 to PCM conversion, which it doesn't sound like it is. On-the-fly DSD conversions are one of if not the most CPU hammering single threaded tasks Media Center can do, which requires a faster CPU the higher quality DSD you're trying to convert. What's happening is your Mac's CPU is converting the DSD512 file to PCM as it's playing, but it can't convert it fast enough so it catches up and causes the buffering issue.

It's unavoidable I'm afraid.

The *only* workaround that comes to mind is you could pre-convert all your DSD512 files to FLAC and play them that way but of course that's a lossy conversion (all DSD to DSD and all DSD to PCM conversions in Media Center are lossy conversions unfortunately - all DSD to DSD conversions have to go through a PCM step in the middle, so DSD > PCM > DSD). Otherwise it might be wise to avoid DSD256 and DSD512 files since a) your DAC can't play them (except DSD256 on Windows with the DAC's drivers + ASIO for native DSD) and b) your Mac's CPU isn't powerful enough to handle the on-the-fly DSD to PCM conversion.

[zvrk159]

After i turned off this setup (picture attached) in JRiver on iMac I no longer have a problem with buffering.

I also attached device configurations (iMac and Mac Mini).
The Mac Mini processor is certainly a weak link, but as I wrote on the iMac now the DSD512 works without problems.

Thank you in advance for your reply.

BR,
zvrk159