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How to get DSD working in a networked (Roon) setup?

Dear,

I recently received a few DSD albums and would love to play these.

In the manual of the T+A MP 3100 HV, I read
"The MP 3100 HV can be used as a high-quality D/A converter for other devices such as computers, streamer, digital  radios etc. which are fitted with poor-quality converters or no converter at all. The MP 3100 HV features two optical and two electrical S/P-DIF digital inputs on the back panel to allow this usage.

A USB-DAC input on the back panel permits to use the MP 3100 HV as D/A
converter for computers.

At the USB DAC IN input the MP 3100 HV accepts digital PCM-encoded stereo
signals with sampling rates of 44.1 to 384 kHz (32-bit) and DSD data with
sampling rates of DSD64, DSD128, DSD256* and DSD512*."

To use the T+A MP 3100 HV to play DSD files, I have to connect it to a PC using a USB cable? Is my understanding correct?

I have all my music on a NAS in the basement. I use Roon to play (flac) files on my stereo. Is there no other way to get DSD to play?

Ideally, I would prefer to add a device in my network to play DSD. 

This "USB DAC" truly puzzles me. 

Thank you for your advice.

koenvingerhoets
koenvingerhoets's avatar
koenvingerhoets OP
28 posts
 

So I plunged the deep end and turned my (work) laptop into a audio player. Installed the T+A USB driver, installed Foobar2000, installed the AISO & DSD components, etc. I found the right USB cable, connected my laptop and after some fiddling was able to play DSD files on a USB stick. As the T+A still kept showing PCM as output, I really start to wonder what I'm overlooking :)

Anyway

@yage : I did indeed, it was the part I wanted to avoid as my (gaming) rig is literally on the other side of the house and the only laptop is from work.

@erik_squires : The streaming works, I uploaded a DSD album to Roon and it plays, but with downsampling (Roon literally says "downsampling", so I assume that's what it does).

@bhoage : I'm trying to play DSD256 / DSD128 files so I assume it's downsampling if Roon only plays DSD64 and (ii) literally says "downsampling" in the signal path. I'll remember to make a screenshot from it next time.

@jazzman7 Thank you for your input, going to take a look at such a setup. 

@lordmelton The SACD and DAC part are separated in the unit. It can play up to DSD512 but I didn't manage that yet. Coming close now connecting my laptop to it, but it still moves to DoP.

yage
401 posts
 

If you’re using foobar2000, check on the following setting. Go to Preferences -> Tools -> SACD. Under ’Type’ does it show ’DSD’? If not, click on the ’Type’ dropdown and change it.

 

You can also follow these instructions to output native DSD instead of DoP if the DAC supports that.

yage
401 posts
 

Just noticed that in my foobar2000 setup in the Tools -> SACD section, there's a checkbox labeled 'DoP for Converter'. You might also want to try unchecking that to see if you get native DSD output without having to install DSD Transcoder.

koenvingerhoets's avatar
koenvingerhoets OP
28 posts
 

Thanks @yage - I'm like 80% convinced I've changed that 10 times to DSD but that it jumps back. I'll pay more attention to it. The "DoP for Converter" is unchecked.

erik_squires
16,895 posts
 

@koenvingerhoets 

In Roon, right clikc on the device, then Device Settings, and look at DSD playback strategy.  Set it to Native and see if it works. :)

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