JRiver tips and techniques: user experiences repository

[russtafarian]

Here’s a helpful Jriver configuration for those who play both stereo and multi-channel music files. Separate zones can be set up in JRMC to send specified files to different outputs. Zone setup and configuration is found under the “Player” menu in JRMC 18.

 

I have a “Stereo” zone that sends all mono or stereo files to my Benchmark DAC2 via USB. A second zone called “Multi-Channel” sends all files with more than two channels to my Oppo BDP103 via HDMI.

 

I configured the ZoneSwitch feature to change zones based on the number of channels in the file. Now Jriver’s output automatically switches to AISO USB for stereo tracks and WASAPI Event HDMI for multi-channel tracks. All I have to do is switch to the right input on the DAC2 (USB for stereo, Analog 1/HT Bypass for multi-channel) to hear the file.

 

To complement stereo/multi-channel playback zones, I created views in Jriver and Jremote (as documented by Ted B) that categorize stereo and multi-channel files and formats for easy album retrieval: Stereo All, Stereo DSD, Stereo PCM 24, Stereo PCM 16, Multi-Channel All, Multi-Channel DSD, Multi-Channel PCM.

 

This is a big improvement over my previous configuration that used Jriver for stereo and Foobar for multi-channel. I now get the advantage of Jremote control over all my files. And Jriver has DSP options that make the regrettable but necessary DSD to PCM conversion for multi-channel files sound more transparent.

 

Russ

[russtafarian]

Update: Although Jriver automatically changes zones (via ZoneSwitch) when I move between stereo and multi-channel files, Jremote does not. Before I figured this out, I was confused as to why Jremote was getting out of sync with the tracks playing in Jriver.

 

So when Jriver switches zones, the new zone must be selected in Jremote. In Jremote the "double window" icon to the left of the play/pause buttons opens a list of zones. Selecting the zone (stereo or multi-channel) that corresponds with the file playing in Jriver gets Jremote back in sync.

 

I also found that each Jriver zone shows up as a "media player" on all my other DLNA devices. I haven't taken the time to figure out the whole UPnP/DLNA thing to know what to do with this, but it's there.

 

Russ

[russtafarian]

Have you checked the Jremote settings to see if the Zone behavior setting helps with this?

 

That's a good idea. In Jremote I have "Switch zone on server as well as device" set to on. I'm guessing this pushes the zone switch from Jremote to Jriver. I'll turn it off to see what happens.

 

What I'd like to have happen is for Jriver to push the automatic ZoneSwitch to Jremote. I'll look in the zone configuration menus to see if there's a way to do this.

 

Russ