bellhead Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 What is a good approach to listening to DSD files (.dsf mainly) with a Chord DAVE? Edited: (my error in setting things up). Link to comment
Kal Rubinson Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 Since DAVE is supposedly capable of DSD via USB, there is no reason why JRiver is downsampling unless (1) you do not have the right driver for the DAC or (2) you have set up JRiver to convert to PCM. Kal Rubinson Senior Contributing Editor, Stereophile Link to comment
bellhead Posted March 8, 2018 Author Share Posted March 8, 2018 Thanks Mr. Rubinson. (By the way, thanks for the reply; it's a real honor since I've been reading your Stereophile columns since the mid 1990s.) Yep, I thought things would be easier since, as you point out, the Dave does handle DSD natively. As far as I can tell, there is only one official driver (by Chord) for the Dave in Windows. And Jriver, which has a few settings for DSD (I've tried them all), generates an error message in a pop-up box about not being able to handle the file unless I allow it to process it as 176.4, which it says is the recommended solution. I'm actually not even sure it's converting to PCM, since it doesn't say that explicitly. I just assume that, since all the dsf file are shown as having a 5644 bit rate, that's what it is doing. That's what prompted my question here. The DAVE has no indication of what it is actually doing. You choose PCM+ or DSD processing, but either of those modes will process anything. It's not clear to me what DAVE does with DSD. A few DAVE owners have told me that they never use DSD mode ever, even with dsd files. Clearly, the DAVE is primarily meant to function as a PCM processor, so maybe that has something to do with this. Best to you and thanks again. Link to comment
mozes Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 Dave has nothing to do with this. You are feeding it a PCM downsampled files from DSD. I use Jriver with Dave without any issues. Go to Jriver settings and select Chord ASIO. Then enable bit streaming for DSD. Tools > Options > Audio > Settings > Bitstreaming > (select DSD ) Also make sure that you keep all sample rates unchanged. Link to comment
bellhead Posted March 8, 2018 Author Share Posted March 8, 2018 Thanks! I was trying exactly that before but Jriver was complaining . I uninstalled and reinstalled Jriver (version 23) and now it's working. Thanks for motivating me to start again from scratch. Sorry, I am new at using DSD from files. I only used redbook-sourced files before. Link to comment
mozes Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 17 minutes ago, bellhead said: Thanks! I was trying exactly that before but Jriver was complaining . I uninstalled and reinstalled Jriver (version 23) and now it's working. Thanks for motivating me to start again from scratch. Sorry, I am new at using DSD from files. I only used redbook-sourced files before. You are welcome, if you need any help, just let us know! Link to comment
bellhead Posted March 9, 2018 Author Share Posted March 9, 2018 Thanks again. Things were OK, then out of nowhere I get this message again: Something went wrong with a playback. Playback could not be started on the output 'Direct Sound' using the format 'DoP 2.8 MHz 2ch' Then if I try to play another dsf file this popup labeled [Automatically Configure Output Format] appears: Playback could not be started using the format 352.8 kHz 64bit 2ch. This format would work: 176.4 kHz 64 bit 2ch Would you like to have your DSP Studio > Output Format settings changes automatically? If I say yes, it will play, but says 176.4 and doesn't quite sound as good. Link to comment
bellhead Posted March 9, 2018 Author Share Posted March 9, 2018 The only way I can get any DSF files to play now is to uncheck the DSD choice in the Bitstreaming setting. It did work, but then it stopped. If I set the DSD choice on, it will not play and I get those error messages. Seems buggy to me... Link to comment
mozes Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Ok can you post a screenshot of your DSP output settings. Link to comment
bellhead Posted March 9, 2018 Author Share Posted March 9, 2018 The first capture shows the error message when playing is attempted along with the DSP Studio window. The second capture shows the Bitstream choice window. Link to comment
mozes Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Ok I see your problem. In the first window, under sample rate, set the output of all sample rates to “unchanged” In the second window, under audio device, you are currently selecting “Direct Sound” Go to Device settings and select “Chord ASIO” Link to comment
bellhead Posted March 9, 2018 Author Share Posted March 9, 2018 Thanks again for the help. I will try it. Link to comment
bellhead Posted March 9, 2018 Author Share Posted March 9, 2018 AhHa! That worked. (The Chord Driver is WASAPI, not ASIO though. I don't think that should matter from what I read.) Awesome. Thanks a million!! mozes 1 Link to comment
mozes Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 8 minutes ago, bellhead said: AhHa! That worked. (The Chord Driver is WASAPI, not ASIO though. I don't think that should matter from what I read.) Awesome. Thanks a million!! Both drivers work fine, glad it works, enjoy your Dave now Link to comment
kennyb123 Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 Be sure to toggle the DAVE into DSD+ mode when playing DSF files. See page 8: https://chordelectronics.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Dave-User-Manual.pdf Digital: Sonore opticalModule > Uptone EtherRegen > Shunyata Sigma Ethernet > Antipodes K30 > Shunyata Omega USB > Gustard X26pro DAC < Mutec REF10 SE120 Amp & Speakers: Spectral DMA-150mk2 > Aerial 10T Foundation: Stillpoints Ultra, Shunyata Denali v1 and Typhon x1 power conditioners, Shunyata Delta v2 and QSA Lanedri Gamma Revelation and Infinity power cords, QSA Lanedri Gamma Revelation XLR interconnect, Shunyata Sigma Ethernet, MIT Matrix HD 60 speaker cables, GIK bass traps, ASC Isothermal tube traps, Stillpoints Aperture panels, Quadraspire SVT rack, PGGB 256 Link to comment
bellhead Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 Thank you! And again, thanks to mozes for all the time you spent on this for me. mozes 1 Link to comment
The Man Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 I don't even know what jriver is... I know its some music player I'm not familiar with. Hmm.. Dave handles PCM better DSD/SACD: It converts native DSD (64 to 512) or handles DoP (64 to 256) and converts it to PCM with a 200 dB plus filter that eliminates all out of band distortion and noise from DSD. This supposedly sounds better than the DSD+ mode with DAVE. Filtering at this level is vital for a number of different reasons. Link to comment
Miska Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 5 hours ago, The Man said: DSD/SACD: It converts native DSD (64 to 512) or handles DoP (64 to 256) and converts it to PCM with a 200 dB plus filter that eliminates all out of band distortion and noise from DSD. This supposedly sounds better than the DSD+ mode with DAVE. Filtering at this level is vital for a number of different reasons. ...and then it again re-creates the "out of band distortion and noise" with it's own DSD-style modulator. The out of band noise is essential property of all SDM type converters, including all Chord ones. It is supposed to be removed by analog reconstruction filters at the DAC output. Without it you again have all the traditional problems of PCM. Signalyst - Developer of HQPlayer Pulse & Fidelity - Software Defined Amplifiers Link to comment
The Man Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 6 hours ago, Miska said: ...and then it again re-creates the "out of band distortion and noise" with it's own DSD-style modulator. The out of band noise is essential property of all SDM type converters, including all Chord ones. It is supposed to be removed by analog reconstruction filters at the DAC output. Without it you again have all the traditional problems of PCM. no noise.... that's what is says above and since I own one I can attest to that Link to comment
Miska Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 1 hour ago, The Man said: no noise.... that's what is says above and since I own one I can attest to that Did you measure it? I'd like to see the measurement results. Since we are talking about ultrasonic noise. I have only Mojo and it indeed spits out some noise with PCM inputs: While I have DSD DACs that don't: So, you know, it depends... Signalyst - Developer of HQPlayer Pulse & Fidelity - Software Defined Amplifiers Link to comment
The Man Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 That's a mojo.... not a Dave dac... Link to comment
Miska Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 18 minutes ago, The Man said: That's a mojo.... not a Dave dac... Point is that playing back DSD natively is not a problem. If it doesn't work properly on Dave, it is not problem of DSD. Signalyst - Developer of HQPlayer Pulse & Fidelity - Software Defined Amplifiers Link to comment
The Man Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 it works just fine on the Dave natively... Link to comment
Miska Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 18 hours ago, The Man said: it works just fine on the Dave natively... Why you were then advertising to not play it natively but instead convert it to PCM? Signalyst - Developer of HQPlayer Pulse & Fidelity - Software Defined Amplifiers Link to comment
The Man Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 2 hours ago, Miska said: Why you were then advertising to not play it natively but instead convert it to PCM? Second part is better than DSD DoP is better than DSD Link to comment
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