Bugs on DSD Playback on certain DAC

I am a user of Audrivana since version 1.X and the DSD playback work on my ExD USB Bac without fault. Recently, i have updated my DAC to a new model of the same manufacturer. I found that despite the menu show the driver support DSD playback but the DSD playback had never work. The DSD Native Streaming Method selection in the preference section had disappeared in the preference menu under the new DAC USB driver By chance, I plug the same MAC computer to another USB DAC ( Xmos based 9038) and found that the selection re-appear again and had by default change to “Convert to PCM” . I had manually converted back to DOP 1.0 and replug the USB cable into the new ExD USB DAC, the DSD playback is now working perfectly. To me, it looks like that there is a bug in identifiying the correct USB driver and change to a default which disable the USB playback. Will it be possible to fix this issue as you do not expect to have another USB DAC to make it work. I had enclosed the debug information for your reference.

Audirvana Mac Version 3.5.50 (3580)
macOS 10.15.7 with 16384MB RAM

Registered to Anthony Lee

SIGNAL PROCESSING:

Polarity Inversion:
	Globally: OFF
	Per track: ON
Effects plugins NOT ACTIVE

UPSAMPLING:
SoX not in use
SoX filter parameters
Bandwidth at 0dB = 99.5
Filter max length = 30000
Anti-aliasing = 100
Phase = 66

AUDIO VOLUME:
Max allowed volume: 100
Replay Gain: None
SW volume control: OFF

LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 1 folders
AUTO: /Volumes/DS1520/Music
iTunes/Music library synchronization: not synchronized
Library database path: /Users/amhlee/Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaPlusDatabaseV2.sqlite

ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES
TIDAL: Connected as HIFI

=================== AUDIO DEVICE ========================

CoreAudio audio path, buffer I/O frame size: 512

Max. memory for audio buffers: 13312MB

Local Audio Engine:
Exclusive access: Enabled
Integer mode: Enabled

Preferred device:
exD USB Audio 2.0
Model UID:exD USB Audio 2.0:ABCD:0008
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:exD :exD USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1

Currently playing in Integer Mode:
Device: 2ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32bits little endian Signed Integer, 8 bytes per frame 176.4kHz

Active Sample Rate: 176.4kHz
Hog Mode is on

Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: 384kHz
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: ON

Selected device:
Local audio device
ID 0x4a exD USB Audio 2.0 Manufacturer:exD
Model UID:exD USB Audio 2.0:ABCD:0008 UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:exD :exD USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1

8 available sample rates up to 384000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
Audio buffer frame size : 14 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512
Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: No
Not a MQA device, user set to not MQA
DSD capability: DSD via PCM 1.0
Device audio channels
Preferred stereo channels L:1 R:2
Channel bitmap: Ox3, layout:
Channel 0 mapped to 0
Channel 1 mapped to 1

Audio channels in use
Number of channels: 2
Use as stereo device only: No
Simple stereo device: Yes

1 output streams:
Number of active channels: 2, in 1 stream(s)
Channel #0 :Stream 0 channel 0
Channel #1 :Stream 0 channel 1

Stream ID 0x4b 2 channels starting at 1
16 virtual formats:
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz

16 physical formats
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz

Local devices found : 2
Device #0: ID 0x30 Built-in Output Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: AppleHDA:82 UID: AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,1:0
Device #1: ID 0x4a exD USB Audio 2.0 Manufacturer: exD Model UID: exD USB Audio 2.0:ABCD:0008 UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:exD :exD USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1

UPnP devices found : 1
Device #0: ID 0x0 KD-49X8500F UID: uuid:23456789-1234-1010-8000-CC988BC99749

What happens when you disable ‘Exclusive Access’ and ‘Integer Mode’ ?
I have experienced some sporadicly intermittent USB connectivity gremlins in earlier versions of macOS, that caused a loss of the ‘hand-shake’ to my DAC (without ever launching Audirvana Studio.) which required rebooting my MBP to resynchronize my DAC and associated USB signal treatments, … I don’t have this problem with macOS 12.1 and Audirvana Studio 1.9.0… I feel the earlier macOS was corrupting the USB connection hand-shake or at least not updating the state of the USB hierarchy properly… However, I don’t know for certain, what the functional issue was…

Is the new DAC you have is a iFi device?

My DAC is a Exd DAC. I think you can try my methods to make it work again.

I do not think this has any effect on the DSD playback issue. I did try but it does not help.

Does the debug info you sent is when you have your Exd DAC selected in Audirvāna ?

AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,1:0
Device #1: ID 0x4a exD USB Audio 2.0 Manufacturer: exD Model UID: exD USB Audio 2.0:ABCD:0008 UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:exD :exD USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1

Yes, it is here

You have the DoP enabled as it should so you are good to go thanks to your workaround.

If you can’t reproduce the issue you had before your workaround, then it will be really hard to identify to root cause of the issue.

I do not think it is acceptable to leave this one as it affect our enjoyment of DSD music. I just wonder why leave the DSD Native Streaming option open to User to select Convert to PCM/DOP 1.0/DOP 1.1 instead of Software select an option which is not compatiable.
I did install another version of the Audirvana on another computer with the following Debug Information, the major difference are :

Extract of Debug Info ( Not working)
Audio buffer frame size : 14 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512
Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
Not a MQA device, user set to not MQA
DSD capability: 2bytes in 32bit PCM
Device audio channels
Preferred stereo channels L:1 R:2
Channel bitmap: Ox3, layout:
Channel 0 mapped to 0
Channel 1 mapped to 1

Extract of Debug Information ( Working)
Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: No
Not a MQA device, user set to not MQA
DSD capability: DSD via PCM 1.0
Device audio channels
Preferred stereo channels L:1 R:2
Channel bitmap: Ox3, layout:
Channel 0 mapped to 0
Channel 1 mapped to 1

I hope you reconsider to release this option to allow user select DSD Native Option.

Debug Information ( Not working)
Audirvana Mac Version 3.5.46 (3576)
macOS 10.15.7 with 8192MB RAM

Registered to Anthony Lee

SIGNAL PROCESSING:

Polarity Inversion:
	Globally: OFF
	Per track: ON
Effects plugins NOT ACTIVE

UPSAMPLING:
SoX not in use
SoX filter parameters
Bandwidth at 0dB = 99.5
Filter max length = 30000
Anti-aliasing = 100
Phase = 66

AUDIO VOLUME:
Max allowed volume: 100
Replay Gain: None
SW volume control: OFF

LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 0 folders
iTunes/Music library synchronization: not synchronized
Library database path: /Users/AnthonyLee/Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaPlusDatabaseV2.sqlite

ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES

=================== AUDIO DEVICE ========================

CoreAudio audio path, buffer I/O frame size: 512

Max. memory for audio buffers: 5120MB

Local Audio Engine:
Exclusive access: Enabled
Integer mode: Disabled

Preferred device:
exD USB Audio 2.0
Model UID:exD USB Audio 2.0:ABCD:0008
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:exD :exD USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1

Active Sample Rate: 44.1kHz
Hog Mode is off

Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: none
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: ON

Selected device:
Local audio device
ID 0x29 exD USB Audio 2.0 Manufacturer:exD
Model UID:exD USB Audio 2.0:ABCD:0008 UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:exD :exD USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1

8 available sample rates up to 384000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
Audio buffer frame size : 14 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512
Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
Not a MQA device, user set to not MQA
DSD capability: 2bytes in 32bit PCM
Device audio channels
Preferred stereo channels L:1 R:2
Channel bitmap: Ox3, layout:
Channel 0 mapped to 0
Channel 1 mapped to 1

Audio channels in use
Number of channels: 2
Use as stereo device only: No
Simple stereo device: Yes

1 output streams:
Number of active channels: 2, in 1 stream(s)
Channel #0 :Stream 0 channel 0
Channel #1 :Stream 0 channel 1

Stream ID 0x2a 2 channels starting at 1
16 virtual formats:
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz

16 physical formats
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz

Local devices found : 2
Device #0: ID 0x3a Built-in Output Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: AppleHDA:40 UID: AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,1:0
Device #1: ID 0x29 exD USB Audio 2.0 Manufacturer: exD Model UID: exD USB Audio 2.0:ABCD:0008 UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:exD :exD USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1

UPnP devices found : 1
Device #0: ID 0x0 KD-49X8500F UID: uuid:23456789-1234-1010-8000-CC988BC99749

https://dsd-guide.com/dop-open-standard#.YeEkZi-B1B0

From the Positive Feedback article linked below:

3) “Native” ASIO DSD vs DSD-over-PCM (aka DoP)

Finally, audiophiles starting using the term “native” to describe sending DSD across USB using custom ASIO drivers (built by the DAC manufacturer) to differentiate from using the more ubiquitous DSD-over-PCM (aka DoP), which is a horrible name for a clever way of sending unconverted DSD across USB by way of a PCM container. [In Information Technology, we would use the term “encapsulation.” – Editor] Since the term uses “PCM” as part of its description, many newbie audiophiles mistakenly think it is a lossy conversion to PCM. It is not, and therefore in no way is it any less “native” than using a custom ASIO driver (although it may use a percent or two more CPU to unpack).

So…my recommendation is to call direct DSD via ASIO (or Linux ALSA or I2S) “raw” DSD (to differentiate from packed DoP), meaning, let’s not use “native” here… they are both native. After getting native DSD files, buying a native DSD DAC… let’s not make DoP some sort of bad guy by using terminology that makes it sound un-native.

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