Can play DSD64 but not DSD128

My SMSL Sanskrit MKII died. Got the MKIII, an amazing upgrade in many ways. The MKII could play everything including DSD64 and DSD128, but the MKIII will play DSD64 but not DSD128. Static-city.

Is there a setting I need to adjust? MacBook Pro 2015 with 16 GB RAM. MacOS.

According to the technical specs the Sanskrit MKIII should be capable of playing up to DSD256 on a Mac.
More info is needed. Can you post your Audirvana debug info? That gives more insight about your setup/settings and (hopefully) helps forum members to give you some advice.

Thanks, here’s the debug…

Audirvana Origin 2.3.0 (20300)

macOS 12.6.5 with 16GB physical RAM

Connected account of : Jeff Halmos

SIGNAL PROCESSING:

Polarity Inversion:
	Globally: OFF
	Per track: ON
Effects plugins ACTIVE in realtime mode with new macOS API
	No plugin active

UPSAMPLING:
r8brain with 2x upsampling
r8brain filter parameters
Bandwidth = 99.5%
Stop band attenuation 218dB
Phase minimum phase

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

LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 1 folders
AUTO: /Users/jeffhalmos/DSD Recordings
iTunes/Music library synchronization: last synchronized on Wed Jan 4 22:32:52 2023

Library database path: /Users/jeffhalmos/DSD Recordings/AudirvanaDatabase.sqlite

Remote Control server:
Listening on 127.0.0.1 on port 53029

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

Active method: Local

Max. memory for audio buffers: 13356MB

Local Audio Engine: CoreAudio
Exclusive access: ON
Integer mode: ON
Use max I/O buffer size: ON
Actual I/O buffer frame size: 512

Preferred device:
SMSL SMSL USB AUDIO
Model UID:SMSL USB AUDIO:152A:85DD
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:SMSL:SMSL USB AUDIO:14100000:1

Currently playing in Integer Mode:
Device: 2ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32bits little endian Signed Integer, 8 bytes per frame 384kHz

Active Sample Rate: 384kHz
Hog Mode is on

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

Selected device:SMSL USB AUDIO
Manufacturer: SMSL
Model name: SMSL USB AUDIO
Model UID: SMSL USB AUDIO:152A:85DD
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:SMSL:SMSL USB AUDIO:14100000:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x152a
USB Product ID: 0x85dd
ID 0x46

10 available sample rates up to 768000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
705600
768000
Audio buffer frame size : 106 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512

Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
Max volume alert: Disabled

MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: No
Not a MQA device, user set to not MQA
DSD capability: DSD via PCM 1.1

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 0x47 2 channels starting at 1
30 virtual formats:
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 768kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 705.6kHz
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 768kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 705.6kHz
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
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 768kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 705.6kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz

40 physical formats
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 768kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 705.6kHz
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 Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 768kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 705.6kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 768kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 705.6kHz
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
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 768kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 705.6kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz

Local devices found : 3
Device #0: ID 0x32 Built-in Output
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Model UID: AppleHDA:128
UID: AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,1:0
Model name: Apple Inc. Built-in Output
Device #1: ID 0x46 SMSL USB AUDIO
Manufacturer: SMSL
Model UID: SMSL USB AUDIO:152A:85DD
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:SMSL:SMSL USB AUDIO:14100000:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x152a
USB Product ID: 0x85dd
Model name: SMSL USB AUDIO
Device #2: ID 0x3c Microsoft Teams Audio
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
Model UID: MSLoopbackDriverDevice_ModelUID
UID: MSLoopbackDriverDevice_UID
Model name: Microsoft Corp. Microsoft Teams Audio

UPnP

UPnP devices found : 0

Chromecast

Chromecast devices found : 1
Device #0: Kitchen speaker
ID: 533d2e04af4f88a74a5c1f89e42b425d
Model name: Google Home

I don’t see anything strange in your Audirvana settings, you could try changing it to DSD via PCM 1.0, but I doubt that will help.
I am a Windows user myself. Maybe some Mac users here can offer some extra insight?

Yes, if I flip it to PCM the DSD128s will play. But that ain’t no fun.

With the MKII I was able to play with these settings (in pink), MKIII, or macOS Monterey isn’t letting me…

I suggest contacting S.M.S.L and see if there is a firmware update for the MKIII… You must use DoP 1.1 for DSD128… Do you have “Exclusive Access” enabled? It should be… Also your Microsoft teams Audio may be causing problems with Audirvana…
:notes: :eye: :headphones: :eye: :notes:

Ya, I just spent 10 mins ditching Teams. Finally made it go away but still static-city.

Drop your buffer to 6000mb , give your os some breathing room. DSD256 is cpu intensive.

2 Likes

LOL. No I meant ‘flip it to DoP 1.0’ not flip it to PCM. DoP (DSD over PCM) 1.0 is still DSD. But anyway (a bit late after the party) it won’t help in your case. Leave it to DoP 1.1 where you had it in the first place :grinning:

1 Like

Tried all three.

1 Like

@jhalmos
Didn’t catch this previously…

“Forced Up-samplng type” should be set to: DSD
“DSD Target rate” should be set to: DSD128 or because this DAC can play DSD256 it can be set to DSD256

Keep “Native DSD streaming method” set to: DSD over PCM 1.1
Keep your playback buffer set to what @OffRode recommended… (6GB)

:notes: :eye: :headphones: :eye: :notes:

1 Like

@jhalmos
If you are getting nothing but unintelligible digital “hash”, your DAC is not hand-shaking with Audirvana in-order to synchronize the playback with the DAC clock… If you are getting somewhat intelligible audio but sounds distorted, you may be overloading r8Brain if you are up-sampling PCMxxx files… If you are getting distortion, try reducing the gain prior to up-sampling (safe volume reduction before DSD up-sampling) or try reducing the software volume control of Audirvana…
:notes: :eye: :headphones: :eye: :notes:

2 Likes

Went back to these settings above (upsampling as high as I can go) and dropped to 6k. No dice still.

Some disconnect going on here, @Agoldnear could you please post some screenshots of the proper settings just to make sure that we are all on the same page please.

Unsure what you mean here, could you post screenshots of your settings as well please.

@jhalmos

@jhalmos
If you continue to have “static” after changing the up-sampling settings and your DAC input settings… please give us some more insights regarding my statement/question posed previously here below… Are you hearing digital-hash hash or are you hearing clipping distortions? :

Otherwise, power down the DAC, power-down the Mac… power-up the Mac, when the computer is up and running, power-up the DAC, wait for it to boot, then start Audirvana…

2 Likes

I’m hearing something akin to mid-period Autechre, with massive distortion and some static and a dash of the actual music thrown in. The overloading FEELS right. But will be doing the power down and unplugging to let any garbage electrical currents subside overnight. Then go at it again in the morning with a clearer head.

Thank you for staying with the problem. Will report back.

on a side note: probably asked before, but my memory! I don’t have the Native DSD streaming option… but this is Studio only?

You do have the option, 3.5, Orgin, Studio all have it. Check @Agoldnear screenshots, rummage about a bit.

Hold on, your DAC is dsd capable right? ifi something right?

1 Like

I’ve been rummaging… followed the screen shots… I’ll go in again. Not that it probably matters, I’m just having a quiet day!

1 Like