Can't play MQA and DSD files

Connection with external Audio Devices USB DAC
1

Hi,

Hope some of you can help me with these problems about playing MQA and DSD files.

I’m using Audirvana 3.5.29 on my iMac running Catalina 10.15.2. It is connected via USB to my dCS Bartok dac running the latest firmware (ver 1.01). The dac is MQA compatible but for some unknown reasons, it cannot recognised MQA files. It plays MQA files as if they are ordinary PCM files but will doubled the frequencies (i.e plays MQA 24/44.1 at PCM 24/88.2, and plays MQA 24/48 at PCM 24/96). However, it max out at 24/96, and so a MQA 24/352 file plays at PCM 24/88.2.

Another problem is DSD files. It cannot play any DSD files at all. There is no sound but a DSD 64 file will be shown as PCM 24/176.4 on my dac, and a DSD 128 file will be shown as PCM24/352.8. No sounds but some occasional white noise.

When I streamed tidal MQA music to the dac directly (via ethernet), it worked fine. When I played DSD files stored in a thumb drive that plugged directly to the dac, it worked fine for DSD 64 and DSD 128. The problem seems related to the Audirvana/Mac setup with the use of USB cable.

No sure it is due to wrong setting or something else. Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

The following is the debug info.

Audirvana Mac Version 3.5.29 (3559)
macOS 10.15.2 with 32768MB RAM

Registered to XXXXX

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 = 50

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

LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 2 folders
AUTO: /Volumes/Lacie Media Library/
AUTO: /Users/XXXXX/Music/HDtracks
iTunes/Music library synchronization: not synchronized
Library database path: /Users/XXXXX/Music/Audirvana Library/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: 27662MB

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

Preferred device:
dCS Bartók USB class 2
Model UID:dCS Bartók USB class 2:1E8C:0016
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:Data Conversion Systems Ltd:dCS Bartók USB class 2: :1

Currently playing in Integer Mode:
Device: 2ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24bits little endian Signed Integer, 8 bytes per frame 88.2kHz

Active Sample Rate: 88.2kHz
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:
Local audio device
ID 0x3e dCS Bartók USB class 2 Manufacturer:Data Conversion Systems Ltd
Model UID:dCS Bartók USB class 2:1E8C:0016 UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:Data Conversion Systems Ltd:dCS Bartók USB class 2: :1

8 available sample rates up to 384000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
Audio buffer frame size : 116 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512
Volume Control
Physical: Yes
Virtual: Yes
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
Not a MQA device, user set to MQA Renderer
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 0x3f 2 channels starting at 1
24 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 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
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz

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

Local devices found : 2
Device #0: ID 0x2f Built-in Output Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: AppleHDA:130 UID: AppleHDAEngineOutput:1F,3,0,1,2:0
Device #1: ID 0x3e dCS Bartók USB class 2 Manufacturer: Data Conversion Systems Ltd Model UID: dCS Bartók USB class 2:1E8C:0016 UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:Data Conversion Systems Ltd:dCS Bartók USB class 2: :1

UPnP devices found : 0

2

Hello @Wal, have you tried to put MQA decoder instead of MQA renderer in your audio settings?

For your files that is supposed to be MQA, can you check the file extension and see if you have a .mqa extension in it?

If your DAC is compatible with DSD over PCM, you can set the native DSD read method to “DSD over PCM 1.0” in the device section of the audio settings page.
If your DAC has a volume control, you may need to ensure it is set at 100% during DSD playback to prevent its USB interface from damaging the DSD signal.

3

Hello Damien,
Just tried MQA decoder. Now all MQA files play either as PCM 24/44.1 or PCM 24/48. Still cannot recognise MQA. Yes, the files are all with “.mqa” in the extension. In fact, the same files can be recognised and played correctly if I copied them to an USB drive and played directly from my dac. The problem seems to be related specifically to the mac/audirvana/USB connection.
Also tried DSD over PCM 1.0. Still no luck with DSD files. Volume is max at both mac and dac, still cannot recognised as DSD.
I tried Audirvana + playing DSD from a different computer and connected to the same dac, DSD file play without problem. I remember that when I used Audirvana +, DSD and MQA files were fine with the exact same setup (i.e Mac to the current dac via USB). It seems like the problems only started after the upgrade to Audirvana.
Any idea why?

4

One more update.
I have updated Mac OS to 10.15.3, and reinstalled Audirvana. Now all files play correctly. DSD and MQA worked properly. Have no idea why but it just works now.

5

Hello @Wal, thanks for the update. Don’t hesitate to post on this topic if the issue come back.

6

Sure. Thanks, Damien!

7

I had the nearly same issue with DSD playing and after reinstall Audirvana my AudioLab M-ONE correct play DSD via DoP 1.0/1.1 and shows correct sample rate on its own display (for example DSD 5,6644M (DSD 128 file). Thanks a lot Wal and Damien

8

More info - Audirvana 3.5.30 was reinstalled to the absolutely same version. Mac Pro Late 2013 32Gb RAM mac os Catalina version 10.15.3 (19D76). Thanks again.