I just recently upgraded my PS Audio Stellar GDAC to Stellar Gold DAC/PRE and loaded the new PSAudio 2.0 Driver in support Audirvana 2.9.6.0 running on a Win10 laptop with a sole function of Music Server. After much troubleshooting with various problems with the new configuration, the last issue that has not been enabled is playing DSD files using the recommended ASIO driver. The DSD files all play with a loud hiss using this method which is the recommended way to play native DSD. In Audirvana, I am able to switch to the WASAPI config in order to play DSD but over PCM. Not an ideal situation. I would like to be using the ASIO all the time.
Has anyone else experienced this issue with the new Gold DAC. Any recommendation on how to rectify this issue?
Welcomeā¦
Why is there a problem using DSD over PCM (DoP)? Also, your best support will be from PS Audio regarding DSD playback using this hardware configurationā¦
The ESS 9038 Pro DACs do not provide an unfettered 1-bit PDM signal path to outputā¦ All signals are converted to PCM.
Unless the Stellar Gold DAC is a hybrid design, where 1-bit PDM is routed through a simple low-pass filtered output independent of the PCM-centric Hyperstream II output circuitry, you will never get unfettered 1-bit PDM (DSD) output.
Of course, I have worked with PS Audio first to resolve this issue and they have duplicated my configuration to test and are not experiencing what I am seeing. Are you suggesting that I use the WASAPI driver for all listening? I thought based on my new configuration the ASIO driver would be the optimum medium. I am not following your statement about 1-bit PDM and the low-pass filter.
The ESS 9038Pro DAC used in the Stellar DAC, decimates 1-bit PDM (Pulse Density Modulation) signals, commonly called āDirect Stream Digitalā (DSD)ā¦ It converts the DSD signal into a high sample-rate multi-bit āPulse Code Modulationā (PCM) signal before it is routed through the Hyperstream II multi-bit output circuit that translates the signal into analog voltagesā¦ A DSD-centric DAC routes the pure 1-bit PDM (DSD) signal to a simple low-pass filtered D/A output circuit, that converts the 1-bit DSD signal into analog voltagesā¦
The DoP de-embedding process extracts the 1-bit PDM signal from the PCM carrier sample-rate and delivers the 1-bit DSD signal to the digital to analog output conversion circuitryā¦ In the case of the ESS Hyperstream II DACs, the 1-bit DSD signal that is de-embedded from the DoP carrier sample-rate, is presented to the Sigma Delta Modulator of the Hyperstream II architecture and converted to multi-bit PCM for output.
If you can play all the file types and sample-rates that you wish to play via WASAPI, then just enjoy the musicā¦ unless PS Audio suggests a different playback system configuration.
However, if you were looking for the equivalent of the DSD-centric āDirectStream DAC MK2āā¦ the Stellar series is not the way to go.
Agoldnear,
Thank you very much for the education and information. I guess I thought since I was upgrading to the new Stellar Gold DAC and based on my limited knowledge, the ASIO driver was the way to go for premium sonic resolution. Well, that is not the case as I was experimenting with different sources/files types this morning using WASAPI and I found a pretty consistent sonic response all good using this driver setup. What I do find interesting is the quality of the various PCM files via Qobuz/Audirvana is much better than the DSD files served from Audirvana/NAS which is where the DSD files purchased from PS Audio reside.
Again, thank you
If you paste your debug information report here in this postā¦ Folks will be able to provide more insights so to optimize your AudirvÄna settings configuration and computer platform configurationā¦ This will also include more information regarding the implementation of your network configurationā¦
Your debug information report is found here:
Settings ā My Account ā Help ā Debug info
It may be possible to generally level the playing-field for DSD file playback output versus the PCM file playback with more information.
Just wondering if you upsample the PCM files at all, and if so to what resolution. And what resolution are the DSD files?
The DSD files that @Tony54 is describing are native recordingsā¦ I think in this case, it will be better to convert all DSD files to PCM in AudirvÄna so to off-load the decimation processing overhead from the ESS DSP and SDMā¦ Do you agree with this strategy?
Edit:
I donāt believe that up-sampling PCM files in AudirvÄna will improve the output of the ESS Hyperstream II DAC chipsets employed in the Stellar Gold DAC topology. ā¦ it is better to let them do their thingā¦ much like Chord DAVE.
Audirvana Studio 2.9.6 (20906)
Windows 10 (19045) x86_64 with 8GB physical RAM
Connected account of :
NETWORK
Status: available
Available network interfaces:
Ethernet ({f5c40716-1923-4ee5-8c8f-8121b88063a9}) is private
Windows Defender Firewall status for this instance of Audirvana Studio
Active profile types: all
Private profile:
Firewall: enabled
Inbound: allowed
Outbound: allowed
Notifications: enabled
Public profile:
Firewall: enabled
Inbound: blocked
Outbound: allowed
Notifications: enabled
SIGNAL PROCESSING:
Polarity Inversion:
Globally: OFF
Per track: OFF
Effects plugins NOT ACTIVE
UPSAMPLING:
r8brain not in use
r8brain filter parameters
Bandwidth = 99.5%
Stop band attenuation 218dB
Phase linear
AUDIO VOLUME:
Max allowed volume: 100
Replay Gain: None
SW volume control: OFF
LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 2 folders
AUTO: \MYCLOUD-2NLRHC\apanella\CD Collection
AUTO: \MYCLOUD-2NLRHC\apanella\Octave Records
Sort and display order: en_US
Library database path: C:\Users\apane\AppData\Local\Packages\Audirvana.Audirvana-4118-9684-d80dbb7827cd_q3nymrkmej12j\LocalCache\Local\Audirvana\Audirvana\AudirvanaDatabase.sqlite
Local audio files fingerprinting
Tracks with no MBID: 1257
Remote Control server:
Listening on 1
ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES
Qobuz: Connected as Qobuz Studio
APPEARANCE SETTINGS:
UI theme: dark
Font size: regular
Language: System language
Show album covers in tracks list: yes
Source list sorted:
My Music
Radios
Podcasts
Streaming
Local
Startup view: My Music: Albums
Show local extended in source list: no
Use media keys: no
Use media keys for volume control: no
Use legacy Bonjour protocol: no
Number of paired remotes: 2
Remote pairing code required: yes
Screen saver disabled: no
=================== AUDIO DEVICE ========================
Active method: Local
Max. memory for audio buffers: 4216MB
Local Audio Engine: WASAPI
Use max I/O buffer size: OFF
Preferred device:
Speakers (PS Audio High Resolution USB)
Model UID:USB\VID_2616&PID_0203&REV_0201&MI_00
UID:\?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{57c006d1-f3a3-4d00-a766-8e0b8ccf309b}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}
Currently playing in Integer Mode:
Device: 2ch 24bits Integer, 6 bytes per frame 96kHz
Active Sample Rate: 96kHz
Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: none
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: OFF
Selected device:Speakers (PS Audio High Resolution USB)
Manufacturer: PS Audio, Inc UAC2 Device
Model name: PS Audio High Resolution USB
Model UID: USB\VID_2616&PID_0203&REV_0201&MI_00
UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{57c006d1-f3a3-4d00-a766-8e0b8ccf309b}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}
USB Vendor ID: 0x2616
USB Product ID: 0x0203
8 available sample rates up to 384000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
Volume Control
Physical: Yes
Virtual: No
Max volume alert: Disabled
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: No
Not automatically detected, user set to not MQA
DSD capability
DSD via PCM 1.1
Device audio channels
Preferred stereo channels L:0 R:1
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: No
1 output streams:
Number of active channels: 2, in 1 stream(s)
Channel #0 :Stream 0 channel 0
Channel #1 :Stream 0 channel 1
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 352.8kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 352.8kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 352.8kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 384kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 384kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 384kHz
Local devices found : 2
Device #0: Speakers (PS Audio High Resolution USB)
Manufacturer: PS Audio, Inc UAC2 Device
Model UID: USB\VID_2616&PID_0203&REV_0201&MI_00
UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{57c006d1-f3a3-4d00-a766-8e0b8ccf309b}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}
USB Vendor ID: 0x2616
USB Product ID: 0x0203
Model name: PS Audio High Resolution USB
Device #1: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek Audio)
Manufacturer: Realtek
Model UID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0293&SUBSYS_102806DB&REV_1000
UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{ddda1548-07c8-4c38-9e9b-d8fae8217f86}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}
Model name: Audio Device on High Definition Audio Bus
UPnP
UPnP network interface
Available Network interfaces:
Ethernet
Here are a couple of recommendationsā¦
Enable āmax I/O buffer sizeā (use large I/O memory buffer) and lower your playback preload memory allocation to 2GBā¦ You are using 50% (4.2GB) of your available 8GB System RAM for playback preloadā¦ More available System RAM is betterā¦ 8GB is the bare minimum level of System RAM recommended for AudirvÄna operations.
Change your DSD playback setting to āNone, convert to PCMā ā¦ This will force AudirvÄna to do the decimation (down-conversion) processing of the DSD file to PCM, so that the ESS chipset does not waste its processing resources on the down-conversion to PCM which creates noise (jitter) in the chipset clocking topologyā¦ having the computer do the DSD file decimation is betterā¦
Isnāt listing the log a potential security issue?
Yesā¦ If the IP address of the network devices are included and not obscured or deleted from the reportā¦ Soā¦ this could become a different thread regarding network security and the security of posting the debug information report or other reports that include LAN TCP/IP information, etcā¦
Point taken regarding security.
As for the config recommendations from Agoldnear, the soundstage just opened up for the better. This was evident with all file types. Finally the DSDās purchased from PSAudio sound great.
Thank you for the assistance on this issue.