Hello,
I have been a happy user of JRiver Media Center on Windows for more than 10 years, using mainly XMOS-based USB DACs (EmmLabs, Meitner, …).
Recently, I subscribed to Qobuz, which is fantastic! However, JRiver does not let you browse (or even connect to) Qobuz directly. My workaround has been to use BubbleUPnP server on the Windows computer and the BubbleUPnP remote app on Android to browse Qobuz and use JRiver as the renderer. This is not an optimal setup (app not always stable) and I need to switch remote apps when switching between Qobuz and my own library.
I happen to own many ripped SACDs in iso format, which play perfectly fine in JRiver. I thought I’d give Audirvana a try, since it claims to support SACD iso (Roon does not), as well as Qobuz.
Unfortunately, Audirvana takes literally minutes to start playing an SACD iso, stops in the middle of a track, or simply crashes.
I therefore extracted all stereo tracks from my iso images to dsf format (note that Roon now becomes a candidate, since playing SACD iso is not a requirement anymore :-). Audirvana can play the dsf tracks perfectly and even gapeless when using Wasapi (Windows 64-bit), but not when using ASIO. There is a half second interruption between each track when using ASIO.
I guess I could live with Wasapi (some claim ASIO sounds better), but the sample rate is limited to 192Khz and DSD64 (DSD over PCM), whereas my DAC definitely supports 384Khz and DSD128. JRiver has no problem playing these higher rates via Wasapi without downsampling.
I have tried several XMOS drivers, including a rather recent 4.13 version, without any difference. Note that Audirvana sees the correct higher sample rates when using the ASIO driver.
So here are my questions:
-
Why is Audirvana not supporting SACD iso, while its published specs claim it does?
-
Why are the sample rates artificially limited when playing via Wasapi? Is this a Microsoft Windows limitation? If so, how is JRiver able to bypass these limitations? Is there a way to convince Audirvana that the higher sample rates are actually supported?
-
Why is the ASIO driver not playing gapless? Is this an issue with the driver (XMOS) or with Audirvana? I hear a faint click on JRiver, but not a large gap as on Audirvana.
Do not get me wrong, I love Audirvana so far. I think it actually sounds better than JRiver. But I wish the issues described above did not exist.
Thank you!
Here is my debug info, in case this helps (with Wasapi selected):
Audirvana 3.5.42
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: 4 folders
AUTO: \Obelix\Music\CDs
AUTO: \Obelix\Music\HRx
AUTO: \Obelix\Music\HiRes
AUTO: \Obelix\Music\SACDs_dsf
Library database path: C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Local\Audirvana\AudirvanaPlus\AudirvanaPlusDatabaseV2.sqlite
ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES
Qobuz: Connected as Qobuz Studio
=================== AUDIO DEVICE ========================
Max. memory for audio buffers: 2432MB
Local Audio Engine:WASAPI
Preferred device:
DAC2X (XMOS XS1-U8 MFA (ST))
Model UID:DAC2X (XMOS XS1-U8 MFA (ST))
UID:\?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{efd91921-07e7-4fdb-978a-0ede7ce3a613}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}
Active Sample Rate: 44.1kHz
Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: 384kHz
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: OFF
Selected device:
Local audio device
DAC2X (XMOS XS1-U8 MFA (ST)) Manufacturer:
Model UID:DAC2X (XMOS XS1-U8 MFA (ST)) UID:\?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{efd91921-07e7-4fdb-978a-0ede7ce3a613}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}
6 available sample rates up to 192000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
Volume Control
Physical: Yes
Virtual: No
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
Not a MQA device, 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 aligned high in 32bit chunk 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian aligned high in 32bit chunk 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian aligned high in 32bit chunk 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian aligned high in 32bit chunk 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian aligned high in 32bit chunk 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian aligned high in 32bit chunk 192kHz
Local devices found : 2
Device #0: Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device) Manufacturer: Model UID: Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device) UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{a61bf125-a053-4204-b627-25a5d3ca5540}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}
Device #1: DAC2X (XMOS XS1-U8 MFA (ST)) Manufacturer: Model UID: DAC2X (XMOS XS1-U8 MFA (ST)) UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{efd91921-07e7-4fdb-978a-0ede7ce3a613}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}
UPnP devices found : 1
Device #0[AV] Samsung Soundbar MS750 UID: uuid:c21e5fdf-a431-4025-a4a5-85ac26c6f79d Location: http://x.x.x.x:9197/dmr
