How to play DSD512 with Luxsin X-9

[ThijsA]

I am trying to play DSD 512 files with my Luxsin X-9. The DAC is capable of playing DSD512 files.

However I can’t figure out the correct settings for Audirvana. Can you please help?

I discovered that I had to adjust the NativeDSD streaming mode to correctly play DSD files. However DSD512 are none the less converted to PCM

Set up
MacOs 15.6.1, Audirvana Origin connected by USB-B to Luxsin X-9.

Debug info
Audirvana Origin 2.6.1 (20601)

macOS 15.6.1 ARM64 with 16GB physical RAM

Connected account of : Thijs Alphen

NETWORK
Status: available
Local network access: allowed

LOADING/DECODING:
Max audio buffer size: 5504MB
Polarity Inversion:
Globally: OFF
Per track: ON

SIGNAL PROCESSING:
Effect 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:
Replay Gain: None
Max allowed volume: 100
SW volume control: OFF

LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 1 folders
AUTO: /Volumes/HD1/muziek
Sync folders at startup: YES
iTunes/Music library synchronization: not synchronized
Sort and display order: en
Library database path: /Users/Thijs/Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaDatabase.sqlite

Remote Control server:
Listening on
en0 IPv4: xxx
on port 59097

APPEARANCE SETTINGS:
UI theme: dark
Font size: regular
Language: System language
Show album covers in tracks list: yes
Source list sorted:
My Music
Library
Startup view: My Music: Albums
Show local extended in source list: yes
Use media keys: yes
Use media keys for volume control: yes
Use Apple Remote: no
Number of paired remotes: 9
Remote pairing code required: yes
Screen saver disabled: no

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

Active method: Local

Max. memory for audio buffers: 5504MB

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

Preferred device:
MQA Luxsin USB AUDIO
Model UID:Luxsin X9:20B1:30FD
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:MQA:Luxsin X9:0:1

Active Sample Rate: 192kHz
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: OFF

Selected device:Luxsin USB AUDIO
Manufacturer: MQA
Model name: MQA Luxsin USB AUDIO
Model UID: Luxsin X9:20B1:30FD
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:MQA:Luxsin X9:0:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x20b1
USB Product ID: 0x30fd
ID 0x6f

10 available sample rates up to 768000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
705600
768000
Audio buffer frame size : 58 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512

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

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: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 0x70 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 high in 32bit 768kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 705.6kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high 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 high in 32bit 768kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 705.6kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high 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 high in 32bit 768kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 705.6kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned high in 32bit 44.1kHz

Local devices found : 4
Device #0: ID 0x6a Studio Display Speakers
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Model UID: Studio Display Audio Control:05AC:1114
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:Apple Inc.:Studio Display:00008030-001411E1219A802E:8,9
USB Vendor ID: 0x05ac
USB Product ID: 0x1114
Model name: Apple Inc. Studio Display Speakers
Device #1: ID 0x6f Luxsin USB AUDIO
Manufacturer: MQA
Model UID: Luxsin X9:20B1:30FD
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:MQA:Luxsin X9:0:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x20b1
USB Product ID: 0x30fd
Model name: MQA Luxsin USB AUDIO
Device #2: ID 0x4d Mac mini luidsprekers
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Model UID: Speaker
UID: BuiltInSpeakerDevice
Model name: Apple Inc. Mac mini luidsprekers
Device #3: ID 0x53 Microsoft Teams Audio
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
Model UID: MSLoopbackDriverDevice_ModelUID
UID: MSLoopbackDriverDevice_UID
Model name: Microsoft Corp. Microsoft Teams Audio

UPnP

UPnP network interface
Selected Network interface: Ethernet
Available Network interfaces:
Ethernet

UPnP devices found : 2
Device #0: ID 0x0 : MUZIEK Denon Home 250
UID: uuid:b27c6415-2021-106c-0080-00a96f12c4be
Location: http://xxx
Manufacturer: Denon
Model name: Denon Home 250
Device #1: ID 0x0 : DMP-A8(EverSolo DMP-A8)
UID: uuid:800a805d4939-dmr
Location: http://xxx
Manufacturer: EVERSOLO
Model name: AV Renderer Device

Chromecast

Chromecast devices found : 0

[Agoldnear]

A couple of things first…
Change your settings to reflect the Bold text below:

@ThijsA

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

You cannot play DSD512 via DoP 1.1 on your Mac… You see in the screenshots of the OUTPUT DEVICE settings you have provided, the DAC is showing DSD capabilities to DSD256. The debug report is showing the DAC supports up-to 768kHz. … The DSD over PCM (DoP) PCM carrier sample-rate for 1-bit 22.4MHz PDM (DSD512) is 1411.2kHz.

It appears the Luxin DAC designers are not utilizing the full capabilities of the AKM chipset in this platform… It also appears that the AKM4499EX chipset does not accept 1-bit PDM (DSD) signals.

How to play DSD natively?

How to play DSD over PCM (DoP) to my device?

*For your information… There are no natively recorded DSD512 products… All DSD512 products are iterations, modulated (up-sampled) from lower resolution sample-rate files.

[ThijsA]

Thank you very much, Agoldnear. I have implemented all the tips you suggested. Meanwhile, I also posted your suggestion to LuxSin X9. See here

In addition to your answer, it was suggested:

The problem is, that you’re using a Mac, which can’t output native DSD.
DoP needs for DSD512 (x48) PCM 1536 kHz.
Because the X9 is limited to 768 kHz, for Mac you’re limited to DSD256.

There is nothing, that the developers can do for you here.
An option can be in using a network streamer (e.g. a RPi) between your Mac and the X9 and using the USB out from the streamer.

I think I can live with ‘just’ DSD256

As far as your P.S. is concerned, it helps me in trying to find my way in this mine field. Grimm Audio f.i. handles DSD64 max which stresses your point.

A bit off topic perhaps. A few things puzzle me in this respect, when I play a DSD512 file of a well recorded Mahler symphony, compared to the same in a lower rate DSD, my wife and I found more details, more separation between the instruments. What puzzles me then even more is a recording of DG of a Wagner vorspiel in “just” 96Khz/24 bits appears to a have similar result. Only this weekend, I found a recently released album in 192Khz/24 bits in my view equaling the quality of DSD files. More and more I tend to that other factors may also play a role than merely sample rates and bit depth.

[With the remark that I have decent audio setup and just listen to classical music]

Once again thanks for your help.

P.S. when searching the forum I did not find the knowledge base

[Agoldnear]

@ThijsA

A few things puzzle me in this respect, when I play a DSD512 file of a well recorded Mahler symphony, compared to the same in a lower rate DSD, my wife and I found more details, more separation between the instruments. What puzzles me then even more is a recording of DG of a Wagner vorspiel in “just” 96Khz/24 bits appears to a have similar result. Only this weekend, I found a recently released album in 192Khz/24 bits in my view equaling the quality of DSD files.

This perception will be intrinsically tied to the DAC chipset or DAC design being employed for playback… For instance, the DMP-A8 uses the same AK4499EX DAC chipset in concert with the AK4191EQ modulator…

“The AK4191EQ has a built-in digital filter with multi-bit sigma delta modulator and 256 times oversampling processing. A wide variety of music can playback by inputting 1536kHz PCM data and DSD1024 data.”

However, the AK4499EX chipset does not support a pure 1-bit signal path to output and the AK4191EQ converts DSD to PCM for D/A conversion in the AK4499EX… Unless these boxes facilitate a bypass of the SDM processing by providing a 1-bit PDM (DSD) signal path to a simple low-pass filtered D/A circuit, you will never listen to a pure native 1-bit DSD file playback…

ESS and Cirrus Logic chipsets also do not provide a unfettered 1-bit PDM signal path to output… they convert everything to PCM for processing. Some AKM chipsets have available a pure DSD signal path if implemented… TI/Burr Brown and ROHM Mus-IC chipsets support a pure DSD signal path when implemented in the platform design.

So, with the DAC(s) that you have… all DSD files are being decimated to PCM and you are probably hearing the difference in the PCM modulator sound-quality and depending on the SDM in the DAC, PCM will have a different sound-quality…

Given the nature of your DAC platform designs, I suggest having Audirvāna decimate DSD files to PCM… this will offload DSP processing from your DAC(s) to the computer… generally the best practice.
(Edit) It is unclear to me if the AK4499EX chipset can provide a pure 1-bit signal path by creative design strategy.

I also suggest that you up-sample all PCM files using r8Brain using a “Custom” up-sampling strategy when you have mixed PCM sample-rate files… This will offload conversion processing from the DAC topologies, reducing noise potentials.
For example:

• 44.1kHz → 705.6kHz
• 88.2kHz → 705.6kHz
• 174.6kHz → 705.6kHz
• 352.8kHz → 705.6kHz
• 705.6kHz → 705.6kHz
• 48kHz → 768kHz
• 96kHz → 768kHz
• 192kHz → 768kHz
• 384kHz → 768kHz
• 768kHz → 768kHz

Support

How upsampling works in Audirvāna?

[jmtennapel]

@ThijsA

More and more I tend to that other factors may also play a role than merely sample rates and bit depth.

The mastering proces. The format of the file, as long as it is lossless, doesn’t matter that much.

In case of DSD versus PCM: it depends on the DAC chip that is used. If that isn’t a DSD chip (in other words, a native 1 bit converter), then internally the DSD stream is converted to PCM and fed to the DAC chip.

[ThijsA]

Thank you both very much for your effort to explain this. Lacking profound technical knowledge, I have to trust my (and my wife’s) ears. It is nice to read that our perception was not so bad after all.

[jmtennapel]

WHAT!!! Are you listening with your ears? That’s not how it is done!!

—-

There’s too much (pseudo) mumbo jumbo on forums. There’s only one measuring device that counts and that are your ears for the music you like to listen to.

If you would hookup a Cyrus CD transport to the DAC and play the CD of the Mahler concerto, you’d probably say that’s the best you ever heard. Equipment used is more important than the format.

[ThijsA]

[Agoldnear]

@jmtennapel

The mastering proces. The format of the file, as long as it is lossless, doesn’t matter that much.

So… Yes the mastering process is fundamental…

However, you will find in many cases, where the source for the digital-master is an analog-tape or vinyl/acetate master source, where the Analog to Digital conversion (A/D) is done in multiple digital formats for distribution…

The 16/44.1kHz encoding of the source master recording will not have the resolution of the 24/88.2kHz encoding and the 24/88.2kHz will not have the resolution of the 24/176.4kHz encoding, which will not have the resolution of the 24/352.8kHz encoding and the 24/352.8kHz encoding will not have the resolution (sample-density) of the 1-bit 2.8MHz DSD64 encoding and the DSD64 encoding will not have the resolution of the 1-bit 5.6MHz DSD128 encoding and the DSD128 encoding will not have the resolution of the 1-bit 11.2MHz DSD256 encoding.

This holds true for the different 1-bit PDM (DSD) encodings and inversely, the iterations made from DSD masters that are decimated (down-sampled) to lower-resolution PCM sample-rates for distribution… Each subsequent decimation will have lower resolution as bit-depth and sample-rate decreases.

The audibility of these differentials is tangible to the active-listener, irrespective of aesthetic preference.

The digital-product master encoding bit-depth and sample-rate, codify the dynamic-range and resolution of the file, just as any audio recording format.

Experiment with the up-sampling strategy that I propose. You may find this will bring all of your PCM and DSD files into alignment in the final audition.

*Several new generation CD players employ up-sampling to the signal lifted from the CD storage media.

Provenance of the digital file is very important to know, so to have perspective on the sound-quality of the product you are auditioning… Or, just not worry about it at all and if it sounds good to you, that is what matters most.