I’ve recently connected my iMac to a S.M.S.L SU-9 and, when playing DSD files I often get the sound interrupted for about 1 second (then immediately restarting).
Could this be due to the fact that I have a USB long connection cable?! In fact I have the USB cable connected by the USB cable supplied with the DAC, connected to my iMac by a USB 3.0 5 meter long extension?!
Could I improve this problem by entering my DAC with a ifi Purifier 3.0 USB filter?! Or should I just shorten the USB connection from my iMac to the DAC?
Hi Gian,
You should not use any usb cable longer as 5 meters. Extensions are also not a good idea!
I believe that my remark may not have a solution for your problem, but is within usb standard.
Probably that more ram memory does the trick in case you have only 4096/8192 available.
If case you have already 4096-8192 available … try than to reduce the ram amount for Audirvana to a level of somwhere in between of 1024 and 2048 and try again.
Hope that this help to overcome your problem,
Succes, mollie
1 Like
Hi Mollie, thank you!
So, if I understand it right, it could work if I allow more ram available for running Audirvana.
In fact, I just cleared my desktop (it was loaded with many useless documents and files) and it seems that things are doing much much better now.
Also, I believe it could be beneficial if I do not run other applications when listening to DSD files by Audirvana.
About the cable, since I cannot go closer to my DAC, do you think it could be beneficial if I buy a new hiend usb connection cable (one of those specifically designed for hifi audio) of the appropriate lenght (without extension). And, how about also using the ifi Purifier 3.0 USB filter?!
I thank you again for your kind help and look forward to your comments soon
Yours
Gian Enzo
Can you dump the debug info here?
1 Like
Hi again,
No, you should use less memory for Audirvana, so you have more memory available for the O.S.
And yes, if you use not so much ram it’s better to close all programs which have nothing to do with music, so you have more ram available for the O.S.
One good quality USB cable and as short as possible is best to use. Max spec usb =5 mtr.
I know that even some do 7-10 mtr as well.
IFi purifier 3 has several advantages (see description and specs of it) I use this as well in my system as upgrade togheter with several iFi high quality power supplies and with extra i DC purifiers 2 for i.e. dac, internet switch a.s.o.
IFi has since short even better (+ series) p.s.u.'s available with even better specs for noise !!!
I have even better musical results by the use of the socalled Fidelizer 8.7 (pro) program, which switch of windows parts what results to even better musicallity with less strain and very stable music stability in depth and width.
In best setting in this program for music Windows works with that very slow and is only usable for music. (there are 3 setting, good, better and excellent/optimal)
Cheers, mollie
1 Like
Here below I copy and paste what I found as debug info.
Let me know if this is what you are asking and if it says something interesting…
Thank you:
Audirvana Mac Version 3.5.43 (3573)
macOS 11.1.0 with 16384MB RAM
Registered to GIAN ENZO ROSSI
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: by album
SW volume control: OFF
LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 1 folders
AUTO: /Users/nino/Music
iTunes/Music library synchronization: last synchronized on Fri Jan 8 18:48:07 2021
Library database path: /Users/nino/Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaPlusDatabaseV2.sqlite
ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES
Qobuz: Connected as Qobuz Studio
HRA-Streaming: Connected as VirtualVault
TIDAL: Connected as HIFI
=================== AUDIO DEVICE ========================
CoreAudio audio path, buffer I/O frame size: 512
Max. memory for audio buffers: 6206MB
Local Audio Engine:
Exclusive access: Enabled
Integer mode: Enabled
Preferred device:
SMSL USB AUDIO
Model UID:SMSL USB AUDIO:152A:85DD
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:SMSL:SMSL USB AUDIO:14112000:1
Active Sample Rate: 705.6kHz
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:
Local audio device
ID 0x48 SMSL USB AUDIO Manufacturer:SMSL
Model UID:SMSL USB AUDIO:152A:85DD UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:SMSL:SMSL USB AUDIO:14320000:1
10 available sample rates up to 768000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
705600
768000
Audio buffer frame size : 212 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512
Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
MQA Decoder device
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 0x49 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 0x3b Built-in Output Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: AppleHDA:15 UID: AppleHDAEngineOutput:1F,3,0,1,1:0
Device #1: ID 0x48 SMSL USB AUDIO Manufacturer: SMSL Model UID: SMSL USB AUDIO:152A:85DD UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:SMSL:SMSL USB AUDIO:14320000:1
Device #2: ID 0x2a Description Manufacturer: ManufacturerName Model UID: com_logmein_driver_LogMeInSoundDevice:DeviceName UID: LogMeInSoundEngine:0
UPnP devices found : 0
You can try to reduce the pre-load cache to 4000MB, but I doubt it will make much difference. Still worth trying.
If you need an USB extension cord, it’s time to think about getting USB network bridge.
1 Like
Thank you!
I actually just took down the —> Max. memory for audio buffers: 6206MB
Before, when I was suffering this problem, it was at around 14.000MB
Now, with this change and after clearing my desktop and keeping all other applications closed, it seems that the problem doesn’t come up anymore.
Anyway, how would a USB network bridge work?
Thank you again for your useful help
Hi Mollie,
thank you so much
I reduced the memory for Audirvana and now, after also cleaning my desktop and keeping other applications closed, it seems that the problem has been fixed.
In case it will come back, I may consider to buying a 7m high quality USB cable with no extension.
Also I may consider to get a iFi purifier 3 plugged in my SMSL SU-9 DAC (even though I am not suffering noises)
I do not need Fidelizer 8.7 because I am using an iMac
Thank you again for your great help
Thank you!
I actually just took down the —> Max. memory for audio buffers: 6206MB
Before, when I was suffering this problem, it was at around 14.000MB
Now, with this change and after clearing my desktop and keeping all other applications closed, it seems that the problem doesn’t come up anymore.
Anyway, how would a USB network bridge work?
Thank you again for your useful help
So that was the issue. Still rather than buying 7 meters of high quality USB cable, this money is better invested in a USB bridge. It would sit between the computer and the DAC. The computer would connect to it using UPnP over network (wired Ethernet or WiFi) and the DAC would be connected to it using a short USB cable (place the USB bridge near the DAC). It could be as simple as RPi, or a fancy audio grade USB bridge from reputable manufacturer.
1 Like
The USB bridge sounds as a great idea.
If I understand it correctly, I could connect it to my iMac through the ethernet gate with a cable, then put the USB bridge near the DAC connected to it with its short USB cable.
Can you please send me the details (or link to) of a simple and not expensive bring that I could find on the web?!
Thank you again for your really useful advice
Try with Allo DigiOne player:
Or even better if you focus on USB and don’t care about the SPDIF functionality that much:
For DSD streaming you’ll need USB anyway. Allo USB Bridge Signature offers cleaner USB output to the DAC.
1 Like
do you mean this one?!
Yes, that one. You can choose better power supply, and if you need it, also the DigiOne SPDIF board to add the coaxial and optical output.
If you add everything the price goes quickly up, but it’s worth it.
Hi I have the same DAC. Can you upsample to DSD 512 as this DAC supports it. It seems Audirvana recognizes it as max DSD256