Static on DSD playback

I notice a staticky click before a track plays when changing to and from DSD to anything that is not DSD and sometimes between DSD tracks consecutively. I have tried this with DSD Over PCM 1.0 and 1.1 with same static.

I am still not sure if there is a better sound if I just use None: Convert to PCM … which seems to sound a bit warmer.

Solution re sound warm: DSD does not use EQ.

Sometimes it is quite loud…not enough to ruin speakers but a very distinct staticky interferance sound for a second or so.

This is not a terrible thing but reported in the interest of making /audirvana extremely more wonderful and to allow perfectionists to use it.

Still fantastic sound when listening to the music.

Regards

Phil

HERE IS THE DEBUG:

Audirvana Origin 2.5.19 (20520)

macOS Version 15.2 (Build 24C101) ARM64 with 8GB physical RAM

Connected account of : XXXXXXX XXXXXX

NETWORK
Status: available
Local network access: allowed

SIGNAL PROCESSING:

Polarity Inversion:
	Globally: OFF
	Per track: ON
Effects plugins ACTIVE in realtime mode with legacy macOS API
	AU plugin #0: Effect - Apple AUGraphicEQ ()
	AU plugin #1: None
	AU plugin #2: None
	AU plugin #3: None

UPSAMPLING:
r8brain custom frequencies
384000Hz → 352800Hz
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: /Volumes/MusicSSDT7/AO-SSD-Music-T7
AUTO: /Volumes/MusicSSDT9/AO-SSD-Music-T9
iTunes/Music library synchronization: not synchronized
Sort and display order: en
Library database path: /Users/philipjohnson/Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaDatabase.sqlite

Remote Control server:
Listening on on port 63206

APPEARANCE SETTINGS:
UI theme: dark
Font size: large
Language: System language
Show album covers in tracks list: yes
Source list sorted:
Library
My Music
Startup view: Library: Albums
Show local extended in source list: yes
Use media keys: yes
Use media keys for volume control: yes
Use Apple Remote: yes
Number of paired remotes: 1
Remote pairing code required: yes
Screen saver disabled: yes

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

Active method: Local

Max. memory for audio buffers: 2066MB

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

Preferred device:
PS Audio PS Audio USB Audio 2.0 Output
Model UID:PS Audio USB Audio 2.0:2616:0110
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:PS Audio :PS Audio USB Audio 2.0:2400000:1

Currently playing in Integer Mode:
Device: 2ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24bits little endian Signed Integer, 8 bytes per frame 176.4kHz

Active Sample Rate: 176.4kHz
Hog Mode is on

Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: 384kHz
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: OFF

Selected device:PS Audio USB Audio 2.0 Output
Manufacturer: PS Audio
Model name: PS Audio USB Audio 2.0 Output
Model UID: PS Audio USB Audio 2.0:2616:0110
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:PS Audio :PS Audio USB Audio 2.0:2400000:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x2616
USB Product ID: 0x0110
ID 0x4e

7 available sample rates up to 352800Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
Audio buffer frame size : 29 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512

Volume Control
Physical: Yes
Virtual: Yes
Max volume alert: Disabled

MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
Not automatically detected, user set to not MQA

DSD capability
DSD via PCM 1.0

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 0x4f 2 channels starting at 1
21 virtual formats:
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 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
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

28 physical formats
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 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 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
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 0x4e PS Audio USB Audio 2.0 Output
Manufacturer: PS Audio
Model UID: PS Audio USB Audio 2.0:2616:0110
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:PS Audio :PS Audio USB Audio 2.0:2400000:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x2616
USB Product ID: 0x0110
Model name: PS Audio USB Audio 2.0 Output
Device #1: ID 0x48 Mac mini Speakers
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Model UID: Speaker
UID: BuiltInSpeakerDevice
Model name: Apple Inc. Mac mini Speakers

UPnP

UPnP network interface
Available Network interfaces:
Wi-Fi

UPnP devices found : 1
Device #0: ID 0x0 : BRAVIA KDL-32EX720
UID: uuid:00000000-0000-1010-8000-4CE676BC4AD6
Location: http://192.168.0.194:52323/dmr.xml
Manufacturer: Sony Corporation
Model name: KDL-32EX720

Chromecast

Chromecast not started

First… I suggest using ‘Power of Two’ up-sampling of PCM files, and using DoP1.1 to deliver the DSD64 and DSD128 files (2.8MHz and 5.6MHz) because In the case of your PS Audio DAC these are handled by the DAC architecture, where all PCM signals are modulated to 1-bit PDM and all 1-bit PDM signals are handled natively… ‘Power of Two’ will correctly up-sample all of the different PCM sample-rates.

The nature of the “pop”, “click”, “tick”, “static” when changing sample-rate or format between PCM and DSD files is due to mastering of the 1-bit file which if not carefully edited will leave a sample or a few samples not at zero amplitude at the beginning or end of the file… So when the playback is initiated, the transition from either zero or some level above zero when the format is changed, will precipitate noise as the encoded signal jumps to zero or to the encoded sample amplitude. Typically this is handled in the DAC, however you can inject sample-rate switching latency so to give the signal, time to resolve to zero in Audirvāna.

:notes: :eye: :headphones: :eye: :notes:

Some food for thought…You could experiment with modulating all PCM files to DSD128 to see if the offloading of the conversion DSP to Audirvāna, makes some tangible improvement in the sound-quality you perceive… Or don’t convert any PCM files and let the DAC do all of the work…

You may try incrementally increasing or reducing the playback pre-load memory allocation to see if this makes a difference in the “static”.