Aurender and native DSD output


For those out there that are using the Aurender N20 streamer in tandem with a DAC that has both AES/EBU and USB digital input, can you please let me know if you are able to play DSD files via the Aurender over the AES/EBU output when the "Use native DSD on USB" setting is on?

In my case, this does not work, if I have the "use native DSD on USB" on, I cannot play any DSD/DSF files over AES/EBU, I can only play them over USB.. Flac and other formats work fine.

In my case the Aurender N20 is connected via both the AES/EBU and USB interfaxces to the Chord Dave DAC.

thijazi

@peipaul ​​​​@oddiofyl partially correct - it will downsample to PCM (N20) if your DAC is not compatible with DoP on AES interface. In case of DAVE it does accept DSD over PCM (DoP) and that is how N20 outputs DSD64 via its AES out.

Refer to this chart

https://aurenderteam.notion.site/2e2261cddc904b5e9372b4917bfa0aef?v=32b06a95f9a74d3e91d73a3e674c89be

AES will play DSD in DoP (DSD over PCM), so that works, it only stops working if I turn the setting to On which is what I find strange, the USB inteface setting shouldn't meddle with the AES interface...

I just tested the same thing with a McIntosh MCD 12000 DAC/CD player, the same issue here, N20 will not playback DSD64 over AES/EBU or Coax as long as the "Use Native DSD on USB" is set to on. Funny enough DSD128, 256 and above will play just fine (converted either by the N20 or the McIntosh to 176kHz, but they do play).

I cannot wrap my head around a setting that according to the Conductor app only affects the USB output is affecting all other digital outputs on N20.

According to the Aurender Conductor app itself: "this setting is specific to the USB audio output of your Aurender"