How to get DSD working in a networked (Roon) setup?


Dear,

I recently received a few DSD albums and would love to play these.

In the manual of the T+A MP 3100 HV, I read
"The MP 3100 HV can be used as a high-quality D/A converter for other devices such as computers, streamer, digital  radios etc. which are fitted with poor-quality converters or no converter at all. The MP 3100 HV features two optical and two electrical S/P-DIF digital inputs on the back panel to allow this usage.

A USB-DAC input on the back panel permits to use the MP 3100 HV as D/A
converter for computers.

At the USB DAC IN input the MP 3100 HV accepts digital PCM-encoded stereo
signals with sampling rates of 44.1 to 384 kHz (32-bit) and DSD data with
sampling rates of DSD64, DSD128, DSD256* and DSD512*."

To use the T+A MP 3100 HV to play DSD files, I have to connect it to a PC using a USB cable? Is my understanding correct?

I have all my music on a NAS in the basement. I use Roon to play (flac) files on my stereo. Is there no other way to get DSD to play?

Ideally, I would prefer to add a device in my network to play DSD. 

This "USB DAC" truly puzzles me. 

Thank you for your advice.

128x128koenvingerhoets

Showing 4 responses by erik_squires

Ah, I see the confusion.

I specifically mentioned it was an endpoint. My Roon server is another box with more cpu capabilities. The Pi is just for the Mytek. All my audio library is on a separate PC which runs the Roon core server.

 

Very odd it is Roon capable but can’t play directly.

I happen to use a Pi as a Roon endpoint, connected to my Mytek Brooklyn and never had a problem playing DSD at any resolution.

If you like Roon, may be worth getting a second micro SD card, installing Ubuntu on it and then Roon for Ubuntu/ARM.  Works peachy.

@koenvingerhoets 

In Roon, right clikc on the device, then Device Settings, and look at DSD playback strategy.  Set it to Native and see if it works. :)

I looked at the technical specs. I think they are organized in confusing manner.  The specs for streaming is for local files via PnP media servers and is probably incomplete.

Try streaming DSD via Roon directly without conversion.