Do I Need Different Settings for 16 bit, DSD, 24 bit FLAC?

[coastal1]

I'm using JRiver and have a DAC that supports native DSD playback. Using ASIO on Jriver and have Windows audio settings on 24 bit/48000 Hz when playing 24 bit. Once I have the settings optimized for DSD playback, is there any benefit to changing the Windows audio settings or Jriver settings when playing 16 bit files (eg, changing Windows audio settings down to 16 bit when playing 16 bit files)?

 

[PleasantSounds]

Those Windows audio settings should only matter when Jriver is using Windows playback. When you use ASIO or WASAPI, your player bypasses the WIndows playback and transfers the data to the DAC exactly as is, unless you explicitly apply some DSP. If your DAC has some sort of indicators what bit rate and depth are used, they should show the same as source files.
 
Other than that, it may give you some benefit to have the same bit rate as the source to avoid resampling, but conversion from 16 to 24 bit is completely lossless so I wouldn't stress about keeping that in sync with source: just leave it at 24 bit.
 
TLDR: No.

 

[coastal1]

  Those Windows audio settings should only matter when Jriver is using Windows playback. When you use ASIO or WASAPI, your player bypasses the WIndows playback and transfers the data to the DAC exactly as is, unless you explicitly apply some DSP. If your DAC has some sort of indicators what bit rate and depth are used, they should show the same as source files.
 
Other than that, it may give you some benefit to have the same bit rate as the source to avoid resampling, but conversion from 16 to 24 bit is completely lossless so I wouldn't stress about keeping that in sync with source: just leave it at 24 bit.
 
TLDR: No.

 
Thanks.  Using iFI Micro as DAC.  For DSD, iFi recommends setting Bitstreaming to "Yes (DSD)."  Jriver generally recommends having Bistreaming set to None.  Should I set this back to None when not playing DSD?

 

[PleasantSounds]

I would try to follow the hardware manufacturer's recommendations as they should be more specific. Jriver probably states the most common setting for all the DACs in the market, so that may not necessarily be optimal for the iDSD.
Ideally you should be able to find one config that works for all formats and leave it like that. Some people chose to upconvert everything to DSD - then you have truely one set of settings for the DAC.
 
But whatever you do, don't be afraid of experimenting. You won't break anything by chosing settings taht don't work.

 

[Roseval]

You can't play DSD in native mode if you don't use bit streaming
If you don't all DSD is converted to PCM first.
 
Likewise if you set bit streaming on, all PCM is converted to DSD.
 
You're best bet is to look into automatic zone switching.
Configure one zone for DSD and another for PCM.
Use a rule  to switch between them depending on the type.

 

[bgentry]

Here are some details about how this all works in JRiver Media Center:

1. If you want to send DSD as DSD (not converted to PCM) to your DAC, set bitstreaming to DSD. That will keep DSD as DSD and everything else will stay as PCM. The PCM files will use the DSP if you have it set. DSD files will bypass the DSP entirely.
2. This means that you can't apply any DSP at all to DSD files. No volume leveling, no eq, nothing. Because of this, you might want to convert DSD to PCM. Just turn bitstreaming off and it will automatically convert to PCM.
3. If you convert to PCM, JRMC will use 352.8kHz as the conversion rate. You'll want to change this to output whatever your DAC can handle. If your DAC can handle 352.8, you're all set. Otherwise, set it to convert 352.8 to 192, or 96, or whatever your DAC can process. I do this and DSD sounds great to me. DSP Studio > Output Format > Sample Rate
4. Some people will tell you that DSD converted to PCM actually sounds better than pure DSD on some DACs. Some DACs are good at DSD. Some are good at PCM. I have no opinion on this. Just sharing.
5. You *can* convert everything to DSD with JRMC, but it's not recommended and not necessary unless your DAC only plays DSD. That is called "Output Encoding". It's in DSP Studio > Output Format > Output Encoding.
6. 2xDSD and 4xDSD are different than regular DSD. If your DAC only handles PCM and 1xDSD, then you can't bitstream 2xDSD or 4xDSD. If you plan to play these formats, you have decisions to make, which might include converting *only* these formats to PCM.

This stuff is rather complex, but I've tried to lay it out logically.

Brian.

 

[coastal1]

Thanks, very helpful. Using the IFi Micro iDSD that can support that and more (native up to DSD512 and PCM768, though I don't have any such files). Love the Micro, do wish they had a comprehensive manual, though their support had been good with specific questions

Here are some details about how this all works in JRiver Media Center:

1. If you want to send DSD as DSD (not converted to PCM) to your DAC, set bitstreaming to DSD. That will keep DSD as DSD and everything else will stay as PCM. The PCM files will use the DSP if you have it set. DSD files will bypass the DSP entirely.
2. This means that you can't apply any DSP at all to DSD files. No volume leveling, no eq, nothing. Because of this, you might want to convert DSD to PCM. Just turn bitstreaming off and it will automatically convert to PCM.
3. If you convert to PCM, JRMC will use 352.8kHz as the conversion rate. You'll want to change this to output whatever your DAC can handle. If your DAC can handle 352.8, you're all set. Otherwise, set it to convert 352.8 to 192, or 96, or whatever your DAC can process. I do this and DSD sounds great to me. DSP Studio > Output Format > Sample Rate
4. Some people will tell you that DSD converted to PCM actually sounds better than pure DSD on some DACs. Some DACs are good at DSD. Some are good at PCM. I have no opinion on this. Just sharing.
5. You *can* convert everything to DSD with JRMC, but it's not recommended and not necessary unless your DAC only plays DSD. That is called "Output Encoding". It's in DSP Studio > Output Format > Output Encoding.
6. 2xDSD and 4xDSD are different than regular DSD. If your DAC only handles PCM and 1xDSD, then you can't bitstream 2xDSD or 4xDSD. If you plan to play these formats, you have decisions to make, which might include converting *only* these formats to PCM.

This stuff is rather complex, but I've tried to lay it out logically.

Brian.