[peterjgross]

I'm playing back 24/192 tracks using Audirvana Plus over UPnP on a wired network to the Pro iDSD with zero issues. I've even played DSD256, which uses vastly greater bandwidth.

If it "appears to be worse for FLAC than it is for WAV" then it's your computer. DACs do not decode the file, but the computer decodes them to PCM (essentially WAV) before sending them to DAC. Likewise the ALAC issue -- the software on your computer must be mis-reading the sample rate.

I recommend trying Audirvana Plus and seeing if that solves the issue. I believe it's available for Windows as well now.

Thanks for responding. A few points though:
- As pointed out in previous posts i see the exact same stuttering behavior for all inputs that fall under "App" - so also when playing the same FLAC file from an SD card inserted to the slot in the Pro iDSD. So i consider it highly unlikely that my computer is causing an issue
- i have tested streaming from different servers running Asset UPnP - a Windows 10 computer and a QNAP NAS (which runs a Linux derivative).
- i stream from the same source same file to a different DAC (my Marantz SR6012) and there is no stuttering

So overall the evidence clearly points to an issue with the Pro iDSD.

A few questions regarding your post:
- you say you played DSD256. That tells me you played via USB interface (App interface only supports DSD64). My posts refer to App interface, not USB interface
- when you say "the computer decodes them [media files] to PCM" - that may be true for what Audirvana does when sending files via USB. But i do not believe this is how streaming from a UPnP server works. Most UPnP servers can transcode but this is optional.

 

[youurayy]

Hope we can update to a MQA final soon

it's proving to be a neverending story unfortunately

 

[gordec]

I'm playing back 24/192 tracks using Audirvana Plus over UPnP on a wired network to the Pro iDSD with zero issues. I've even played DSD256, which uses vastly greater bandwidth.

If it "appears to be worse for FLAC than it is for WAV" then it's your computer. DACs do not decode the file, but the computer decodes them to PCM (essentially WAV) before sending them to DAC. Likewise the ALAC issue -- the software on your computer must be mis-reading the sample rate.

I recommend trying Audirvana Plus and seeing if that solves the issue. I believe it's available for Windows as well now.

I have both Jriver and A+ for Windows. As far as A+, I don't think it does any direct DSD bitstream for Pro iDSD. It only allows DSD over PCM and will downsample any DSD files. The network mode of Pro iDSD is limited to DSD64.

As of Pro iDSD firmware 2.0 RC1 beta, 96k is usually fine. The biggest problem I run into is streaming SACD Isos. Once it starts to sutter, all files will kind of stutter. Restarting Pro iDSD will take care of it, but if you'll just downsample to 96k, then you are usually fine. I have 2 ethernet cards, so I'm running in bridge mode to ensure the fastest connection.

I have both SMS200 Neo and Ultrarendu coming this week. I want to see 1. if they sound better than the network port of Pro iDSD and 2. do they stutter with higher bitrate files.

 

[bluesaint]

Echoing all the responses here, the issue is with app mode.

 

[iFi audio]

it's proving to be a neverending story unfortunately

We've been constantly working on Pro iDSD's firmware, we were able to address a number of issues, enable MQA, GTO filter and we still haven't said the last word. There's more to come and a bit of patience is all we ask.

 

[iFi audio]

Hope we can update to a MQA final soon

Soon is the right word to describe our progress, yes.

I was wondering how exactly do you use 4 DACs at the same time (interleaved) to convert a for example PCM 44K? Is there any documentation on this topic?

Nope. We'll ask our R&D, but highly likely we've already shared all we could.

I was wondering what is the benefit from having 4 Burr Brown DACs inside the iDSD Pro?

SNR improvement, 16 different mixing signals available. Burr-Browns' datasheet limitations are bypassed as well.

Whats the benefit from having 8 digital-to-analog channels when converting 2 channel stereo? Where is the gain in quality (if there is) by using more than 1 DAC?

Higher SNR is the obvious gain, but it also comes down to what one does with DAC chips themselves and we use them in, yup, interleaved configuration.

Do you split the signal into different DAC Chips to convert it or how can i unterstand what is done here?

Perhaps our R&D will give us something to share on this subject, but we wouldn't count on it.

Hi, was Bluetooth ever considered for this unit?

Not really.

 

[Currawong]

Thanks for responding. A few points though:
- As pointed out in previous posts i see the exact same stuttering behavior for all inputs that fall under "App" - so also when playing the same FLAC file from an SD card inserted to the slot in the Pro iDSD. So i consider it highly unlikely that my computer is causing an issue
- i have tested streaming from different servers running Asset UPnP - a Windows 10 computer and a QNAP NAS (which runs a Linux derivative).
- i stream from the same source same file to a different DAC (my Marantz SR6012) and there is no stuttering

So overall the evidence clearly points to an issue with the Pro iDSD.

A few questions regarding your post:
- you say you played DSD256. That tells me you played via USB interface (App interface only supports DSD64). My posts refer to App interface, not USB interface
- when you say "the computer decodes them [media files] to PCM" - that may be true for what Audirvana does when sending files via USB. But i do not believe this is how streaming from a UPnP server works. Most UPnP servers can transcode but this is optional.

My misunderstanding. It does sound like the unit has an issue if it can't even play back reliably from a micro SD card. I thought I had streamed DSD256 previously, but I tried it again just now and it didn't work.

 

[webmi]

There's more to come

We'll ask our R&D

Thats all one could ask for. Thanks a lot. Looking forward to what you can share. I m just a bit technical interessted here.

 

[freesole]

Hi, As I have been considering the Brooklyn DAC+, ADI-2 DAC (from RME) and this Pro iDSD dac - and seeing how you have experience with at least 2 of these, can you comment on them and what you may prefer from each? I plan to use it as a dac only with VERY infrequent headphone usage. I like the upsampling ability from the iDSD as well as the higher output voltage on the line output but am most interested in the difference in sound between the two. Any insight you can provide will help. (Oh also, do you have any idea what the voltage output is on the Brooklyn DAC+ line outs? I can't seem to find that info listed anywhere).


Thanks!!

Also interested in this. I'm considering the same Dac/Headphone Amps as above and would love to hear if anyone has opinions or thoughts between the Pro iDSD / Brooklyn / ADI-2 Dac.

 

[iFi audio]

Thats all one could ask for. Thanks a lot. Looking forward to what you can share. I m just a bit technical interessted here.

https://www.researchgate.net/public...idth_of_DACs_by_Analog_Bandwidth_Interleaving

Details on how we do it in our Pro iDSD are closed to public, but the fundamental principle is well understood. The link above leads to one of the friendlier publications on the subject. Enjoy.

 

[webmi]

Also interested in this. I'm considering the same Dac/Headphone Amps as above and would love to hear if anyone has opinions or thoughts between the Pro iDSD / Brooklyn / ADI-2 Dac.

All i am saying is i did not a/b the PRO with the ADI, but now i am with the PRO and the ADI is gone.

https://www.researchgate.net/public...idth_of_DACs_by_Analog_Bandwidth_Interleaving

THX

 

[iFi audio]

THX

You're welcome.

 

[patkwok]

It's really good to know that there will be a further update of firmware to adress the MQA issue. What is the expected release date of it?

I would like to know one more issue about the Roon readiness of the ifi pro idsd. Is it fully Roon Ready?

 

[iFi audio]

It's really good to know that there will be a further update of firmware to adress the MQA issue. What is the expected release date of it?

Soon.

I would like to know one more issue about the Roon readiness of the ifi pro idsd. Is it fully Roon Ready?

Nope.

 

[bluesaint]

Soon.



Nope.

is the nope on Roon meaning in the short term, or nope as in not in this lifetime?