[gordec]

@iFi audio Can you please check with your tech guys to see if there may be buffer issues with Pro iDSD's network input and if this is something that can be corrected via firmware? It seems like anything above 96k could eventually lead to stutter. I tweaked every setting in Windows 10 and even put in a 10G ethernet card.

 

[peterjgross]

I am interested in that, too. I have opened tickets regarding this. While there was some advice there is really no resolution.
To summarize:
- i see stuttering for 192/24 for everything that is coming in via "App" interface - so it happens not only for network input but also SD card and USB hard disk.
- the issue appears to be worse for FLAC than it is for WAV - so i have set me UPnP server currently to transcode FLAC to WAV - that has made the issue somewhat smaller.
- in addition to that - when playing through the App input ALAC files are not played correctly (it appears they are played in slow motion)

Again - tickets were open but there is no solution at this point. I hope this is addressed with the official software release

 

[gordec]

The interesting thing is that at times I can play DSD64 no issues. Then it will stutter. Sometimes I feel like restarting my PC fixes it then sometimes I feel I need to restart Pro iDSD. Today I restarted everything, and it was still stuttering. 96k is the sweet spot right now. I wish it's a firmware issue not hardware.

 

[peterjgross]

The interesting thing is that at times I can play DSD64 no issues. Then it will stutter. Sometimes I feel like restarting my PC fixes it then sometimes I feel I need to restart Pro iDSD. Today I restarted everything, and it was still stuttering. 96k is the sweet spot right now. I wish it's a firmware issue not hardware.

I recall from reading earlier posts that you use wired Ethernet for transmission. I am using wireless, streaming from a QNAP NAS (OS is some Linux derivative). With wireless i am never 100% sure i can exclude it from introducing issues.
But: i tested -

• playing from the same source same file to a different DAC and there is no stuttering
• playing from SD card or USB hard disk also shows stuttering

Since playing from all those sourcing appears to use the same buffer before hitting the DAC I suspect that the buffer handling is not working properly. I mean it is spec'd for up to 192/24, so it should be able to do it.
Plus: if you use USB input you can go to higher resolution files but the DAC chips doing the conversion are the same - so what is left is the input stage including the buffering.

 

[gordec]

I recall from reading earlier posts that you use wired Ethernet for transmission. I am using wireless, streaming from a QNAP NAS (OS is some Linux derivative). With wireless i am never 100% sure i can exclude it from introducing issues.
But: i tested -

• playing from the same source same file to a different DAC and there is no stuttering
• playing from SD card or USB hard disk also shows stuttering

Since playing from all those sourcing appears to use the same buffer before hitting the DAC I suspect that the buffer handling is not working properly. I mean it is spec'd for up to 192/24, so it should be able to do it.
Plus: if you use USB input you can go to higher resolution files but the DAC chips doing the conversion are the same - so what is left is the input stage including the buffering.

Today I flashed back to 1.55b from 1.6. DSD64 is streaming perfect again. This is probably due to memory bring completely cleared. Let's see how long before it starts to stutter again.

BTW, iFI has a weird support system. Once you get a reply after placing a support ticket, you can reply back to the technician. You need to resubmit another ticket. There were a few times, the technician was asking me a question, but I have no way to reply to him.

 

[iFi audio]

Folks, playing high-res material is bandwidth and QoS dependent, playing 176.4/192/DSD needs a wired network. As for WiFi input stuttering, we're aware of this and we haven't said the last word on FW updates. Stay tuned!

 

[gordec]

Folks, playing high-res material is bandwidth and QoS dependent, playing 176.4/192/DSD needs a wired network. As for WiFi input stuttering, we're aware of this and we haven't said the last word on FW updates. Stay tuned!

192/DSD stutters on wired network. I even upgraded to a 10gigabit ethernet card with all CAT6a cables where the Pro iDSD is connected to the PC through a Gigabit network switch. I am pulling 900mbps consistently. There has to be a memory leak on the network input whereas USB has a much more robust buffer system. I'm not upset at all as I bought the Pro for its DAC. A fully implemented network rendering function is just icing on the cake. I can always get a SMS200 or one of the Rendus, but why spend more money if one box takes care of it all. Downsampling to 96k takes care of it as confirmed with other users.

Here are some of the characteristics:
1. You may go 30 min to a few hours with no stuttering, but it eventually comes back.
2. Switching different bitrate (going from DSD to 44.1 to 96) will exacerbate the stuttering.
3. Sometimes restarting the unit helps, but reflashing firmware will for sure give you a clean start, but will eventually start to stutter again.

 

[bluesaint]

Folks, playing high-res material is bandwidth and QoS dependent, playing 176.4/192/DSD needs a wired network. As for WiFi input stuttering, we're aware of this and we haven't said the last word on FW updates. Stay tuned!

Doesn't work, i've also connect at Gigabyte ethernet wire with zero packet loss, and sub 10ms measured latency. As @gordec said above, its definitely an issue with iDSD.

 

[iFi audio]

We'll pass this feedback to our tech team, thanks! Also, if there are ANY issues, please use our support platform: http://support.ifi-audio.com/

 

[iFi audio]

BTW, iFI has a weird support system. Once you get a reply after placing a support ticket, you can reply back to the technician. You need to resubmit another ticket. There were a few times, the technician was asking me a question, but I have no way to reply to him.

Please write to us here: support@ifi-audio.com

 

[webmi]

 

[iFi audio]

 

[webmi]

Hope we can update to a MQA final soon

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? We are doing kind of a "DAC - does is matter" discussion in a different forum and now i am wondering how its done in the iDSD Pro with 4 DACs. I was wondering what is the benefit from having 4 Burr Brown DACs inside the iDSD Pro?

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?

Here is a picture from ifi-audio.com

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

Would be nice if someone could bring a little light into this topic for me.

 

[Currawong]

Edit: Removed -- I misunderstood the previous posts.

 

[Chadwick852]

Hi, was Bluetooth ever considered for this unit?