[necktru]

Yes, I've switched back and forth about 50 times over the last couple of years.

One more question

In ifi update log say this about 5.3c gto firmware:

Pros
• GTO filter which upsamples USB audio (please read here for more information).
• MQA
• DSD256 (Windows), DSD128 (Mac)
• 384kHz

Cons
• SPDIF output disabled (on USB to SPDIF capable units
• No GTO for SPDIF signal
• No DSD512
• No 768kHz

What means MQA in the pro section? I already can use mqa (magenta mode) with my Zen

 

[Corrigap]

hi everyone! (Sorry for my poor English!)
I have a quick question. Why is it that on linux the LED is yellow when playing DSD files?

- iFi Zen DAC v2 (firmware 7.4)
- Arch Linux
- DeaDBeeF player (JACK output)
- dsf audio file
- 32bit
- 705.6KHz
- 11289kbps

No matter what quality of content I play the led light is always yellow.

Thanks a lot!

Hi,

On my unit (f/w 7.4c) DSD files light up the LED behind the volume knob as either red (DSD256) or cyan (DSD64/128). I don't have any DSD512/1024 files so I can't speak about those. I use Foobar2000 on Win 10.

Is your player somehow outputting everything as PCM maybe? Not familiar with Deadbeef so can't help you there with settings etc.

Is your soundcard DSD-capable?

 

[hajosattila]

Hi,

On my unit (f/w 7.4c) DSD files light up the LED behind the volume knob as either red (DSD256) or cyan (DSD64/128). I don't have any DSD512/1024 files so I can't speak about those. I use Foobar2000 on Win 10.

Is your player somehow outputting everything as PCM maybe? Not familiar with Deadbeef so can't help you there with settings etc.

Is your soundcard DSD-capable?

I turned on bitstreaming in Jriver, and the led changed to cyan. (7.4fw)
It seems to me that the firmware is fine and the led lighting works correctly on Linux.

 

[hajosattila]

3 different players with the same album:

DSD playback on
jRiver = cyan led
DeadBeeF = white led
Strawberry = white led

 

[iFi audio]

3 different players with the same album:

DSD playback on
jRiver = cyan led
DeadBeeF = white led
Strawberry = white led

That would mean that your ZEN DAC is getting DSD64 or DSD128 from jriver, but not the other two players. Its LED only displays what it gets from a transport.

What means MQA in the pro section?

That means that ZEN CAN with that firmware can process MQA. When our FW5.3C came out, MQA decoding was a major bonus and that's why we included it in the pro section

 

[hajosattila]

That would mean that your ZEN DAC is getting DSD64 or DSD128 from jriver, but not the other two players.

Yes, probably the other two players are not bitperfect, even though all settings seem to be fine.

sudo cat /proc/asound/card2/pcm0p/sub0/hw_params

access: RW_INTERLEAVED
format: S32_LE
subformat: STD
channels: 2
rate: 384000 (384000/1)
period_size: 3840
buffer_size: 76800

Strawberry

DeaDBeeF

Its LED only displays what it gets from a transport.

I do not fully understand this because of the language difficulties.

 

[hajosattila]

I set up a MPD+ncmpcpp server/player combo (I use minimal, Desktop Environment free Linux anyway)
I started the DSD soundtrack and the led turned cyan at that moment.
Happiness

Thanks for the help!

 

[iFi audio]

I do not fully understand this because of the language difficulties.

Sure, no problem, let me clarify. We fairly regularly read here on HF that our devices report wrong LED colors, as in: not in line with users' current playback bitrate etc. In most such cases the issue is on the playback software/settings side, because LEDs in our DACs only report what sort of data these DACs receive from transports connected to them. Hope this helps, thanks!

 

[hajosattila]

Yes, now it makes sense!

 

[hajosattila]

Setting MPD for bitperfect DSD playback on Linux

mpd.conf

audio_output {
    type        "alsa"
    name        "iFi ZEN DAC"
    device        "hw:2,0"
    auto_resample   "no"
    auto_channels   "no"
    auto_format     "no"
    dop             "no"

cat /proc/asound/card2/pcm0p/sub0/hw_params

access: RW_INTERLEAVED
format: DSD_U32_BE
subformat: STD
channels: 2
rate: 176400 (176400/1)
period_size: 22050
buffer_size: 88200

Enjoy!

#linux #ifi #zen #dac #bitperfect #playback #dsd #cyan #mpd #alsa

 

[iFi audio]

Setting MPD for bitperfect DSD playback on Linux

mpd.conf

audio_output {
type "alsa"
name "iFi ZEN DAC"
device "hw:2,0"
auto_resample "no"
auto_channels "no"
auto_format "no"
dop "no"

cat /proc/asound/card2/pcm0p/sub0/hw_params

access: RW_INTERLEAVED
format: DSD_U32_BE
subformat: STD
channels: 2
rate: 176400 (176400/1)
period_size: 22050
buffer_size: 88200

Enjoy!

#linux #ifi #zen #dac #bitperfect #playback #dsd #cyan #mpd #alsa

Not useful to me WinOS user, but I'm sure than folks into Linux will find that info helpful, thanks!

 

[Bonddam]

I'm having a bit of trouble with my Zen Dac V2 on any firmware past 7.20. I'm having audio clicks and pops. I've had audio totally drop out once or twice and only got it back by plugging the dac out and in again. None of this happens with the 7.20 firmware. As an example I was listening to the Elden Ring soundtrack. Many of the the tracks have a second or two of silence, as soon as the silence ends and the music starts up again there is an audible pop. It sounds like the Dac is putting itself to sleep during the silence and then waking itself back up? Has anyone else seen anything like this?

firmware bug on your computer or streamer. I'm using iPhone 13 and win 10 and 11 through Tidal Qobuz and iTunes. I have not had a issue with mine. I use it everyday at work.

 

[iFi audio]

firmware bug on your computer or streamer.

That would be my guess too. Most such issues are related to specific transports and their software rather than external products connected to them. Thanks!

 

[GlenAppleton]

If I connect both the rear 4.4mm balanced (to Zen CAN) and the RCA line out (to Vanatoo Transparent Zero Powered Speakers), with the DAC only being powered by the USB connection, will this cause issues with output power or the balanced connection to the CAN?

I'd rather use the Zen DAC than the internal DAC on the speakers (I assume, but I'll try both), so just checking to make sure it won't cause any known power or signal issues.

 

[iFi audio]

If I connect both the rear 4.4mm balanced (to Zen CAN) and the RCA line out (to Vanatoo Transparent Zero Powered Speakers), with the DAC only being powered by the USB connection, will this cause issues with output power or the balanced connection to the CAN?

Nope, you should be good, however powering your ZEN DAC from a quiet external PSU would get you better sound