Smyth Research Realiser A16

[GeorgeA]

That is apparently kind of expected with Auro 3D - it isn't detected automatically under most circumstances, as far as I can tell. Check if "native" Auro 3d is engaged if you enable the Auromatic upmixer. This is how Auro works with all AV Processors that I've had access to so far. On the player side, you have to make sure that the stream is output bit-perfect, with no volume adjustment or DSP shenanigans. FLAC cannot be transferred over HDMI as FLAC, it has to be decoded to PCM.

What I know for sure is that under firmware 2.13, my Realiser A16 unit detected and decoded Auro-3D files (embedded in FLAC). I can’t remember exactly how it was with firmware 2.15. However, I tend to think it was the same with 2.13.

At 2L.no site, there’re instructions on playing Auro-3D files (embedded in FLAC).
“Play via Blu-ray player: Save the downloaded file on your USB stick, DVD-R, or BD-R. Insert those into your Blu-ray player and play the file the same way as you would play a Blu-ray disc. AURO-3D can be reproduced from your AURO-3D AVR when connected to a Blu-ray player via HDMI.”
https://shop.2l.no/collections/auro...eqqwNtgIWpSo6OcZ0JvV_0J99-PxUdRtVVsMRPAC7f0Mp

In my previous post, I wrote “I sent (bitstream)…” taking into account the instructions posted at 2L site (“and play the file the same way as you would play a Blu-ray disc”).

It’s certain that starting from the Auro-3D files (embedded in FLAC) purchased from various labels, 5.1 PCM with metadata audio signals are detected by the Realiser A16.

 

[Litlgi74]

What I know for sure is that under firmware 2.13, my Realiser A16 unit detected and decoded Auro-3D files (embedded in FLAC). I can’t remember exactly how it was with firmware 2.15. However, I tend to think it was the same with 2.13.

The Auro-3D decoder locked quicker and usually without fail up until the settings were moved to the preset section... FW 2.15 is when the stumbling started to occur.

Even with FW 2.17... my native Auro-3D blu-rays can take several minutes to lock on. Thankfully the Auromatic upmixer doesn't seem to have this problem.

 

[Glopitou]

Hi everyone, new day, new discoveries!

I successfully used MPC-BE (Media Player Classic - Black Edition), my favorite video player, to play the FLAC-Auro3D version of the Goldberg Variations!

• You need to set the audio volume at 100%.
• In the Audio settings, set the Audio renderer to "0. MPC Audio Renderer", then configure it as follows:
  • Sound Device: Primary Sound Driver
  • WASAPI mode: Exclusive ("Shared" doesn't work)
  • WASAPI method: Event
  • Device buffer: 50 ms
  • Allow bit-exact output: YES
  • Use system layout channels: YES
  • Alternative check of supported format: NO
  • Release device when idle: YES (NO works too)
  • Enable stereo crossfeed: NO
  • Don't fill channels when upmixing: NO
• The "Use system layout channels" seems to avoid having to change the speaker layout in the Windows Sound settings. Whether I set 5.1 or 7.1, the A16 decodes Auro3D correclty and displays either "Auro3D (PCM 5.1)" or "Auro3D (PCM 7.1)" in yellow letters.

Unfortunately, before playing another FLAC-Auro3D file, I need play the Polarity track for a second or so to "reset" the A16 and prepare it to decode the PCM-Auro stream.

This leads to this crazy stopgap:

Furthermore, I conducted additional tests with VLC, but I still can't understand why it fails to produce a bit-perfect PCM stream when playing FLAC-Auro3D files, even after following all instructions provided here.

On a side note, I've also further tested the Diabolo tracks under various settings, and I suspect they're not AURO-3D encoded, they're just DTS-MA (track 1 and track 3) and DTS-X (track 2). Here are my results:

Diabolo Track 1 DTS.dts (6 channels)​

• Auro3D: off, PCM HDMI Source upmixer: Auromatic --> DTS-MA Neural:X (orange text)
• Auro3D: off, PCM HDMI Source upmixer: Direct --> DTS-MA Neural:X (orange text)
• Auro3D: on, Auro LM: AURO-3D, PCM HDMI Source upmixer: Direct --> DTS-MA Auromatic (orange text)
• Auro3D: on, Auro LM: native, PCM HDMI Source upmixer: Direct --> DTS-MA (orange text)

The above make sense to me: in the absence of Auro3D, Neural:X kicks in to upmix the "legacy" DTS-HDMA format. When Auro3D is enabled, it takes precedence (as indicated in the firmware 2.15 release notes) so Auromatic is applied. (Note that PCM Upmixing is disabled and wouldn't play any role anyway as this is a DTS bitstream in this case).

Diabolo Track 2 DTS.dts (8 channels)​

• Auro3D: on, Auro LM: native, PCM HDMI Source upmixer: Direct --> DTS:X (orange text)

Hope this helps!

 

[GeorgeA]

Thanks for sharing your findings. Even though Realiser A16 can sometimes have issues, it’s still an incredible device.

 

[Glopitou]

I also discovered how to configure MPC-HC as an alternative to MPC-BE:

• Open up the menu "View/Options" (or press the letter O).
• Under "Internal Filters/Audio Renderer"
  • "SaneAR Audio Renderer Enabled": YES
  • "Exclusive Mode": YES
  • "Ignore system channel mixer": NO
  • Enable stereo crossfeed (for headphones): NO
• Under "Internal Filters", press the "Audio decoder" button
  • In the "Mixing" tab, uncheck "Enable Mixing" and leave the rest as-is.

 

[Glopitou]

The Auro-3D decoder locked quicker and usually without fail up until the settings were moved to the preset section... FW 2.15 is when the stumbling started to occur.
Even with FW 2.17... my native Auro-3D blu-rays can take several minutes to lock on. Thankfully the Auromatic upmixer doesn't seem to have this problem.

@Litlgi74 I'm also on FW version 2.17 and my A16 was taking nearly a minute to lock onto Auro-3D when playing the Polarity song.

Following the advice in the Firmware 2.15 release notes, I adjusted the "Listening Rooms/Loading" setting to "Only Auro." Now, it locks in perfectly within just 2 seconds!

Of course, I only enable this setting when I plan to listen to music for an extended period (like an hour or more). Otherwise, Atmos and DTS movies end up loading Auro rooms exclusively.

 

[Glopitou]

To enable FLAC-Auro3D support in JRiver, here’s the audio config that worked:

• Audio Device section:
  • Choose Realiser A16 [WASAPI]
  • Click "Device Settings"
    • Open device for exclusive access: YES
• Settings section:
  • Bitstreaming : Yes (HDMI)

 

[Glopitou]

Here's a few additional findings:

Play Order​

1. When I first play the Polarity DTS-Auro3D track, Auro-3D (DTS-MA) is displayed in yellow and Auro height channels are active.
2. Then I play the FLAC-Auro3D, eg Goldberg Variations, Auro-3D (PCM 5.1) is displayed in yellow and Auro height channels are active
3. If I play Polarity again, Auro-3D (DTS-MA) is displayed in yellow but sometimes the Auro height channels aren't active anymore (I'm not sure if it's a display bug, but it feels like the sound is richer when the heights are displayed)

Polarity - with heights:

Polarity - without heights:

​

Auro LM (listening mode): native vs Auro-3D​

It might have been obvious to folks but native will play the Auro encoding as is, for example in the Golberg Variations case, it's 5.1 + 4.
Setting it to AURO-3D will upmix the stream to use all channels from the Auro room (13.1 in the case of the Omega 96 Pro)

Golberg Variations - with native listening mode

Golberg Variations - with Auro-3D listening mode

 

[Litlgi74]

Even though Realiser A16 can sometimes have issues, it’s still an incredible device.

Even with it's quirks... I now know nine people (not including myself) that own two machines!

 

[Glopitou]

Ok, here's my last contribution of the day. In order to play DTS-Auro3D and FLAC-Auro3D files with mpv (if you know what you're doing and want a minimal footprint) you just need to create a "mpv.conf" file with the following content in the mpv folder:

audio-spdif=ac3,eac3,dts-hd,truehd
ao=wasapi
audio-exclusive=yes
audio-channels=auto

Next, open mpv and drop your DTS or FLAC Auro files on the mpv window, enjoy!

 

[Cecala]

It's getting close:

Now I'm getting slightly nervous though if I'm honest.

 

[GeorgeA]

It's getting close:
.......
Now I'm getting slightly nervous though if I'm honest.

Enjoy your new Realiser A16 unit and don’t forget to share your first impressions.

 

[jacobacci]

There was a message a while ago, in which @GeorgeA described to @dsperber how to play Auro3D music files (encoded in Flac) from his blu-ray player: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/smyth-research-realiser-a16.807459/post-17105410
I can play video files which have an Auro-3D track just fine, but when I play the Auro flac file, it just plays as PCM (not native Auro-3D like @GeorgeA experienced). Note that I have enabled Auro-3D in my profile and tried the vairous Auro Listening modes, but to no avail.

I am experiencing the same, trying to play Auro 3D flac files (Aeon Trio Elegy from Native DSD). I can only get a lock on 6Ch PCM when streaming from my PC using jRiver (set to the usual HDMI bistreaming. This setting worked for the DTSMA Auro bitstream I extracted from the 2L Polarity Bluray.
Next I copied the Auro flac files to a Data DVD which I played from my Sony X800m2. Still the Realiser only shows 6Ch PCM.
This really is frustrating.

 

[jacobacci]

To enable FLAC-Auro3D support in JRiver, here’s the audio config that worked:

• Audio Devicesection:
  • Choose Realiser A16 [WASAPI]
  • Click "Device Settings"
    • Open device for exclusive access: YES
• Settings section:
  • Bitstreaming : Yes (HDMI)

Exactly my settings, but no joy
EDIT: Please disregard this post and the one before. I need to go through the last three pages of posts in detail and try the different suggestions for workarounds.
Sorry for jumping the gun.

 

[GeorgeA]

@jacobacci With respect to playing the Auro 3D flac (Aeon Trio Elegy) file from your Sony X800m2, I don’t understand why you copied the file to a Data DVD when it should’ve been easier to use a memory stick. In your Sony player manual, at page #15, there’re instructions for playing from a USB Device.

By using your Sony player, try to play your Polarity DTS-Auro3D track or any of the 2L discs that have an Auro-3D track first and after that play your Aeon Trio Elegy and see what’s the outcome.