Is there a Way to Force a Melco to Output Native DSD?

[alan.ainslie]

Hello,

Melco is not able to force Markerless DSD - this is a deliberate decision as to give such a facility when a DAC cannot accept would leave a puzzled user and no music.

So the default ooption of 'Force DoP ' will do as it says and force DoP to a DAC which could accept Markerless.

In the case where the DAC will accept Markerless this is automatically done by the Melco, providing that 1 -- the DAC is correctly recognised as accepting Markerless, and 2 -- the N1 is set as STANDARD OUTPUT MODE - that is NOT set to force DoP or to force PCM.

I hope that helps.

Alan Melco

l

(20-01-2018 17:47)GreenMtnGringo Wrote:  Hi, I recently installed a Matrix X-SPDIF 2 between my MinimServer-enabled Melco N1ZH Mk. 1 and my PS Audio DirectStream Sr. DAC so that I can use the DAC's I2S input, which is the only input that accepts native DSD (as opposed to DoP). The setup looks like this:

Melco > USB > Matrix > HDMI > DirectStream

This system is working and sounding great on 1xDSD and 2xDSD files stored on the Melco with one apparent wrinkle: The Matrix's indicator light is blue when I play DSD files, meaning that the Matrix is receiving DoP from the Melco as opposed to native DSD. (See page 9 of the Matrix manual.)

I set a Matrix dip switch to convert DoP to native DSD (see page 6 of the above-linked Matrix manual), hence the DirectStream's display now indicates "DSD" instead of "DOP" when I play DSD files.

Reading through the Melco's online manual, it seems the Melco generally outputs DoP even when its "USB DAC" controller setting is set to "Standard" as opposed to "DSD over PCM priority mode." (According to Melco's online DAC compatibility list, certain DACs can receive "markerless DSD" from the Melco; the DirectStream is not one of them, and the Matrix -- which is not a DAC -- is not listed).

I am NOT doing any transcoding in MinimStreamer of DSF or DFF files.

I am wondering if there is a setting in MinimServer or MinimStreamer which would force the Melco to stream native DSD (or "markerless DSD") instead of DoP so that I could avoid the DoP-to-DSD conversion in the Matrix?

Thanks very much.