I cannot play DSD files

[Aldo]

I have a Synology 918+ NAS server connected to my router which is connected with an Ethernet cable to a Weiss 501 streamer-DAC via UPnP. I have the latest version of Minimserver and Minimstreamer installed on the NAS.

I have found this website page

https://designwsound.com/dwsblog/2017/09...-dlna-dsd/

which explains how to set up Minimserver to play DSD files with the 501. (I think this implies that you have to transcode to PCM and that you don’t reproduce DSD natively: just a question, but of course this is not the main problem).
Now, looking at all the pages of the web interface of Minimserver and streamer on the page I linked above, I cannot find any of the actual windows shown in here (e.g. Packages and the transcode option).
I use mconnect HD as app driving the streamer from an iPad: if I use mconnect HD to play DSD files via a miniDSP Studio from
Synology/Minimserver, they play fine (so they are read ok by the miniDSP, which then however always, by defaults converts them to PCM for final reproduction on the Weiss 501, so the Weiss does not actually play the DSD files themselves)

My questions are:

1. Is in your opinion the problem within Minimserver, have I not managed to set I up ? Or is the problem somewhere else?
2. If the website is correct, any tips on how to make the changes it advises ?
Many thanks

[simoncn]

This dwsblog page is very old. The UI for MinimServer and MinimStreamer has changed since it was written.

With the current versions of MinimServer and MinimStreamer, you should open the MinimStreamer tab from the MinimServer configuration web page and then select the Properties subtab. On the Properties page, set the stream.transcode property to this:

dsf:dopwav, dff:dopwav

and click the Save button to activate the change.

[Aldo]

Hi simocn,

It now plays them, both 64 and 128, but significantly distorted, especially the latter.

[Charles7]

(02-03-2025 19:26)Aldo Wrote:  It now plays them, both 64 and 128, but significantly distorted, especially the latter.

This webpage discusses how ffmpeg can convert .DSD to .flac with reduced distortion:
https://superuser.com/questions/1720121/...with-linux

But the code there is for ffmpeg operating on files, not real-time on a stream being served by Minimserver. Someone who knows ffmpeg syntax might chime in here.

[Aldo]

Hi,

OK, this is really bizarre: now suddenly all files, PCM and DSF/DFF, are greatly distorted. I play PCM from Qobuz via Ethernet ans mconnect HD so Minimserver has absolutely nothing to do with it, nor do the amplifiers as they are monoblocks, the problem is identical in each channel and it is very unlikely they both failed at the same time. The problem persists if use an external streamer to the DAC. Therefore, it has to be the DAC. I wiil have to have it looked at. For now the Minimserver issue is not the main problem. I will update when I can.

[Aldo]

Ok, so, I switched the DAC on and off, and the distortion thankfully disappeared completely. It was clearly the DAC causing distortion, but this seems to have been triggered by my attempt to play DSD with the correct Minimserver settings. Of course it could have been concidence, but that’s quite unlikely. I have emailed Daniel Weiss asking if he has an explanation: if he has, I will post it. Until then, I am not going to try to play DSD files !

[simoncn]

The settings you found on the dwsblog page are for transcoding DSD to DoP/WAV (DSD Over PCM) format. You need to verify whether your DAC can handle DoP streams correctly.

[Aldo]

Daniel Weiss, who produces my DAC, replied to my description of the issue:
“ I don’t have any explanation. I hear about such a behavior the first time.
Note, DSD files have to played using the DoP format to the DAC501.”

[simoncn]

From this it sounds like your transcoding settings are correct. What was the resolution of the DSD file you tried to play? If it was higher than DSD64, I suggest you try with a DSD64 file.

[Aldo]

(03-03-2025 13:06)simoncn Wrote:  From this it sounds like your transcoding settings are correct. What was the resolution of the DSD file you tried to play? If it was higher than DSD64, I suggest you try with a DSD64 file.

I tried first 64, then 128 and the problem occurred with both but maybe worse with 128.
The only difference I can see between the blog and what I wrote is that I put a space after the comma in between the two transcoding instructions: tonight I’ll retry without. The other thing is that the dedignwsound blog had “ffmpeg” in a parameter box that was empty in my settings: having said this, I tried to save the settings without it and it wouldn’t let me do it