Thread: Audirvana Plus: Direct Mode

Originally Posted by Esprit

For listeners to DSD: do you prefer, with A+, ISO or individual DSF files?

I can't speak to the differences as I have no need to listen to the ISO's. I guess i could do a test, but I prefer to browse and select via tracks, so I always extract to DSF files regardless (and my other DSD-capable server, the Auraliti PK90USB, does not identify ISO's anyway). But, Esprit, you have my curiosity piqued, so I'll try an a/b soon.

Originally Posted by Mercman

I find AR+ sounds ever so slightly better without iTunes integration with my setup. Perhaps differences in computer specs accounts for this difference from Ted's findings of a large difference.

I prefer to use A+ without iTunes integration, i.e. as a stand alone application. While it would be nice if the built-in playlist of A+ were a bit more refined, I can live with it as is. I'll typically always prefer the "behind the scenes" simplicity and stability of a stand alone application over an application that attempts to integrate products from multiple developers.

Originally Posted by ckpiv

The W4S Dac 2 is not integer capable with their USB drivers. I have the W4S dac 2 along with a audiophilleo 2 to get integer mode. The A+ sounds fantastic!

Fully agree this combination really shines with this version; like many I hope to expereince some level of SQ improvement with each major new release, but I was really surprised at the improvement over 1.3.5.

ckpiv,
Could you do me a favor and confirm an item being displayed within your A+ debug file? I'd like to know if your results are similar to mine with respect to the currently playing sample rate of 0.0kHz, please see below.

********
Direct Mode audio path

Currently playing in Integer Mode:

Device: 2ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24bits little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 24bit, 6 bytes per frame @0.0kHz

********

Thanks

Bob

Originally Posted by jhwalker

Sounds great on most material. The first DSD > PCM track I tried, though, I just got three loud pops and my Mac Mini locked up solid (had to turn it off to recover). Any special error reporting method we should use or anything you'd like to see to diagnose?

2011 MacMini, OS X 10.7.4, 8GB RAM, Schiit Bifrost DAC via USB

Just a follow-up to this: it doesn't cause a kernel panic *every* time I play DSD > PCM; rather, it seems to (rather randomly) cause a panic when initializing playback, possibly regardless of bit depth / rate, etc. I have records of two kernel panics I'm happy to provide - would just paste them in here, but don't want to take up a lot of space.

Let me know if you'd like to see them.

Bob,

Looking at my debug information I show the exact same results. Not sure what that means though.

I agree this version of A+ with the W4S Dac 2 & Audiophilleo 2 produced amazing sound. The presence, soundstage, depth, tonal balance and detail Is very engaging and addictive

Enjoy the music,

Chuck

Originally Posted by ckpiv

The W4S Dac 2 is not integer capable with their USB drivers. I have the W4S dac 2 along with a audiophilleo 2 to get integer mode. The A+ sounds fantastic! Like others have had occasional issues that are mentioned throughout this thread. Closing out A+ and restarting clears the problems. Overall for the first beta release I could not be more pleased. Keep up the good work Damien.

Have not tried A+ in only direct mode over the W4S USB - will have to try and see if I get your same results.

Would it be possible to modify the W4S DAC 2 USB driver to allow A+ integer mode to function?

Originally Posted by ssgp2

Would it be possible to modify the W4S DAC 2 USB driver to allow A+ integer mode to function?

I believe if W4S chooses to update their USB drivers integer mode could be functional. I emailed W4S awhile back about this and they said they believed it was a driver issue and not hardware. In addition they could not give me an idea if a USB driver update was planned at that time. If I recall correctly the standard W4S Dac 1 uses the Mac USB drivers and is integer capable which would verify that it is a driver issue and not hardware.

Originally Posted by ssgp2

Would it be possible to modify the W4S DAC 2 USB driver to allow A+ integer mode to function?

And it's quite straightforward. You can tell the manufacturer to contact me if needed.
In a nutshell it consists mostly in declaring a non-mixable stream for each PCM mixable one in the driver hardware initialization routine.

Damien

One other thing I have noticed with the beta version of A+ is it no longer updates the play count in iTunes. Has anyone else noticed this?

Originally Posted by ckpiv

One other thing I have noticed with the beta version of A+ is it no longer updates the play count in iTunes. Has anyone else noticed this?

yes, same here.

Originally Posted by Esprit

Who can tell Mytek to contact Damien?

Won't do much good. Mytek doesn't own their drivers. USB is Rigisystems, firewire is DICE, both 3rd parties.

Thank you all for your kind and useful feedbacks!

Here is the 1.3.9.2 update for the beta. It is not yet at production level (still some signal lock issues), though I'm progressing:

• Metric Halo, RME devices support (including Direct Mode for Metric Halo)
• Strengthened recovery from clicks
• Safety net to prevent most kernel panics
• Long playback sessions stability improvement

As the stability seems to be strongly dependent on the connected device, do not hesitate to continue your feedback, including sending "debug info" (to know more on your hardware), and bug reports by PM or email.

Damien

Originally Posted by abramsmatch

PS-- anyone who knows if A+ can work with a shared library can also feel free to help!)

As far as I know, *none* of the third-party players can play files shared via Home Sharing. I would like for them, though, to get out of the way and let iTunes play those files directly - perhaps Damien can add this functionality soon (some of the other players do just this).

Originally Posted by abramsmatch

Now there's another issue with both the beta version and the licensed (up to date) one I have. Namely-- I am using the home sharing feature of iTunes to share files between my old macbook and new mac mini. But, while iTunes will play music just fine-- (wow-- is A+ better!)-- No verio of A+ will recognize the files that are shared in the new mac's iTunes. A+ won't even START to play. I get unable to read errors etc.

iTunes home sharing uses a proprietary mechanism that works only with iTunes.

To get it to work with A+, the best is to share the folder containing the audio files.
So that you can access them from the new mini using the Finder.
Then you'll import them in iTunes (drag and drop).
Be sure to have deactivated the "organize files in library" and "copy files when importing" options in iTunes.

Damien

Trying out the new 1.3.9.2 version and so far no problems - just sounds amazing!

Did notice that we now have the file type and Kbps info in the display - do not think this was there in 1.3.9.1? Anyway, nice work Damien :-)

Originally Posted by damien78

Thank you all for your kind and useful feedbacks!

Here is the 1.3.9.2 update for the beta. It is not yet at production level (still some signal lock issues), though I'm progressing:

• Metric Halo, RME devices support (including Direct Mode for Metric Halo)
• Strengthened recovery from clicks
• Safety net to prevent most kernel panics
• Long playback sessions stability improvement

As the stability seems to be strongly dependent on the connected device, do not hesitate to continue your feedback, including sending "debug info" (to know more on your hardware), and bug reports by PM or email.

Damien

I see your new code re: sensing / preventing kernel panics:

6/3/12 5:50:10.799 PM Audirvana Plus: Strong issue, potential imminent kernel panic: abort playback immediately
6/3/12 5:50:44.029 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502: ([0x0-0x1c11c1].com.audirvana.Audirvana-Plus[2441]) Exited: Terminated: 15
6/3/12 5:50:47.591 PM com.apple.spindump: Audirvana Plus [2441] didn't gather enough samples to report (only 4 samples)

Originally Posted by ckpiv

Bob,

Looking at my debug information I show the exact same results. Not sure what that means though.

Chuck

Thanks for verifying the debug info Chuck, I'm not sure what the @ 0kHz means either I just wanted see if it was unique to my setup. Despite the new beta sounding great the 0kHz indication had me wondering if something was wrong with my configuration. I just started a listening session with 1.3.9.2 installed hopefully the audio dropout issue is a thing of the past, I'm really happy with the SQ Damien has achieved with these latest releases.

Thanks Damien .. SQ is superb & thus far no problems what so ever.

Damien,

Never Mind for now.

Dave