Ultrarendu problem with hi res files

[buddyev]

@jamesg11

 

Afternoon comrades,

 

i recently inserted an ultrarendu and Audivarna into my system. Until now I've been listening to Tidal and 16/44 ALAC ripped from my cds and it all sounds very good. 

I just tried upsampling but it locks at 44.

I then tried a higher res files - Flac 24/176 but will only go to 24/44.

Both dacs go to 192 but for some reason everything is currently limited to 44.

When i play through computers internal speakers audivarna is telling me it goes to 24/96, so I suspect the blockage is with the rendu.

 

System:

iMac with Audivarna+

Ultrarendu

JKenny Cuinas usb-spdif

Eastern Electric Minimax & Metrum Octave

 

Below is debug info from Audivarna.

 

Any ideas where the problem might be?

 

Russ

 

 

Audirvana Plus rev. 3.2.8 (3139) debug information:
running on Mac OS X 10.13.6 with 8192MB RAM

User preferences:
Remote control: IR: on, Media Keys: on (with volume control: on)

Playlists
    Use UTF-8 for all: on
    Start playback at launch with audio file: on

Volume knob control in rotation axis

Sample rate converter
    iZotope SRC with no forced upsampling
    Polarity inversion: global=off, per track=on

Volume control
    DAC only
    Max volume limit = 100.0%

AudioUnits not in use

SysOptimizer enabled:
    Priority: Extreme
    Spotlight: on
    TimeMachine: on
    iDevices USB: on

iTunes settings:
    iTunes integrated Mode: off
    Completely deactivate iTunes playback: on
    iTunes volume control: deactivated
    iTunes play position control: deactivated
    iTunes safe factor: 1

Library settings:
    Sync list : 1 folders
        Auto: /Users/russ/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/iTunes 1/iTunes Media/Music
    Database path: /Users/russ/Library/Application Support/Audirvana
    iTunes Synchronization: active, last sync done on 2018-07-25 02:17:51 +0000

Audio settings:
    Hog Mode: on
    Direct Mode: off
    Integer Mode: on    Mode 1
    Max Mem for audio buffers: 5120MB
    Max Sample rate limit: None
    Sample rate switching latency: None

CoreAudio audio path, buffer I/O frame size: 512

Preferred device: urendu62605    Model UID:25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay    UID:25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay

Active Sample Rate: 44.1kHz
Hog Mode is off
Selected device:
Local audio device
ID 0x45 urendu62605    Manufacturer:Apple, Inc.
Model UID:25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay    UID:25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay

1 available sample rates up to 44100Hz
44100

Audio buffer frame size : 14 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512
Physical (analog) volume control: Yes
Virtual (digital) volume control: Yes
Auto-detect MQA devices: No
Not a MQA device, user set to not MQA
DSD capability: Unhandled
0 Airplay connected device(s):
Preferred stereo channels L:1 R:2
Channel bitmap: Ox3, layout:
    Channel 0 mapped to 0
    Channel 1 mapped to 1
Number of channels: 2
Use as stereo device only: No
Simple stereo device: Yes

1 output streams:
Number of active channels: 2, in 1 stream(s)
    Channel #0 :Stream 0 channel 0
    Channel #1 :Stream 0 channel 1

Stream ID 0x46 2 channels starting at 1
1 virtual formats:
    2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian  Float 44.1kHz

1 physical formats
    2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz

Local devices found : 2
Device #0: ID 0x45 urendu62605    Manufacturer: Apple, Inc.    Model UID: 25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay    UID: 25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay
Device #1: ID 0x2d Built-in Output    Manufacturer: Apple Inc.    Model UID: AppleHDA:7    UID: AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0

UPnP devices found : 0

Edited August 12, 2018 by buddyev

[WorkinClassAudio]

Preferred device: urendu62605    Model UID:25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay    UID:25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay

Active Sample Rate: 44.1kHz

 

From my non expert view, I think you can only upsample if the DAC is an upsampling DAC.  Otherwise, it will only play at the native res.  If the file is 24/96 then it will play at that res.  

[davm]

I'm not sure how you've connected the iMac to the Ultrarendu. But what you should do is to connect the iMac USB to the USB input of the Ultrarendu (looking at photos it seems to have a USB input).

 

In the Audirvana preferences you should see the Ultrarendu as a DAC to choose from. Make sure you select this in Audirvana rather than the standard Mac OS output.

Edited August 11, 2018 by davm

[Mike13]

15 minutes ago, GroovyGuru said:

Preferred device: urendu62605    Model UID:25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay    UID:25:F0:20:37:83:2C-12542756217171-airplay

Active Sample Rate: 44.1kHz

 

From my non expert view, I think you can only upsample if the DAC is an upsampling DAC.  Otherwise, it will only play at the native res.  If the file is 24/96 then it will play at that res.  

Roon upsamples regardless of DAC. Tidal doesn’t. The DAC needs to be able to play at the upsamples rate and format. 

[WorkinClassAudio]

I have Roon.  It does not upsample.  There is a difference b/w what software will upsample and what a DAC will play.  The only DAC I've had which could upsample was in the Cary CD 801.  All other DACs played at native rez

 

OP is using Audivarna.  Not all Hirez files are at 24/96/192.  Some are at 24/44.  Check that the hirez file is not 24/44.  

[buddyev]

I have tried a Flac file which is 24/176 -  it will only go to 24/44 with dac. 

I’ve used 2 dacs - both capable of 192 - but for some reason everything is currently limited to 44 through the rendu. The point is it won’t even play native res -  It is downsampling everything. 

But when  i play through computers internal speakers audivarna is telling me it goes to 24/96, so I suspect the blockage is with the rendu. Some check box or other which I’ve missed.

Edited August 11, 2018 by buddyev

[sir sanders zingmore]

24 minutes ago, GroovyGuru said:

 

I have Roon.  It does not upsample

 

You can get Roon to upsample via the DSP engine

[davm]

Can you confirm that Ultrarendu is the selected audio device in Audirvana preferences:

1. Audirvana Preferences
2. Audio System Settings
3. You should see what the active audio device is. You can use the Change button to select your Ultrarendu if it isn't

Also, make sure you aren't forcing downsampling with Custom settings on the Audio Filters tab in the preferences (only visible when not playing music).

[WorkinClassAudio]

11 minutes ago, Sir Sanders Zingmore said:

You can get Roon to upsample via the DSP engine

Thanks.  I guess I've never looked at upsampling because experience has shown me that playing at native rez sounds better.  Getting back to OPs problem.  There is a similar problem posted at Computer audiophile.  I think he rebooted everything.  It was too involved for me to read  

 

[buddyev]

Yes, active audio device is ultra rendu.

beneath that are a line of figures

44  48. 88 96 176  193

But only the 44 is active for some reason

 

if I select ‘built in output’ - ie computers internal speakers I get 44 up to 96 active.

 

in audio filters I have no forced upsampling.

 

the thing is I have used the UR now for several weeks without a problem with cd rips at 16/44 - it’s only now I’ve discovered it won’t let me play  native higher res.

[davm]

Okay, did a bit more reading and reversing out of this. I assumed the ultrarendu is a DAC, but I don't think it is. I don't think i can help. Sorry

[buddyev]

Thanks . The rendu is a streamer but it does appear in audiovarna as the output device. Ive just started a thread on the Ultrarendu support thread on conputeraudiophile - I’ll update when I get it sorted.

[buddyev]

All sorted with help from a very helpful guy on computeraudiphile. I was still using the rendu through airplay.

Sounds absolutely brilliant now. 

 

Edited August 12, 2018 by buddyev