Aesthetix Romulus/Pandora--DSF playback on spdif inputs (via DoP)?

[Audioclyde]

Just checking if anyone that has either the Romulus or Pandora Signature (with DSD playback capability), and has successfully been able to play DSD files feeding the spdif inputs (via DoP of course)?

My Audiobyte Hydra X and Romulus Signature are not playing well together. With JRiver set to bitstream DSD via DoP, when a DSD file is selected for playback: the DSD light on the Hydra does not light up, I get no sound, and the front panel readout on the DAC says 176.4....

Interestingly, if I set JRiver to convert DSD files to pcm (doesn't matter what sample rate, 176 or 192), again I get no sound and the DAC's readout again says 176.4. Prior to sending the Romulus to Aesthetix for the Signature upgrade, such setup worked fine, I could have JRiver convert the DSD files to pcm and playback on the Romulus was fine...


I've also tried Audirvana as the playback software, and get the exact same results as above.

The Romulus plays DSD files perfectly via its USB input, but I'd like to at least be able to try the other setup..

Any thoughts will be most appreciated!

Randy

 

[Jeffy]

Randy I have a Romulus Signature and I can't get DSD to work using USB input. I get the music with noise in the background. I am using audirvana plus on a MAC computer. Jeff

 

[Audioclyde]

Jeff, my Romulus Sig works fine playing DSD on its USB input, using either Audirvana, JRiver for Mac or JRiver on my bootcamped Windows partition. But your experience does make me wonder if the DAC isn't the culprit in my situation rather than my USB converter.....

Best of luck,

Randy

 

[Jeffy]

Randy do you hear any difference in sound between Audirvana and JRiver and if so what are they and what do you like?

 

[Audioclyde]

Jeff,

On the Mac partition, I have a very slight preference for Audirvana as far as SQ; it's hard to describe but to me it is just a bit more musical/natural sounding. I do prefer the ease of use of JRiver, especially with the JRemote App on my iPad.

That being said, I much prefer playback from a sound quality standpoint by using my bootcamp partition, where I have Windows Server 2012 Essentials as the OS, and use the Audiophile Optimizer software and JRiver for playback. Everything sounds better across the board, blacker background, even less digital sounding/more natural, with a somewhat better detailed yet very natural sweet sound....

Hope my feeble descriptions help in some way.

Best,

Randy