Thank you. Looks like he added the ‘renderer mode’ after I had first looked at VV..it won’t support my architecture, unfortunately. Sounds good on local files for sure.
Phil,
Your screenshot has the answer in it. Exclusive Mode is switched off, and that’s the whole story: DSD travels to your DirectStream wrapped inside a special carrier signal, and that carrier only survives if the bits arrive untouched. With Exclusive Mode off, the computer’s system mixer gets its hands on the audio first — and the moment it touches those bits, the carrier is destroyed and what reaches the DAC is exactly the hash you’re hearing.
On that same device page in your screenshot, turn Exclusive Mode on, then play your DSD64 again. It should snap into clean music. If anything odd remains after that switch, tell me and I’ll take the next look.
Thanks Paul! I’ll try tonight - off to work at my end of the world…
Has anyone had any experience using an M1T Silent Angel with Maestro? I’m considering using one with a pair of Kii Sevens in a secondary system. For these purposes, I could probably get by with a WiiM Pro but wanted to understand if anyone has been blown away by the Silent Angel such that I should consider paying 5x the WiiM price.
Don’t do it! A pair of Sevens and your phone and Qobuz is all that you need. No Kii Controller necessary either. If you already have the Wiim Pro that will be overkill.
For Maestro a laptop will do.
Thanks for the reply Al. The easy button would definitely be to simply use the native “Connect” capabilities of the Sevens with Qobuz and Tidal. That said, I seem to recall some folks saying Maestro sounds better than the various Connects.
To use Maestro, wouldn’t I need a renderer of some sort between the laptop and the Sevens? Something analogous to what the MU2 is doing with my Threes?
The Silent Angel option was thrown out there simply because it supports all that Maestro can throw at it (up to DSD256). I don’t have a lot of material of that sort but was curious if others had strong impressions on it one way or the other.
Laptop USB out to Sevens.
Hi @Paul
Unfortunately it didn’t work: “Exclusive mode isn’t available on this device - using shared output”.
Same Mac mini has BACCH and Roon.
Phil,
That message changes the suspect list, and the clue is what else lives on that Mac mini. “Isn’t available” at that moment means the DirectStream wouldn’t grant Maestro exclusive ownership — and BACCH in particular installs its own audio driver that sits between apps and the DAC, while Roon also likes to keep a hand on devices even when its window is closed. Any of that holding the DirectStream would produce exactly this refusal.
One clean test: fully quit both BACCH and Roon — including their background pieces (check the menu bar, and for Roon quit RoonServer if it runs separately) — make sure Maestro’s output is the DirectStream itself and not a BACCH device, then switch Exclusive Mode on again and try your DSD64.
If it locks in, you’ll know it by the sound snapping clean. If it still refuses with both apps fully out of the way, then the problem is on my side of the fence and I’ll take it from there — tell me either way.
Phil,
Your screenshot just solved it — look at the bottom of your own picture: “Playing on Primary Play Interface.” That’s the whole problem. Primary Play Interface isn’t your DirectStream — it’s one of BACCH’s virtual audio devices, and those stay installed on the Mac even when BACCH is fully quit (you can see its siblings further down your list: BFP&DAC, BlackHole, and friends). DSD’s special carrier cannot survive being routed through a virtual device, so what comes out the other end is precisely the scramble you’re hearing. It also explains yesterday’s “exclusive not available” message — exclusive ownership isn’t possible on a virtual interface, only on real hardware.
The fix is one click, in the exact panel your screenshot shows: at the very top of that zone list, under USB DAC, click the Directstream Mk2 itself, so the bar at the bottom changes to say “Playing on Directstream Mk2.” Then check that Exclusive Mode is on for the DirectStream’s own page, and play your DSD64.
That should be the moment it snaps into clean music — the bits finally traveling straight from Maestro to the DAC with nothing in between. Tell me what you hear.
Hi Paul,
Still getting “Exclusive mode isn’t available on this device”. When I click on the Directstream Mk2 the bar at the bottom doesn’t change. Under ‘System Audio’, I can only click ‘System Audio’, ‘Babyface Pro’ or ‘Primary Play Interface’ - no other options.
Thanks,
Phil
I made a mistake by upgrading to the newer version, and the re-scanning files started again. I turned Maestro off and will wait until the weekend to try it again.
Try using BabyFace Pro. That should work.
Hi Al, I can stream to BACCH from Maestro, no problem. I can also stream to the Directstream DAC but not with DSD files. I can stream DSD files to the Directstream Mk2 from Roon, if I send it to my Mano 2 streamer. I can’t seem to pick up the Mano 2 streamer from Maestro.
I don’t have too many DSD files so it’s not a deal breaker and I’ve got a lifetime Roon subscription so I’ll probably keep both.
Today I had a listen to Maestro, Minimserver and Jriver. All dlna (not usb, no transcoding, dsp). The results were interesting and more time is needed to confirm my feelings. Maestro controlled on the audio pc, the others using BubbleUPNP.
- Maestro was very clean and dynamic. As usual very nice.
- Jriver was a little more relaxed sounding, perhaps not quite as clean but a little more textured.
- Minimserver was very like Maestro in character but a bit distant, not quite as involving.
Depending on the track I preferred Maestro or Jriver. Minimserver just didn’t make the toes tap as much.
Because Bacch cannot play DSD I have Roon convert DSD to PCM. I don’t remember dealing with DSD via PSA DAC. I have a Ton of DSD. Hmmmm.
I like to listen in different ways. I enjoy BACCH very much but also enjoy listening via my Mano 2 which can handle DSD 64. I’m curious to hear DSD direct from Maestro to the Directstream Mk2. Definitely enjoying Maestro!
I used to listen to DSD256 on my Grimm MU2. Nothing I have ever heard on any gear sounded as pure or as convincing as that combo.
I wish in the near future that it will work with Presto Music, They have Stellar database in jazz and classic.
Just went a pass through an iPad direct the dac, And the sound is just amazing!
And I’m guessing they’re open to make a deal!
very simple application and they are very focused on the quality of the hiRez streaming