Innuos have released an i2s module for their “new generation” (NG) streamers/servers.
I purchased one and yesterday connected it up to my DirectStream mk1 DAC. DS is setup to play DSD Stereo. I play SACDs all the time via DMP. I can also play DSD over DOP via USB but I wanted to use the i2s input as everyone says the i2s is better than usb on mk1.
On the Innuos I selected “Native DSD” , playing a .dsf file (DSD64) and there is no sound through the stereo.
If I select DSD over DOP I get music and the DS says it’s playing 1bit file DSD64. (Same cable etc., still plugged into the same i2s input on DS).
Could this be a pinout issue for Innuos with the i2s???
Any help (or has anyone else got one of the new i2s modules from Innuos and could chime in) would be appreciated.
I have notified Innuos via their community forum and sent a note to the Australian distributor but I thought it cannot hurt to have a few more minds on the issue.
FWIW The first thing the DS does with DSD Native inputs is convert them to DoP, There’s no loss and DoP64 works with anything that can do at least 24/176.4 without mangling bits.
And importantly, there is zero difference in sound between Native and DOP. None. Nada. You are reaching for something that should not concern you in any way, shape, or form.
Carry on as you wish.
@tedsmith is the i2s input limited to DSD64 but the USB can do higher? I recall both having the same capability. I fear the USB may go higher. I don’t fear it much.
I think you are missing the point. Innuos charges $3K for this module and not having it work is at best a breach of trade, if it is something as simple as a pinout mixup then it’s hopefully easy to fix. If it’s not then I’m going to fight for my money back.
You seem incapable of understanding the point. I’m out. They will tell you that you need a different DAC. Follow them as you wish.
As the MK1 DAC converts Native to DOP, that device is useless with your DAC. If you had an MK2, there is no advantage of i2s over USB so again, that device would be useless.
Hi Ted,
Thanks for commenting and I appreciate the heads up on what the DS does internally but I’m trying to understand if Innuos has got the pin out mixed up on their i2s output could it result in the result I experienced,
i.e DS playing DSD over DOP but not playing DSD as native?
I don’t know enough about the i2s connection if that could happen?
Cheers
The most common problem with Native over I2S is that the left and right channels are swapped. If the device has configuration settings for the polarity of the I2S signals, you might try different combinations: with Native DSD the only polarity setting that might cause no sound is the clock polarity. It’s not common for the clock to be connected wrong, especially if everything else but Native DSD works. I don’t know anything about the Innuos device so I can’t guess any further.
does the PS DSD Mk1 have polarity settings that can be adjusted for each input? asking for a friend (who just got an hdmi → i2s box to go between an SACD capable blu ray player and the DAC)…
No, the later releases of the FPGA software for the Mk I supports DSD256 over I2S, which is better than USB can do. For USB to match I2S we’d need more complicated drivers for the USB source, e.g. USB Audio 3.0 (which, confusingly, only needs USB 2.0)
Just a note to let you know that Innuos will be including a fix to their kernel to allow NativeDSD to be played via i2s in their next FW update. @tedsmith I suspect your helpful comments assisted Innuos , thank you.
DSD download question: when I downloaded a DSD album bought from Qobuz to my Zen Mk3, it became ‘CD quality’ and sounds like it… does anyone know if it is possible to download and save DSD to an Innuos Zen Mk3 hard drive? Do I need to save it elsewhere, load it o to a USB and play it that way via the Mk3?
My Sony BluRay plays DSD from SACD through my PSA DS DAC
Yes you can download DSD from Octave Records (or any online store) and load to your Innuos. See screenshot from my Innuos. Log into Qobuz on your laptop, download the music in DSD (.dsf) and then copy to a usb stick (unpacking the download if the download is compressed). Import the music onto your Innuos via usb stick.
Set your Innuos to play DSD over PCM (it repackages the DSD file to “look like a PCM file” to the DAC. It is still DSD format).
