Right. I’m using DSP to upsample to DSD256. That’s not my problem. But while Roon shows the source as PCM the dac seems to be receiving DoP. I want to make sure the dac is receiving PCM when I play PCM files.
Green light comes without DSP, and that’s how to get Ted’s work to your ears. Try it!
Based on what’s happening and your descriptions/image. Roon is saying PCM as that is the format IT is grabbing a PCM file (prior to conversion). Matrix LED is blue when playing because Roon is upconverting EVERYTHING to DSD before sending it out.
Is this what you want, or do you want to send PCM as PCM and DSD as DSD?
Note - I’m not a Roon user (I’m too cheap).
1 Like
It looks like the only way to send PCM as PCM and DSD as DSD is to turn off DSP. But since I kind of prefer the sound quality with Roon upsampling to DSD256 I’ll stick with that for now.
Thanks everyone.
Although I’m not a Roon user, my understanding is that it’s quite powerful when it comes to “rules.” Are you able to set up rules such that PCM remains unconverted and only DSD is upsampled to 256?
Realistically, I would PERSONALLY not convert/upconvert anything, since the DS upconverts EVERYTHING (no matter what format) to 20x DSD, so it’s upconverting an upconverted file that would be upconverted even if you didn’t upconvert the file…so to speak…
1 Like
I get it. But I like the way it sounds upconverted in Roon. And yes in Roon you can choose which format and sample rate you want to upconvert.
There is no reason to use DoP unless some device in your setup requires it. The DirectStream DAC and the Matrix do not. All it does is add overhead…
1 Like
Is anyone using the Matrix X-SPDIF II with a Denafrips Pontus or Venus? If so what i2s setting are you using on the DAC?
Folks,
For those who use the Windows USB driver to feed their X-SPDIF 2, I just noticed that Matrix Audio released a new version 5.27.0 in October 2021. Looking at the change log it appears to be just a minor update for Windows 11. I’ve installed it and done some rudimentary checks. DSD and FLAC (PCM) files seem to play fine. Some observations.
-
You may need to restart Windows during the update if, like me, you had a previous version installed
-
You may need to adjust the playback resolution in the ‘Sound’ properties for the ‘device’. Mine was set to the maximum (24/384) which, if memory serves, is too high for the DSDAC. The next lower one (24/352.8) works fine. As an aside, being ‘old school’ I use the Control Panel applet mmsys.cpl (Windows key + ‘R’, ‘mmsys.cpl’), ‘Advanced’ tab, ‘Default Format’ combo box list. Next to last entry.
Apologies if you have zero interest in this aspect of X-SPDIF operations. 
As you were.
2 Likes
I reiterate Nimitz’s comments, my experience with Brad was highly positive, it was always shown with the shipment of the product that was done quickly, even opening the recovery at Fedex for the delay (which had been 14 days) I received the cable week Last night, I’m in Brazil. I was able to listen for a few minutes but at first the cable brought a consistent upgrade!
1 Like
Have you gotten the Denafrips Iris to connect to a DS or do you know of anyone that has? I have one that’s two months old sitting on my shelf with a Matrix due to be delivered in a couple of days. Thanks.
1 Like
Iris will not work with the DS. You need the Hermes or above. I use the Hermes with the DS.
1 Like
Thanks
I joined the club and just installed the Matrix this evening. No fancy cables but the first thing I noticed was depth and presense. I have it between my Aurender N100H 4GB and my DS Sr. I also stream Tidal through my Aurender.
13 Likes
Are you running I2S to your DS? It is similar to what I was doing when I first started. Only I fell into the rabbit hole of better cables and LPS’s. But I would do it all over again in a heartbeat because I just couldn’t go back after the phenomenal improvement I heard from these upgrades.
Here is a picture of the Aurender I started out with.
2 Likes
Yes, running i2s and have the Aurender sending DSD native. I can’t describe a lot of the audiophile terms I hear in the forums but I noticed depth and presence almost right away. I am beginning to understand what they mean when they talk about making your speakers disappear or how your subwoofer should never be heard.
I also stream Tidal through the Aurender and that sounds amazing too. I have been a SiriusXM customer since 2004 but since I don’t drive as much now, I am going to cancel that and commit to Tidal.
You have some very nice equipment there!
4 Likes
LPS update:
Before I spent big bucks for a LPS for my Matrix X-SPIDIF-2 I decided to give this $75 Chinese unit a try. It can be found here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353227329426
I was able to adjust the output to 6.28 vdc using the precision pot on the back of the unit. I was concerned about transients getting introduced into the output so I set my Hewlett Packard 8591E spectrum analyzer up for a few tests.
After calibrating the analyzer, I set my scan start range to 10kHz and a stop frequency of 44kHz. My noise floor was -76dBm and if my equipment wasn’t so old, it would likely be lower. I have a marker set it the middle if my sweep as seen in the picture below. LPS has not been connected yet
Although my SA will take up to 25vdc input, I was only interested in transients so I inserted a 50 ohm DC blocking capacitor into the input followed by my bannana plugs and the power cable to the Matrix.
As you can see from the next picture, my noise floor only increased to -74.66 dBm but only at 15.k kHz. The next picture shows a marker at that spot so so far, I am quite pleased with how clean this unit is for the price.
Here are a few other pictures showing the setup and appearance. The back has two USB connectors and a barrel connector for power out. The cable that came with the unit plugged directly into the barrel connector on the back of the Matrix.
The red voltage display LED on the front of the unit is quite bright. I didn’t want to stare at it so I have since tucked the entire unit into the back of my cabinet.
4 Likes
so how did it sound?
Sounded great Brian, big difference in the clarity and gain. I think I was stretching it trying to run the Matrix off the USB power.
1 Like
An early review of the Matrix, that contained many oscilloscope pictures, found that using an external power supply with the Matrix actually made it noisier. The reviewer was certain he got a clear picture. I pay no attention to his findings but they were interesting.
3 Likes