Zidoo Z9X issue with DSD or 176.4Khz FLAC files

[thesnodger]

Hi there,

I have had my Z9X for a couple of weeks now and mostly it's really good. The one issue I have is playback of DSD files (or 176.4Khz FLACs). I have my audio setup to play HDMI RAW and to output the same bitrate as the original in the settings.

If I try to play back either a native stereo DSD file or a 176.4Khz FLAC using MP6 from either my NAS or with a directly attached SSD I get some very odd playback behaviour. I get about 2 seconds of audio, followed by another 2 seconds of silence or low-level noise, then it just keeps on doing this throughout the track.
I at first thought it was because the device couldn't cope doing the DSD>PCM conversion on the fly but then I converted all my DSD files to stereo FLAC at 176.4Khz and the playback is exactly the same.
MCH DSD files do not play at all.

My reciever shows stereo 176.4 input when it is trying to play these files. I've tried changing HDMI cables and this has made no difference at all. I can play these files no issue using a PC and JRiver.

However if I play 24-bit 192Khz files they play absolutely fine.

Converted my DSD files to stereo 88.1Khz and multi-channel 88.1Khz FLACs and they all play fine.

Does the chipset have an inherint issue with 176.2Khz files or am I doing something wrong?

Does anybody know if this is an issue with the Dune players based on the same chipset or even other models in the Zidoo range?

Also, is there an offical feature request area? I'd really like to see MP support ATMOS and DTS-HD files ripped from blu-ray.

Looking forward to your feedback! Thanks.

[Nice Monkey]

Which FW version?

Never seen/heard that problem. Factory reset? DSD => PCM should now run at 24-bit. Does your AMP handle that? Tried my Z9X with FW 6.3.45 and that is playing just fine (ISO, DSF).

MCH DSD in any format is not supported and is on my list of errors as it just skips those files without giving an error.

[thesnodger]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm using FW 6.3.45, have already done a factory reset and I get the exact same behaviour.

Could any of the video settings have an effect on the DSD output?

My AMP is a NAD M17v2 so it does all of the current audio formats up to 192Kz/24-bit and HDCP 2.2 4:4:4 colour etc. As I say if I do 176.4/24 DSD>PCM via JRiver (PC) it plays just fine.

If I was to do another factory reset, which should be the ONLY settings that I need to change to confirm the issue?

• HDMI>RAW
• Samplerate>Same as Input

Would there be anything else to look at?

Thanks

[Nice Monkey]

That test would be fine.

Very strange problem.