How do I switch off FLAC decoding on the UnitiServe?

Posted by: Jan-Erik Nordoen on 18 February 2014

Currently, recoding is set to "Native" under DTC, but the U/S still decodes FLAC files (which I thought it wouldn't do with this setting).

 

I would like to pass the FLAC files to the Naim DAC and have the DAC decode them... just to see if I can detect any difference between decoding on the U/S and on the DAC.

 

Thanks,

 

Jan  

Posted on: 18 February 2014 by Aleg

DAC doesn't decode flac, afaik.

only when fed from usb-stick.

 

So output over spdif can only be pcm

Posted on: 18 February 2014 by GraemeH

This might help?

 

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...l-it-play-flac-files

 

G

Posted on: 18 February 2014 by DavidDever
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:

Currently, recoding is set to "Native" under DTC, but the U/S still decodes FLAC files (which I thought it wouldn't do with this setting).

 

I would like to pass the FLAC files to the Naim DAC and have the DAC decode them... just to see if I can detect any difference between decoding on the U/S and on the DAC.

 

Thanks,

 

Jan  

The Naim DAC can only decode FLAC files when played (as a file) from a front-panel inserted, FAT-formatted thumbdrive.  The UnitiServe will always decode FLAC (or any other type of encoded file) to a PCM stream when played locally via the SPDIF output.

 

You could put the files onto similar thumbdrives (one on UnitiServe, one on DAC) if you wanted to perform a A-B comparison, but it is possible that you may have some issues as the sample rate / bit depth of the file increases, due to limitations in the USB bus speed on the DAC (or the thumbdrive flash memory controller itself).

Posted on: 18 February 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Thank you Dave, Graeme and Aleg.

 

Much appreciated.

 

Jan

Posted on: 18 February 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Indeed, SPDIF uses raw sample data within the SPDIF frames. WAV and FLAC need to be reframed or decoded respectively to be sent over SPDIF.

Simon

Posted on: 18 February 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Cheers Simon. All is now clear.