Jonathan yes I am playing DSD 256 perfectly.
I have both i2S and pro usb connected to the rs130 since it is easy to switch. I am hearing much better resolution using the i2S input. Are my ears betraying me?
With both connected, I would expect them to be the same. With the HDMI cable removed I would expect the ProUSB/ProISL to be better due to the isolation. The ProUSB is also clock synchronous so this should be an added improvement.
However, you can listen to whatever method sounds better in your system! Both connections are bit-perfect and the data is going into the same buffer.
Hi Jonathan,
Followup to my replies. I brought the Matrix streamer to a friend with MSB reference. He recently got the i2s module.
We select and use type A. Using the only i2s out from the matrix MS-1 we only managed 2x DSD. Rather disappointing. Since it upsample almost every track on Tidal. On its own it can playback up to 4x DSD using its own AKM chip. Sadly over the I2S output MSB will not show anything. 2x DSD is the limit.
1 question i would like to ask here, can the MSB Discrete Dac handle 4x 8x DSD? Say we playback dsf native file 512 or 1024?
@DJQ The universal I2S input; each mode has different limitations. If the source the input was designed for only supports 2xDSD, we limit the module to 2xDSD. It does work at 4x and 8x DSD as I just recently tested it with the new Aurender N50. The I2S A mode is limited as it’s source was limited.
Since I haven’t gotten this steamer, it’s not in the list. You might have better luck setting it to HiFi Rose and/or another product. Just see if you can configure its output to match. If I get one here, I can test for it and put it in the list.
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@Jonathan_Gullman so what is your opinion on the N50 paired with a Cascade, noticible difference vs the N30 or N20?
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To be honest I haven’t A/B the two units. I’ve only been doing engineering work with the N50.
fair so the logical next question is N50 vs Renderer v2?
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Vince is coming to MSB HQ next week. I think he may be bringing along some Aurender Gear to A/B with the new N50. If we do some listening, I will post it hear.
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@Daniel_Francis can you please test the native streaming capabilities compared to roon compared to the renderer, I got a SW update from Bluesound to address the volume mismatch so now the Renderer is 50-75% there 
All that is missing is a Tidal connect capability and I could say hmmm
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I hope you compare the USB and the I2S outputs of the N50. Curious what you guys hear in comparison.
@MSB-NC I second that, I really want to know N50 vs N20 and the main difference is native fiber vs usb to fiber
I bought a Project RS2T CD player. I connect the i2S out from the Project CD player my Cascade DD i2S module. None of the preset on the I2S module is compatible with Project CD player. No audio signal is received by Cascade DD when I cycle through Antepode, PS Audio, HifiRose and Innous settings on the Cascade… Anyone manage to get Project RS2T i2S out recognised by MSB?
A quick search of their manual, it looks like they made this a closed connection for their own eco system. The I2S pinout has no standard and it seems every manufacturer has done something different.
@Jonathan_Gullman may I know which mode of MSB I2S input has least limitations?
I am asking this because I am going to connect Eversolo T8 to my Discrete via I2S, and Eversolo T8’s I2S output has 8 different modes, so I believe it can actually mimic various brands’ I2S outputs. If possible, I would like to choose the mode with least limitations on Discrete side, and let the Eversolo T8 to match Discrete’s setting.
Thanks!
Your best bet is to probably pick PS Audio (if it truly will copy the pinout and settings pins), Aurender, Antipodes, or HiFi Rose. The problem is each of these interfaces is different, so it’s really going to be trial and error. The modes are more than just the data pins; they are also control lines to indicate DSD if you are playing DSD. So it can’t just “copy” some of the pins; it has to copy all the pins and their modes.
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Thanks Jonathan.
I ‘ve picked the PS Audio mode and it works.
Posting the following example to help understand the challenges of making I2S connections fully compatible between DACs and CD/SACD transports.
I was curious whether the PS Audio transport’s I2S output would connect with the Topping D90 MQA DAC to work seamlessly. The diagram below is quite complicated, but I was trying to find a particular pin assignment setting in the Topping DAC which would enable automatic playback of PCM and SACD.
Note the bottom L section of the page - one column is for PCM playback, the opposite column is for DSD playback. “Check” indicates compatibility, “X” indicates no sound.
Unfortunately, there were no settings on the Topping DAC compatible for both PCM and DSD playback on the PS Audio SACD transport. Such is the complexity and randomness of the pin assignments, because there is no industry standard.
BTW, I’m an owner of the MSB Cascade DAC (and soon, the Sentinel DAC, for which I will be connecting the PS Audio PGM Signature SACD transport). Thankfully, compatibility between the PS Audio SACD transport and MSB’s I2S input module is assured, so I’ll have no problems with the future playback of both PCM and DSD!
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I don’t think you can make it work with DSD as the PS Audio won’t output the DSD unless told to do so by the DAC.
Have been playing music with I2S in these few days, and found that it is not performing better than AES / EBU. Sound seems less dynamic, and muddy in mid-low range.
Perhaps I should let it burn-in for some more time? (It has run for about 48 hours now)
Or should I use a better HDMI cable? (it is kordz LUX now)
Has anyone been successful connecting an OPPO 95 or 105 using the i2s? If not, is there a starting point or any insight to guide experimentation?