Can't play DSD on my NAD C658 with BluOS: 4.12.11

Answered

Hans Stad

• January 15, 2026 18:33

When I want to play DSD files on my NAD C658 eitj BluOS I get the message that the format is not supported but I can play the files on my Node. I thought that BluOS 4.12.11 is compatible with DSD (Sony DSF) files

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• Official comment

  

  Tony W.

  Product Support Manager

  • January 16, 2026 16:39

  Hi Hans

  DSD Playback is only available on certain models of BluOS Players, which not only include BluOS 4.12.11 but also DAC hardware capabilities. Please see this Help Centre Article for more details: https://support.bluos.net/hc/en-us/articles/360019447014
  
  That article also speaks to using the BluOS Desktop controller to perform a one-time conversion of DSD files to PCM without any quality degradation. This is what most DSD players do on the fly using DoP.
• 

  Hans Stad

  • January 16, 2026 18:45

  Hi Tony,

   

  Thanks for your reply, I have to correct you about DSD players. Most of the streamers/DAC do not use DoP for playing DSD. They play them as a 1bit datastream, there are even streamers/DAC who convert the stream to PCM for volume control and back to 1 Bit to the DAC.

  A 1 bit data stream through a DAC give a noticeable better sound quality then the PCM data stream.

  I own a Node with a Fiio K13 R2R DAC connected by USB and noticed that the NODE convert the stream to PCM using DoP before the stream is send to the USB port. This is not what you want and is undesirable.

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• 

  Tony W.

  Product Support Manager

  • January 16, 2026 19:06

  Hi Hans

  Give this a read; https://mqalabs.com/qrono/ then try the analog outputs of your NODE and then let your ears decide.
  
  You might also want to read the fine print on third party DAC.

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• 

  Hans Stad

  • January 18, 2026 14:01

  Sorry, you lost me completely.

  What has the document to do with using the internal DAC?

  Which fine print about the third party DAC? 

  To my personal opinion, the external DAC with a R2R ladder give a better quality in respect to position of instrument, depth of sound front and clarity of sound hearing then the internal DAC.

  I have listening for more then a year to the Blue Sound node and there was something missing, a more natural sound which I do hear from the R2R DAC.

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