Z9X 8K and multi-channel DSD64 or SACD ISO files

I bought a Z9X Pro in January, primarily for playback of locally stored digital music files. These are stereo and multi-channel FLAC (16-bit 44.1 kHz or 24-bit up to 192 kHz), DSD64 files and SACD ISO image files. The unit played everything in stereo like a champ, played multi-channel FLAC like a champ and choked on multi-channel DSD64 and SACD ISO files. By "choked", I mean, "sort of played them but stuttered and juddered like crazy". These are all files I can play on my Zapitti Neo and can play all but the SACD ISO files on my aged Popcorn Media A-500 or my aged Oppo BDP-103, though all have their own issues. The Zapitti insists on inserting short pauses (or "gaps") between songs, the BDP-103 gets warm and locks up after an hour or so and the A-500 has the worst user interface in the world. I was really hoping the Z9X Pro would do the job but it's lack of handling those multi-channel DSD64 and SACD ISO files was a dealbreaker for me and I sent it back.

Has anybody tried multi-channel DSD64 and SACD ISO files on this new Z9X 8K? What's the result?

I wrote Zidoo directly and rather than saying it could or could not play them, they wanted me to sent them test files. Don't they have test files in these formats themselves?

 

I can confirm that MCH DSD, DSF, and SACD ISO files work on the Z9x 8K. I had originally purchased a Z2000 Pro last year in large part due to the claim of playing such files. It seems the prior series played them fine but they still do not play in the Z9 Pro series for some unknown reason to date.

So I purchased a Z9 8X and tested all files in my collection. All play MCH with no issues albeit at PCM 176. I don't think passthrough is available unless you get the UHD 8000 version via the 2nd audio out.

I am very happy to finally have working MCH audio though. It sounds great to my ears. No stuttering or judder and it outputs in all 6 channels and not just the fronts like happened with the Z2000 on the most recent firmwares.

 

I can also confirm the play fine albeit converted to PCM if that matters to you. My Z2600 had problems with them.

 

Z9X also only ever plays dsd mch at 6ch 176khz

weve been reporting the z9x pro range issues with dsd mch ever since box was released
every f/w or so they state mch is working ,but it isnt best it has been able to do so far is output 6ch BUT only carry audio on FR FL
pretty sure they will never fix the pro range so i grabbed a z30 8k and it plays them as well as the Z9X range does

the pro range handles .dsf files much better than the iso files for mch ie iso tended to be staticy ,where the dsf version would play fine albe it in 2 ch audio only

if you want to play the sacd mch in full dsd format youll need to grab the 5000 8k version which has actual mch dsd over hdmi capabilities
or grab an eversolo a6 or a8

 

Or the UHD8000

 

eversolo a8 does NOT do multichannel

 

otherwise just grab a panasonic uhd player ie i got a ub420 and they play dsd mch fine over hdmi ,from the in built media player ( cheap 250 odd option )

 

It took a few weeks, but my Z9X 8K finally showed up. I need to do a LOT more testing, but it seems to play multichannel DSF and SACD ISO files just fine. Admittedly, it converts them to 176.4 kHz, 24-bit PCM, but that works for me as my A/V receiver doesn't do raw DSD64.

The music player UI seems better than just the normal File Manager approach so many players use, but it's a long cry from being as flexible as JRiver Media Center on Windows or as fast for selecting an individual artist, album or file as my old clickwheel-based iPods. I blame the remote controls. They just really aren't designed to handle scrolling through LARGE collections of files like a clickwheel or even a mouse and scrollbars. I guess I need to install and play with the phone-based app and see if I can scroll through more quickly with that.

Since the TV I've got in my home theater is OLED-based, I wish I had the option of turning off the screen during playback or having the displayed information NOT be in a fixed place on the screen. After enough hours of play, I'm afraid I will get burn-in (or, more accurately, "image retention") on the screen. EDIT: Just after posting this, I noticed that the Zidoo had swapped from the default "text and audio analyzer" display to a photograph. If they change photographs often enough (and especially if I can add more photos), my OLED TV is safe! Awesome!

Still, this is quite an impressive bit of kit for under $300 US! It just might make a Zidoo believer of me!

 

couple things

Have you tried a wireless mouse or even usb mouse keybd dongle ,to add the scroll wheel etc

Im same with oled too ,i usually just start the album ,or playlist folder ,then turn the TV off .Switch it back on when i need to change things .i might get round to using the app but it needs a qr code scan and i cant remeber where i placed the box atm
Theres a couple apps ppl use in the app store to add in more screen saver functionality like small films or pictures ,but i cant remember the names off hand someone might add them here or ask in a new thread for quicker replies

 

aerial views screensaver is a very good one.

 

ta ,i think that was one id seen lots say good things about ,on here

 

I just bought the z9x 8k player and still learn things about it, but already struggled to switch 2ch > 6ch layers in SACD ISO album – couldn't find a way to do it in the music player app UI and regular remote control. But, fortunately, I found a DSD2.0/5.1 button in the Zidoo remote mobile app. Does anyone know if it's possible to switch 2ch/6ch SACD layers with a regular remote control?

 

If you're wanting “Native DSD" 4.0/5.0/5.1 then you'll need the UHD8000 - other players may play but in PCM

 

No, I don't care about whether it's native DSD or a PCM conversion (my AV receiver's DACs convert DSD to PCM before converting to analog anyway). I'm just curious if there's a way to switch between 2ch and 6ch audio tracks on SACD ISO image from a regular remote control. In the attached screenshot of the mobile app remote control, I show a corresponding DSD 2.0/5.1 switching button. I would expect the same button to be in the music player on TV to be able to switch between 2.0/5.1 ch, or a dedicated button on a remote control

 

I haven't found a way to do it other than in the app. In the prior series you could switch in the Music Player settings but not on the remote itself. That function was removed from the 8K series and now it is only in the app. Multiple people have reported it so maybe it will come back in a future firmware.

 

Audio button on the standard remote switches 2ch to 6ch for me. Z2600