Thanks Confused for the input. I have a similar setup and similar conclusions. I have a SOtM SMS-200 Ultra, not the Microrendu, but then it goes into the Mutec just like in your system. I also tried DSD upsampling and converted back to PCM by the Mutec and got exactly the same conclusion as you so I will not repeat it. I have everything converted to 192kHz PCM, though by HQ Player and that is reclocked by the Mutec, so Devialet always sees 192kHz.
As an experiment, I also tried to remove the Mutec and use the SMS-200 Ultra straight to USB on the Devialet. I thought that since the 'ultra' has a good clock already and if I use DSD64 material only, I might get a better result straight into the Devialet. I did not. Everything sounded better through the Mutec, even native DSD converted to PCM.
I have not yet tried the new Roon via ethernet but my current chain is considerably better sounding than the AIR 3 with HQ player or JRiver (both working more or less flawlessly for me) I don't expect to go back to ethernet streaming. I wish I was wrong... But it may well be that will sound better on DSD64 materials.
I think next thing I need to try, apart from Roon/ethernet is a clocked switch and/or the new JPlay ethernet card. Possibly a Mutec Ref10 clock but that is a much bigger investment.
On the filters, I know that a lot of people dig the poly-sync-ext but I prefer the poly-sync-shrt. More details and life-like sound to my ears and also to my audiophile friend's ears who I made to listen to both the other day without me saying what I changed. Since he doesn't use HQPlayer, he had no clue anyway. To be honest, that is an area where I still need a lot more testing and retesting, just too many combinations in HQ Player.
Zoltan
As an experiment, I also tried to remove the Mutec and use the SMS-200 Ultra straight to USB on the Devialet. I thought that since the 'ultra' has a good clock already and if I use DSD64 material only, I might get a better result straight into the Devialet. I did not. Everything sounded better through the Mutec, even native DSD converted to PCM.
I have not yet tried the new Roon via ethernet but my current chain is considerably better sounding than the AIR 3 with HQ player or JRiver (both working more or less flawlessly for me) I don't expect to go back to ethernet streaming. I wish I was wrong... But it may well be that will sound better on DSD64 materials.
I think next thing I need to try, apart from Roon/ethernet is a clocked switch and/or the new JPlay ethernet card. Possibly a Mutec Ref10 clock but that is a much bigger investment.
On the filters, I know that a lot of people dig the poly-sync-ext but I prefer the poly-sync-shrt. More details and life-like sound to my ears and also to my audiophile friend's ears who I made to listen to both the other day without me saying what I changed. Since he doesn't use HQPlayer, he had no clue anyway. To be honest, that is an area where I still need a lot more testing and retesting, just too many combinations in HQ Player.
Zoltan
Win10/HQPlayer / Roon - Uptone Audio Etherregen switch / SOtM-SMS-200 ultra with clock input - Mutec REF 10 clock for the switch and the streamer - Denafrips GAIA DCC - Devialet D800 - YG Acoustics Carmel - Dual Elac SUB-2090
power supplies: Uptone JS-2, SOtM SPS-500