Dropout issue Roon Rock / Altair [Resolved - replaced switch]

Michael_Kletzin · March 10, 2018, 9:01am

@support
Hello Support Team,

I am facing some dropout issues in my environment. My environment looks like this:

Roon Rock 1.3 / 306 installed on a i5 NUC with 8GB RAM / 128 GB NVME SSSD / 2TB internal HDD / about 1500 albums
Roon endpoint is an Auralic Altair
Both devices are connected via Ethernet / between them is a Netgear Gigabit switch

I upsample PCM to 352,8 / 384kHz and DSD to DSD256. Also I use an EQ.

Today I had again a dropout. In my configuration it means that the music stops playing. The Roon Core cannot see the Altair anymore. After restarting streaming engine of the Altair I can continue listening music.

Please find attached screenshot of the signal path:

My settings:

At moment I have no idea where the issue may be located. In the core, the network or at the endpoint.

I checked the RoonServer_log.txt and found this:

--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = Enhanced
Elements:
    Source Format=Alac 44100/16/2 BitRate=717 Quality=Lossless
    UpgradeBitDepth FromBitsPerSample=16 ToBitsPerSample=64 Quality=Lossless
    VolumeNormaliation GainDb=-3.37466040174061 Quality=Enhanced
    CrossFade Milliseconds=6000 Quality=Enhanced
    HeadroomGain GainDb=-3 Quality=Enhanced
    SampleRateConversion FromSampleRate=44100 ToSampleRate=352800 Algorithm=HighQuality Quality=Enhanced
    ParametricEQ
    Truncate FromBitsPerSample=64 ToBitsPerSample=32 Quality=Lossless
    Raat Device=AURALiC ALTAIR
    Output OutputType=Local_Analog Quality=Lossless SubType= Model=
------------------------------------------------------------
03/10 08:30:01 Debug: Lastfm 'mK-6eOyNXPAfyOSI6ePI5wsOsiD9y8o7' DONE: Herman's Hermits - Silhouettes 
03/10 08:30:01 Info: [zone Wohnzimmer (Altair)] OnPlayFeedback OnToNext
03/10 08:30:01 Debug: [zone Wohnzimmer (Altair)] _Advance
03/10 08:30:01 Info: [library] recorded play for profile d72de5cf-475e-420d-9fb5-6bd923602cb2: mediaid=50:1:3a860830-27ca-4394-944b-bdf32186d6ec metadataid=123:0:MT0012262561 contentid= libraryid=50:1:3a860830-27ca-4394-944b-bdf32186d6ec
03/10 08:30:01 Trace: [library] finished with 18 dirty tracks 1 dirty albums 28 dirty performers 18 dirty works 18 dirty performances 0 clumping tracks, 0 clumping auxfiles 0 compute tracks, 0 deleted tracks, 0 tracks to (re)load, 0 tracks to retain, 0 auxfiles to (re)load, 0 auxfiles to retain, and 66 changed objects
03/10 08:30:01 Debug: [library/index] updating search indices: 8 ops 0 adds, 0 removes
03/10 08:30:01 Info: [zone Wohnzimmer (Altair)] OnPlayFeedback Playing
03/10 08:30:01 Debug: Lastfm 'mK-6eOyNXPAfyOSI6ePI5wsOsiD9y8o7' START: Herman's Hermits - (What A) Wonderful World 
03/10 08:30:01 Info: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [zoneplayer] Queueing: /roon/sys/storage/mounts/InternalStorage/Music/Herman_s Hermits/Original Hits/09 There's a Kind of Hush.m4a
03/10 08:30:01 Info: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [zoneplayer] Open result (Queueing): Result[Status=Success]
03/10 08:30:01 Trace: [prebuffer] ready 149940/441000 (34%) @ 0/155 sec
03/10 08:30:02 Info: [stats] 2704mb Virtual, 550mb Physical, 212mb Managed, 0 Handles, 37 Threads
03/10 08:30:05 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:04/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:08 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [zoneplayer/raat] sync AURALiC ALTAIR: realtime=672765345158 rtt=666us offset=-23568654us delta=-57us drift=7621us in 672.672s (11.330ppm, 40.789ms/hr)
03/10 08:30:11 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:09/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:16 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:15/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:17 Info: [stats] 2704mb Virtual, 550mb Physical, 212mb Managed, 0 Handles, 37 Threads
03/10 08:30:21 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:20/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:27 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:26/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:32 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:31/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:33 Info: [stats] 2704mb Virtual, 550mb Physical, 216mb Managed, 0 Handles, 37 Threads
03/10 08:30:38 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:36/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:39 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [zoneplayer/raat] sync AURALiC ALTAIR: realtime=703175741505 rtt=333us offset=-23568258us delta=6us drift=8017us in 703.0825s (11.404ppm, 41.054ms/hr)
03/10 08:30:43 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:42/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:48 Info: [stats] 2704mb Virtual, 550mb Physical, 216mb Managed, 0 Handles, 37 Threads
03/10 08:30:48 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:47/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:53 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:53/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:30:58 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:58/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:31:03 Info: [stats] 2704mb Virtual, 550mb Physical, 216mb Managed, 0 Handles, 37 Threads
03/10 08:31:04 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 1:03/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:31:09 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 1:08/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:31:09 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [zoneplayer/raat] sync AURALiC ALTAIR: realtime=733764086203 rtt=333us offset=-23566913us delta=1130us drift=9362us in 733.6695s (12.761ppm, 45.941ms/hr)
03/10 08:31:14 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 1:13/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:31:18 Info: [stats] 2704mb Virtual, 550mb Physical, 216mb Managed, 0 Handles, 37 Threads
03/10 08:31:19 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 1:18/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:31:24 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 1:23/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:31:30 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [Enhanced 10.8x, 16/44 ALAC => 32/352] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 1:29/1:59] (What A) Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits
03/10 08:31:33 Info: [stats] 2708mb Virtual, 554mb Physical, 190mb Managed, 0 Handles, 37 Threads
03/10 08:31:34 Debug: [raat/tcpaudiosource] disconnecting
03/10 08:31:34 Warn: [raat/tcpaudiosource] send failed: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
03/10 08:31:34 Warn: [raat/tcpaudiosource] disconnecting + retrying
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":60489,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":176400,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":176400,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":176400,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":176400,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":176400,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":183456,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":176400,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":176400,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":176400,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"samples":176400,"status":"Dropout"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] [raatclient] GOT [15] {"status":"Ended"}
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [raat] [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] => Disconnected
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [raat] [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] lost client connection. Retrying
03/10 08:31:34 Warn: [zoneplayer/raat] Error during streaming: System.Exception: serverside buffer overrun
  at Sooloos.Broker.Transport.RaatTcpAudioSource.SendFrames (System.Net.IPEndPoint ep, System.Int32 stream_id, System.Int64 streamsample, System.Double buffersize, Sooloos.Audio.StreamFormat format, System.Double gain, System.Double peak, System.Byte[] buf, System.Int32 nsamples) [0x0060d] in /home/roon/roon/Broker/Core/transport/transport_raat_client.cs:1646 
  at Sooloos.Broker.Transport.RaatZonePlayer+<>c__DisplayClass31_0.<_StartStream4>b__1 () [0x004a8] in /home/roon/roon/Broker/Core/transport/transport_backend_raat.cs:829 
03/10 08:31:34 Warn: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [zoneplayer/raat] Too many dropouts (>3s dropped out in the last 30s). Killing stream
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [push] restarting connection (Unable to read data from the transport connection: interrupted.)
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [Wohnzimmer (Altair)] [zoneplayer/raat] too many dropouts. stopping stream
03/10 08:31:34 Trace: [raat] [AURALiC ALTAIR @ 192.168.178.32:59567] connecting (attempt 1)
03/10 08:31:34 Info: [transport] destroyed zone Wohnzimmer (Altair) was playing? True

Thanks for support

Michael

Mike_Pinkerton · March 11, 2018, 9:12pm

I had similar issues with my Altair where the streaming module on the Altair would effectively crash and have to be restarted. I returned my unit on the request of their customer service. You should reach out to them about it.

Michael_Kletzin · March 12, 2018, 7:16am

Hi Mike,

many thanks for your reply. Ok, I will contact Auralic.

Were Auralic able to help in your case? Did they provide a working device?

Thanks

Michael

Mike_Pinkerton · March 13, 2018, 10:28pm

No, they didn’t even try to provide me a working device. They said “Auralic products aren’t for everyone” and instructed me to return the device for a refund, which I did.

-mike

eric · March 14, 2018, 3:30pm

@Mike_Pinkerton ---- That sounds like a really bad customer support experience Sorry to hear that, but thank you for the insight.

@Michael_Kletzin ---- Before you travel down the same path I would like to see if we can try to isolate some variables here in regard to this behavior you’re experiencing with the Altair. May I very kindly ask you for the following feedback:

If you use the Lightning DS control App what is the experience like with the Altair outside of Roon?
If you have any other network based endpoints how have they been performing?
If you disable the DSP engine completely (no upsampling, no EQ corrections) do you still get dropouts with the Altair?
While it may seem a touch elementary does rebooting your core machine along with any relevant networking hardware (i.e router, switches, powerline adaptors, etc) yield a change in behavior with the Altair? How about toggling Roon “On and off” in the Lightning DS control App?

-Eric

Michael_Kletzin · March 20, 2018, 9:22pm

Hi Eric,

I replaced my switch with a new one. The issue has not occurred again.

Thanks

Michael

eric · March 21, 2018, 7:04pm

Thank you for the follow up @Michael_Kletzin, very appreciated! Glad to hear the new switch has yielded a positive result thus far.

I wanted to touch base and see how things were holding up before I close this support thread out and also ask you what was the exact model of the old switch that you were using ( i.e Netgear Gigabit switch), and what you ended up replacing it with.

-Eric

Michael_Kletzin · March 30, 2018, 10:03am

Hi Eric,

after 10 more days the Altair is still working without dropouts. So replacing the switch was the solution.

old switch: Netgear GS108E-100PES ProSafe Plus 8-Port GigaBit Switch
new switch: NETGEAR ProSAFE GS108T-200GES (8-Port Gigabit Smart Managed Switch 8 x 10/100/1000 - desktop)

The old switch is still in my network. But it is not between the Rock Server and the Altair anymore.

Best regards

Michael

eric · March 30, 2018, 12:51pm

Thank you for the follow up @Michael_Kletzin, glad to hear things have been stable since introducing the new switch into the chain of communication.

Happy listening!
-Eric

system · July 24, 2018, 2:29pm

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