DSP volumes causes flickering sound distortion

[Gareth_Irwin]

Roon Core Machine

runs in docker on server, lots of ram etc

Networking Gear & Setup Details

All unifi all wired throughout

Connected Audio Devices

Issue device is a pioneer cinema receiver and roon rock install on an i5 motherboard, 8 gigs ram

Number of Tracks in Library

50k

Description of Issue

Its most odd. I am trying to sort out a solution for the kitchen so have speakers there and am able to use a zone out on the pioneer to power them. The pioneer has a USB input and DAC and sure enough when I hook the pc running rock to it, it shows up fine in roon and can be selected.

Music plays from the device. But behinf the music is like a flutters clicking distortion sound. It gets louder with the volume and remains on when there is no music.

but only if I have DSP volume enables (getting to the volume control on the pioneer is a pain).

If I set it to fixed or device volume then its perfect.

I have only seen this issue here now, never before and wondered if there is anything to try?

[ged_hickman1]

Post your signal path and the settings for the DAC.

[Gareth_Irwin]

I dont know that there are any settings for the dac part of the receiever.

[ged_hickman1]

If you go to settings audio and the click on the cog next to the pioneer

[Gareth_Irwin]

Oh sorry ok,

[ged_hickman1]

I’d take off mqa renderer.

[AceRimmer (Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!)]

Maybe try anything but DSP volume too under volume control.
Fixed or device for a text.

[Gareth_Irwin]

Well as stated in the first post fixed or device volume is perfect

But that of course means I have no way to control volume.

[AceRimmer (Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!)]

Oh shoot…my bad.
I didn’t read that doh!

Some settings in the pioneer itself maybe then ?
Are there any relevant in it’s menus?

[Gareth_Irwin]

I cannot find anyway to access usb dac functions. I think it is what it is, but cannot imagine what I would change to stop this behaviour. I will try turning off MQA

[AceRimmer (Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!)]

A lot of users connect to AVR units using HDMI.
I don’t suppose the core machine has that option?

[Gareth_Irwin]

Give that man a cigar!

(Well at least its not doing it now)