Does the issue happen with local library music, streaming service music, or both?
· *Only streaming* music is affected.
Please select the streaming service(s) with which you're encountering playback problems.
· TIDAL, Qobuz
Have you tried logging out and back in again to your streaming service in Roon Settings?
· Logging out and back in had no impact, the issue remains
Do you have an approximate timestamp of when the issue last occurred?
· 6:58PM ET Today, Shabaka - Possession - I've Been Listening - TIDAL FLAC 96kH 24bit, but all tracks on all playback
What are the make and model of the affected audio device(s) and the connection type?
· Lumin D2, latest firmware
Describe the issue
Playback error "TIDAL media is loading slowly. This may indicate a networking or connectivity problem." Same for QOBUZ.
Roon Core Roon Server (latest version, build 1496) Mac Mini M1 2020 16GB RAM, hardwired ethernet. Verizon Fiber connection, via Unifi Network hardware. 1gb up/down. Lumin D2 Streaming DAC, latest firmware. Hardwired ethernet.
I used to only have this issue sporadically with Qobuz but now it is happening for both Tidal and Qobuz. I cannot play a single track in its entirety without playback freezing with error message and then skipping to next track.
Just started happening. Nothing in my setup has changed. Thanks for any assistance.
Describe your network setup
Hardwired Ethernet, Verizon fiber 1Gb, Verizon ONT Unifi USW Pro Switch, Unify UDM Pro Router
Thanks so much Peter. I reset the DNS to the Google DNS as suggested. Unfortunately, that did not seem to solve the issue I played the 44/16 version of the tracks via Tidal and they seemed to play OK. When this happened before it was with the Qobuz 96/24 files. Once Tidal abandoned MQA and went 96/24 FLAC as well, the freeze happens now with both Tidal and Qobuz higher res files. When I play the Tidal 96/24 on the Mac Mini Roon Server (USB out to a MyAmp) it plays fine. The issue only seems to be playing to the Lumin in my main living room system. Some more screen shots attached.
Thanks for reaching out. Since the issue only happens with the Lumin endpoint, I would focus more on this specific connection.
Are you able to temporarily connect the Lumin to an Unmanaged switch as a test? Managed switches have caused issues in the past and it would be good to eliminate this as a potential source of the issue.
Hiya Noris, Thanks so much for reaching out! Apologies for the delayed reply. It would require some significant effort to pull the Lumin out of the managed network as my entire home is wired through the switch. I’ll explore this recommendation further and open a new thread if I have any further findings, since I know this one will close after 14 days.
Unfortunately, I am still dealing with the issue and have resorted to playing the 44/16 versions of tracks where available. Those files still play through the entire track without skipping but the 96/24 files will not play at all. MQA files from Tidal used to be fine and I used to only have this issue with 96/24 files from Qobuz, so I had a fallback for “hi res” but now that Tidal is FLAC as well this happens with both services.
It’s a bummer I will try this network jump (time to make a really long CAT-6 cable), but honestly, it does really feel like a “Roon-specific” issue with your architecture and NOT my hardware/network. Using Lumin’s horrendous native app I can play Tidal and Qobuz 96/24 files with zero issues via the same device connected to the same network switch. I just would rather use Roon and not have to suffer through Lumin’s horrible UI to play my music FWIW I can also stream 4K Dolby Vision / HDR on the Apple TV connected to the same network hardware. Please let me know if there are other settings in Roon (beyond DNXS, per above, which I have already reset). Thanks for your support. I love Roon, I just want to use it every day.
Thanks for the update, and I’msorry to hear your issues persist.
Unfortunately, based on a recent diagnostic report, playback failures due seem to be related to poor network connection, here’s what we’re seeing:
Warn: [Worker (2)] [Living Roon] [zoneplayer/raat] Too many dropouts (>3s dropped out in the last 30s). Killing stream
race: [Worker (2)] [Living Roon] [zoneplayer/raat] too many dropouts. stopping stream
Warn: [Broker:Transport] [zone Living Roon] Track Stopped Due to Slow Media
While it might seem counterintuitive, streaming high-resolution audio can actually be more sensitive to network performance than streaming 4K video. This is because of how audio and video streaming technologies handle buffering:
Video streaming platforms (like Netflix or YouTube) buffer large chunks of data in advance, meaning temporary slowdowns in network speed usually don’t cause playback interruptions.
High-resolution audio streaming (especially in Roon) is much more latency-sensitive, as it delivers an uninterrupted, real-time stream with minimal buffering. Even a brief network hiccup can cause playback to stop or stutter.
Additionally, Roon uses a different transport method compared to other streaming services. It doesn’t just stream from Tidal/Qobuz to your Mac—it also processes the data and sends it across your local network to your endpoint. Any congestion, latency, or instability in the network can impact playback.
I hear you re: the 4K video buffering, but why do the same tracks stream perfectly via Tidal and Qobuz using the Lumin app, but drop out when using Roon? Same network config / switch hardware.
Per your response:
“Roon uses a different transport method compared to other streaming services. It doesn’t just stream from Tidal/Qobuz to your Mac—it also processes the data and sends it across your local network to your endpoint. Any congestion, latency, or instability in the network can impact playback.”
It certainly feels like this Roon-specific transport method architecture is an issue. I have a very strong network and have zero problems with any other service (strong bandwidth, wired connections consistently ~850-920 mbps on a 1gbps fiber line, with sub 6ms pings). I can even “Airplay” the Tidal and Qobuz files directly to the D2 over my Wifi. I love the convenience Roon provides but having to have a super specific network setup (hardware/software) really puts the onus on the end user and reduces some of that convenience.
All that said, I will try to bypass the switch and run a cable directly from the Verizon ONT “modem” to the Roon Core on my Mac Mini and to the Lumin D2, as per your suggestion. May take a while to get to that. I guess I will just have to use the horrible Lumin app in the interim
Can I reply back to this case or will I have to open a new one?
You can reply here. That way we can keep all of the information together. This case will stay open for 14 days and that time period can be reset by leaving a comment. We’ll keep an eye out for your response with the results of connecting directly to your ONT box.
I played the 44/16 version of the tracks via Tidal and they seemed to play OK. When this happened before it was with the Qobuz 96/24 files. Once Tidal abandoned MQA and went 96/24 FLAC as well, the freeze happens now with both Tidal and Qobuz higher res files. When I play the Tidal 96/24 on the Mac Mini Roon Server (USB out to a MyAmp) it plays fine. The issue only seems to be playing to the Lumin in my main living room system. Some more screen shots attached.
FWIW I can also stream 4K Dolby Vision / HDR on the Apple TV connected to the same network hardware. Please let me know if there are other settings in Roon (beyond DNXS, per above, which I have already reset). Thanks for your support. I love Roon, I just want to use it every day.