I use Qobuz while streaming, run through Roon. I am having a significant problem, started about 3 weeks ago... Every one to three minutes there is a drop-out in the music, sometimes with a slight pop, sometimes just silence, lasting a bit less than 1 second. I use a Cary DMS-700 streamer, ethernet CAT 7 connection, not WIFI. This only occurs when I am using Roon. When I stream directly using Qobuz, no problem. So it appears to be a Roon issue. Very disrupting to my listening experience.
Tell us about your home network
· 1 Gb Fiber Optic connection. Router: Calix GigaSpire BLAST Model: u6.1 GS4220E. No VPN, switches or extensions. Internet connection is with new provider. Used to have 20Mb service, now Gb fiber optic. Issue seems roughly coincident with new service. But again, if I stream directly using Qobuz, this issue does not occur.
Roon relies on the Qobuz API, which takes a separate network pathway from their native service. Your Roon Server machine will be downloading the stream before transporting to the streamer over your network. Diagnostics indicate that you’re hosting Roon Server on a laptop machine. Can you please clarify whether this machine is hardwired via ethernet in addition to the streamer? If your Roon Server machine relies on a WiFi connection, network congestion and bandwidth ceilings can interfere with Roon’s ability to download content via the Qobuz API.
You mentioned audible popping. Network disruption shouldn’t introduce audible artifacts except under very specific DSP configurations. Can you please share a screenshot of your Signal Path?
We also recommend verifying that the DNS service assigned in your router is reliable. This prevents Roon Server from needing to retry the URLs associated with Qobuz tracks when they don’t resolve at first, which introduces latency. This might be available in the advanced settings of your router, depending on your ISP’s implementation.
Can you reproduce these dropouts with Qobuz in Roon if you force a lower maximum sample rate in Settings → Services → Qobuz?
I am using a MacBook Pro, latest updates installed. Yes, computer is over WIFI, but with Gb fiber optic, (400mb using Ookla Speediest), I wouldn’t think that would be a bottleneck. Old service provided 20mb, somewhat rarely had streaming stumble or stall out. I will contact our new internet service regarding looking into potential router issues. They have been pretty responsive. It may be significant that this problem started right around when fiber optic was activated, so perhaps there is some router issue.
I will also check into lowering sample rate. Will get back to you, thanks.
Ok, I reduced sample rate (to 44K/16bit), no change in dropouts. The ‘pop’ associated occurs roughly 10% of the time, otherwise just silence. Will see if I can get tech support regarding router tomorrow.
Contacted tech support with internet provider, who looked in to the router function, all apparently fine, including ethernet port. DNS is a Google DNS. He said could be changed, but saw that Roon supports that. I wanted to connect MacBook Pro to ethernet, to realize there is not a port. I have ordered an adapter…
Lastly, however, today I timed the drop-outs. They occur exactly every 2:00 minutes. At least this was after 5 consecutive times while listening. No pops, but occasionally the signal initially garbles momentarily before the short silence. All within a bit less than a second. Any of this informative? I also checked Qobuz for updates, firmware on the Cary streamer, all revisions good.
One last possible clue. Service provider, Norvado, contacted me again. In the discussion, she mentioned the fiber optic service is a CG Nat Carrier Grade network. If this could be a source of the problem, apparently that can be changed. Hopefully a solution can be found.
Thanks for the update and additional information! CG NAT won’t effect Qobuz via Roon, so you don’t have to worry about that. If you’re hoping to use Roon ARC, then CGNAT will likely cause some issues, but we can dig deeper into that later.
From a fresh Roon Server diagnostic report, it shows a repetitive failure loop where Roon is successfully connecting to the Qobuz servers but receiving absolutely no data in return.
We also see this warning: Warn: FTMSI-B qo/8CB8B946: block downloader too much time locked
Because Roon is firing off requests as fast as possible and getting empty files back, the internal “buffer” or “downloader” is getting stuck in a waiting state. This usually results in the track skipping to the next one after a few seconds, or a “Transport: Too many failures” error in the Roon UI.
Let’s first clear any stale cache for your server:
Pretty sure I emptied the cache a couple days ago. Will check and redo regardless.
Before I got fiber optic, had a different service, slow, 20mb/s, and would occasionally get what you described. Stall, go to next track, 1/4 way through, again, often repeatedly. Sometimes would just stall out, stop.
But these new dropouts are different. Almost a second every two minutes, precisely. Continuous.
I will try these recommendations tomorrow and get back with results.
I looked in two folders, MacDrive/Library and MacDrive/System/Library, and no Roon or RoonServer folder to be found. Please advise. This seems odd, possibly problematic. Am I looking in the right location? I did do a Roon backup yesterday, for what it’s worth.
I have not tried switching DNS server to Cloudfare. Wanted to go through sequence you reference. Thanks for continuing to help out with this.
I contacted internet tech support. Apparently the router was not configured to Google DNS. Technicians that installed new setup just left a ‘random, dynamic’ DNS. ?? Anyhow, tech support configured Google as primary, Cloudflare 2ndary. Have been listening for roughly 30 minutes, small handful of hiccups. None in last 15 minutes! Problem solved? Will keep running music, see if any persistent bugs. Thanks.
That is excellent news! The fact that the dropouts stopped almost immediately after switching from the “random” ISP DNS to Google and Cloudflare confirms that your server was likely struggling to resolve the addresses for Qobuz’s streaming nodes.
Since you’ve had a chance to listen for a longer period:
How has the playback been since the DNS change? Have those “precise 2-minute hiccups” returned, or has it been smooth sailing?
Did you receive your Ethernet adapter yet? Even with the DNS fix, we still highly recommend that wired connection for the MacBook Pro to ensure long-term stability.
Internet tech support first switched to Google DNS, continued drop-outs, though much less frequent, next day to CloudFare. Better, but still drop-outs, typically every 10-20 minutes. A number of 0.1-0.2sec dropouts in between. Occasionally 3sec. I think internet provider has done all they can.
Just received the ethernet adapter, will set up tomorrow, and provide update. Hopefully this provides a better fix.
Hello. I strung the 100’ ethernet today, and problem does appear to be resolved!
But now an old gremlin has crept back.
When I open Roon now, I first have to go to Settings in MacBook, click ‘Sound’ and choose Cary Audio. Then back to Roon, settings, Audio, Select Cary, then Enable Device, then ‘Not your Device?’, then Identify this device, scroll down to Cary, select DMS-700, then ‘Save’.
I have to do this every time I open Roon. This happened a couple months or so ago, problem went away after a couple weeks. Not sure if any software update solved it.
Sorry for being a bit of a pest, but I do rely on this setup quite regularly. I enjoy the combination of Roon/Qobuz. And very much appreciate the write-ups on recordings!!
Thanks for all the additional information, and I’m glad to hear the dropouts have been sorted out - nice work there!
Even if your DMS-700 appears to be working after you manually identify it, the communication between the server and the player might be “stale.”
Power Cycle the DMS-700: Turn the unit off using the physical switch on the back (if available) or unplug it for 30 seconds. This forces the VitOS and the Cary firmware to announce themselves fresh to the network.
Check Firmware: Ensure the Cary DMS-700 is on the latest firmware via the Cary Audio app. Sometimes a Roon update requires a matching update from the hardware manufacturer to maintain the "Roon Ready" certification.
In your description, you mentioned clicking "Sound" in your MacBook settings first.
Ideally, if the DMS-700 is connected via your network (Ethernet/Mesh), it should appear in Roon as a networked device, independent of your Mac’s system sound.
If you see the Cary listed under "Network" in Roon's Audio settings, enable that version instead of the one listed under "This Mac." This prevents Roon from losing the connection when the Mac changes its own audio output.
It may also be helpful to set a static IP for the DMS if you’re able to set that up via your router settings.
There is a known issue with recent macOS updates (Sequoia/Tahoe) where it “forgets” that Roon has permission to talk to other devices, even if the switch looks like it’s “On.”
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network.
Find Roon and Roon Server in the list.
Turn them OFF, wait 5 seconds, and turn them back ON.
Restart your Mac. This often "pokes" the Mac into actually letting Roon see the Cary properly.
Let me know if any of the above help, thanks @Ulf_Gafvert! 🙏
