Loud popping noise when starting new track - native DSD only

[andybob (Andrew Cox)]

This problem appears to be due to a bug in ALSA regarding how it sends “silence” to a USB connection upon playback. Hint: It’s not silence …

A fix has been developed as per the thread below and a patch has been implemented in DietPi (Dan works fast !):

Loud 'pop' noise beginning new track DSD Native [ALSA fix in 4.10 kernel, DietPi Patch]

Experiencing loud ‘pop’ noise at the beginning of the first track in an album or playlist when using DSD Native. DoP is fine. Upsampling from PCM 44.1/16 to DSD128 using Roon 1.3 DSP Engine DAC is a PS Audio NuWave DSD connected via USB from a RPi3 DietPi 143 Roon Bridge v1.0 build 64 Roon Core 1.3 (200) Windows 10. Only happens at the beginning of a new album or playlist. No detectable ‘pop’, ‘click’ between tracks or at the end of album or playlist. Not a deal breaker, DoP works flawless…

I expect that the mR will implement the fix when it rolls out in an ALSA update.

In the meantime I have found that Add Next or Add to Queue doesn’t trigger the pop.

Edit: The ALSA fix has been incorporated into the 4.10 Linux kernel. It may not be the only cause of pops or artefacts, but it is good to have this one fixed.