Qobuz playback drops on Roon connected devices (ref#C5AFGI)

Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers · November 16, 2025, 11:06am

What’s happening?

· Other – My issue isn’t listed above

Describe the issue

Qobuz playback via Roon is dropping out after a few seconds. It is happening on all Roon connected devices. Playback of Roon Radio works fine. Playback of music stored on the Roon Server works fine. Playback using the Qobuz app directly works fine.

Roon Server is running on macOS Tahoe.
The RoonServer_log.txt file shows the following behavior continuously:
11/16 11:58:21 Trace: [Study] [Lossless, 24/48 QOBUZ FLAC => 24/48] [1% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:35/4:52] East Street Market - Ife Ogunjobi
11/16 11:58:21 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good
11/16 11:58:21 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good
11/16 11:58:21 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good
11/16 11:58:22 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good
11/16 11:58:22 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good
11/16 11:58:22 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good
11/16 11:58:23 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good
11/16 11:58:23 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good
11/16 11:58:23 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good
11/16 11:58:24 Warn: FTMSI-B-OE qo/E545FA91: poor connection kbps:1849,0 (min:2148,0)
11/16 11:58:24 Debug: [prebuffer] sleeping in read -- this isn't good

Describe your network setup

Wired and wireless connected devices. Kef LSX, KEF LS60.

Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers · November 17, 2025, 12:49pm

To add some more info:

What’s described here by another user, looks like the same probe I am experiencing. Problems with streaming 192 kHz, 24 Bit files from Qobuz - #10 by benjamin
The message “sleeping in read – this isn’t good” also happens on 44.1khz songs; it’s just that the drop-outs occur less frequent as the throughput is often just enough
Sometimes the stream is able to catch-up again and buffer up, only to fail again later. See attached image of network traffic. The stream starts fine, then goes into the “sleeping in read”, recovers, only to fail again at the end.

Screenshot 2025-11-16 at 19.22.411002×824 85.4 KB

I’m experiencing no other network related issues from the Roon Server (a Mac mini). Almost seems like a network bottleneck at Qobuz or its CDN (Akamai) itself.

alex_h · November 17, 2025, 1:19pm

Good day @Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers !

I hope you’re doing well today.

We can see that you have multiple network interfaces connected to your mac mini .

Can you please try to disable one by one and test the issue again ?

Also, sometimes it can be something to do just with the ISP and not with your local network setup. So can you please also try to share the hot spot from your phone to your mac mini and try to play the music again via roon from qobuz ?

Looking forward to your reply!

Thanks!

Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers · November 17, 2025, 4:01pm

I have 2 network interfaces on my Mac mini; ethernet was enabled, wifi was disabled.

[Hot spot] unplugged ethernet and connected via wifi to hot spot from my phone => no issues
[Wifi] connected to normal home wifi => no issues
[Ethernet] disabled wifi and plugged in ethernet => no disconnects, but log file is complaining “Warn: FTMSI-B-OE qo/C68D670A: poor connection kbps:6684,0 (min:6937,0)”

I have an unmanaged switch connected to the Mac mini on my desk; I will remove it from the chain and test again.

Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers · November 17, 2025, 4:22pm

Re-tested without the unmanaged switch. No problems anymore.
So must have been the extra switch then…

Thank you for helping!

Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers · November 20, 2025, 4:42pm

Unfortunately problem is there again. The unmanaged switch is not there anymore.

As the problems went away after my previous testing, I tried that again.
Start is ethernet connected + continuous drop-outs.

Steps:

Enable Wifi on the Mac mini, disable Wifi on the Mac mini => issues still there
Unplug ethernet cable, plug-in ethernet cable => no issues anymore

So something must be going wrong over time, and replugging the ethernet cable fixes it?

Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers · November 20, 2025, 5:11pm

Doesn’t take long for problems to re-appear by the way. Replugging fixes it again briefly, but this is not how to enjoy music… I’m switching to running the Qobuz app on the Mac mini. No drop-outs then. Just works.

Logs start showing this when problems start:
11/20 17:47:28 Trace: [Study] [Lossless, 24/176 QOBUZ FLAC => 24/176] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 3:27/11:33] Mediterranean Sundance / Rio Ancho (Live) - Paco de Lucía / Al Di Meola / John McLaughlin / Ramón de Algeciras / Gómes Ramón Sánchez
11/20 17:47:29 Info: [stats] 430139mb Virtual, 100mb Physical, 939mb Managed, -839mb estimated Unmanaged, 0,49% of runtime in GC pauses, 11ms last GC pause duration
11/20 17:47:29 Debug: FTMSI-B qo/E347E5AE download status: FirstBlockRetrieved accessTimeout:True openFiles:1 prev:(FirstBlockRetrieved,False,1)
11/20 17:47:30 Debug: FTMSI-B qo/E347E5AE download status: FirstBlockRetrieved accessTimeout:False openFiles:1 prev:(FirstBlockRetrieved,True,1)
11/20 17:47:33 Debug: FTMSI-B qo/E347E5AE download status: FirstBlockRetrieved accessTimeout:True openFiles:1 prev:(FirstBlockRetrieved,False,1)
11/20 17:47:34 Trace: [Study] [Lossless, 24/176 QOBUZ FLAC => 24/176] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 3:29/11:33] Mediterranean Sundance / Rio Ancho (Live) - Paco de Lucía / Al Di Meola / John McLaughlin / Ramón de Algeciras / Gómes Ramón Sánchez
11/20 17:47:34 Debug: FTMSI-B qo/E347E5AE download status: FirstBlockRetrieved accessTimeout:False openFiles:1 prev:(FirstBlockRetrieved,True,1)

noris · November 21, 2025, 9:54pm

Hello @Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers ,

Does this mean that you usually have both WiFi and Ethernet connected at the same time? Is there any change in behavior if you disable one of them and try streaming - for example disable Ethernet and leave just WiFi active?

Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers · November 22, 2025, 8:29am

No I usually only have Ethernet connected. Wifi is disabled.
If I switch them (only Wifi connected), I get the same behavior. Plays for a while, but quickly I start seeing the “FirstBlockRetrieved” lines in the Roon server log.

I really don’t think this is network related, but software related. The Qobuz app on the same Mac mini works fine. Streaming Youtube on the Mac mini works fine. I can saturate my Internet connection (100Mbps) from the Mac mini with a speedtest without problems.

Roon worked fine on the same device a while ago. But can’t remember if that was before the most recent Roon software upgrade I did, or before the most recent MacOS software upgrade I did.

alex_h · November 25, 2025, 4:33pm

Good day @Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers !

Can you please double check if this problem is only present while connected to your home internet from your ISP ?

Is the issue reproducible if you will use your mobile phone’s cellular network as source of internet for your mac ?

Looking forward to your reply.

Regards.

Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers · November 26, 2025, 9:57am

Hi,

I did some more testing triggered by the fact that most Roon output devices except the KEF LSX with KEF streaming are working. Maybe the problem is with the KEF LSX and the KEF streaming protocol?
Starting point: Roon server connected via Ethernet.

Playing Roon Radio (Radio Paradise Flac) via SMSL USB AUDIO device => OK
KEF LSX speakers are connected to SMSL USB via optical.

11/26 09:50:52 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = Lossless
Elements:
    Source Format=Flac 44100/16/2  Quality=Lossless
    Raat Device=SMSL USB AUDIO 
    Output OutputType=Local_ExclusiveMode_CoreAudio Quality=Lossless SubType= Model=SMSL USB AUDIO

Started Playing Qobuz song (Flac 48kHz/24bit) via SMSL USB => Hit (known) macOS 26.1 sample rate issue.

11/26 10:08:44 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = Lossless
Elements:
    Source Format=Flac 48000/24/2  Quality=Lossless
    Raat Device=SMSL USB AUDIO 
    Output OutputType=Local_ExclusiveMode_CoreAudio Quality=Lossless SubType= Model=SMSL USB AUDIO 
------------------------------------------------------------
11/26 10:08:46 Debug: FTMSI-B qo/D1625D96 download status: FirstBlockRetrieved accessTimeout:True openFiles:1 prev:(FirstBlockRetrieved,False,1)
11/26 10:08:46 Info: [stats] 430755mb Virtual, 148mb Physical, 938mb Managed, -790mb estimated Unmanaged, 0,22% of runtime in GC pauses, 10ms last GC pause duration
11/26 10:08:46 Debug: [easyhttp] [19852] POST to https://api.roonlabs.net/browse/1/works/trackCounts?c=qobuz-nl&tidal=max returned after 3081 ms, status code: 200, request body size: 2 KB
11/26 10:08:49 Info: [library] saved recent ProfileId=cc543d6e-ae49-41a4-b7e5-159a9ab705bf Time=26-11-2025 09:08:49 DataType=album Type=long_nav MetadataId=90768249 ContentId=90768249 LibraryId= Text= Genre=
11/26 10:08:51 Trace: [SMSL USB AUDIO ] [raatclient] GOT [29] {"status":"DeviceInitFailed","message":"RAAT__OUTPUT_PLUGIN_STATUS_DEVICE_INIT_FAILED"}
11/26 10:08:51 Trace: [SMSL USB AUDIO] [zoneplayer/raat] device init failed. stopping stream
11/26 10:08:51 Info: [audio/env] [zoneplayer -> stream] All streams were disposed
11/26 10:08:51 Info: [audio/env] [zoneplayer -> stream -> endpoint] All streams were disposed
11/26 10:08:51 Warn: [zone SMSL USB AUDIO] Track Stopped Due to DeviceInitFailed

Started playing same song to speakers of monitor directly connected to Mac mini => OK

11/26 10:22:19 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = HighQuality
Elements:
    Source Format=Flac 48000/24/2  Quality=Lossless
    Raat Device=LG UltraFine-beeldschermaudio
    Output OutputType=Local_SharedMode_CoreAudio Quality=HighQuality SubType= Model=LG UltraFine-beeldschermaudio
------------------------------------------------------------

Started playing Qobuz song to KEF LSX speakers (KEF streaming) connected via Wifi => Not OK.
Roon switches on the KEF speaker automatically, but no music comes out.

--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = Lossless
Elements:
    Source Format=Flac 48000/24/2  Quality=Lossless
    Output OutputType=Kef Quality=Lossless SubType= Model=LSX
------------------------------------------------------------

Tried to play Roon Radio (Radio Paradise) on KEF speaker (KEF streaming) => Not OK.
Got all kinds of errors.

11/26 10:29:14 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = Lossless
Elements:
    Source Format=Flac 44100/16/2  Quality=Lossless
    Output OutputType=Kef Quality=Lossless SubType= Model=LSX
------------------------------------------------------------
11/26 10:29:14 Debug: [easyhttp] [20031] GET to https://api.roonlabs.net/internetradio/2/api/stations/43a8df71-24be-42d8-b189-e5e2b5d81e37/metadata?format=msgpack&wait=True&timestamp=-1& returned after 342 ms, status code: 200, request body size: 0 B
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [client/kef] play response
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [Study] [zoneplayer/kef] groupandplay end
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [client/kef] av_status
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [client/kef] av_status
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [Study] [zoneplayer/kef] state from device: TRANSITIONING
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [Study] [zoneplayer/kef]  zoneplayer state: WaitForStatus
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [client/kef] av_status
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [Study] [zoneplayer/kef] state from device: TRANSITIONING
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [Study] [zoneplayer/kef]  zoneplayer state: WaitForStatus
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [client/kef] av_status
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [Study] [zoneplayer/kef] state from device: TRANSITIONING
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [Study] [zoneplayer/kef]  zoneplayer state: WaitForStatus
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [client/kef] av_status
11/26 10:29:14 Warn: [upnp/service] error in event handler: System.Xml.XmlException: Xml_MissingRoot
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(Exception e)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowWithoutLineInfo(String res)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseDocumentContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlLoader.Load(XmlDocument doc, XmlReader reader, Boolean preserveWhitespace)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(TextReader txtReader)
   at Sooloos.Broker.Transport.UPNPEndpointIntegrationBase.ev_render_status(List`1 keyvals)
   at Sooloos.Audio.UPnP.EventSubscription._ParseEventMessage(String body)
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [music/search] [performance][internetradio] end-to-end search took 522ms
11/26 10:29:14 Info: [broker] [liveradio] Got track result LibraryTrack[1069362, The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album) (Super Deluxe; White Album / Super Deluxe) - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (2018 Mix) IsAvailable=True IsDeleted=False ] for subtitle 'The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps'
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [client/kef] av_status
11/26 10:29:14 Warn: [upnp/service] error in event handler: System.Xml.XmlException: Xml_MissingRoot
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(Exception e)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowWithoutLineInfo(String res)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseDocumentContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlLoader.Load(XmlDocument doc, XmlReader reader, Boolean preserveWhitespace)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(TextReader txtReader)
   at Sooloos.Broker.Transport.UPNPEndpointIntegrationBase.ev_render_status(List`1 keyvals)
   at Sooloos.Audio.UPnP.EventSubscription._ParseEventMessage(String body)
11/26 10:29:14 Trace: [client/kef] av_status
11/26 10:29:14 Warn: [upnp/service] error in event handler: System.Xml.XmlException: Xml_MissingRoot
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(Exception e)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowWithoutLineInfo(String res)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseDocumentContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlLoader.Load(XmlDocument doc, XmlReader reader, Boolean preserveWhitespace)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(TextReader txtReader)
   at Sooloos.Broker.Transport.UPNPEndpointIntegrationBase.ev_render_status(List`1 keyvals)
   at Sooloos.Audio.UPnP.EventSubscription._ParseEventMessage(String body)

Tried to play Roon Radio (Radia Paradise) on KEF LSX via Airplay2 => OK

11/26 10:49:06 Info:
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = HighQuality
Elements:
Source Format=Flac 44100/16/2 Quality=Lossless
Output OutputType=AirPlay Quality=HighQuality SubType=2 Model=LSX
------------------------------------------------------------
11/26 10:49:07 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] pair-setup #1 Succeeded
11/26 10:49:07 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] Sending pair-setup #2
11/26 10:49:08 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] pair-setup #2 Succeeded
11/26 10:49:08 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] Sending SETUP #1 (session)
11/26 10:49:09 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] Sending RECORD
11/26 10:49:09 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] RECORD Succeeded
11/26 10:49:09 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] sending SETUP #2 (stream)
11/26 10:49:09 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] Sending FLUSH
11/26 10:49:09 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] FLUSH was successful
11/26 10:49:09 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] Sending SET_PARAMETER volume -22,5db
11/26 10:49:09 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] Sending first sync packet rtptime=1507213073 synctime=1507301273
11/26 10:49:09 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] feedback Succeeded
11/26 10:49:13 Warn: [upnp] Subscription failed, subscription uri: http://192.168.10.226:8080/AVTransport/evt, status code: PreconditionFailed
11/26 10:49:13 Warn: [upnp] Subscription failed, subscription uri: http://192.168.10.226:8080/AVTransport/evt, status code: PreconditionFailed
11/26 10:49:16 Trace: [airplay/dacp] got command 'setvolume' value=-19
11/26 10:49:16 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] Sending SET_PARAMETER volume -19db
11/26 10:49:16 Info: [stats] 430753mb Virtual, 133mb Physical, 890mb Managed, -757mb estimated Unmanaged, 0,23% of runtime in GC pauses, 7ms last GC pause duration
11/26 10:49:29 Trace: [airplay/clientV2] [192.168.10.226] feedback Succeeded

Tried to play Roon Radio (Radio Paradise) on KEF LS60 speaker => OK
LS60 speaker is connected via Wifi.

11/26 10:32:51 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = Enhanced
Elements:
    Source Format=Flac 44100/16/2  Quality=Lossless
    Raat Device=KEF LS60 Wireless
    DSP Subtype=kef_wall_mode PresetKey= TruePeak= Value= StringValue=-4dB Model= FromSampleRate= ToSampleRate= Quality=Enhanced PresetDisplayName=-4dB ModeDisplayName=
    DSP Subtype=kef_phase_correction PresetKey= TruePeak= Value= StringValue= Model= FromSampleRate= ToSampleRate= Quality=Enhanced PresetDisplayName= ModeDisplayName=
    WiredTransmission BitsPerSample=24 SampleRate=192000 IsMqa=False
    Amplifier Method=kef Quality=Enhanced
    Output OutputType=Local_Speakers Quality=Enhanced SubType= Model=
------------------------------------------------------------

Tried to play Qobuz song on KEF LS60 speaker => OK

11/26 10:34:25 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = Enhanced
Elements:
    Source Format=Flac 48000/24/2  Quality=Lossless
    Raat Device=KEF LS60 Wireless
    DSP Subtype=kef_wall_mode PresetKey= TruePeak= Value= StringValue=-4dB Model= FromSampleRate= ToSampleRate= Quality=Enhanced PresetDisplayName=-4dB ModeDisplayName=
    DSP Subtype=kef_phase_correction PresetKey= TruePeak= Value= StringValue= Model= FromSampleRate= ToSampleRate= Quality=Enhanced PresetDisplayName= ModeDisplayName=
    WiredTransmission BitsPerSample=24 SampleRate=192000 IsMqa=False
    Amplifier Method=kef Quality=Enhanced
    Output OutputType=Local_Speakers Quality=Enhanced SubType= Model=
------------------------------------------------------------

benjamin · November 26, 2025, 8:46pm

Hey @Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers,

Excellent job troubleshooting so far! It seems only KEF LSX using “KEF Streaming” / UPnP is failing, and the logs show repeated UPnP/AVTransport errors, malformed XML events, and stalled state transitions.

This points strongly toward a KEF LSX UPnP firmware or network-layer issue, not necessarily Roon itself.

Check:

Open KEF Connect app → Settings → Speakers → Firmware
LSX version should be 4.1 or later (depending on region)

With that, your LS60 (working) is on Wi-Fi. Your LSX is also on Wi-Fi, but LSX is an older design with a much weaker radio and less robust UPnP stack.

Try at least one of these:

A. Temporarily connect LSX via Ethernet

Even if the LSX is normally wireless, a temporary wired connection is extremely telling. UPnP eventing is fragile over Wi-Fi with marginal signal quality.

B. Put LSX on 2.4 GHz only

Some LSX units have trouble on certain 5 GHz channels; KEF even recommends 2.4 GHz in troubleshooting.

C. Put LSX on the same access point as the Roon Core

If your Wi-Fi uses multiple APs or mesh nodes, LSX can get stuck receiving UPnP events from the wrong node.

Lastly, your logs show:

XmlException: Xml_MissingRoot
UPnP EventSubscription parse error

This often means:

Fragmented or truncated UPnP NOTIFY packets
Multicast packets being dropped or reordered

IGMP snooping is a big cause in home networks for KEF Streaming issues.

Try temporarily disabling:

IGMP Snooping
Multicast Filtering
“Multicast Enhancement / Multicast Optimization”
AP Isolation

Let me know if any of the above help, thank you!

noris · December 1, 2025, 10:04pm

Hello @Kjeld_Kerssemeeckers ,

Your thread is due to close soon, we wanted to check in with you, are you still seeing this issue? If so, please let us know the answers from @benjamin ‘s above remarks, thank you!

connor · December 3, 2025, 12:46am

This thread is now closing due to inactivity and lack of response. If you’re still having issues with Roon, you can reactivate the conversation by simply opening a new technical support request and referencing this thread URL (select “other”).

Please provide the information requested two posts above by @benjamin in order to expedite our response if you do submit a new report. Thank you!