Roon unable to play back on local speakers with Asus Xonar Essence STX (ref#HY1K17)

[Robert_Edwards]

What best describes your playback issue?

· Music doesn't start when I press "Play"

What type of Zone is affected by this problem?

· *Directly-connected Zones* are affected.

Does the issue affect all file formats?

· The issue affects *multiple/all* file formats.

Does the issue happen with local library music, streaming service music, or both?

· *Both streaming and local* *library* music are affected.

Do you encounter any playback errors with the "System Output" Zone?

· I don't have a System Output available, but I'd like to keep troubleshooting

How is the affected Zone connected to your RoonServer machine?

· Cable (USB, HDMI, SPDIF, etc.)

Is your device connected directly to the Roon Server via cable or over the network, or is it chained through another device (such as a streamer, Roon Bridge, or Roon Remote)?

· Connected directly to my RoonServer machine

Does the device show up at all in Roon Settings -> Audio?

· Yes, it shows up there, but it isn't Enabled

Does the "Enable" button unlock the Zone?

· I can Enable the Zone, but the Zone disappears

Does the device play audio from another source when using the same connection?

· The device has no problems with another audio source

Have you checked that Roon is whitelisted in any firewalls?

· I've checked the firewall and the issue remains

If the device has multiple output options, do the other options work as expected?

· Multiple output types are affected

Is the device using the latest firmware as per the manufacturer?

· Firmware is up-to-date but the issue remains

What are the make and model of the affected audio device(s) and the connection type?

· Asus Xonar Essence STX Soundcard

Describe the issue

Roon Core Machine
Roon 2.0 1470
PC, Win10, MSI MB, Intel i7- 4770K, 32GB Ram, all drives local.
Machine is running flawlessly, no crashes that could corrupt Roon. (because no crashes at all, is very stable)

Networking Gear & Setup Details
N/A for this issue, as it’s a local sound issue. Server, app & music all on local machine.

Connected Audio Devices
Asus Xonar Essence STX (worked perfectly w/roon)
Local speakers plugged into soundcard - works fine w/everything EXCEPT Roon.

Number of Tracks in Library
23887 Tracks

Description of Issue
Cannot playback on local PC - Roon and Library run on local drives.
All other apps work flawlessly sending sound to local speakers incl Media Player and games.
Local playback used to work perfectly, but Win10 updates have likely occurred since it last worked.
Tried uninstalling & reinstalling twice but issue is unresolved.
All music is playing fine on any other app besides Roon.
The message is useless and offers no place to start troubleshooting. Would appreciate reasonable next steps please.

Describe your network setup

N/A as all drives are local

[Robert_Edwards]

Here is the issue with a bit more clarity. I have also submitted all Roon logs but can do so again if required.

Roon won’t playback on local PC or streaming from Tidal - Roon and Library run on local drives.
All other apps work flawlessly sending sound to local speakers including Media Player and games.
Local playback used to work perfectly, but Win10 updates have likely occurred since it last worked.
Tried uninstalling & reinstalling twice but issue is unresolved.
All music is playing fine on any other app besides Roon.

[daniel]

Hi @Robert_Edwards,

Thanks for letting us know about the issue with playback not working on your local speakers! I’d like to take a closer look by enabling some diagnostics on your account, which will help our technical team gather more insight into what’s happening.

Before we do that, could I ask for your help to make sure we collect the best information possible? Could you please reproduce the issue by attempting playback on your local speakers again, and note the exact time? Just reply here with that timestamp, and I’ll ensure we review the diagnostics from that moment.

Thanks for your help—looking forward to resolving this together!

[Robert_Edwards]

Hi Daniel thanks for responding. I tried playing a song on Roon at 10:54 & have logs after that if required.
Please advise if you require the logs.
Regards
Rob

[daniel]

Hi @Robert_Edwards,
Uploading the logs would be tremendously helpful here! It seems the logs we currently have are playing a bit of a disappearing act, cutting out just two minutes before you experienced that playback error. Please upload the full set here.

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

Hi Rob,

Fellow user here. I had to make sure when I was using that card, that I disabled the motherboard’s Realtek audio and uninstall the Realtek drivers.

Do you have your computers Realtek audio chip enabled and its drivers installed?

[Robert_Edwards]

No Realtek is not installed on my PC. Only the Asus drivers.

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

@Robert_Edwards

No Realtek is not installed on my PC

To be specific, you have disabled the on-board audio in the BIOS. If not, then Windows will load the drivers for it.

[Robert_Edwards]

Yes, BIOS disabled. Everything has been working fine for years with exactly the same settings and out of the blue, Roon just stopped working & every effort to get it working again has not helped.

[Robert_Edwards]

Apologies for the delay Daniel but I wasn’t notified there was a new message on the topic.
I have uploaded 4 sets of logs - RAATServer, RoonServer, RoonGoer & Roon.

[Robert_Edwards]

Hi Daniel
Please advise if you received the logs or if you require me to resend them.
Thanks
Rob

[connor]

Hi @Robert_Edwards,

Thank you for your patience. Here’s what’s happening in logs:

The two Zones associated with local drivers, SystemOutput and zone ASUS Xonar Essence STX Audio Device, are sending 16-bit/44.1KHz to a driver configured to accept only 24-bit files.

What do you have set as the bit-depth for this driver itself?

In Roon Device Setup for these Zones (Settings → Audio), verify that the Max Bits Per Sample (PCM) option is toggled to 24-bit or 32-bit.

Please share a screenshot of this Device Setup dialog window.

Also share a screenshot of signal path.

[Robert_Edwards]

Hi Connor

As can be seen with the screenshot of the default zone (System Output), which it what it has always been on, doesn’t have the option to adjust the quality to 24-bit. The Asus one does and is at the correct bit rate & if I transfer the zone from System Output to Asus Xonar, it works.

The only thing that could have changed this would have been an update as these settings have never been touched. Is there a way to have the System Output have the option to change the bit rate?

[CrystalGipsy (Resisting the flow!)]

Change the windows system settings to be 44.1/24 if the inbuilt audio can support that. in windows audio device settings.

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

Try this, use Jriver’s ASIO control panel to access the ASIO driver and modify it to 24 bits. It is what I had to do using that card years ago. See my post from then

Roon truncates 24bit to 16bit on my new Pioneer U-05 (ASIO) [Resolved]

On Head Fi, there was someone who posted a screen pic of the Pioneer ASIO setup. [image] With my Asus, one way I can get to the ASIO panel is to have it selected as the device in JRiver, Select Device Settings, select Open Driver Control Panel.

[benjamin]

Hey @Robert_Edwards,

We believe @Rugby’s above comment may be helpful - let us know how it goes!