Stereo files will not play on Windows 11 when output set to 5.1 Surround

Support
1

Roon Core Machine

Intel NUC 11 Pro NUC11PAHi7

Networking Gear & Setup Details

1Gb ethernet

Connected Audio Devices

Anthem MRX-540 over HDMI

Number of Tracks in Library

7,000

Setup

Windows 11 → Nvidia RTX 3090 → HDMI → Anthem MRX-540

All updates have been applied to the receiver, graphics card (HD Audio driver) and windows.

Description of Issue

Reopening the following previous topic here as it was never resolved. Tagging @connor who was looking into it on the Roon side.

I run my PC in 5.1 mode for gaming (really 4.1 as I don’t have a Center Channel), the Nvidia card supports Dolby and DTS. When I try to play a 2-channel file, it skips very quickly through the track listing and doesn’t play audio. 99.9% of my audio files are Stereo.

  • The behavior is exactly the same as this person, but I’m not using Realtek.
  • MCH files play with no issue when in 5.1 configuration.
  • I can get by this issue by manually going into Sound Settings - Configure - Stereo. This is not really a useful option as then I lose 5.1 if I’m simultaneously playing a game. I also don’t want to have to toggle this back and forth all day.
  • I was previously using iTunes, Media Player, Amazon, Spotify, etc. and none of these had issues playing Stereo files when in 5.1 mode alongside a game or video stream.

Sound settings -

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Roon Audio Settings (I’ve also tried this in 2.0)

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Log Sample -

--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = LowQuality
Elements:
    Source Format=Mp3 44100/24/2 BitRate=192 Quality=LowQuality
    Raat Device=System Output
    Output OutputType=Local_SharedMode_Wasapi Quality=HighQuality SubType= Model=System Output
------------------------------------------------------------
03/21 13:55:16 Debug: [easyhttp] [1531] GET to https://api.roonlabs.net/metadatatext/1/blobs?objectId=191:0:587415&type=biography&sourceLangs=Rovi-albums:en,Wikipedia:en,Rovi-artists:en,Rovi-compositions:en&c=qobuz-us returned after 140 ms, status code: 200, request body size: 0 B
03/21 13:55:16 Debug: [easyhttp] [1530] GET to https://api.roonlabs.net/metadatatext/1/blobs?objectId=174:1:816905fe-a189-4643-a0c3-f0a3cab37874&type=description&sourceLangs=Rovi-albums:en,Wikipedia:en,Rovi-artists:en,Rovi-compositions:en&c=qobuz-us returned after 281 ms, status code: 200, request body size: 0 B
03/21 13:55:16 Info: sleep 377ms after flush
03/21 13:55:16 Warn: [zone Local] Track Stopped Due to Error
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [zone Local] OnPlayFeedback StoppedEndOfMediaUnnatural
03/21 13:55:16 Debug: [zone Local] _Advance (Track)
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [Local] [LowQuality, 24/44 MP3 => 24/44] [100% buf] [LOADING @ 0:00] Cowgirl - Underworld
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer] Playing: /roon/sys/storage/mounts/InternalStorage/Roon Imports/DIZZLE-GAMES/imported at 2023-02-27T16-34 UTC-05_00/Underworld/Underworld 1992-2002/01 Cowgirl.mp3
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [audio/env] [zoneplayer] All streams were disposed
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer]     Open Result (Playing):Result[Status=Success]
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer] Starting playback
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [Local] [zoneplayer/raat] StartStream Sooloos.Broker.Transport.RaatZonePlayer+Endpoint: StreamParams[SampleRate=44100, BitsPerSample=24, Channels=2, Layout=Stereo FrameCount=22522752] => StreamParams[SampleRate=44100, BitsPerSample=24, Channels=2, Layout=Stereo FrameCount=22522752] streamid=590738575
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [System Output] [raatclient] SENT [38]{"request":"setup","format":{"sample_type":"pcm","sample_rate":44100,"bits_per_sample":24,"channels":2,"sample_subtype":"none"}}
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer] Queueing: /roon/sys/storage/mounts/InternalStorage/Roon Imports/DIZZLE-GAMES/imported at 2023-02-27T16-34 UTC-05_00/Underworld/Underworld 1992-2002/02 Born Slippy Nuxx.mp3
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [zone Local] OnPlayFeedback Playing
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [System Output] [raatclient] GOT [38] {"message":"RAAT__OUTPUT_PLUGIN_STATUS_FORMAT_NOT_SUPPORTED","status":"UnexpectedError"}
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer] Open result (Queueing): Result[Status=Success]
03/21 13:55:16 Warn: [Local] [zoneplayer/raat] failed to setup any endpoints..giving up
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [audio/env] [zoneplayer -> stream] All streams were disposed
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [audio/env] [zoneplayer -> stream -> endpoint] All streams were disposed
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [Local] [LowQuality, 24/44 MP3 => 24/44] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:00] Cowgirl - Underworld
03/21 13:55:16 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = LowQuality
Elements:
    Source Format=Mp3 44100/24/2 BitRate=192 Quality=LowQuality
    Raat Device=System Output
    Output OutputType=Local_SharedMode_Wasapi Quality=HighQuality SubType= Model=System Output
------------------------------------------------------------
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [prebuffer] ready 149940/441000 (34%) @ 0/510 sec
03/21 13:55:16 Debug: [easyhttp] [1533] GET to https://api.roonlabs.net/metadatatext/1/blobs?objectId=191:0:587415&type=biography&sourceLangs=Rovi-albums:en,Wikipedia:en,Rovi-artists:en,Rovi-compositions:en&c=qobuz-us returned after 151 ms, status code: 200, request body size: 0 B
03/21 13:55:16 Debug: [easyhttp] [1532] GET to https://api.roonlabs.net/metadatatext/1/blobs?objectId=174:1:7e3c2913-33d0-3ffa-ba87-957c6ab74b63&type=description&sourceLangs=Rovi-albums:en,Wikipedia:en,Rovi-artists:en,Rovi-compositions:en&c=qobuz-us returned after 266 ms, status code: 200, request body size: 0 B
03/21 13:55:16 Info: sleep 377ms after flush
03/21 13:55:16 Warn: [zone Local] Track Stopped Due to Error
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [zone Local] OnPlayFeedback StoppedEndOfMediaUnnatural
03/21 13:55:16 Debug: [zone Local] _Advance (Track)
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [Local] [LowQuality, 24/44 MP3 => 24/44] [100% buf] [LOADING @ 0:00] Born Slippy - Underworld
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer] Playing: /roon/sys/storage/mounts/InternalStorage/Roon Imports/DIZZLE-GAMES/imported at 2023-02-27T16-34 UTC-05_00/Underworld/Underworld 1992-2002/02 Born Slippy Nuxx.mp3
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer]     Open Result (Playing):Result[Status=Success]
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer] Starting playback
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [Local] [zoneplayer/raat] StartStream Sooloos.Broker.Transport.RaatZonePlayer+Endpoint: StreamParams[SampleRate=44100, BitsPerSample=24, Channels=2, Layout=Stereo FrameCount=20024062] => StreamParams[SampleRate=44100, BitsPerSample=24, Channels=2, Layout=Stereo FrameCount=20024062] streamid=590738576
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [System Output] [raatclient] SENT [39]{"request":"setup","format":{"sample_type":"pcm","sample_rate":44100,"bits_per_sample":24,"channels":2,"sample_subtype":"none"}}
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer] Queueing: /roon/sys/storage/mounts/InternalStorage/Roon Imports/DIZZLE-GAMES/imported at 2023-02-27T16-34 UTC-05_00/Underworld/Underworld 1992-2002/03 Pearls Girl.mp3
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [Local] [zoneplayer] Open result (Queueing): Result[Status=Success]
03/21 13:55:16 Trace: [System Output] [raatclient] GOT [39] {"message":"RAAT__OUTPUT_PLUGIN_STATUS_FORMAT_NOT_SUPPORTED","status":"UnexpectedError"}
03/21 13:55:16 Warn: [Local] [zoneplayer/raat] failed to setup any endpoints..giving up
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [audio/env] [zoneplayer -> stream] All streams were disposed
03/21 13:55:16 Info: [audio/env] [zoneplayer -> stream -> endpoint] All streams were disposed
03/21 13:55:17 Info: [zone Local] OnPlayFeedback Playing
03/21 13:55:17 Trace: [Local] [LowQuality, 24/44 MP3 => 24/44] [100% buf] [PLAYING @ 0:00] Born Slippy - Underworld
03/21 13:55:17 Trace: [prebuffer] ready 149940/441000 (34%) @ 0/454 sec
03/21 13:55:17 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = LowQuality
Elements:
    Source Format=Mp3 44100/24/2 BitRate=192 Quality=LowQuality
    Raat Device=System Output
    Output OutputType=Local_SharedMode_Wasapi Quality=HighQuality SubType= Model=System Output
------------------------------------------------------------
03/21 13:55:17 Debug: [easyhttp] [1535] GET to https://api.roonlabs.net/metadatatext/1/blobs?objectId=191:0:587415&type=biography&sourceLangs=Rovi-albums:en,Wikipedia:en,Rovi-artists:en,Rovi-compositions:en&c=qobuz-us returned after 163 ms, status code: 200, request body size: 0 B
03/21 13:55:17 Debug: [easyhttp] [1534] GET to https://api.roonlabs.net/metadatatext/1/blobs?objectId=174:1:e09640ab-dd42-35a4-8ac7-ee4ec8880e81&type=description&sourceLangs=Rovi-albums:en,Wikipedia:en,Rovi-artists:en,Rovi-compositions:en&c=qobuz-us returned after 288 ms, status code: 200, request body size: 0 B
03/21 13:55:17 Info: sleep 377ms after flush
03/21 13:55:17 Warn: [zone Local] Track Stopped Due to Error
03/21 13:55:17 Info: [zone Local] OnPlayFeedback StoppedEndOfMediaUnnatural
03/21 13:55:17 Info: [zone Local] OnPlayFeedback Stopped
03/21 13:55:17 Info: [zone Local] Canceling Pending Sleep
03/21 13:55:17 Trace: [Local] [LowQuality, 24/44 MP3 => 24/44] [100% buf] [STOPPED @ 0:00] Born Slippy - Underworld
03/21 13:55:17 Info: [audio/env] [zoneplayer] All streams were disposed
03/21 13:55:17 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = LowQuality
Elements:
    Source Format=Mp3 44100/24/2 BitRate=192 Quality=LowQuality
    Raat Device=System Output
    Output OutputType=Local_SharedMode_Wasapi Quality=HighQuality SubType= Model=System Output
------------------------------------------------------------
03/21 13:55:17 Info: [library] saved recent ProfileId=a346c7cf-9796-42ed-99cd-e9a0b8e7c867 Time=03/21/2023 13:55:17 DataType=album Type=long_nav MetadataId=2294649 ContentId=1183535 LibraryId=1183535 Text= Genre=
1 Like
2

Downloaded the Qobuz Windows player. That works fine, but I can’t play the exact same Qobuz tracks through Roon without modifying my Sound Configuration every time.

3

Setting the Device to “Exclusive Mode = Yes” will allow for Stereo playback, but MCH tracks no longer work. And with exclusive mode running, no other apps can use the system audio at all.

4

After a lot of digging, I learned that Nvidia HD Audio is a WASAPI sound driver and this seems to be the root of the issue. I’m familiar with ASIO4ALL from tinkering around with a MiniDSP so I downloaded that to act as intermediary between Roon and my actual sound driver. While this allowed me to flip back and forth between 2.0 and 5.1 tracks for the first time on my pc without messing around with additional sound settings in control panel, it requires exclusive driver access (even if you disable “Allow programs to request exclusive access” in sound settings).

I then found a program called FlexASIO which operates similarly to ASIO4ALL with a couple exceptions.

  1. It doesn’t have a control panel that allows you to direct to any attached sound device, it will only send audio to the current default output.
  2. It does NOT require exclusivity to run.

So while this solution is a little janky, it allows me have a 5.1 endpoint that will play all my files without requiring any reconfiguration between track types and also allows for gaming or whatever else to happen concurrently. Hopefully this helps someone else.

1 Like
5

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