First Song on some MQA Albums is not Streamed via UPnP

[r_a_l_f]

I am currently using a MacBook Pro (late 2013) that is hard-wired to the ethernet. Music is supposed to be streamed to my Hegel H120 which does not support MQA decoding. Actually the set-up works fine. However, the first song of some MQA albums is not played. I have to restart Audirvana in order get it back workin. For example, “Bruckner: Symphonies No. 4 - No. 9 (Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan)” has this issue. For some reason the first song is not played…

Any ideas to solve this issue are highly appreciated…

Ralf

P.S.
The Hegel has the newest firmware installed.

— DEBUG —

Audirvana Mac Version 3.5.43 (3573)
macOS 11.1.0 with 8192MB RAM

Die Testversion verwendet eine Demo-Lizenz

SIGNAL PROCESSING:

Polarity Inversion:
	Globally: OFF
	Per track: ON
Effects plugins NOT ACTIVE

UPSAMPLING:
SoX not in use
SoX filter parameters
Bandwidth at 0dB = 99.5
Filter max length = 30000
Anti-aliasing = 100
Phase = 66

AUDIO VOLUME:
Max allowed volume: 100
Replay Gain: None
SW volume control: OFF

LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 1 folders
AUTO: /Volumes/Musik/Musik HQ
iTunes/Music library synchronization: not synchronized
Library database path: /Users/Ralf/Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaPlusDatabaseV2.sqlite

ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES
Qobuz: Login failed
TIDAL: Connected as HIFI

=================== AUDIO DEVICE ========================

Preferred device: HEGEL Model UID:Hegel HEGEL UID:uuid:1cfb18fe-1dd2-11b2-99c9-8f57da743e33

Selected device:
UPnP device at http://192.168.178.67:38400/description.xml
ID 0x0 HEGEL Manufacturer:Hegel
Model UID:Hegel HEGEL UID:uuid:1cfb18fe-1dd2-11b2-99c9-8f57da743e33

6 available sample rates up to 192000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
Volume control: No
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: No
Not a MQA device, user set to not MQA
DSD capability: Unhandled
Device audio channels
Preferred stereo channels L:0 R:1
Channel bitmap: Ox3, layout:
Channel 0 mapped to 0
Channel 1 mapped to 1
UPnP/DLNA supported protocols:
http-get::audio/L16;rate=44100;channels=1:DLNA.ORG_PN=LPCM
http-get::audio/L16;rate=44100;channels=2:DLNA.ORG_PN=LPCM
http-get::audio/L16;rate=48000;channels=1:DLNA.ORG_PN=LPCM
http-get::audio/L16;rate=48000;channels=2:DLNA.ORG_PN=LPCM
http-get::audio/mpeg:DLNA.ORG_PN=MP3
http-get::audio/x-ms-wma:DLNA.ORG_PN=WMABASE
http-get::audio/x-ms-wma:DLNA.ORG_PN=WMAFULL
http-get::audio/x-ms-wma:DLNA.ORG_PN=WMAPRO
http-get::audio/mp4:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ISO
http-get::audio/3gpp:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ISO
http-get::audio/mp4:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ISO_320
http-get::audio/3gpp:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ISO_320
http-get::audio/vnd.dlna.adts:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ADTS
http-get::audio/vnd.dlna.adts:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ADTS_320
http-get::audio/flac:
http-get::audio/x-flac:
http-get::audio/wav:
http-get::audio/x-wav:
http-get::application/ogg:
DLNA 1.5: Yes
Gapless playback: Yes
Missing events workaround: No
Can play native DSD: No
Number of channels: 2
Use as stereo device only: No

1 output streams:
Number of active channels: 2, in 1 stream(s)
Channel #0 :Stream 0 channel 0
Channel #1 :Stream 0 channel 1

Stream ID 0x0 0 channels starting at 0
12 virtual formats:
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz

0 physical formats

Current device transportInfo:
CurrentTransportState: PLAYING
CurrentTransportStatus: OK
CurrentSpeed: 1
Current device MediaInfo:
NrTracks: 1
MediaDuration: 00:03:49
CurrentURI: http://192.168.178.31:50002/m/NDLNA/77877.flac
CurrentURIMetadata:

upnp:classobject.item.audioItem.musicTrack</upnp:class>
dc:title03 - Never Gonna Make It (feat. Steve Houben)</dc:title>
upnp:artistMelanie De Biasio, Teun Verbruggen, Axel Gilain, Pascal Paulus, Pascal Mohy</upnp:artist>
upnp:albumA Stomach Is Burning (feat. Steve Houben)</upnp:album>
upnp:originalTrackNumber3</upnp:originalTrackNumber>
<upnp:albumArtURI dlna:profileID=“JPEG_TN” xmlns:dlna=“urn:schemas-dlna-org:metadata-1-0/”>http://192.168.178.31:50002/transcoder/jpegtnscaler.cgi/ebdart/77877.jpg</upnp:albumArtURI>
http://192.168.178.31:50002/m/NDLNA/77877.flac

nextURI: 
nextURIMetadata: 
PlayMedium: NETWORK
RecordMedium: NOT_IMPLEMENTED
WriteStatus: NOT_IMPLEMENTED

Current device AVT service description:

<?xml version="1.0"?> 1 0 SetAVTransportURI InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID CurrentURI in AVTransportURI CurrentURIMetaData in AVTransportURIMetaData GetMediaInfo InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID NrTracks out NumberOfTracks MediaDuration out CurrentMediaDuration CurrentURI out AVTransportURI CurrentURIMetaData out AVTransportURIMetaData NextURI out NextAVTransportURI NextURIMetaData out NextAVTransportURIMetaData PlayMedium out PlaybackStorageMedium RecordMedium out RecordStorageMedium WriteStatus out RecordMediumWriteStatus GetTransportInfo InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID CurrentTransportState out TransportState CurrentTransportStatus out TransportStatus CurrentSpeed out TransportPlaySpeed GetPositionInfo InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID Track out CurrentTrack TrackDuration out CurrentTrackDuration TrackMetaData out CurrentTrackMetaData TrackURI out CurrentTrackURI RelTime out RelativeTimePosition AbsTime out AbsoluteTimePosition RelCount out RelativeCounterPosition AbsCount out AbsoluteCounterPosition GetDeviceCapabilities InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID PlayMedia out PossiblePlaybackStorageMedia RecMedia out PossibleRecordStorageMedia RecQualityModes out PossibleRecordQualityModes GetTransportSettings InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID PlayMode out CurrentPlayMode RecQualityMode out CurrentRecordQualityMode SetPlayMode InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID NewPlayMode in CurrentPlayMode Stop InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID Play InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID Speed in TransportPlaySpeed Pause InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID Seek InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID Unit in A_ARG_TYPE_SeekMode Target in A_ARG_TYPE_SeekTarget Next InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID Previous InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID GetCurrentTransportActions InstanceID in A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID Actions out CurrentTransportActions TransportState string STOPPED PAUSED_PLAYBACK PLAYING TRANSITIONING NO_MEDIA_PRESENT TransportStatus string OK ERROR_OCCURRED PlaybackStorageMedium string UNKNOWN CD-DA DVD-VIDEO HDD NETWORK NONE RecordStorageMedium string NOT_IMPLEMENTED PossiblePlaybackStorageMedia string UNKNOWN CD-DA DVD-VIDEO HDD NETWORK PossibleRecordStorageMedia string NOT_IMPLEMENTED CurrentPlayMode string NORMAL SHUFFLE REPEAT_ONE REPEAT_TRACK REPEAT_ALL NORMAL TransportPlaySpeed string 1 RecordMediumWriteStatus string NOT_IMPLEMENTED CurrentRecordQualityMode string NOT_IMPLEMENTED PossibleRecordQualityModes string NOT_IMPLEMENTED NumberOfTracks ui4 0 1 CurrentTrack ui4 0 1 1 CurrentTrackDuration string CurrentMediaDuration string CurrentTrackMetaData string CurrentTrackURI string AVTransportURI string AVTransportURIMetaData string NextAVTransportURI string NextAVTransportURIMetaData string RelativeTimePosition string AbsoluteTimePosition string RelativeCounterPosition i4 AbsoluteCounterPosition i4 CurrentTransportActions string LastChange string A_ARG_TYPE_SeekMode string ABS_COUNT TRACK_NR REL_TIME A_ARG_TYPE_SeekTarget string A_ARG_TYPE_InstanceID ui4

Current device RootDevice description:

<?xml version="1.0"?> 1 0 DMR-1.50 QPlay:2 urn:schemas-upnp-org:device:MediaRenderer:1 HEGEL Hegel http://www.hegel.com H120 H120 1.0 http://www.hegel.com uuid:1cfb18fe-1dd2-11b2-99c9-8f57da743e33 http://192.168.178.67 urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:RenderingControl:1 urn:upnp-org:serviceId:RenderingControl /RenderingControl.xml /RenderingControl /RenderingControl/eventSub urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:AVTransport:1 urn:upnp-org:serviceId:AVTransport /AVTransport.xml /AVTransport /AVTransport/eventSub urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:ConnectionManager:1 urn:upnp-org:serviceId:ConnectionManager /ConnectionManager.xml /ConnectionManager /ConnectionManager/eventSub urn:schemas-tencent-com:service:QPlay:1 urn:tencent-com:serviceId:QPlay /QPlay.xml /QPlay /QPlay/eventSub http://192.168.178.67:38400

UPnP devices found : 1
Device #0: ID 0x0 HEGEL UID: uuid:1cfb18fe-1dd2-11b2-99c9-8f57da743e33 Location: http://192.168.178.67:38400/description.xml

CoreAudio audio path, buffer I/O frame size: 0

Max. memory for audio buffers: 3562MB

Local Audio Engine:
Exclusive access: Enabled
Integer mode: Enabled

Local devices found : 1
Device #0: ID 0x31 Ausgang (integriert) Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: AppleHDA:93 UID: AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,1:0

[r_a_l_f]

P.P.S.
This is what it looks like when playing Track #2…

…this when switching from #2 to #1. 24/192kHz is not correct…

[r_a_l_f]

Same here…

[r_a_l_f]

Track #3 from this album works perfectly…

[r_a_l_f]

BTW, the first track is played when the MacBook is connected to the Hegel via USB…

[Antoine]

If you try with local flac tracks, do you have the same issue?

[r_a_l_f]

Yes, I do. This issue is only associated with MQA tracks but not with all of them. The tracks that are not played with Audirvana are played via mconnect (i.e. without MQA unfolding). If I change the settings in Audirvana to “MQA decoder” (i.e. leave the decoding to the Hegel) the tracks under discussion are played. So the issue seems to be impacted by the MQA unfolding done by Audirvana…
I re-installed the software but the issue persists. Are there any caches I might try to empty or system files I may want to try to delete…?

[Antoine]

Are you using the latest firmware from Hegel?

[r_a_l_f]

Yes, I do - just verified…

[Antoine]

Have you tried to reset the network settings of your Hegel?

[r_a_l_f]

Thanks… I just reset the Hegel to factory settings but it did not solve the issue.

[Antoine]

Can you try using Airplay?

There is a regression not fixed by Apple since OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) that makes the AirPlay device unavailable to any application other than iTunes (it is not even listed in Audio Midi Setup application). Until Apple fixes this, there is a workaround to get it back:

1. Option/alt click on the loudspeaker icon on the menu bar

2. Select AirPlay in the selection menu that appears

3. You can then select AirPlay in Audirvana Audio Device Settings.

If the loudspeaker icon is not displayed on the menu bar, you can show it by going to System Preferences, Sounds page, and set the “Show loudness in menu bar” option.

In addition, be sure iTunes is not set to use the Airplay device.

[r_a_l_f]

Maybe I do not get the point but AirPlay is not the issue here. If I would use AirPlay I would not be able to take advantage of MQA since streaming would only be at 16/44,1 (the Hegel does not support AirPlay 2 yet).

[Antoine]

This is just for testing purpose and find what is the source of the issue. Can you try with Airplay?

[r_a_l_f]

I see. Airplay works…

[Antoine]

Your Tidal account is not connected anymore in Audirvana, can you try with a track from Tidal?

[r_a_l_f]

This is correct. I do have this album also on my NAS. TIDAL is also working with AirPlay. This Bruckner recording (first track) did not work via UPnP…

[Antoine]

@r_a_l_f

CurrentURI: http://192.168.178.31:50002/m/NDLNA/77877.flac

Do you have another app that control your H120 at the same time as Audirvana is opened? Audirvana do not send audio over UPnP in flac, it send it in wav to not loose audio quality of your track.

[r_a_l_f]

No, mconnect is always switched off on my iPhone. Interestingly the issue impacts only the first song of some MQA albums. Moreover, if Audirvana is set to “MQA decoding”, i.e. if the unfolded file is sent to the Hegel it is working…

[Antoine]

When you have MQA Decoding enable, can you open the debug info and check this line:

CurrentURI: http://192.168.178.31:50002/m/NDLNA/77877.flac

Do you see mqa in the link?