Tidal Streaming EarMen Sparrow and no Volume Control

I have a new EarMen Sparrow DAC plugged in with Tidal streaming through Audirvana on a Windows 10 Laptop.

I mainly listen to MQA Master files. The volume appears to be at a fixed level. No pressing of + or - or sliding of the bar works affects the sound level. Computer volume, mute etc has no affect.

What am I missing with the setup? Are my settings correct?
I have posted the debug file below so any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Audirvana Studio 1.12.2 (11202)

Windows 10 (19044) with 32GB physical RAM

SIGNAL PROCESSING:

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

UPSAMPLING:
r8brain not in use
r8brain filter parameters
Bandwidth = 99.5%
Stop band attenuation 218dB
Phase linear

AUDIO VOLUME:
Max allowed volume: 54.2857
Replay Gain: None
SW volume control: ON

LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 0 folders
Library database path: C:\Users\trevo\AppData\Local\Audirvana\Audirvana\AudirvanaDatabase.sqlite

Remote Control server:
Listening on 192.168.20.11 on port 64789

ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES
TIDAL: Connected as HIFI

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

Max. memory for audio buffers: 10272MB

Local Audio Engine: WASAPI

Preferred device:
Speakers (EarMen Sparrow)
Model UID:MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints
UID:\?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{98fc0cd0-59ee-40dc-9f96-dfbf6f38e852}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}

Currently playing in Integer Mode:
Device: 2ch 24bits Integer, 6 bytes per frame 88.2kHz

Active Sample Rate: 88.2kHz

Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: none
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: OFF

Selected device:
Local audio device
Speakers (EarMen Sparrow)
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Model Name: Speakers (EarMen Sparrow)
Model UID: MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints
UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{98fc0cd0-59ee-40dc-9f96-dfbf6f38e852}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}

10 available sample rates up to 768000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
705600
768000
Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
MQA Renderer device
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

Audio channels in use
Number of channels: 2
Use as stereo device only: No
Simple stereo device: 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
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 352.8kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 352.8kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 352.8kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 384kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 384kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 384kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 705.6kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 705.6kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 705.6kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 768kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 768kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 768kHz

Local devices found : 2
Device #0: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek Audio) Manufacturer: Microsoft Model UID: MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{88d1cab7-5afe-444a-b39d-2a70cdd7f66d}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2} Model Name: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek Audio)
Device #1: Speakers (EarMen Sparrow) Manufacturer: Microsoft Model UID: MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{98fc0cd0-59ee-40dc-9f96-dfbf6f38e852}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2} Model Name: Speakers (EarMen Sparrow)

UPnP devices found : 0

Hello @TopCat,

Your device states that it doesn’t have volume control. You then need to remove software volume control in Audirvāna Studio and change the volume on your device.

@Antoine Thank you for your prompt reply. I had tried with both settings - same result.

Please see new debug file:

Audirvana Studio 1.12.2 (11202)

Windows 10 (19044) with 32GB physical RAM

SIGNAL PROCESSING:

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

UPSAMPLING:
r8brain not in use
r8brain filter parameters
Bandwidth = 99.5%
Stop band attenuation 218dB
Phase linear

AUDIO VOLUME:
Max allowed volume: 54.2857
Replay Gain: None
SW volume control: OFF

LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 0 folders
Library database path: C:\Users\trevo\AppData\Local\Audirvana\Audirvana\AudirvanaDatabase.sqlite

Remote Control server:
Listening on 192.168.20.11 on port 64789

ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES
TIDAL: Connected as HIFI

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

Max. memory for audio buffers: 9672MB

Local Audio Engine: WASAPI

Preferred device:
Speakers (EarMen Sparrow)
Model UID:MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints
UID:\?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{98fc0cd0-59ee-40dc-9f96-dfbf6f38e852}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}

Active Sample Rate: 48kHz

Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: none
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: OFF

Selected device:
Local audio device
Speakers (EarMen Sparrow)
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Model Name: Speakers (EarMen Sparrow)
Model UID: MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints
UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{98fc0cd0-59ee-40dc-9f96-dfbf6f38e852}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2}

10 available sample rates up to 768000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
705600
768000
Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
MQA Renderer device
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

Audio channels in use
Number of channels: 2
Use as stereo device only: No
Simple stereo device: 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
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 44.1kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 48kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 88.2kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 96kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 176.4kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 192kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 352.8kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 352.8kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 352.8kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 384kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 384kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 384kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 705.6kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 705.6kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 705.6kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 16bit little endian 768kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 24bit little endian 768kHz
2 ch Integer PCM 32bit little endian 768kHz

Local devices found : 2
Device #0: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek Audio) Manufacturer: Microsoft Model UID: MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{88d1cab7-5afe-444a-b39d-2a70cdd7f66d}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2} Model Name: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek Audio)
Device #1: Speakers (EarMen Sparrow) Manufacturer: Microsoft Model UID: MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints UID: \?\SWD#MMDEVAPI#{0.0.0.00000000}.{98fc0cd0-59ee-40dc-9f96-dfbf6f38e852}#{e6327cad-dcec-4949-ae8a-991e976a79d2} Model Name: Speakers (EarMen Sparrow)

UPnP devices found : 0

What is the +/- step setting you have? Do you have 1dB as setting?

Yes 1dB as setting

@Antoine Totally unrelated but my laptop just prompted a restart for a windows update.

After restarting and completing the windows update - the volume control now seems to working as expected and normally. I will monitor and let you know if anything changes.

Thank you for your support.

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