HifiBerry AMP is just too loud by default

Matt Short

January 06, 2016 14:09

None

hi, got the AMP up and running with a problem. its just too loud for my office space out of the box. I'm streaming to it from ITunes on my windows box.

I found a similar post on here which recommended checking the mixer settings, then adjusting. however this doesn't appear to have worked.

my amixer command outputs the following.

Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback -10239 - 400
Mono: Playback -2258 [75%] [-22.58dB] [on]

So from the previous post, I ought to be able to reduce the default volume uning the command

amixer sset "PCM" 75%

but this doesn't seem to work for me.

anyone else worked through this?

Date Votes

13 comments

0

HiFiBerry team January 06, 2016 16:25

Try to reduce the volume even more. Also please post the full amixer output.

Best regards
Daniel

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hifi January 06, 2016 17:01

I had the same issue with AMP+. I tuned the 'amixer' and it's fine now.

This command defines pretty quiet volume level:
amixer set Master 120

This is medium level:
amixer set Master 150

And this is loud:
amixer set Master 180

I use software volume control through 'mpd' player. It works in the
range which you defined in the 'amixer'. So if you defined medium
level through 'amixer' even 100% level in 'mpd' will not be loud.

You can probably achieve the same result by running 'amixer set PCM ...'
but I didn't try that. And more likely you have to define different
numbers in that case.

Hope this helps.

Edited by hifi January 06, 2016 17:23

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Matt Short January 06, 2016 17:17

The software volume control option when set in rune doesnt allow me the ability to change the volume on the playback page.

The hardware option when set, gives me the volume control on the playback page, but adjustments dont work.

are you describing the situation where you have software volume control setup in your player and it works?

those commands dont appear to work for me, whilst they do make a change to the setting reported by amixer command, there is no change in the volume output to the speakers.

@Daniel, that is the full amixer output as far as i can tell.

Edited by Matt Short January 06, 2016 17:17

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hifi January 06, 2016 17:20

Yes, in my case I defined in 'mpd' config file to use 'software' volume control:

mixer_type "software"

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Matt Short January 07, 2016 13:27

so I've spent a lot more time with this now and i just don't get the ability to change the volume.

[root@runeaudio ~]# amixer scontrols
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0

So I only have one mixer and its name is PCM

[root@runeaudio ~]# amixer sget PCM
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback -10239 - 400
Mono: Playback -4918 [50%] [-49.18dB] [on]

I've set playback for Mono to 50% with the command

amixer sset 'PCM' 50%

but this doesn't adjust anything. I've set it as low as 5% and it persists a reboot. but it doesn't adjust the volume. Am I doing this right?

I'm streaming via airplay from Itunes to my hifiberry Amp on a pi 2.

Volume in Itunes is basically one click above zero. I can't cope with it any louder.

I don't know where else to look. anyone got any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

Edited by Matt Short January 07, 2016 13:28

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HiFiBerry team January 07, 2016 13:33

Please post the whole amixer output (not just amixer scontrols).

Best regards
Daniel

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Matt Short January 07, 2016 13:34

as above, thats the only output i get from the amixer command.

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Matt Short January 07, 2016 13:35

[root@runeaudio ~]# amixer
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback -10239 - 400
Mono: Playback -9705 [5%] [-97.05dB] [on]

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HiFiBerry team January 07, 2016 13:35

Then you're most likely looking on the ALSA controls of the onboard sound. Check that you disable the onboard sound.

Best regards
Daniel

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Matt Short January 11, 2016 20:53

if that were the case, how would the sound come out of the AMP terminals to the connected speakers? not sure how it works, so need to check that.

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HiFiBerry team January 11, 2016 20:54

You can have multiple sound cards installed and different applications might use different sound cards. Check the output of "aplay -l"
The amixer output you've posted is not from an HiFiBerry Amp driver.

Best regards
Daniel

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Matt Short January 11, 2016 21:08

right, i remember you saying that earlier, just didn't grasp it.

ive now swapped to moode audio player.

root@moode:~# aplay -l

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****

card 0: sndrpihifiberry [snd_rpi_hifiberry_amp], device 0: HifiBerry AMP HiFi tas5713-hifi-0 []

Subdevices: 1/1

Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

root@moode:~# amixer

Simple mixer control 'Master',0

Capabilities: volume volume-joined

Playback channels: Mono

Capture channels: Mono

Limits: 0 - 248

Mono: 199 [80%]

Simple mixer control 'Channels',0

Capabilities: volume

Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right

Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right

Limits: 0 - 248

Front Left: 218 [88%]

Front Right: 218 [88%]

So with this new image, we have actually disabled the onboard sound card.

I need to go back to Rune Audio and ask in the forum why its not disabling the sound card.

thanks for the help and persistence on this one.

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Michael Dupont July 28, 2016 18:12

Hi there,

i also encountered the same issue, came along with this thread,helpt me alot!

except for i didn't switch to moode audio player

i made it work with rune audio + rpi2/3 (i have both running) + Hifiberryamp+

so the thing is with 'aplay -l' i managed to see that my hifiberry AMP is card 1

root@runeaudio ~]# aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: ALSA [bcm2835 ALSA], device 0: bcm2835 ALSA [bcm2835 ALSA]
  Subdevices: 8/8
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
  Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
  Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
  Subdevice #3: subdevice #3
  Subdevice #4: subdevice #4
  Subdevice #5: subdevice #5
  Subdevice #6: subdevice #6
  Subdevice #7: subdevice #7
card 0: ALSA [bcm2835 ALSA], device 1: bcm2835 ALSA [bcm2835 IEC958/HDMI]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: sndrpihifiberry [snd_rpi_hifiberry_amp], device 0: HifiBerry AMP HiFi tas5713-hifi-0 []
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

knowing that my hifiberry AMP is CARD 1

i put in the command 'amixer -c 1'

[root@runeaudio ~]# amixer -c 1

Simple mixer control 'Master',0

  Capabilities: volume volume-joined

  Playback channels: Mono

  Capture channels: Mono

  Limits: 0 - 248

  Mono: 248 [100%]

Simple mixer control 'Channels',0

  Capabilities: volume

  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right

  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right

  Limits: 0 - 248

  Front Left: 218 [88%]

  Front Right: 218 [88%]

Here i learn that my card to control gets the name 'Master'

so the only thing left to do is type in

amixer -c 1 sset "Master" 75%

[root@runeaudio ~]# amixer -c 1 sset "Master" 75%

Simple mixer control 'Master',0

  Capabilities: volume volume-joined

  Playback channels: Mono

  Capture channels: Mono

  Limits: 0 - 248

  Mono: 186 [75%]

you don't have to reboot, when you make sure your playing music while doing these changes in the settings you immediately hear the adjustment, i put mine in the bedroom at 75%

i also tested if after a reboot of the rpi everything stays adjusted, and it does!

i hope some others with the same problem benefits off this!

greetz and enjoy!

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