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HiFiBerryOS output volume way too low

ps

November 07, 2021 02:11

None

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My config:

RaspberryPi 3b+
HiFiBerry Dac+ Pro
HiFiBerryOS version 20211105

Today I moved from Moode 7.3.1 to HiFiBerryOS version 20211105. It was immediately obvious the output volume from HiFiBerryOS is waay too low to my powered speakers (Emotiva Airmotiv 4s). This is with all default settings during HifFiBerryOS setup - no changes. In the web interface the volume level must be 20 or higher to get even audible sound, and at volume level 50 the dB level from the speakers is still woefully low compared to my previous Moode 7.3.1 build (it's nearly half of the dB output of Moode volume level 50). Moode was also at all its defaults - no special gain settings, volume steps etc.

Anyone know what up with this?

Thanks,
Pete

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4 comments

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team November 07, 2021 06:21

  Did you raise the volume to 100% ?

• 0
  
  ps November 07, 2021 14:38

  Thanks for your reply.

  I did not raise volume to 100% yet, but do I really need to in order to show that HiFiBerryOS playback volume is too low? Here is my setup:

  I control playback volume with my UPnP control point app (BubbleUPnP on Android). My powered studio monitors are 100% gain always - there's no volume control on the speakers, I control signal level before it reaches them.

  The HiFiBerryOS web player volume slider responds to my UPnP control point app just like Moode OS did. For example: volume level 50 on BubbleUPnP shows up as volume level 50 on both HiFiBerryOS and Moode. HOWEVER: the output volume from HifFiBerryOS at the speakers is roughly half the volume of Moode OS. The output dB level is simply way too low.

  MoodeOS does not have this problem. I'm fairly confident Volumio won't have this problem either but I can try it if really necessary.

  Daher is that my dilemma. Any idea what might be causing it?

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team November 07, 2021 14:52

  If you use only half of the volume control range, it's normal that you won't get the full volume. You need to use the full range. At 100% you will get the full output volume. There is no standard way how to map a percentage range to decibels. Other distributions might do the mapping differently. HiFiBerryOS directly maps it to the underlaying OS controls without additional processing in between. 
  It's not a "problem", but the mapping might just be different to what other do. 

• 0
  
  ps November 07, 2021 15:01

  Hat geklappt - I raised the volume to 100% and it's plenty: ear-damagingly loud and equivalent to the other distribution. Thanks!
  
  And thanks for the very nice work that is HiFiBerryOS: simple, elegant, stable - does everything one needs without all the distractions.

  Edited by ps November 07, 2021 15:09