[Problem]: Low volume

[leksmw]

What happened?

I use a USB sound card. The volume of the speaker system is at maximum. But the sound becomes audible only from 40% and above. (amixer cset numid=3 100% is set, of course)

Relevant log output

No response

System Information.

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Rev 1.1

Configuration Information.

alex@raspberrypi:~ $ shairport-sync --displayConfig
>> Display Config Start.

From "uname -a":
 Linux raspberrypi 6.1.21-v7+ #1642 SMP Mon Apr  3 17:20:52 BST 2023 armv7l GNU/                                                                Linux

From /etc/os-release:
 Raspbian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)

From /sys/firmware/devicetree/base/model:
 Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Rev 1.1

Shairport Sync Version String:
 4.3.5-OpenSSL-Avahi-ALSA-metadata-sysconfdir:/etc

Command Line:
 shairport-sync --displayConfig

Configuration File:
 /etc/shairport-sync.conf

Configuration File Settings:
 output_device = "hw:1";

>> Display Config End.
>> Goodbye!

PulseAudio or PipeWire installed?

• Check if your system uses a Sound Server.

How did you install Shairport Sync?

A package manager (apt, apt install, yum, pkg, etc.)

Check previous issues

• Confirm

[mikebrady]

Thanks for the report.

The configuration file output looks a little odd. The entry:

 output_device = "hw:1";

must be within the alsa section. If it was, it would look like this in the output from --displayConfig:

...
 alsa : 
 {
   output_device = "hw:1";
 };
...

So, if this is not just an editing error, that setting will be ignored. Take a look at the file /etc/shairport-sync.sample file that should have been installed for more information.

Also, it's worth checking with a tool like alsamixer to see if the sound card has a built-in mixer that is not at 100%. If there is a mixer, you can bring it under Shairport Sync's control using the configuration file.