[PROBLEM] USB DAC that works with Pi Zero will not work with Pi 4B

[07lema]

I have a Lusya SA9023A USB DAC that has been working flawlessly for a couple of years with a Pi Zero W and also a Pi Zero 2 W. After upgrading to a Pi 4B (2 W couldn't deal with HD Bluetooth) I started getting the following error message:

Code:

MPD error

Failed to open "ALSA Default" (alsa);

Error opening ALSA device "_audioout"; snd_pcm_hw_params() failed: Broken pipe

Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up, so it obviously is compatible to some extent. After the message shows it will refuse to play anymore until I reboot.

Seems strange that it works perfectly with my Zeros (32 and 64bit installations) but not with the 4B. I have tried multiple different installations and moOde versions on the 4B.

[jonners]

I have a Lusya SA9023A USB DAC that has been working flawlessly for a couple of years with a Pi Zero W and also a Pi Zero 2 W. After upgrading to a Pi 4B (2 W couldn't deal with HD Bluetooth) I started getting the following error message:

Code:

MPD error

Failed to open "ALSA Default" (alsa);

Error opening ALSA device "_audioout"; snd_pcm_hw_params() failed: Broken pipe

Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up, so it obviously is compatible to some extent. After the message shows it will refuse to play anymore until I reboot.

Seems strange that it works perfectly with my Zeros (32 and 64bit installations) but not with the 4B. I have tried multiple different installations and moOde versions on the 4B.

Did you use the Raspberry Pi Imager and follow the Setup Guide instructions?

[Tim Curtis]

I have a Lusya SA9023A USB DAC that has been working flawlessly for a couple of years with a Pi Zero W and also a Pi Zero 2 W. After upgrading to a Pi 4B (2 W couldn't deal with HD Bluetooth) I started getting the following error message:

Code:

MPD error

Failed to open "ALSA Default" (alsa);

Error opening ALSA device "_audioout"; snd_pcm_hw_params() failed: Broken pipe

Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up, so it obviously is compatible to some extent. After the message shows it will refuse to play anymore until I reboot.

Seems strange that it works perfectly with my Zeros (32 and 64bit installations) but not with the 4B. I have tried multiple different installations and moOde versions on the 4B.

This symptom "Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up" suggests some sort of electrical or mechanical issue with the USB ports or cable that causes loss of signal.

[07lema]

I have a Lusya SA9023A USB DAC that has been working flawlessly for a couple of years with a Pi Zero W and also a Pi Zero 2 W. After upgrading to a Pi 4B (2 W couldn't deal with HD Bluetooth) I started getting the following error message:

Code:

MPD error

Failed to open "ALSA Default" (alsa);

Error opening ALSA device "_audioout"; snd_pcm_hw_params() failed: Broken pipe

Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up, so it obviously is compatible to some extent. After the message shows it will refuse to play anymore until I reboot.

Seems strange that it works perfectly with my Zeros (32 and 64bit installations) but not with the 4B. I have tried multiple different installations and moOde versions on the 4B.

This symptom "Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up" suggests some sort of electrical or mechanical issue with the USB ports or cable that causes loss of signal.

Thanks for your reply.
I've had another play with this setup and realised that an unplug of the DAC also temporarily resets it and makes it work again (no reboot required).
But more importantly I found that it actually seems to work fine in the top left (2.0) USB port only. In previous testing I'd tried multiple ports, but I must have missed that one.
The other DAC I had been using works in all ports.
So there's an issue somewhere, but as far as I'm concerned this problem is now solved.
Might be useful for someone else though - if you're having a similar issue with a USB DAC, try all four ports.

[Nutul]

I have a Lusya SA9023A USB DAC that has been working flawlessly for a couple of years with a Pi Zero W and also a Pi Zero 2 W. After upgrading to a Pi 4B (2 W couldn't deal with HD Bluetooth) I started getting the following error message:

Code:

MPD error

Failed to open "ALSA Default" (alsa);

Error opening ALSA device "_audioout"; snd_pcm_hw_params() failed: Broken pipe

Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up, so it obviously is compatible to some extent. After the message shows it will refuse to play anymore until I reboot.

Seems strange that it works perfectly with my Zeros (32 and 64bit installations) but not with the 4B. I have tried multiple different installations and moOde versions on the 4B.

This symptom "Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up" suggests some sort of electrical or mechanical issue with the USB ports or cable that causes loss of signal.

Thanks for your reply.
I've had another play with this setup and realised that an unplug of the DAC also temporarily resets it and makes it work again (no reboot required).
But more importantly I found that it actually seems to work fine in the top left (2.0) USB port only. In previous testing I'd tried multiple ports, but I must have missed that one.
The other DAC I had been using works in all ports.
So there's an issue somewhere, but as far as I'm concerned this problem is now solved.
Might be useful for someone else though - if you're having a similar issue with a USB DAC, try all four ports.

I had some similar issue, as my DAC (an Eversolo Z8) is recognized on the USB 2 ports, but not on the USB 3 ones.

[07lema]

I have a Lusya SA9023A USB DAC that has been working flawlessly for a couple of years with a Pi Zero W and also a Pi Zero 2 W. After upgrading to a Pi 4B (2 W couldn't deal with HD Bluetooth) I started getting the following error message:

Code:

MPD error

Failed to open "ALSA Default" (alsa);

Error opening ALSA device "_audioout"; snd_pcm_hw_params() failed: Broken pipe

Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up, so it obviously is compatible to some extent. After the message shows it will refuse to play anymore until I reboot.

Seems strange that it works perfectly with my Zeros (32 and 64bit installations) but not with the 4B. I have tried multiple different installations and moOde versions on the 4B.

This symptom "Usually after a reboot the Pi 4B will play one or two songs before this message pops up" suggests some sort of electrical or mechanical issue with the USB ports or cable that causes loss of signal.

Thanks for your reply.
I've had another play with this setup and realised that an unplug of the DAC also temporarily resets it and makes it work again (no reboot required).
But more importantly I found that it actually seems to work fine in the top left (2.0) USB port only. In previous testing I'd tried multiple ports, but I must have missed that one.
The other DAC I had been using works in all ports.
So there's an issue somewhere, but as far as I'm concerned this problem is now solved.
Might be useful for someone else though - if you're having a similar issue with a USB DAC, try all four ports.

I had some similar issue, as my DAC (an Eversolo Z8) is recognized on the USB 2 ports, but not on the USB 3 ones.

Mine only works in one of the two USB 2.0 ports. Very strange

[Tim Curtis]

- Examine the spring contacts in the USB ports on the Pi and the audio device to see if any are bent
- Use electrical contact cleaner on USB ports and cable ends
- Swap to another USB cable
- Make sure sufficient power to DAC