TOPIC:

I updated Volumio in my SHD to the latest version today and immediately noticed something strange: the new Volumio seems to play the first few seconds of a FLAC or MP3 file louder before gradually returning to normal volume. Has anyone else noticed this?

There's an interesting quirk in the Volumio setup. Volume normalization is turned on by default even though it indicates off in the GUI.

To remedy just turn Normalization on and save your setting. Then turn it back off and save again.
You only need to do this one time and the unit will operate correctly.
However, if there's another FW update forthcoming, you should check again.

This quirk is present in the previous version firmware as well. So, unless you're operating with the original FW version 1.015, you have Volume Normalization active even though it says you don't.

Dave.

I noticed this last night. Since I was listening to a Bach violin concerto performed in a large space, the ambience of the recording location was audible, died down and the music began. I thought "That's odd, I never noticed that before."

Thank you @dreite (Dave) for pointing out this quirk in the Volumio setup.

I haven't taken the time to fully identify the threshold for this, but if your program material is down in the -20dbFS region, the normalization feature will increase that fully 14db. (And likewise decrease when you switch to louder material.)
So, you can experience some very interesting pumping effects (up or down) at the start of certain music tracks.

If you're playing music with limited dynamic range and high-ish recorded levels you probably won't experience the issue.

Anyways, the fix is as I outlined above. You only need to perform that procedure once and you won't be bothered by the effect again........unless a new firmware is installed and re-incorporates the problem.

Cheers,

Dave.

For those who have installed the latest update, (Revision 1.048) this volume normalization bug has still not been fixed.
After the update any program material played via the Volumio "LAN" path will have normalization active.

To fix, go to "PLAYBACK OPTIONS", set "Volume Normalization" On, Save, set "Volume Normalization" Off, Save.

You're good to go now.

Dave.

Hello everybody,

I'm a new happy owner of a SHD since a few days

Out of the box, i had exactly the same problem than you, folks, during my first listening sessions...
And nearly a heart attack on a few tracks, when listening a bit... loud

The Minidsp support gave me the solution (thanks to them ) before i found this discussion...

Anyway...

I posted a video on YouTube about that, showing the modification in volume level with normalization On (that was intended for minidsp support).

If you want to have a look, folks, it's here (it's in French) :



See you !
Fabien