Asset "Stuttering" At Track Start & Track Skip

[producer_ben]

Hi,
hopefully this isn't a repeated post from elsewhere in the forum.

I'm running :
Asset UpNp R 2025-03-12 [Linux-x64]
Synology DS718+ NAS on DSM 7
Bubble Server (on NAS)

The endpoints are :
Roberts Stream (internet radio)
LG C4 tv
Denon DNP-800NE (hifi separate)

Everything is connected by Ethernet cables (CAT8 throughout the small property)

I have a problem where when playing tracks, they will "stutter" at the beginning. It only lasts for a beat or so.

It will play the first note or beat, stop for just under 1 second then continue.

I've contacted Bubble support and we've run a lot of tests and they have investigated all their logs and can see no problems with their software both server side and via their Android app.

I have tried with both the Open Home enabled and disabled on their server and again this makes no difference. I do have gapless enabled because I do own a lot of live albums and some compilations that are designed to be a "continuous mix".

All of my FLAC files are accurate and without problems. I even re-ripped a few to get a checksum and still the same issue was/is present.

I have deleted the library and re-scanned, I have done numerous restarts and cold starts on the NAS and pieces of audio equipment, without any success.

There appears to be no pattern to this issue, meaning whether it is a playlist or full album, the same happens.

I'm hoping there's a solution, even if it is some "command" to insert into the control point override section.

Thanks in advance

[Spoon]

Create mp3 files of an album and try to play the mp3 files, if they play without stutter, try Apple Lossless.

[producer_ben]

Hi spoon,
Thanks for the reply.

Don't mean to sound rude or ungrateful for the support, but I'm not converting to MP3 or apple "lossless".

My collection is in FLAC, a mix of 44.1/16bit to 96k/24bit (currently).

My control point is bubble upnp And I've addressed this with them initially and they have gone through logs saying it's a media server issue. With Asset being my media server of choice, then it brings me here.

Knowing my Nas and associated networking is all "good", it's brought me here to see what can be done as a suitable resolution. Compressing to lossy formats isn't a suitable option though.

All the best

[garym]

A couple of thoughts that may or may not be helpful.

1. I have seen cases (and has happened to me in the past) where there is stuttering at the start of a track anytime the playlist is moving from one format to another (for example, moving from a 16/44.1 file to a 24/96 file) or even when starting playback of an album that is different from the last song played (maybe playing a 16/44.1 album and then moving next to a 24/96 or 24/192 album). You might test this hypothesis. If true, this is caused by the DAC in your endpoints dealing with such format switching rather than a problem with your network.

2. Do you synchronize any of your endpoints with each other when playing (that is, playing the same thing to multiple endpoints at the same time). I'm not even sure if UpNP servers like ASSET are capable of synching endpoints. If you are synching endpoints during play, I would do some testing without synching.

Good luck.

[GBrown]

Don't mean to sound rude or ungrateful for the support, but I'm not converting to MP3 or apple "lossless".

I believe the suggestion to convert one album to mp3 or even ALAC (and yes this is a lossless format) was only to test if either of these would have the same stuttering impact. Spoon is likely trying to help troubleshoot and rule out issues for you. I do not think the intent was to have you convert your entire library of FLAC files.