USB DAC keeps disconnecting after some time

Ask Fedora
1

I have a Ifi Zen Dac, connected via the USB to my PC running Fedora 38, after a while my dac disconnects and i need to replug it for it to start working again, is there any way to fix this as its very annoying to replug a dac when enjoying music.

2

Please post the messages that you see in dmesg when this happens to check for clues.

3

Hi the dmesg reads as following

[16695.013481] usb 3-4: USB disconnect, device number 4
[16696.138137] usb 3-4: new high-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
[16696.266576] usb 3-4: New USB device found, idVendor=20b1, idProduct=3008, bcdDevice= 7.4b
[16696.266582] usb 3-4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=3, SerialNumber=2
[16696.266585] usb 3-4: Product: iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio
[16696.266587] usb 3-4: Manufacturer: iFi (by AMR)
[16696.266588] usb 3-4: SerialNumber: 0000
[16696.303575] usb 3-4: 1:4 : unsupported format bits 0x100000000
[16696.314825] usb 3-4: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=32512), cval->res is probably wrong.
[16696.314829] usb 3-4: [10] FU [iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio  Playback Volume] ch = 2, val = -32512/0/1
[16696.317824] usb 3-4: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=32512), cval->res is probably wrong.
[16696.317828] usb 3-4: [10] FU [iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio  Playback Volume] ch = 1, val = -32512/0/1
4

What are messages leading up to tbe disconnect?

Given the unsupported foemat and unlikely big volume range problems I wonder if the driver kills the device?

5

This is the message as that i got when DAC got randomly disconnected, above this is just regular info

[  143.179250] systemd-journald[745]: /var/log/journal/0b7a3c9a11d14180a4f1845bd90daa9b/user-1000.journal: Monotonic clock jumped backwards relative to last journal entry, rotating.
[  143.444556] rfkill: input handler enabled
[  144.867696] rfkill: input handler disabled
[  197.275731] usb 3-4: new high-speed USB device number 2 using xhci_hcd
[  197.404148] usb 3-4: New USB device found, idVendor=20b1, idProduct=3008, bcdDevice= 7.4b
[  197.404156] usb 3-4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=3, SerialNumber=2
[  197.404159] usb 3-4: Product: iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio
[  197.404161] usb 3-4: Manufacturer: iFi (by AMR)
[  197.404162] usb 3-4: SerialNumber: 0000
[  197.430555] mc: Linux media interface: v0.10
[  197.491281] usb 3-4: 1:4 : unsupported format bits 0x100000000
[  197.503145] usb 3-4: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=32512), cval->res is probably wrong.
[  197.503147] usb 3-4: [10] FU [iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio  Playback Volume] ch = 2, val = -32512/0/1
[  197.506150] usb 3-4: Warning! Unlikely big volume range (=32512), cval->res is probably wrong.
[  197.506152] usb 3-4: [10] FU [iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio  Playback Volume] ch = 1, val = -32512/0/1
[  197.506672] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio
6

My guess is that the driver cannot handle your DAC.

7

Where do i go from now, do i report this as Driver Bug, Kernel Bug, Pipewire bug etc

8

Try reporting an issue in the kernel with details of dac like usb id

9

Solution
Cuz Ifi provided a small cable for the DAC i had to use a extension usb cable, that cable was USB 2.0 while the Ifi’s was 3.0, After buying a 1,5 meter USB 3.0 the problem was gone, ill leave this here incase someone else has a issue like this