I have been successfully using the USB connection between my Rivo + and LAIV Harmony DAC. Volumio OS 3.799. When I had the two connected on USB, Volumio automatically populated the AUDIO OUTPUT DEVICE setting with “LAIV DAC”. The drop down also included S/PDIF + AES/EBU + I2s, but I had no reason to use it.
Today I tried hooking up an HDMI cable to use the I2S connection between the two units. LAIV support told me to use the PS AUDIO pinout on the Rivo, because that is the default pinout on the LAIV, though the LAIV supports 8 other pinouts. After rebooting the Rivo, and attempting to play music using I2S, I got the dreaded “failed to open ALSA device” message. “LAIV DAC” was still populating the OUTPUT DEVICE field. When I recycled both devices, there was only one available selection under OUTPUT DEVICE: S/PDIF + AES/EBU + I2s. When I tried playing music, everything now works normally and it sounds fine, still using the “Default” I2s pinout on the LAIV, and the PSAudio pinout on the Rivo.
So…I need help understanding the dropdown options. Is it possible the Rivo will only “see” and name the LAIV DAC as a drop down option when using the USB connection? And therefore, the S/PDIF + AES/EBU + I2S drop down option is by design, and expected? It seems to now be working. So perhaps this is what shows up except when using USB?
To use the I2S out, you need to select S/PDIF + AES/EBU + I2s and then choose the I2S pinout that it’s compatible with your DAC (PS Audio will be with most).
exactly, only USB connection makes possible to show the name of the device, all the other outputs provide audio signals only and they are always shown in the dropdown menu
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Hi @volumio
Perfect. Thank you. Might I suggest that you add that piece of information to the User Manual? It might save confusion and make it easier for people to know how it works right at the start.