Cambridge Audio XCA80 and CXN USB Class 2 compatibility

lieven · March 20, 2019, 11:06am

Hi,

I’m on the fence of purchasing a Cambridge Audio CXA80 amplifier, which has a USB input.
The documentation on the Cambridge Audio website states that this USB DAC works in Class 2 for both Windows (using their driver), and Mac without the need for a special driver. They mention that Linux support is dependant on the distribution/kernel used.

Does anyone use Volumio on a Raspberry Pi or USBridge in combination with the Cambridge Audio CXA80 (or CXN streamer?)
Are you using it in Class 2 so you can play higher samplerate files than 96KHz/24-bit?

Thank you,
Lieven

fatjimmy · March 29, 2019, 9:24pm

UPDATE: It’s working! Use this output device “front:CARD=C10,DEV=0”, YAY!

I start squeezelite like this: " /usr/bin/squeezelite -n familyroom -o front:CARD=C10,DEV=0 -d all=debug"

I test with aplay like this: “aplay -D plughw:CARD=C10,DEV=0 ./.kodi/addons/resource.uisounds.nebula/resources/cursor.wav”

OLD POST WHEN IT WASN’T WORKING:

I just received my “cambridge audio cxa80” and my “raspberry pi” sees it… but it won’t play, similar issues to when I hooked raspberry pi up to a “ps sprout 100”. I’m running a dec 2018 version of OSMC KODI maybe I will try it on another raspberry pi kernel. (4.14.78-4-osmc #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Dec 12 17:58:11 UTC 2018 armv7l GNU/Linux). Maybe I’ll try some other of the options but not hopeful.

[15:13:34.604970] output_init_alsa:860 unable to lock memory: Cannot allocate memory
[15:13:34.609908] output_thread:638 open output device: default:CARD=C10
[15:13:34.609908] output_init_alsa:883 unable to set output sched fifo: Operation not permitted

SQUEEZELITE
/usr/bin/squeezelite -d -n familyroom -o default:CARD=C10

[15:13:34.579329] stream_init:290 init stream
[15:13:34.579543] stream_init:291 streambuf size: 2097152
[15:13:34.582471] output_init_alsa:817 init output
[15:13:34.582609] output_init_alsa:846 requested alsa_buffer: 40 alsa_period: 4 format: any mmap: 1
[15:13:34.582641] output_init_common:346 outputbuf size: 3528000
[15:13:34.582778] output_init_common:370 idle timeout: 0
[15:13:34.597923] ALSA snd_pcm_hw_open:1602 open ‘/dev/snd/pcmC1D0p’ failed (-77)
[15:13:34.604760] output_init_common:410 supported rates: 384000 352800 192000 176400 96000 88200 48000 44100 32000 24000 22500 16000 12000 11025 8000
[15:13:34.604970] output_init_alsa:860 unable to lock memory: Cannot allocate memory
[15:13:34.609908] output_thread:638 open output device: default:CARD=C10
[15:13:34.609908] output_init_alsa:883 unable to set output sched fifo: Operation not permitted
[15:13:34.610113] alsa_open:355 opening device at: 44100
[15:13:34.617350] ALSA snd_pcm_hw_open:1602 open ‘/dev/snd/pcmC1D0p’ failed (-77)
[15:13:34.620908] alsa_open:406 opened device default:CARD=C10 using format: S32_LE sample rate: 44100 mmap: 1
[15:13:34.621169] alsa_open:485 buffer: 40 period: 4 -> buffer size: 3763 period size: 940
[15:13:34.621803] decode_init:129 init decode, include codecs: exclude codecs:
[15:13:34.622009] register_dsd:624 using dsd to decode dsf,dff
[15:13:34.622962] register_ff:731 using ffmpeg to decode alc
[15:13:34.623028] register_ff:715 using ffmpeg to decode wma,wmap,wmal
[15:13:34.623054] register_faad:640 using faad to decode aac
[15:13:34.623080] register_vorbis:329 using vorbis to decode ogg
[15:13:34.623098] register_flac:286 using flac to decode flc
[15:13:34.623116] register_pcm:384 using pcm to decode aif,pcm
[15:13:34.623143] register_mad:412 using mad to decode mp3
[15:13:34.623367] discover_server:756 sending discovery
[15:13:34.625418] discover_server:767 got response from: 192.168.1.235:3483
[15:13:34.625496] slimproto:848 connecting to 192.168.1.235:3483
[15:13:34.627609] slimproto:881 connected
…

APLAY

aplay -L
null
Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
default:CARD=ALSA
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 ALSA
Default Audio Device
sysdefault:CARD=ALSA
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 ALSA
Default Audio Device
dmix:CARD=ALSA,DEV=0
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 ALSA
Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=ALSA,DEV=1
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 IEC958/HDMI
Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=ALSA,DEV=0
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 ALSA
Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=ALSA,DEV=1
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 IEC958/HDMI
Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=ALSA,DEV=0
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 ALSA
Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=ALSA,DEV=1
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 IEC958/HDMI
Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=ALSA,DEV=0
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 ALSA
Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=ALSA,DEV=1
bcm2835 ALSA, bcm2835 IEC958/HDMI
Hardware device with all software conversions
default:CARD=C10
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
Default Audio Device
sysdefault:CARD=C10
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
Default Audio Device
front:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
Front speakers
surround21:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=C10,DEV=0
CA CXA80 1.0, USB Audio
Hardware device with all software conversions

$ aplay -D hw:CARD=C10,DEV=0 ./.kodi/addons/resource.uisounds.nebula/resources/cursor.wav
Playing WAVE ‘./.kodi/addons/resource.uisounds.nebula/resources/cursor.wav’ : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
aplay: set_params:1299: Sample format non available
Available formats:

S24_3LE

2388noob · December 8, 2020, 4:57pm

Hi,
Did you ever get your Pi to work with your CXA80? or did you purchase the CXA80?.
I own one but before purchasing a Pi or an additional HAT for sound output I wanted to know if I could just keep things simple. Pi > usb A to B cable > direct to CXA80 amp. I plan on getting a power conditioner to keep the electrical signal ‘a bit cleaner’.
Thanks!

gkkpch · December 9, 2020, 9:55am

Hi,
I have tested the CXA80 with various sbc’s (PI 4, Odroid N2, Odroid C4, Nanopi Neo 3, Khadas VIM1). So far I have not seen any issues when the USB 2.0 compatibility setting (see manual) is activated, otherwise the CXA may not be detected, depending on the sbc used.

Note: switching off the amp will cause the usb audio device to disappear from volumio and show Alsa errors when playing or trying to play something. After amp power-on, the usb audio device will re-appear. No need to reboot volumio, just restart whatever you were playing or tried to.