PlexAmp Headless with Hi-Res Audio

Plex Labs
1

Before I go and spend money on a new, Linux-friendly DAC, I want to confirm the PlexAmp can play Hi-Res audio files, specifically 192/24.

With my install, Pulse is configured to and successfully reports –

default-sample-format = s32le
default-sample-rate = 192000

pacmd list-sinks | grep -e 'name:\|Hz'
        name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
        sample spec: s32le 2ch 192000Hz
        name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_03.0.hdmi-stereo>
        sample spec: s32le 2ch 192000Hz

Additionally, digging around in the PlexAmp logs, I’m seeing references that make it appear that it’s working at 192k such as –

Apr 22, 2023 16:40:57.527 [0x93fff640] INFO - BASS: Device 0 opened and sample rate is 192000 (preferred was 192000, best was 192000, range is 0 - 0), latency is 15ms (period: 30ms).
Apr 22, 2023 16:40:57.527 [0x93fff640] DEBUG - BASS: Creating a mixer with sample rate 192000 and 2 channels (decode: 1).
Apr 22, 2023 16:40:57.527 [0x93fff640] DEBUG - BASS: Sliding volume to 100.0 over 0 ms.

The UI though is reporting –

AudioOutput
PulseAudio Sound Server
44.1 khz / 2 channels

Is the UI label a bug, or is PlexAmp headless limited to that sample rate and bit depth?

2

the audio output label doesn’t always track with current sample rate … you should be good, Plexamp headless supports the higher sample rates

curious why you’re using Pulseaudio? do you have a specific need/preference?

3

Thanks for the reply, I assume it’s kind of a display bug. I was able to confirm sample rates were working as expected through my AVR and HDMI, though it took some deep menu diving to be able to display that info.

As for Pulse, the direct sinks weren’t showing last evening and it’s something that’s easy to config and debug for me. The direct audio sinks are showing now though(?!?) and I’ve managed to find an old FocusRite DAC that had been collecting dust and have it up and running.

4

Also depends on if you have Plexamp set to strict sample rate matching, smart, or disabled. I don’t remember what the default is.

Check your settings in plexamp settings => audio output,=> sample rate matching=>, put it on strict and it will change bit depth and frequency on each track. I only have 96/24 that is my highest res file and I know it does it to that rate.
Screen Shot 2023-05-02 at 2.52.33 PM