Neutron Forum

I'm using neutron to output music through upnp, however, it take up to 20 secs before the receiver starts to play. I've tried all the output option, including format, sample rate, and stream size type, but getting no improvement.

I'm sure it's not the receiving one's problem, because when I am using bubble upnp, it will respond quickly without any issues. While bubble does work well with upnp, the interface of neutron is way superior, which allows me to play files with cue easily.

Is there any way to shorten the delay?

Thanks, and please excuse my poor English!

Does the problem still persist ? If so I suggest you contact neutronmp@gmail.com

Hi,
I have the exact same symptoms. Did you find a fix for this? I changed the netwotk buffer size, unsuccessfully.
Thank you

Bill

Different players do certain things differently, as do different receivers, see this topic here :

dmitrykos wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 25, 2021 6:49 pm

The problem is that some UPnP renderers support multichannel FLACs if they are files with a known duration. Neutron is sending endless stream and thus duration is unknown and while it works fine with 2 channel configuration somehow endless FLACs are rejected by some devices if they have >2 channels. So if you can stream 2 channel FLAC but >2 does not work then the problem is in firmware of the UPnP renderer.

I suggest you contact neutronmp@gmail.com and ask him for advice how to analyze this.

The delay depends on the firmware of the receiver. Other apps are sending the URL for the offline file to the Renderer and thus it can cache any size of internal buffer quickly.

Neutron works differently - it send real-time endless stream with all DSP applied and thus if receiver decides to cache 10-20 seconds the real-time process will block for this amount of time.

Receiver must be able to receive low-latency streams.

I am using always the same receivers for 5 months. It used to work better some months ago. Situation deteriorates lately. I wonder I could log traces to understand where the issue is. The delay is so annoying really.
Makes me highly dislike this application, even if I understand the defect might be else where. Again, the issue does not exist with other upnp app on the same mobile phone, with the same musicfiles. (bubble upnp)

Too bad.
Bill

How long is the delay ?
The other apps, those without delay - can you use DSP there ?
Did you contact the receiver's support and ask if there are ways to reduce its buffer ?

The problem with delay lies in the principle of UPnP/DLNA protocol. Normally it is meant to provide URL to the renderer and then renderer opens file using this URL. In this scenario there is no real-time streaming, server can pre-cache file rapidly and start playing almost instantly.

Neutron is using UPnP/DLNA protocol to send its endless stream from its master-mixer, as if output goes to hardware. In this case no fast pre-caching is possible because data is real-time. Therefore you get a delay. Delay depends on how firmware/software of your renderer is configured/designed. It may be low-latency, it may be 1-2-3+ seconds.

The reason why Neutron does it like that and not providing URLs to the files in the media library is because real-time streaming gives you:
- true gapless playback on Neutron's side
- DSP effects: EQ, Compressor, ...
- real-time playback of some specific formats, for example DSD