Arch Linux

ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

[Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

I just got a new headphone DAC/amplifier to drive my headphones from the USB port. Until I got my amp, my son had loaned me a Scarlett 2i2 microphone amplifier, which worked fine after I used pavucontrol to select it as an output device. But with the FiiO plugged in to the same USB connector, the only selections are line out and headphone port (which would be the PC's jack, not what I want to use). The Scarlett showed in the pavucontrol selections as a specific device.

I'm unsure where to go on this. I cannot find any Linux driver specifically for the FiiO, but I didn't have to get one for the Scarlett, either. Some people on reddit said something about gstreamer. I have several gstreamer packages installed. Also, if the Scarlett didn't need more plugins, I don't see why the FiiO would.

Thanks for advice.

PS - Here are the working settings for the Scarlett in pavucontrol:

Playback - Scarlett 2i2 USB Analog Stereo
Output Devices - Scarlett 2i2 USB Analog Stereo on Port Analog Output

Last edited by ratcheer (2019-12-29 18:13:08)

ChaManO

Member

From: Pozuelo de Alarcón

Registered: 2015-09-22

Posts: 29

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Hello,
DACs should work out of the box with the linux kernel, but their configuration may not be as straightforward.
First lets see if the USB device gets detected with

lsusb

Then I would test if ALSA detects it as a sound device with

aplay -l

(which requires the alsa-tools package, I believe). Lastly, I'd check if pulseaudio itself recognizes the card with

pacmd list-cards | grep name

If the card is detected by pulseaudio, pavucontrol is a good tool to configure your settings. There is a tab called configuration in which you can select a profile for the DAC. Usually you would look for Analog Stereo Output, then in the Output Devices tab, make sure that the card is unmuted. Selecting your DAC here automatically routes audio from all your applications to your DAC.

Also, note this on the FAQ page for your DAC:

The micro USB port on the side is used for charging and Bluetooth update. The micro USB port at the bottom is used for USB DAC connection .

ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Thank you. The device does not show in lsusb:

Bus 003 Device 005: ID 1235:8202 Focusrite-Novation 
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 058f:6362 Alcor Micro Corp. Flash Card Reader/Writer
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 045e:0039 Microsoft Corp. IntelliMouse Optical
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 1a40:0101 Terminus Technology Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Focusrite-Novation  is the Scarlett device. The FiiO is connected and charging through the USB. The older Q5 model had two USB connectors, one for charging, the other for the music, but this newer model has only one for both functions.

Lone_Wolf

Member

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 11,911

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Is the FliO connected to a USB3 port ?

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ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Is the FliO connected to a USB3 port ?

I'm not sure how to tell. It's an old desktop PC, and I'm using a front-panel USB receptacle that is marked with a USB graphic and the connector has a black insert. I think some of the back-panel ports look different (maybe red inserts?), but with everything wired up (keyboard, mouse, external HDD, etc), it's hard to even get a good look at them. I can try to pull it out where I can see it if it will help.

Should I be trying to use USB 2 or 3?

ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Ok, I just found this on the FiiO site: "InstructionofUpgradingtheQ5sSystemFirmware". It says that step 1 is to "install the USB DAC driver". Of course, that is for Windows. But several people on reddit have told me that theirs connects to a Linux PC without having to do anything else. I'm a bit bumfuzzled, right now.

BTW, the amp is working great via a Bluetooth connection from my iPad.

progandy

Member

Registered: 2012-05-17

Posts: 5,190

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Have you tried that FiiO in another (windows) computer? Maybe its usb plug is defective.

What does "dmesg -w" show when you plug and unplug the device?

Last edited by progandy (2019-12-28 22:11:03)

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Lone_Wolf

Member

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 11,911

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Try USB3 .

USB2 can only provide 500 mA per port, while USB3 can deliver 900 mA per port.
USB3 gen2 can even deliver 1.5 A per port.

The special USB3 charging only connections on some systems can deliver even more.
A possible reason why the device isn't detected is lack of current .

Try to find USB3 ports, motherboard documentation may show which ports are USB3 .
A USB3 powered hub like https://www.tp-link.com/en/home-network … ory/uh700/ could solve the issue.

Last edited by Lone_Wolf (2019-12-28 22:20:50)

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Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

@progandy - No, I don't use Windows or have a Windows computer.

[277154.181071] usb 3-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 6 using ehci-pci
[277154.278824] usb 3-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=2972, idProduct=0031, bcdDevice= 0.39
[277154.278828] usb 3-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=3, SerialNumber=2
[277154.278830] usb 3-1.3: Product: FiiO Q5
[277154.278832] usb 3-1.3: Manufacturer: GuangZhou FiiO Electronics Co.,Ltd
[277154.278834] usb 3-1.3: SerialNumber: FA500396
[277154.951344] usb 3-1.3: 1:3 : unsupported format bits 0x100000000

@Lone_Wolf - Ok, I have some family activities, this evening. I'll try to identify and use a USB 3 port when I can get to it. But, according to the above output from dmesg, it is connected on a USB 3 port, and it is failing.

ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Other people have had the same problem. No help is given by FiiO.

http://www.fiio.me/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=45098

Lone_Wolf

Member

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 11,911

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

[277154.181071] usb 3-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 6 using ehci-pci

ehci-pci supports up to USB2 , and high-speed is also a USB2 spec.
The lsusb output above lists bus 3 device 1 as using

Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub 

Post lsusb -tv output with the device plugged in.

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Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

lsusb -tv
/:  Bus 04.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 5000M
    ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/3p, 5000M
        ID 0bc2:ab45 Seagate RSS LLC 
        |__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 5000M
            ID 0bc2:ab38 Seagate RSS LLC Backup Plus Hub
/:  Bus 03.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=ehci-pci/2p, 480M
    ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/8p, 480M
        ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
        |__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
            ID 058f:6362 Alcor Micro Corp. Flash Card Reader/Writer
/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 480M
    ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    |__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/3p, 480M
        ID 0bc2:ab44 Seagate RSS LLC 
    |__ Port 2: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M
        ID 045e:0039 Microsoft Corp. IntelliMouse Optical
/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=ehci-pci/2p, 480M
    ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/6p, 480M
        ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
        |__ Port 4: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M
            ID 1a40:0101 Terminus Technology Inc. Hub

ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Ok, this is too weird. Here are the famous last words: "I haven't changed anything.". Now, the FiiO is playing successfully from the USB connection to my Arch PC.

Playback: Spotify on FiiO Q5 Analog Stereo
Output: FiiO Q5 Analog Stereo

From dmesg -w:

[46424.752021] usb 3-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 4 using ehci-pci
[46424.849726] usb 3-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=2972, idProduct=0031, bcdDevice= 0.39
[46424.849729] usb 3-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=3, SerialNumber=2
[46424.849731] usb 3-1.3: Product: FiiO Q5
[46424.849733] usb 3-1.3: Manufacturer: GuangZhou FiiO Electronics Co.,Ltd
[46424.849735] usb 3-1.3: SerialNumber: FA500396
[46424.864452] mc: Linux media interface: v0.10
[46425.566147] usb 3-1.3: 1:3 : unsupported format bits 0x100000000
[46425.849946] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio

ugjka

Member

From: Latvia

Registered: 2014-04-01

Posts: 1,806

Website

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

Don't get too happy, just that it suddenly works doesn't mean the problem is fixed

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pacman -S spotify-launcher
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ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

Re: [Resolved] Can a FiiO Q5s headphone amplifier work with Arch Linux?

I know. At first, I was having great results using it with Bluetooth from my iPhone. Later, I couldn't get it to connect again. Then, I just had a wild hair and rebooted the iPhone. It has worked every time since, but I still don't really trust it.

You should hear this little thing, though. With decent headphones (Audio-Technica MX-50), it sounds great. With excellent phones (Grado GS1000e), it sounds amazing.