[x86-64] XMOS USB DAC not instantly detected

  • Having set up LibreELEC I decided to add a USB DAC. Its an USB 2.0 XMOS device and worked nicely on previous systems. I shut down the PC, plugged in the DAC and rebooted but the DAC was not detected (not shown on lsusb). I checked the dmsg but nothing showed up.


    I unplugged and replugged and the DAC showed up:

    Code
    Bus 001 Device 005: ID 20b1:0002 XMOS Ltd XMOS USB Audio 2.0

    dmesg showed the following:

    Code
    Nov 06 19:42:36 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
    Nov 06 19:42:37 LibreELEC kernel: mc: Linux media interface: v0.10
    Nov 06 19:42:37 LibreELEC kernel: usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio
    Nov 06 19:42:37 LibreELEC (udev-worker)[1556]: controlC2: /usr/lib/udev/rules.d/90-alsa-restore.rules:5 Only network interfaces can be renamed, ignoring
    Nov 06 19:42:37 LibreELEC Boot[1564]: ### Setting up sound card ###

    and kodi picked it up perfectly

    Code
    2025-11-06 19:42:38.199 T:1216     info <general>:     Device 6
    2025-11-06 19:42:38.199 T:1216     info <general>:         m_deviceName      : iec958:CARD=X20,DEV=0
    2025-11-06 19:42:38.199 T:1216     info <general>:         m_displayName     : XMOS USB Audio 2.0
    2025-11-06 19:42:38.199 T:1216     info <general>:         m_displayNameExtra: S/PDIF
    2025-11-06 19:42:38.199 T:1216     info <general>:         m_deviceType      : AE_DEVTYPE_IEC958
    2025-11-06 19:42:38.199 T:1216     info <general>:         m_channels        : FL, FR
    2025-11-06 19:42:38.199 T:1216     info <general>:         m_sampleRates     : 44100,48000,88200,96000,176400,192000,384000
    2025-11-06 19:42:38.199 T:1216     info <general>:         m_dataFormats     : AE_FMT_RAW,AE_FMT_S32NE
    2025-11-06 19:42:38.199 T:1216     info <general>:         m_streamTypes     : STREAM_TYPE_AC3,STREAM_TYPE_DTSHD_CORE,STREAM_TYPE_DTS_1024,STREAM_TYPE_DTS_2048,STREAM_TYPE_DTS_512

    I tried different USB ports but that made no difference. I tried the DAC on another Linux (Mint) system and that picked up the DAC from boot and if hot plugged.

    I am not sure how the diagnose this so I would appreciate any help in how to progress this


    thank you for any help

  • the DAC doesn't appear in the Kodi setting after boot as the DAC isn't detected by the underlying Linux (lsusb doesn't show it). If i unplug and hotplug the DAC it does appear in lsusb and does appear in Kodi

  • Thanks. Please post a complete log for the boot sequence (when the DAC isn't detected).

    Please provide a full debug log.

    How to post a log (wiki)

    1. Enable debugging in Settings>System Settings>Logging
    2. Restart Kodi
    3. Replicate the problem
    4. Generate a log URL (do not post/upload logs to the forum)

    use "Settings > LibreELEC > System > Paste system logs" or run "pastekodi" over SSH, then post the URL link
  • There is no external hub in the way, the DAC is plugged direct into the laptop and the problem is there on all three ports.

    If I understand correctly there is an internal hub within the laptop. Is there firmware loaded by LibreELEC for that hub?

    [BIOS is the latest from Lenovo]

  • I've seen similar issues with ARM SoC boards and the typical solution there is changes to device-tree files to correctly describe the hardware (and how it is powered) but x86_64 hardware doesn't require/use device-tree things at all, so that's not relevant.

    No firmware is required for the internal USB hubs.

    Please update to the latest LE13 nightly and see if the newer kernel etc. in the image randomly fixes anything?

  • A little more digging.

    Although plugging the DAC into another laptop worked as expected with the DAC appearing from boot and after hot plug I decided to check the laptop I am using for Libre ELEC running another Linux.

    I used the Mint installation USB and booted to a live Mint and checked with lsusb: the DAC wasn't there. I unplugged the DAC and hot plugged it - the DAC appeared. I also tried a full Mint (22.2)installation, patched upto date and that also failed, so there is a Linux issue with my specific laptop. Very odd