[plugh]

Look at the last line of the release announcement post. That is what changed.

If it's not to much trouble, I'd appreciate you running a few more tests under the previous build?

1) play my sample with xbmc (with no asound config)
2) add the following asound config

Code:

pcm.!default {
    type plug
    slave {
        pcm {
        type hw
        card 0
        format S16_LE
        rate "unchanged"
        channels "unchanged"
}   }   }

3) now run aplay test(s) with '-D default', and xbmc tests

Note that you might have to experiment with the config file. Try aplay with it as shown; if aplay gives error, remove rate and channels lines. My expectation is you will get noise with test (1), and the (3) tests will all 'work'.

What that config file (should) do is give YOU control over what format the pcm data is delivered to the DAC. (FYI -the driver supports S16_LE, S24_LE, and S32_LE, except for the new build which disabled S24_LE again). The ALSA 'plug' plugin will do a format conversion to the format you specify in the config file if needed (you will see this step in the aplay -v output). You might also want to try S32_LE, which would preserve the resolution of 24 bit audio while (hopefully?) avoiding the problem causing the noise.

Regarding the noise problem - Your aplay test says it is not a driver or DAC problem. The problem is within xbmc (which test 1 should confirm). Interestingly, I stumbled across another case where s24_le data produces noise. Playing that sample on Windows with vlc also fails! Now, what does xbmc under Linux on a pi have in common with vlc under windows on a pc? ffmpeg/libav...

and Thank YOU for running the tests!