Deezer Drop Outs - New Issue Started Feb 2019

[Blackadder]

It's been almost 2 years since I last posted anything to the Community, primarily because I have had 2 years of trouble-free listening but all of a sudden the gremlins are back. I have 4 Bose SoundTouch Units - An Original Series Soundtouch Wave (Airplay enabled; no Bluetooth); An Original Series Soundtouch 30 (Airplay enabled; no Bluetooth) and 2 X Soundtouch Wireless Links connected via Aux ports to a circa 1996 Bose Acoustic Wave and a circa 1998 B&O Overture Sound System. All have the latest updates, as have all the devices that use the ST App - PCs, iPads & Phones. My WiFi is strong throughout the house (all Soundtouch Units show full strength) and it's also fast (55mbs). I use Deezer as my main music provider and have a Premium Subscription.

My issue is this:

Every 2 minutes or so when streaming Deezer it drops out for 5-10 seconds and then comes back in where it left off, as if it's buffering. It does this whether using one unit, all units or a  selection of units, regardless of which is the lead Unit. Whilst I can use the Deezer App and stream via AIrplay to my SoundTouch Wave and SoundTouch 30 Units, that's not an option for the Wireless Link Units, and in any event I prefer to use the SoundTouch App if I can.

I have seen some older posts concerning this issue from about two years ago when it was thought to be down to the higher quality streaming rate that Deezer use compared with Spotify for example (312 bps -v- 256 bps, respectively) but with my Broadband speed this should not be an issue and indeed was not an issue until about a week ago. Earlier answers from Brandon (Bose) indicated this would be addressed in the next update to the ST App in 2016 - that was long ago and there have been updates since. 

I have tried deleting and re-installing speakers and the app, but all to no avail. 

The dropping out is becoming very annonying - help and advice from the Community &/or the Bose team would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Brandon_M · Accepted solution]

Hi Blackadder,

Thank you for the post, and thank you for the detailed notes.

Just to confirm: have you done any other troubleshooting besides deleting and re-adding speakers to the SoundTouch account?  We want to cover the standard basic steps like unplugging power to your wireless router, along with your Bose systems for a full minute before reconnecting.

We haven't made any changes to the SoundTouch firmware or app software in over a month, so I don't believe that's the cause of the issues you're seeing.

Does Airplay work without an issue?  If so, this tells us the wireless connection should be good, and there should be enough bandwidth/throughput to play Deezer to the speakers.

Let us know so we can get this working for you again!

Best Regards,

Brandon

[Blackadder]

Many thanks Brandon.

I was reluctant to go for the “nuclear option” as I have some sensitive meteorological equipment connected to my router but having shut down everything for over 2 minutes and re-started them (router first, then ST Units, one by one) the drop outs seem to have stopped. I tested the system for 10 minutes last night with no drop outs and so far this morning it’s been on for half an hour without loss, so it seems to have solved the problem, at least for now - thanks! I’ll let you know if it recurs. 

Btw - to answer your question about Airplay, yes it did work without drop outs using it that as playback whilst streaming direct from Deezer but I’m not convinced the sound quality is as good as when using the ST App. Could it be that the streaming rate is different? Or maybe it’s just a perception thing....

Anyhow, the important thing is it’s now working properly again so thanks once again for the advice and the prompt response.

[Brandon_M]

Hi Blackadder,

Glad to hear it's working now!

If you do decide to stream Deezer via Airplay, you may need to change the quality in the Deezer app.  Airplay audio streams via Apple Lossless, so Airplay shouldn't be the cause of poor quality audio.

Please let me know if you have any more questions!

Best,

Brandon