[Problem]: AirPlay 1 volume resets on each connection

[polarstoat]

What happened?

On each new connection (or reconnection) to the shairport-sync device the volume is reset to around 33% / 40%, and does not persist at the previously set level.

I've seen other issues describing a somewhat similar behaviour, but it didn't seem conclusive whether this had been resolved for both AirPlay 1 and 2 builds. And also whether the source application/OS is responsible for persisting volume levels with AirPlay speakers.

Similarly, adjusting the default_airplay_volume option in the config file appears to have no effect for me.

Issues which seem to describe a somewhat similar occurrence are #1732, #1592, #1179, and #996. Could you confirm what the expected behaviour is here?

I seem to be encountering this issue from both macOS 14.5 and iOS 18.5, from apps including Spotify on macOS/iOS and the Radio France app on iOS.

Relevant log output

System Information.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Topping TP30 DAC amplifier
Connected via USB with Raspberry Pi OTG Micro USB Adapter

Configuration Information.

>> Display Config Start.

From "uname -a":
 Linux raspberrypi 6.12.47+rpt-rpi-v8 #1 SMP PREEMPT Debian 1:6.12.47-1+rpt1 (2025-09-16) aarch64 GNU/Linux

From /etc/os-release:
 Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)

From /sys/firmware/devicetree/base/model:
 Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W Rev 1.0

Shairport Sync Version String:
 4.3.7-libdaemon-OpenSSL-Avahi-ALSA-jack-pa-dummy-stdout-pipe-soxr-convolution-metadata-mqtt-dbus-mpris-sysconfdir:/etc

Command Line:
 shairport-sync --displayConfig

Configuration File:
 /etc/shairport-sync.conf

Configuration File Settings:
 general :
 {
   name = "Living room speakers";
 };
 alsa :
 {
   output_device = "hw:0";
   mixer_control_name = "PCM";
 };
 pw :
 {
 };

>> Display Config End.
>> Goodbye!

PulseAudio or PipeWire installed?

• Check if your system uses a Sound Server.

How did you install Shairport Sync?

A package manager (apt, apt install, yum, pkg, etc.)

Check previous issues

• Confirm

[mikebrady]

Thanks for the post. I think this might be a feature of the player rather than on Shairport Sync. A good way to check is whether the player's volume position is in reset each time you reconnect as well as the actual volume; if it is, then it's the player that is originating the behaviour.

I'm away from machines for the next few days, and I'll check then.