mpv passthrough with Pipewire: "no target node available", ALSA works

mpv Information

mpv 0.39.0 Copyright © 2000-2024 mpv/MPlayer/mplayer2 projects
libplacebo version: v7.349.0
FFmpeg version: 6.1.2
FFmpeg library versions:
   libavcodec      60.31.102
   libavdevice     60.3.100
   libavfilter     9.12.100
   libavformat     60.16.100
   libavutil       58.29.100
   libswresample   4.12.100
   libswscale      7.5.100

Other Information

- Linux version: Gentoo
- Kernel Version: Linux limelight 6.13.1-gentoo-limelight #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC TKG Tue Feb  4 17:42:27 EST 2025 x86_64 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-11900K @ 3.50GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux
- GPU Model: 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation AD102 [GeForce RTX 4090] [10de:2684] (rev a1)
- Mesa/GPU Driver Version: 570.86.16
- Window Manager and Version: Plasma 6.2.5
- Source of mpv: Gentoo ebuild
- Latest known working version: n/a

ALSA works after disabling pipewire: mpv --ao=alsa --audio-channels=5.1,stereo '--audio-device=alsa/hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=1' --audio-exclusive=yes file.mkv.

Reproduction Steps

1. Make sure AC3 is enabled:
   
   pw e NODE_ID Props | grep -F Codecs -A 3

  Prop: key Spa:Pod:Object:Param:Props:iec958Codecs (65553), flags 00000000
    Array: child.size 4, child.type Spa:Id
      Id 1        (Spa:Enum:AudioIEC958Codec:PCM)
      Id 3        (Spa:Enum:AudioIEC958Codec:AC3)

2. Use this command line: mpv --ao=pipewire --audio-channels=5.1,stereo '--audio-device=pipewire/alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-surround-extra1' --audio-exclusive=yes --audio-spdif=ac3 file.mkv

Expected Behavior

Video should play. AC3 bitstream should be sent to receiver.

Actual Behavior

The video does not start. Error message:

[ao/pipewire] Stream in error state, trying to reload...
[ao/pipewire] Error during playback: No such file or directory, no target node available

Log File

output.txt.gz

Sample Files

No response

I carefully read all instruction and confirm that I did the following:

• I tested with the latest mpv version to validate that the issue is not already fixed.
• I provided all required information including system and mpv version.
• I produced the log file with the exact same set of files, parameters, and conditions used in "Reproduction Steps", with the addition of --log-file=output.txt.
• I produced the log file while the behaviors described in "Actual Behavior" were actively observed.
• I attached the full, untruncated log file.
• I attached the backtrace in the case of a crash.

Start by reproducing the issue with the provided mpv command, then inspect output.txt.gz and compare the PipeWire failure with the working ALSA configuration. Verify the PipeWire target and AC3 passthrough behavior; done means the video starts and the AC3 bitstream reaches the receiver with the reported options.