diff --git a/src/raop_streamer.c b/src/raop_streamer.c
index d09ffed7..8f06b4e1 100644
--- a/src/raop_streamer.c
+++ b/src/raop_streamer.c
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ raopst_resp_t raopst_init(struct in_addr host, struct in_addr peer, char *codec,
 		ctx->http_listener = bind_socket(ctx->host, &resp.hport, SOCK_STREAM);
 	} while (ctx->http_listener < 0 && port.count < port_range);
 
-	int i = 128*1024;
+	int i = 256*1024;
 	setsockopt(ctx->http_listener, SOL_SOCKET, SO_SNDBUF, (void*) &i, sizeof(i));
 	rc &= ctx->http_listener > 0;
 	rc &= listen(ctx->http_listener, 1) == 0;
@@ -415,6 +415,11 @@ static void alac_decode(raopst_t *ctx, int16_t *dest, char *buf, int len, int *o
 
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 static void buffer_put_packet(raopst_t* ctx, seq_t seqno, unsigned rtptime, bool first, char* data, int len) {
+	// decode ALAC outside mutex to reduce contention with HTTP thread
+	int16_t decoded_buf[ctx->frame_size * 2];
+	int decoded_len = 0;
+	alac_decode(ctx, decoded_buf, data, len, &decoded_len);
+
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&ctx->ab_mutex);
 
 	/* if we have received a RECORD with a seqno, then this is the first allowed rtp sequence number 
@@ -532,7 +537,8 @@ static void buffer_put_packet(raopst_t* ctx, seq_t seqno, unsigned rtptime, bool
 	}
 
 	if (abuf) {
-		alac_decode(ctx, abuf->data, data, len, &abuf->len);
+		memcpy(abuf->data, decoded_buf, decoded_len);
+		abuf->len = decoded_len;
 		abuf->ready = true;
 		abuf->missed = false;
 		// this is the local rtptime when this frame is expected to play
@@ -896,7 +902,13 @@ static short *_buffer_get_frame(raopst_t *ctx, size_t *bytes) {
 
 	if (!curframe->ready) {
 		LOG_DEBUG("[%p]: created zero frame at %d (W:%hu R:%hu)", ctx, now - playtime, ctx->ab_write, ctx->ab_read);
-		memset(curframe->data, 0, ctx->frame_size * 4);
+		// inject faint noise (~2 LSB) instead of pure silence to prevent FLAC decoder stalls
+		int16_t *samples = curframe->data;
+		static uint32_t noise_seed = 79;
+		for (int i = 0; i < ctx->frame_size * 2; i++) {
+			noise_seed = noise_seed * 1103515245 + 12345;
+			samples[i] = (int16_t)((noise_seed >> 16) & 0x03) - 1;
+		}
 		*bytes = ctx->frame_size * 4;
 	} else {
 		*bytes = curframe->len;
@@ -952,7 +964,9 @@ static void *http_thread_func(void *arg) {
 
 			if (sock != -1 && ctx->running) {
 				int on = 1;
+				int sndbuf = 256*1024;
 				setsockopt(sock, IPPROTO_TCP, TCP_NODELAY, (char *) &on, sizeof(on));
+				setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_SNDBUF, (void*) &sndbuf, sizeof(sndbuf));
 				LOG_INFO("[%p]: got HTTP connection %u", ctx, sock);
 			} else continue;
 		}
@@ -1100,6 +1114,7 @@ static bool handle_http(raopst_t *ctx, int sock) {
 
 	kd_add(resp, "Server", "HairTunes");
 	kd_add(resp, "Content-Type", encoder_mimetype(ctx->encoder));
+	kd_add(resp, "TransferMode.dlna.org", "Streaming");
 
 	// is there a range request (chromecast non-compliance to HTTP !!!)
 	if (ctx->range && ((str = kd_lookup(headers, "Range")) != NULL)) {