The user really does not have to be in group audio or pulse on Debian.

---
 src/common.c |    2 ++
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)

--- a/src/common.c
+++ b/src/common.c
@@ -1064,6 +1064,7 @@ void select_next_output_device (misc_t *
 
    wclear (misc->screenwin);
    wprintw (misc->screenwin, "\n%s\n\n", gettext ("Select a soundcard:"));
+#if 0
    grp = getgrnam ("audio");
    found = 0;
    for (n = 0; grp->gr_mem[n]; n++)
@@ -1105,6 +1106,7 @@ void select_next_output_device (misc_t *
       printf ("Logout and login again and you can use daisy-player.\n");
       _exit (0);
    } //; if
+#endif
 
    system ("pulseaudio --start");
    if ((p = popen ("/usr/bin/pacmd list-cards", "r")) == NULL)
