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

---
 src/common.c |    4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

--- a/src/common.c
+++ b/src/common.c
@@ -929,6 +929,7 @@ void check_pulseaudio_device (misc_t *mi
    size_t len = 0;
    FILE *p;
 
+#if 0
    grp = getgrnam ("audio");
    found = 0;
    for (n = 0; grp->gr_mem[n]; n++)
@@ -949,6 +950,7 @@ void check_pulseaudio_device (misc_t *mi
       printf ("Logout and login again and you can use daisy-player.\n");
       _exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    } // if
+#endif
 
    if (misc->pulseaudio_device < 0)
    {
@@ -990,6 +992,7 @@ void select_next_output_device (misc_t *
    int current_sink, n, found;
    struct group *grp;
 
+#if 0
    grp = getgrnam ("audio");
    found = 0;
    for (n = 0; grp->gr_mem[n]; n++)
@@ -1011,6 +1014,7 @@ void select_next_output_device (misc_t *
       remove_tmp_dir (misc);
       _exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    } // if
+#endif
 
    wclear (misc->screenwin);
    wprintw (misc->screenwin, "\n%s\n\n", gettext ("Select a soundcard:"));
