Noise/distortion when streaming Qobuz at 192khz
Beantwortet
I'm using my recently acquired Bluesound Node 2i for streaming Qobuz HR content. My Node is connected to an Audiolab 6000A amplifier via both the optical and coaxial input, in order to use the amplifier's internal DAC for the decoding (the Audiolab 6000A's DAC suports a sampling rate of up to 192khz). I have successfully overcome the first hurdle of finding out I have to switch Qobuz to HD+ under Music Services. Now 192Khz signal is played by the streamer and is recognised by the amplifier's DAC. However, when playing files of 192 khz, the sound comes out noisy, with crackles and pops. Therefore - rather frustratingly - I simply cannot listen to music that comes in that resolution. Since HR is one of the selling points of the Node 2i, I am somewhat disappointed. I have contacted Audiolab and they are not aware of any such error in their DAC, nor have I encountered the issue on any discussion forums.
I have tried both optical and coaxial cables for the digital connection between the Node and the Audiolab and the problem persists for both. And before anyone is recommending me to check the cable quality, I am using Ecosse The Producer for the coaxial connection, which is relatively highly-regarded in the hi-fi world :-) Also I have checked the connectors on both ends with great care and they are certainly not the problem.
Could anyone kindly advise?
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Hello Razvanporumb,
I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing issues with the digital output. In the BluOS app, please navigate to Settings > Player > Audio and ensure MQA External DAC is set to OFF to ensure the first MQA unfold is processed by the Node.If the issue still persists afterwards, please send us a diagnostic log from your Node 2i by going to Help > Send Support Request through the BluOS app and a member of our support crew will investigate this further for you.
Regards,
Sam R.0 -
Further things I have discovered might help the Bluesound team in understanding my predicament. I have mentioned above how I'm experiencing problems when playing files at 192khz (both streamed and local). I'm playing files though the Node's digital output and into the DAC of my Audiolab 6000a amplifier. The interesting thing is that, when I revert to Bluesound's factory settings, where the volume is enabled and set by default at the middle of the 'cursor' - somehow right at the center of the volume range, between minimum and maximum - the crackles, pops and clicks stop. It's as if, when enabling the fixed volume, which is presumably at the maximum level of the volume setting - then the signal becomes too strong or loud for the DAC to deal with appropriately. When I reduce the digital volume on the Node to its predetermined middle slot - then the noises disappear. It's like the signal is too strong and results in some clipping in the external DAC. Any idea as to what that may mean - and how it can be rectified? I would be very grateful for any piece of advice.
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Hello,
These are some interesting findings.
The first thing I would do in this case is change the optical/coax cables you are using -- it might come down to the cable not being able to carry the full votage signal without some form of compression or clipping (or the cable may just be a bit damaged).
The second would be to check the Audiolab's documentation (or support) to see if there are some options that may help with volume control over digital inputs such as soft clipping.
Regards,
Sam R.(edit: formatting)
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Dear Sam, thank you so much!
The cable was my first thought too - but the cables are fine. I have checked with Audiolab, and the only setting they could suggest (not mentioned in the manual, as it came with a later software upgrade) was to change a setting referring to jitter, from 'normal' to 'wide'. I changed that but, sadly, to no avail... I can't believe that neither the Audiolab nor the Bluesound team has an explanation for my problem - with all their expertise in the digital domain! I will have to take the amp into store for testing as soon as Sevenoaks stores reopen, I guess. But am still hoping for some ideas in the meantime 🙂 I love both these components and would like to find a way to keep them!0 -
Hello,
Given we've done everything possible from both sides, testing the at Sevenoaks once it reopens may be your best bet at isolating the issue.
I know that would be an unpredictable time away, but do keep us posted on what you find so I may pass it on to the team if need be.
Regards,
Sam R.0 -
Please disable the "Audio Clock Trim" feature in Bluesound Node 2i settings if using an external dac. Settings>Player>Audio>Audio Clock Trim. It affects external audio converters especially ESS Sabre dacs leading to dropouts jitter etc. Once disabled your music should play fine without dropouts or jitter. Bluesound please send me a free node 2i for saving you this headache :)
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We'd love to but they are flying off the shelf right now...
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Thank you, good people, for trying to help with my peculiar problem. I should have posted this here earlier, but it turned out the trouble I had was not caused by the Node 2i, but by the internal DAC in the Audiolab 6000A. Having changed that component with a new 6000A supplied by the seller, everything works perfectly now. The Node is a great bit of kit - no wonder people buy it in the thousands. The app and functionality are simply unparalleled at this time.
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I had the same issue streaming from a Node 2i to a Lyngdorf TDAI-2170 via optical cable. Turned out the Lyngdorf couldn't accept more than 96 kHz over optical cable, so streaming 192 kHz caused it to make loud cracks and pops. As the Lyngdorf can handle 192 kHz over coax, changing from an optical to a coaxial cable fixed the issue.
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