Crackling sound when using external DAC & Amazon Music

Answered
Justin flemmer
Very similar symptoms to many posts on this forum but as I can’t see comments or fixes I need to write a new post. I have a Node2i connected via co-ax to an external DAC and from there to a pre-amp. When using Amazon Music I find that between tracks there is a loud crackle/electronic for a split second. There are also whole songs where this crackling sound is heard throughout. It sounds terrible. Only happens with Amazon Music on digital output to external DAC. If I connect the Node 2i to a Zen Mini Mk3 (music ripped from CD) there is no issue apart from the crackle between tracks.. Any feedback would be appreciated. It would also be helpful to see comments from other posts and not have to repeat what others have posted.
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res

    You don’t say what the DAC is you are using but some do have the unfortunate feature of re locking onto each track as the music starts causing the noise. 

    The cracking throughout a whole track is not right, doncheck to make sure there are no firmware updates available.

    I would then start by powering off the DAC and the NODE for 10 minutes. Swap the coaxial cable used for something else such as one channel of a spare analogue interconnect (it will work) and see if you can repeat the cracking throughout the track.

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  • Justin flemmer

    Thanks for the feedback Seppi. I am using a DDDAC 1794s.
    Bluesound is fully updated as is the BluOS app. Audio clock trim disabled. Unplugged Node completely for 10 mins.

    So what I did to check if it was Node related or not. I signed up to a trial period for Qobuz and using the same song & album that has the crackling all the way through on Amazon (Kashmir by Marcin) and sure enough through the node it crackles terribly.
    I then swapped the same co-ax cable to the Innuos Zen Mini Mk3 and changed over the RCA outs to the pre-amp and tried the same song on Qobuz and no issues whatsoever. The only reason I am still using the Node is because Innuos doesn’t support Amazon music.
    In my view this is an issue with Bluesound Node 2i digital output and not a DAC issue.

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  • Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res

    Do other tracks crackle? do also ensure replay gain is turned off in Bluesound.

    Might be worthwhile seeing if there is a forum for DDDAC as it’s pretty much a diy / home brew system and someone there might have some insight.

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  • Justin flemmer

    Hi Seppi, thanks for the additional feedback. I turned off replay gain and rebooted. No change. It seems that songs tagged as HR have the issue but not all of them (example of one that does crackle is Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin II - remaster and example of one that doesn’t is Lovely Day (feat. Lalah Hathaway) by Jose James on the Lean On Me album).
    I have reached out on the DDDAC forum and no feedback as yet.
    I am back to the Innuos as the playback works well for all tracks so far including those marked HD 24 bit/48 kHz and higher.

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  • Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res

    When you get a chance play a cracking track and whilst it’s playing log a support ticket, from the Bluesound app select Help…Send Support Request. This way Bluesound will get a copy of the logs to look at.

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  • Justin flemmer

    Hi Seppi, good idea thanks. Didn’t know you could do that. Will give that a try tomorrow.

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