Problem USB connecting to DAC
Answered
Hi
I have a problem, it is about the connection of the streamer to external DAC devices via USB. I tested with a "Pro-Ject Dac Box S2+" and the Ferrum ERCO.
When streaming Tidal MQA titles, I hear after about 10-20 seconds title runtime massive digital noise (isolated crackling, cracking).
With the Ferrum ERCO, for example, I first see a green or blue diode light up on the device. The MQA file is thus decoded and played by the DAC.
After about 10-20 seconds, the noise appears and the LED changes frantically back and forth between green/blue and orange.
After approx. 30 seconds, the diode usually only lights up orange. The noise continues at a slightly reduced level.
With "non-MQA" files, i.e. normal Tidal resolution, I only hear the noise very rarely. However, the audio playback is not free of noise here either.
The noise also occurs with the Pro-Ject Dac Box, as described.
The other digital and analog outputs work perfectly. For example, I can listen to MQA files via Toslink without noise, regardless of whether the node or the DAC decodes the MQA files.
I have already tried different USB cables without success. The node is connected to the Internet via Ethernet cable (Vodafone 200GB cable).
My question is whether it is a known general problem with the node USB output or if my device is simply defective and I should exchange it.
I would be very, very grateful for a brief feedback and assessment.
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Official comment
Hi Nils
In reviewing the documentation of your third-party DAC, there is some language describing what is being done to the USB input on that device, and is handled significantly differently than traditional true audiophile connections such as digital coax.
The USB input offers full high resolution support for all files up to PCM 32/768 and DSD256. Unwanted noise coming in through USB is double filtered to suppress them to a level where it can’t affect audio.
This sounds like your DAC is not a pure DAC but is a digital-to-digital converter as well and maybe upsampling. If coax, which is always your best option, is not available then please reach out to a third-party DAC manufacturer as to why you are receiving audio distortion through the USB input of their device but not through COAX or TOSlink.
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