Buzzing noise on certain tracks when Dirac is active (C658)

Answered
Eli Barbie

Hi

 

Yet another issue with my C658. When Dirac is active, some tracks become noisy on right channel. For example "Assossamagh" by Imarhan. Strangely it only only happens on library playback, not on music services. The very same file plays fine on external players connected via either digital or analog to the C658. Here is a recording of the noisy track when played from library on the C658:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x1zpsvdlzgz7ko1/noise.mp3?dl=0

You can clearly hear the background noise. The file is from a digitally purchased album. I tried to redownload it, still noisy only when added to Bluos library, and played with the C658 while Dirac filter is on. Turning the filter off removes the noise. Playing the same track from same album using Tidal on the C658 with Dirac on or off - no noise! The noise is heard when using speakers or using headphones. This is clearly a Bluos bug in the C658.

I did open a support ticket

Thanks


 

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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • Official comment
    Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Hi Eli

    Thanks for the sample. We have been investigating this matter for some time now. The intersample clipping you are hearing is created at the time of recording on some tracks and cannot be resolved in any other way than reducing the gain on the track. 

    Please make adjustments accordingly. Sorry.

  • Eli Barbie

    Yes, turning either replaygain or Dirac resolves the problem, but without replaygain on, I often get clipping distortion (Rhye Distortion iisue). So there is that... 

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  • Eli Barbie

    Thanks

     

    "Please make adjustments accordingly". And how exactly am I suppose to do that? With an external player connected to a digital input, I can reduce the output level, but with music played from Deezer, Tidal or the local library on the BluOS system, there isn't such option to reduce the gain. The only option is to relay on replaygain which sometimes helps, or to completely abandon Dirac live processing and bass management on the C658. 

    My Yamaha AV receiver has all possible processing active with 2 subwoofers and not a single artifact when I play the same "problematic" tracks. 

    So, the only way to get the C658 to work flawlessly w/o any noise or distortion is to turn off Dirac, and bass management (subwoofer outputs), which defies its purpose as a preamp processor. My speakers are not full range, so I must use subwoofers and my room is not treated so I must use Dirac live processing.
     
    I think all of the above issues are somewhat related to improper internal gain for the DAC or DSP. There isn't enough headroom for any processing. If a recording is played fine on other gear, it should play fine on any gear. 
     
    As a last resort, I've connected my subwoofer to the main channel preouts instead of the dedicated subwoofer preouts. This way I can set subwoofer output to off in the C658, which prevents all these digital audio issues with some recordings.
     
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  • Joost van de Griendt

    Hello,

    It's an old topic, but I see the exact problem i have with a combination with the C399 and the Bluos module in combination with Dirac.

    Just curious if this has been solved? (and how...)

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  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Joost - Please contact support@nadelectronics.com for any issues regarding DIRAC and your NAD Amplifiers or preamps.

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