[haloxt]

Every single audio-gd hdam uses the round pins that are meant for soldering, and not designed for use in DIP-8 sockets. That's why there's always a wiggle. I'm not sure why they don't change the hdam's to have a tight fit in sockets, but it's never been a serious problem for anyone who tries to fit it in the correct way. Make sure you turn off the power, take off the foam off the top of the case (important because the foam may be knocking it to one side), put the hdam in so it seems even on all 8 pins, close the lid and power it on and play it. If it's still a bad connection, repeat the process. I have swapped hdam's many times and maybe 1/10 times I've had to do this, but once done there's no more issues unless you're picking up the compass and shaking it.

 

[zionic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haloxt /img/forum/go_quote.gif zionic, otachan version is only available on 0.8.3 foobar ASIO builds 2.0 . If you get that error go to foobar preferences>playback> change the "output data format" until it works. Or maybe you have to mess with the sample rate in asio4all, been a while since I used asio4all or new foobar so what I'm saying might not apply. 24/96 gets resampled to 16/44.1 before it goes to the compass with usb btw.

Is this to say the 0.8.3 foobar is preferable to later versions? I am running 0.9.6.2. Thanks!!

 

[Sparky14]

Thanks Haloxt, that got me thinking.

Tried it without the lid, and it worked ok. Put the lid back on, and the in/out started again. Removed the foam tape, so now there is nothing holding the HDAM down. We'll see how that works.

UPDATE: Nope, that didn't work either. As it sits, the R channel is out. If I push the Compass a bit, the R channel comes in and out.

Audio-gd has replied that I can return the item, but if they find it works fine they will only refund the purchase price, even though I've been asking for repair for five weeks. I fully expect that it will be magically working then.

 

[eddiewalker]

As for your hesitation to open the Compass: don't be shy. There are a number of user-servicable options inside as marked on the bottom of the lid and the HDAM is one of them. So long as the Compass is unplugged, it's a safe, low-voltage design to work on.

 

[MadMan007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chu /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've been a very happy Compass owner for months now. Just installed the latest Vista service pack on my computer and . . . my SPDIF out stopped working. I assume the service pack munged up the audio settings. Anyone else here have a similar experience and knows what might have gone wrong, or can point me to a doc that states explicitly what modes the Compass supports?

Sounds like you may have unintentionally updated or changed your sound card drivers. I'd make a post in the Computer as a source section to get it sorted out since it is computer-specific and will get buried in this thread.

 

[ulfp]

Received my Compass a few weeks back and the HDAM had fallen out of the socket and the legs were all bent. Not difficult to fix, but not the first impression you are looking for...

I read earlier posts that mentioned some foam to hold the HDAM in place, but there was no foam in my unit (I guess the missing foam caused the HDAM to fall out of the socket during transport).

After putting the HDAM Earth back in its place, I still find it fairly loose, so would not want to do any transport without first removing it

Even though still in burn-in (clocked 150hr), the Compass sound is great. Compared to my stock Zero, I find Compass to be a great upgrade both as DAC and as Head Amp (using HD650).

Putting the transport incident aside, I'm now a very happy Compass owner

Read that someone did burn-in without the top plate. Somehow it feels “safer” to keep it cool and open when running 24x7 in a hot room, but I have a hunch that burn-in at right temperature (cover on) may be better for SQ.

Any theory on open or closed burn-in?

ps. My first post on the forum after reading hundreds of pages on Zero and Compass.

 

[punk_guy182]

It is quite safe to leave this amp turned on during long hours without turning it off.
The heat generated by the Compass and other Audio-GD gear is normal because they are Class A design circuits which generate a lot of heat. In regards of SQ, you will probably notice it more with such gear like the Phoenix or the Reference One DAC. These components tend to give offer a better SQ after they have been turned for some time. The hotter they get to some extent, the better the SQ.

 

[ulfp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by punk_guy182 /img/forum/go_quote.gif It is quite safe to leave this amp turned on during long hours without turning it off. The heat generated by the Compass and other Audio-GD gear is normal because they are Class A design circuits which generate a lot of heat. In regards of SQ, you will probably notice it more with such gear like the Phoenix or the Reference One DAC. These components tend to give offer a better SQ after they have been turned for some time. The hotter they get to some extent, the better the SQ.

Thanks, will go for 24x7 with top-cover on...

 

[punk_guy182]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulfp /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks, will go for 24x7 with top-cover on...

That's a good idea. You will also prevent the accumulation of dust or other unwanted stuff like water!!!!!

 

[haloxt]

Sparky14, you said "If I push the Compass a bit, the R channel comes in and out."

What do you mean by push? If you try to reinsert it a few times it will eventually get in just right. I know it's kind of quirky but that's what happens when they use pins for soldering on the hdam and socket for easy swapping on the compass.

zionic, the problem with 0.9 foobar is that it was too much of a hassle that otachan said he wasn't going to make his asio for foobar anymore, so only foobar 0.8.3 and prior can use otachan asio. Some people think his software sounds good, and if you do a search for modified otachan on google you'll see various software that are supposed to have different sound signatures, although I'd say it is about on par with latest winamp/media monkey otachan asio. The other compass thread has quite a bit of talk on different asio media players and asio4all vs usb-asio etc.

 

[Sparky14]

By push, I mean just nudge the side a bit. A one finger push on the side of the unit is enough to make the HDAM connect/disconnect.

When I had the foam installed, that one finger push on the top of the unit would be enough to make the R channel go in/out.

In general, if I turn on the Compass 10 times, 7 times the R channel will be out, 3 times it will be working but will eventually stop working after a while.

Looks like I'll be shipping it back to China, and just hoping I get some sort of refund. I wish I was electronically handy, as I suspect there would be some way to make that thing fit in there firmer.

 

[eddiewalker]

Pull the HDAM out of its socket. Take a pair of needlenose pliers and grasp onto one entire row of 4 HDAM pins at once then *gently* bend them out away from the other row of pins just the littlest bit. That ought to take care of any contact issues and be a whole lot easier than shipping it.

 

[Currawong]

Sparky14: Sending something back which can be fixed quickly and easily is unnecessary. As eddiewalker has suggested, just bend the pins very slightly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulfp /img/forum/go_quote.gif Received my Compass a few weeks back and the HDAM had fallen out of the socket and the legs were all bent. Not difficult to fix, but not the first impression you are looking for... I read earlier posts that mentioned some foam to hold the HDAM in place, but there was no foam in my unit (I guess the missing foam caused the HDAM to fall out of the socket during transport).

Can you please email Audio-gd and tell them about this. They'll want to know so they can make sure the worker responsible doesn't make that mistake again.

 

[Sparky14]

Thanks guys, I'll try the pin bend repair tonight.

 

[Pricklely Peete]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky14 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks guys, I'll try the pin bend repair tonight.

Remember not to overdo it ! The pins will break very easily from metal fatigue (repeated bending). A very small amount will suffice (.1mm at most). I would tweak both sides until you get a fairly snug fit. Make sure when you reinstall the HDAM (and it's ground strap lead) that it's oriented the correct way before buttoning everything back up.

Peete.