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Intermittent electronic static like "tick" noise when using USB from PC to Amp/Dac ... but not...

post #1 of 35
4/24/11 at 8:03pm
Thread Starter 

   I get an intermittent electronic electronic static like "tick" spike/noise when using my PCs USB out to my Amp/Dac ... this problem does not manisfest itself when using optical out of the sound card to the same amp/dac ... this tick happens every few minutes or so with no rhyme or reason ...  and can be quite annoying to say the least ... ouch ! .... it seems to have just started a few days ago ... of course i can just use the optical out as a work around but would like to find the cause of this problem anyway ... as it might be an indication of a component going bad ... no equiptment changes have been made which might cause this.  I have not swapped out the usb cable yet but I will as its easy to do ... could a bad cable cause such an anomaly?

 

    USB (PC) > Grant Fidelity Dac-09(Tube out) > MingDa MC-84C07 > various phones.

 

     Any ideas or suggestions would be most welcome ...

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post #2 of 35
4/24/11 at 8:09pm
Funny, I was looking exactly for the same problem. I am hearing what it resembles the "pops" or "chirps" usually heard on vinyls using the USB interface of my Audio GD FUN. It occurs on some files, not all, and when it first appears, it is heard until the end of the song.
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post #3 of 35
4/24/11 at 8:22pm

Shut down all programs but what's needed. When I get that, it's because the computer gets too many things going on. If I just surf and listen, I'm good. If I have downloads and several apps open, things can get silly.

 

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post #4 of 35
4/24/11 at 8:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Camper View Post

Shut down all programs but what's needed. When I get that, it's because the computer gets too many things going on. If I just surf and listen, I'm good. If I have downloads and several apps open, things can get silly.

 

    Thanks for your suggestion but unfortunately I have a super powerful PC and there is nothing really going on in terms of background tasks etc ... I am begining to think it may be in the Dac-09s usb input circuit ... but dont ask me why!    :O)
 

 

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post #5 of 35
4/24/11 at 8:48pm

What program are you using to play music?


 

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post #6 of 35
4/24/11 at 8:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Camper View Post

What program are you using to play music?


 


  I use Foobar 2000 v 1.1.5 and  WMP  12..0. 7601.

 

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post #7 of 35
4/24/11 at 9:03pm

What is your output in DSP in preferences

 

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post #8 of 35
4/24/11 at 9:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Camper View Post

What is your output in DSP in preferences

 


In Foobar: Device> DS: Speakers (2-USB Audio)

                  Buffer>  1060 ms

 

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post #9 of 35
4/24/11 at 9:59pm

Try increasing your buffer to 2000 ms

 

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post #10 of 35
4/24/11 at 11:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Camper View Post

Try increasing your buffer to 2000 ms

 


   Unfortunately increasing the buffer did not alleviate the problem ... but thank you very much for the suggestion.

 

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post #11 of 35
4/25/11 at 10:10am
Thread Starter 

   I just swapped out the usb cable and port ...  the problem still exists ...

 

I am running out of ideas ... not too many variables left except the usb circuit of the amp/dac or the PC ????

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post #12 of 35
4/25/11 at 10:58am

Do you have other usb devices connected? With usb, it's usually either a power or data signal issue. In your case I doubt it's power since that would manifest as a more consistent hum or noise.

 

Try disconnecting all your other devices and see if that stops the clicks.

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post #13 of 35
4/25/11 at 11:59am
There's someone that reported that Easy CD Extractor had that problem. Here's the link:

http://www.poikosoft.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1619

That didn't helped me as I rip all my CDs using Rhythmbox (cdparanoid + flac). Maybe the OP can find this useful?
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post #14 of 35
4/25/11 at 6:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Armaegis View Post

Do you have other usb devices connected? With usb, it's usually either a power or data signal issue. In your case I doubt it's power since that would manifest as a more consistent hum or noise.

 

Try disconnecting all your other devices and see if that stops the clicks.


  I don't have any active usb devices running ... even my mouse and KB are PS2 ... darn.

 

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post #15 of 35
4/25/11 at 6:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by aroldan View Post

There's someone that reported that Easy CD Extractor had that problem. Here's the link:

http://www.poikosoft.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1619

That didn't helped me as I rip all my CDs using Rhythmbox (cdparanoid + flac). Maybe the OP can find this useful?


   I am using files mostly ripped by others ... and they do sound perfect when i use optical ... its when i use usb that I have the problem ... and I have swapped out everything imaginable ... and still no luck .. I cant swap out the usb circuit in the amp dac however as I dont have an alternative ...

 

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