Brief Odac impressions - Page 92

Thanks Mchang,i guess it is no need to an expensive Belkin 50 dollars multiplugs...i'll let you know how it will perform,apparently the package is at the income duties office,i hope they don't tax me ...

Definitely wait

Quote:

Originally Posted by mchang 

I'd just wait and see how it works out. If you need to, pick up a cheap powered USB hub.

 

I retrofitted an ODAC into my O2 a few days ago. I plugged it into my work Macbook Pro (1-1/2 years old) with no problems.

 

Later I tried on my 4-year-old Macbook (not-pro 13"). It started out sounding digitized and strange. I plugged and unplugged the USB, which resulted in clear sound for 30 seconds before it stopped playing. I did a bit more digging and noticed that a program called Soundflower had installed some drivers/extensions. I uninstalled and restarted (hadn't restarted in weeks). Not sure which of the steps fixed it, but the ODAC+O2 played perfectly thereafter.

 

I'm back at work now and plugged into a $15 powered USB hub from Fry's. Rocking out with no issues.

You know.. I wonder if it's a driver problem that's causing my laptop and usb 3.0 issues. I bet it is.

So, random idea I wanted to pass along about the O2.

If you're looking into buying the O2 you may have noticed that the power supply needs to output AC rather than DC. This makes it next to impossible (at least my attempts have been futile) at finding one on Amazon or in regular stores. The vast majority of electronics use AC/DC converters and the O2 needs an AC/AC converter. Well, I found out something that typically uses an AC/AC converter: Answering machines. You know that old answering machine you don't use anymore because of your cell phone? It may just have the power supply that you need. I still use my answering machine, so I couldn't take it from there, but thrift stores in the area had a plethora of them. The only problem is that the majority of them only output 6-8 volts and the o2 calls for 14-20. I figured that since it can also run off of 9v batteries that I bought a 9v power supply for $1 and it works.

So why didn't I just order a power supply with my O2? I did, the seller forgot to include it in the original package, then mailed it out the next day, but it has gotten lost in the mail. Luckily, Tyler from Mayflower Electronics is a great guy and is sending another one priority since I will be moving out of the country next week. I just needed a power supply to hold me over until the new one arrives.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbenTrower 

Thinking of getting this, but what if I want 5.1 from my pc movies? My pc is hooked up with rca (rears, center, l and r) to my receiver. If i have an odac going from usb to RCA's on receiver, won't I have to continually unplug it and replug the RCA from the pc soundcard when I watch a movie?

The ODAC only produces stereo audio. If you don't have spare connections on your receiver, you'll be plugging and unplugging.

you could use your receiver for 5.1 ..no ODAC and use the USB pc out to it and to a seperate nice 02 amp...

Alex

Quote:

Originally Posted by chong 

Seems when the ODAC is the only USB device connected to the desktop USB2.0 ports, the problem does not occur. 

 

When I plugged back my USB2.0 hub (built in to Dell 27" monitor) to the desktop USB2.0 ports, it also worked fine - upon reboot however, the problem resurfaced.  Then I unplugged the Logitech USB gaming mouse receiver from the hub and connected it directly to another desktop USB2.0 port, and the problem did not surface so far even after reboot.

 

I'm still testing it, so not drawing any conclusions yet.  I've also ordered a cheap PCIe USB3.0 NEC chipset based card with a direct power connector input from ebay - wanted to replace the crappy built in Etron USB3.0 ports anyway.

So after more than a week, I am confident my problem has been resolved.  Thanks Alex and Chris for your suggestions which helped me tons during the debug!

The fix is to plug my logitech G700 gaming mouse receiver directly to a desktop USB2.0 port rather than to my monitor's USB hub.  The ODAC remains unmoved on another desktop USB2.0 port. In diagrams:

Bad config (ODAC distorts after 5mins):

    Intel Z68 chipset USB2.0 controller

       |

       ---- ODAC

       |

       ---- Dell 2711 USB2.0 Hub

                |

                ---- Logitech G700 gaming mouse receiver

Good config (no distortion after 1+ weeks):

    Intel Z68 chipset USB2.0 controller

        |

        ---- ODAC

        |

        ---- Logitech G700 gaming mouse receiver

        |

        ---- Dell 2711 USB2.0 Hub

chong...congratulations!

I would never use the usb ports in a monitor etc.....

now you can get back to just enjoying the music!

All the best

Alex

That seems so bizarre to me.

Chris...not really...the hub in the Dell monitor may have issues...i dont know if its a powered hub or a passive hub.....and if it meets the USB design specs and has been physically implemented "well" etc..

Alex

Quote:

Originally Posted by adydula 

Chris...not really...the hub in the Dell monitor may have issues...i dont know if its a powered hub or a passive hub.....and if it meets the USB design specs and has been physically implemented "well" etc..

 

Alex

I just wouldn't expect it to cause a problem with other devices that aren't even hooked up to it.

"Ain't" technology grand....

LOL

Alex

I seem to be having a bit of a problem with my ODAC. I use it for awhile, and all of a sudden it begins this strange crackling. If I unplug it and replug it, it goes away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taowolf51 

I seem to be having a bit of a problem with my ODAC. I use it for awhile, and all of a sudden it begins this strange crackling. If I unplug it and replug it, it goes away.

join the club taowolf... This happens with my laptop, or with usb 3.0 on my desktop. A few other people have the problem for various reasons too. 

Oh lovely.

I'm going to check to see if I have it plugged into USB 3.0.