This is exactly the use case for an external clock. You can't believe the improvement in sound until you try it. The alternative, which I think you are getting at by using your Schiit audio will do exactly the same thing. I use a Singxer SU-2 for exactly this purpose on my TEAC that's located in...

Yes 41 hours is when it really opens up.

BTW I highly recommend a 10mHz clock with this DAC. Improves the depth and width of the soundfield.

Highly recommend you use something like the Singxer SU-2 with this. Will only benefit you on USB input though.

Yes - I unplugged the USB at my computer, moved it to another USB port and plugged back in. Now no popping sounds. Seems the USB protocol stack should be able to notify the DAC that the comm connex is bad and the device would say so. But I guess no addition expenses makes the device more affordable.

Thanks! It is USB and I'm told the USB driver is most likely the problem. Don't know how Linux could have changed. But will report back when I solve it.

My SDA6 is now generating random popping sounds across the stereo field (44.1K source files) no matter whether I use and external clock or the internal clock. :-( 6 months old.

Mine has no output at all. Does it require a headphone with a certain resistance to sense that the bypass should be disabled? (enable headphone instead of feed through)?

I think the Singxer SU2 is a cheaper way to go and use your coax input on your DAC. I don't use wifi or LAN, I have just 2TB on my linux computer attached. But when I listen to 44.1K stuff on wifi I don't notice any hiccups. Depends on strength of your signal too I suppose. You use a NAS?

Audibly notably better. Life is fleeting, I now am using the Singxer SU2 to convert USB to Coax and feed that to the NT-503 and the C16 clock into the Singxer. Just slightly better high frequency detail. Same wide soundstage as the C16 into the NT-503 that turns the room into the performance...

They had a special on the Singxer U2 for like $280 so I bought that one. Your DI-20 is twice as much. I'd just probably throw in the towel and buy a decent DAC that has addressed all these issues for that price. But... let's see how emotionally stable I remain.

The latest firmware they said was stable. I'm remembering 1.62 but I don't have it in front of me. But it was the latest they said. The trouble is the firmware in the chip that Gustard cannot control (USB chip I think). But you can see the phase shifting on the word clock easily. It's a bust.

A heads up on the Gustard U16. It is fatally flawed due to the firmware in the USB chip evidently. I've monitored the word clock output on my scope at 192kHz and the variability is noticable. So much so my DAC loses lock on the SPDIF signal. My advice is to stay away from this device until they...

Try listening to this with the external 10mHz clock. Totally transforms the NT-503 into an amazing sounding DAC. I use the Gustard C16 low level output ("gentle" I think they call it).

This is brilliant! I was about to drill out my SRH1840s. Where did you get your MMCX sockets and plugs?

Litz is a style (many fine strands). So I'm not sure what I bought because it was so long ago, but I will post a couple as examples (not endorsing but showing the various kinds)...

Much more transparent. I've used ones sold on ebay from China. Like $40 or so. But silver is what I believe is important.

The biggest upgrade you can make btw is to replace the cables with silver litz wire cables.

I have a setup at my computer which is the Topping D50 stack (with linear DC supply) that works very well. In my stereo system a Little Dot MkIV SE driven by a Cary SLP98P. For travel I use an FIIO player and a Little Dot battery powered amp. All depens on your needs. Where will you be listening?

Make sure you buy aftermarket silver litz wire headphone cables for these - the difference in sound is stupendous!

Unfortunately no. I recommend you stick with the M8 for Linux. It works great on Windows, Linux driver is problematic. Seller would not take back the unit (ebay beware). But it really isn't the seller's problem, it is the Linux driver's problem. If it works under Windows - but not under Linux...

Bumping to see if anybody else has had this problem, or knows of any driver for the CM6632A for Linux. This DAC makes scratchy noises with the Raspberry Pi Moode audio player, but sounds even worse on plain Linux (highly distorted). There must be a way to get the CM6632A on this DAC to behave in...

I just bought the Sanskrit Pro-B to compare to the SMSL M8 and I'm sorry to report that the sanskrit is making small popping noises all the time, like a vinyl record background noise. If anybody else has experienced this and found a cure, let me know. Right now I will send this one back to...

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