[Chopin75]

I opened it up and the power switch is ok with connection through the 4-pin connector to transformer. Shenzen instructed to fix the solder joints near said connector (common problem?). It was not a solution for my u16 though.

Can u mail it back to get fixed? Should be under warranty

 

[henkeman]

Yeah I think this will be sent to shenzen so as to not void any warranty. Not my skill set to fix also.

 

[Ludique]

If you are having powering problems, have you tried switching the voltage to the other setting and then back to your voltage? With the power off and disconnect from the mains of course.

 

[henkeman]

Yes I have toggled the voltage selector. Didnt help though

 

[henkeman]

What haha the u16 got back to life. I dismounted it to trouble-shoot it and take pictures to shenzen then it vainly started working again when I put it together a bit for the photo session. Must have been a loose connection somewhere probably. Happy days

 

[DACLadder]

I looked in the back of my U16 today. LOL! I put it back together and it it working better than ever. I did tighten chassis and power supply GNDs and may sure the cables were connected securely. My main issue has always been, after powering up, 44.1kHz files do not play until a higher sampling rate file is first played and then 44.1kHz files worked fine. After inspection 44.1Khz sampling rates worked initially as well as 88.1 up to 384 Khz.

This U16 is a funny beast but sounds great when working OK....

 

[batfier]

I looked in the back of my U16 today. LOL! I put it back together and it it working better than ever. I did tighten chassis and power supply GNDs and may sure the cables were connected securely. My main issue has always been, after powering up, 44.1kHz files do not play until a higher sampling rate file is first played and then 44.1kHz files worked fine. After inspection 44.1Khz sampling rates worked initially as well as 88.1 up to 384 Khz.

This U16 is a funny beast but sounds great when working OK....

in this case waiting for a new firmware don't make any sense, as hardware topics can not solved this way.

 

[wwmhf]

I looked in the back of my U16 today. LOL! I put it back together and it it working better than ever. I did tighten chassis and power supply GNDs and may sure the cables were connected securely. My main issue has always been, after powering up, 44.1kHz files do not play until a higher sampling rate file is first played and then 44.1kHz files worked fine. After inspection 44.1Khz sampling rates worked initially as well as 88.1 up to 384 Khz.

This U16 is a funny beast but sounds great when working OK....

That was a unusual fixed for such as subtle issue!

 

[DACLadder]

That was a unusual fixed for such as subtle issue!

This issue seems to be isolated to my U16. But could be a thermal issue with my unit. Find out tomorrow morning after being off during the night.

 

[DACLadder]

in this case waiting for a new firmware don't make any sense, as hardware topics can not solved this way.

That is worse case and far too early to make that judgement. But most agree the firmware could be improved a lot!

 

[DACLadder]

Opening up the U16 and inspecting the U16 circuit board found it was well soldered and clean. For DSD I2S users there is an internal jumper that lets you select which pin on the HDMI connector is used for DSD signalling. I can't remember what was default. So if your DAC requires DSD signalling then you may want to check it out. The jumper (red) is on the U16 circuit board and near the HDMI I2S connector. You can gain access to the board from the rear by removing four hex screws (H2) on the back and two more on the bottom. The circuit board will slide out partially from the rear. Do pull too hard as there is a ribbon cable connected to the faceplate.

I still had the 44.1kHz noise on first song this morning. I then let the U16 warm up for one hour and still had noise on 44.1kHz tunes. If I then play higher sampling rates and go back to 44.1kHz they play fine. Same whether the PC or Allo Usbridge is driving the USB port. Has been this way for 3 months since owning the U16. I feel no firmware fix will correct this issue with my unit.

 

[PLGA]

Hello guys
Ive just received my U16 and (with factory firmware) Ive made it work fine with Audinirvana plus on Windows 10, upsampling PCM x2, streaming Tidal and going through my W4S USB Reclocker and then into my Audio-gd R8 DAC.
If I play PCM on its original sample rate, or higher than x2, it doesnt work well.
MQA upsampled x2 does not work well. I will have to change the sample rate to see, but I dont care much as I dont listen much to MQA.
As for the sound, eventhough the U16 only has a couple of hours running, I can asure it sounds better than my W4S USB Reclocker going alone to the Amanero board. I would say most of all it sounds cleaner and more detailed. We will see where we will end, but Im very excited!!
Thank you all for the advices, specially Scott!!

 

[motberg]

Hello guys
Ive just received my U16 and (with factory firmware) Ive made it work fine with Audinirvana plus on Windows 10, upsampling PCM x2, streaming Tidal and going through my W4S USB Reclocker and then into my Audio-gd R8 DAC.
If I play PCM on its original sample rate, or higher than x2, it doesnt work well.
MQA upsampled x2 does not work well. I will have to change the sample rate to see, but I dont care much as I dont listen much to MQA.
As for the sound, eventhough the U16 only has a couple of hours running, I can asure it sounds better than my W4S USB Reclocker going alone to the Amanero board. I would say most of all it sounds cleaner and more detailed. We will see where we will end, but Im very excited!!
Thank you all for the advices, specially Scott!!

I am pretty sure the sound will improve even more after a couple hundred hours..
Can Audinirvana plus on Windows 10 upsample to a set fixed PCM rate, like 384KHz ?
(My R1 really sounds good with a 384 input using the R1 NOS3 setting... best upsampling result I have ever had personally)
If you get time, please let us know which sample rates are successfully working with your U16/R8..
TIA !
PS: just a reminder to set that button on the front panel to indicate PSA.. I assume you are using i2s input..

 

[PLGA]

I am pretty sure the sound will improve even more after a couple hundred hours..
Can Audinirvana plus on Windows 10 upsample to a set fixed PCM rate, like 384KHz ?
(My R1 really sounds good with a 384 input using the R1 NOS3 setting... best upsampling result I have ever had personally)
If you get time, please let us know which sample rates are successfully working with your U16/R8..
TIA !
PS: just a reminder to set that button on the front panel to indicate PSA.. I assume you are using i2s input..

The sample rate that works flawlessly with my R8 is 88.2 kHz.
Ive tried some others, but they make poping noises mixed in the audio signal or are all noise, not sound at all.
I have some lists on Tidal with MQA songs mixed with hifi ones (44.1 kHz) and, with Audinirvana set to upsampling x2, the MQA songs are pure noise and the hifi songs sound perfect.
Im also using NOS3 on my DAC, my favorite.

 

[PLGA]

I forgot to mention that I havent tried all sampling rates and other set up options included in Audinirvana (there are many), but the one I found today works fine and sounds superb.
And yes, Im using the I2S connection with a 0.5 m long chinese HDMI cable, 2.1 specs.