[windyy]

Backstory/Problem:
 
I recently purchased the NuForce uDAC3 from Amazon to replace by uDAC2 which has kicked the bucket (left channel totally dead). The first one I received experienced intermittent problems with the audio cutting out. I noticed that the device would lose power (indicator light turned from white to blue) at the time of the audio cutting out as well. I assumed it to be faulty wiring in the device and filed a return to send it back. 
 
I received the replacement device today and encountered the same exact problem. I tried against multiple PCs with co-workers (who also use various amplifiers, one person actually having a uDAC2). They all experienced the audio cut out while the power simultaneously dropping. The audio could play anywhere from 3 seconds to a full 2 minutes before a cut out was experienced. 
 
What I have done:
 
Optoma Support was of no help as they gave me the run of the mill "did you unplug and plug the device back in" and then insisted that I return the device to them for repair. I find it very odd that two different devices are presenting the same issue across multiple computers. 
 
Barring the possibility that it is two lemon devices in a row, my conclusion is that it is a power issue related to the USB ports, and more specifically the power they're outputting as several different people experienced the same problem. 
 
I'm hoping someone could point in the direction of a possible solution (Google turned up nothing for this specific issue).
 
Here are the power adjustments I have already made:
 
-Disabled the ability to power off USB devices to conserve power (Device Manager)
-Disabled the ability to selectively suspend USB devices (Power Options)
 
I have additionally:
 
-Rebooted PC (several times)
-Reinstalled Drivers
 
Thanks in advance for any guidance. Please let me know if you require additional information other than what was presented here. 

 

[matt1707]

Hi Windyy,
 
I am having the exact same issue with my uDAC3. Did you ever find a resolution to your issue?
 
Thanks,
Matt

 

[ani.lingus]

Hello There,
I have uDAC3, use it at work and have same exact problem. But I investigated this issue further.

What I have done:
- set spread spectrum in bios (helped a bit)
- disabled conserving power for usb
- disabled suspending usb devices
- connected my device to laptop in my home different electric installation

What opened my eyes is last step. It turns out that uDAC is very susceptible to EMI interference and power issues with electric instalation.
In home uDAC3 work without problem!
In office I have similar issue decribed in first post.

So what to do now?
- I ordered from china USB EMI FIlter, looks like PCB with condenser and cost 2usd with packaging and postage xD
- I ordered USB cable with ferrite core on it
- I think about buying special power strip which will filter electricity

To add more spice to my conclusion.
In the past I had strange issues with some usb devices, one literraly broke I never knew that my power suppy is so cheap and can cause such problems. uDAC3 somehow opened my eyes. And by writting power supply I think about electrical installation or my motherboard which could cause such problems. Note that I have decent PSU.

Eventually I will update on this topic when I get packages from china This can take very long time...
Hope I helped someone.

 

[whyfy]

Hello There,
I have uDAC3, use it at work and have same exact problem. But I investigated this issue further.

What I have done:
- set spread spectrum in bios (helped a bit)
- disabled conserving power for usb
- disabled suspending usb devices
- connected my device to laptop in my home different electric installation

What opened my eyes is last step. It turns out that uDAC is very susceptible to EMI interference and power issues with electric instalation.
In home uDAC3 work without problem!
In office I have similar issue decribed in first post.

So what to do now?
- I ordered from china USB EMI FIlter, looks like PCB with condenser and cost 2usd with packaging and postage xD
- I ordered USB cable with ferrite core on it
- I think about buying special power strip which will filter electricity

To add more spice to my conclusion.
In the past I had strange issues with some usb devices, one literraly broke I never knew that my power suppy is so cheap and can cause such problems. uDAC3 somehow opened my eyes. And by writting power supply I think about electrical installation or my motherboard which could cause such problems. Note that I have decent PSU.

Eventually I will update on this topic when I get packages from china This can take very long time...
Hope I helped someone.

Hey, do you have any news? I've got a similar problem with my udac3: quite often, the left channel loses the signal and only noise is coming out of the left speaker while the right is playing just fine. If this occurs, the udac3 usually gets VERY hot. If I don't notice right away, it even hurts to touch the case. If I turn the volume knob down completely, the problem's gone for some minutes or even hours, until it randomly occurs again.

I guess the ferrit core doesn't help as it filters distortions going out of the cable, not coming in. The EMI filter on the other hand sounds promising so I'd like to hear if it helped you.

 

[ani.lingus]

Hey, do you have any news? I've got a similar problem with my udac3: quite often, the left channel loses the signal and only noise is coming out of the left speaker while the right is playing just fine. If this occurs, the udac3 usually gets VERY hot. If I don't notice right away, it even hurts to touch the case. If I turn the volume knob down completely, the problem's gone for some minutes or even hours, until it randomly occurs again.

I guess the ferrit core doesn't help as it filters distortions going out of the cable, not coming in. The EMI filter on the other hand sounds promising so I'd like to hear if it helped you.

I was able to resolve issue!!! Ferrite core will not help you but there is other way

nuforce uDAC 3 problem solution

What I did?
Previously I had my computer and my chargers and monitors plugged into one power cord that was plugged into one wall plug. So basically all was plugged at same cable.

Now I have my computer plugged separately from other stuff to wall plug. My monitors my chargers are plugged separately. So no power drops and EMI from other devices. nuforce uDAC 3 work without any further problems!

Also noticed that one of my Apple chargers - the big old one for iPad - when I touched iphone or ipad with a cable connected to it then I heard crackling sound in my phones connected to another device - WHAT THE HELL I thought ... I just throw it away to garbage. So beside reconnecting your computer please check other devices that might be causing interference. Now I suspect this faulty charger destroyed my previous mainboard on my PC.

Above resolved my issues with nuforce uDAC 3. Amazing and true story.
Hope will help anyone on the internet - Hey Google please index this

 

[ani.lingus]

Again it's me. Update on NuForce uDAC 3 problem

I was writing about solution - for sure my above solution solved some problems for me but not uDAC 3 problem. Currently finally I have found real origin of the problem!

The problem description
When using headphones - from time to time uDAC 3 looses power, sound is audible only in one headphone.

Origin of uDAC 3 problem
I was happy with solution presented above for some time. Until recently AKG service returned my K550 mk2 which seem to cause problem. So when I listen to music uDAC 3 play perfectly but after some play time when I try to take of headphones BAM problem returns!
AKG K550 mk2 seems to charge and send electric discharge to NuForce uDAC 3 through cable - and this destabilize uDAC 3.

Cheep solution of the uDAC 3 problem
Disconnect headphones from uDAC 3 before you want to take headphones off.

Better solution of the uDAC 3 problem
Connect your headphones through RCA - use good quality interconnect. This is theory - working on this solution as ordered my interconnect. Will edit.

 

[ani.lingus]

I have mine RCA > Jack ... this does not solve the problem

ONLY SOLUTION

use different headphones. Mine K550 will not work with udac3 :C