One-second playback gaps

[earmonger]

Every so often -- without a pattern -- I've had music playback briefly go silent, then resume. At first I thought it was an internet glitch with streaming. But it also happens when playing local .mp3, FLAC or .wav files through Foobar2000 on my MacBook Air.

Output is the Ibasso DC04 Pro DAC/Amp dongle, which I've been using to connect some borrowed 4.4mm balanced IEMs. I usually use the Mac's headphone out into an amp, and haven't relied on the Ibasso much until now.

So I'm trying to figure out where in the chain these hiccups are happening. Has anyone else had their Ibasso dongle create these dropouts? Or is it the Mac soundcard, or the music player app, or....?

 

[dunring]

It has a power saving mode, so turning it off might help. I know Windows does, but if your system has power management for USB ports it would be worth checking too. I'd try medium gain if your in low now. Some IEMs I've had like the KZ PR2 are as demanding as most headphones, to make sure you have enough power.

 

[earmonger]

Interesting thought but the Mac doesn't have Windows-like power management controls. I'm pretty sure it's the iBasso DC04 Pro getting such extensive use. Today it has started a new trick -- switching the sound output to the Mac speakers, thus demanding a few clicks under Sound Settings. I may have to give the iBasso the night off...

 

[zkmd]

I also have this on Apple Music sometimes and have no idea why, probably more like 1/2 second but its annoying. It happens on my DAP and Samsung phone

 

[earmonger]

Can't speak to anyone else's setup, but...ever since one of my Macbook's two USB ports died, I've been using a TP-Link powered hub -- with hard drives full of tunes and the iBasso DC04 Pro also plugged in.

Every so often, one of the drives goes offline for a second (but is still connected and soon remounts).

So my current theory is that the hub does some kind of power-cycling hiccup that also affected the iBasso, and with the iBasso offline, the Macbook goes back to Headphone Out.

Too bad Apple makes its laptops so hard to repair; I miss that other USB port. And don't talk to me about later MacBooks that are USB-C only...