GnuB
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2007
- Posts
- 109
- Likes
- 12
Symptom: Gritty sound when scrolling similar to the snap, crackle, pop of Rice Krispies. It is particularly annoying because I like to create and listen to playlists on the fly and scrolling / navigating in the players or in a separate browser window causes the noise.
Other Head-Fi articles discussing the problem
http://www.head-fi.org/t/289455/usb-noise/15
http://www.head-fi.org/t/802866/usb-sound-card-noise
http://www.head-fi.org/t/498441/firewire-usb-noise-reduction
My experience
Windows XP and Windows 10 PC USB
16 / 44.1 Lossless WMA, VBR WMA, FLAC and MP3
Media Players:
Windows Media Player
Groove (directsound or whatever Windows uses behind the scenes)
Kodi - WASAPI driver
Winyl - ASIO driver
Audio Chain:
USB -> SMSL M8 (or Aune T1) -> Little Dot MK III -> Headphones (DT880, HD580, SHP9500)
USB -> Aune T1 -> Gustard H10 -> Headphones (T50RP III, ATH-M50s, DT880, HD580, SHP9500)
Possible Solutions:
1. USB Conditioners
Audioquest Jitterbug - http://www.head-fi.org/t/777003/review-of-audioquest-jitterbug-usb-data-power-noise-filter
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Audioquest-ADQ002-AudioQuest-Jitterbug-Filter/dp/B00YTA78FW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459954245&sr=8-1&keywords=audioquest+jitterbug
Schitt Wyrd USB Decrapifier - http://www.head-fi.org/t/724519/schiit-decrapifier-released-usb-power-isolator
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-16-Wyrd-USB-Decrapifier/dp/B00LFVMC9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460154867&sr=8-1&keywords=schiit+decrapifier
iFi iPurifier 2 - http://www.head-fi.org/t/784983/ifi-ipurifier-2-reviews-impressions-and-discussion-thread
For sale here: http://www.musicdirect.com/p-364758-ifi-ipurifier-2-inline-usb-audio-conditioner.aspx
May not work for my problem: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784983/ifi-ipurifier-2-reviews-impressions-and-discussion-thread/165#post_12274845
2. Internal Sound Card w/ SPDIF out
Creative Sound Blaster Z - http://www.head-fi.org/t/623079/creative-sound-blaster-new-series-z-zx-zxr
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Blaster-Performance-Headphone-Forming-Microphone/dp/B009ISU33E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459954785&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+sound+blaster+Z
3. External USB / SPDIF converter
Gustard U12 - http://www.head-fi.org/t/736294/gustard-u12-usb-interface-8-core-xmos-chip
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/GUSTARD-384KHz-Digital-Interface-silver/dp/B00PU4IXA0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1459953895&sr=1-1&keywords=GUSTARD+u12
SMSL X-USB XMOS USB to Spdif Converter
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-x-USB-Silver-DAC/dp/B017VXS212/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459954174&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=SMSL+X-USB+XMOS+USB+to+Spdif+Converter
4. HDMI Audio De-embedder (SPDIF out)
LUX-11 HDMI Audio Extractor, Decoder, Converter -
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Digital-Converter-De-Embedder-Decoder/dp/B005COKXCO
Kanex Pro HDMI Audio De-Embedder -
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-Pro--Embedder-2-Channel-HAECOAX/dp/B009KAU0WO/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1460150984&sr=1-2&keywords=kanex+pro
Comments
The Aune T1 is USB only so a USB conditioner would be preferable where it is used. The M8 is both USB and SPDIF so any of the above solutions would work with it.
I would be perfectly happy with USB as a source if it was noise free.
The Gustard or SMSL converters would fit cosmetically with my gear. But USB to SPDIF converters may have an impact on sound quality same as DACs and other equipment in the audio chain. See this article -
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/15-universal-serial-bus-industry-standard-cables-connectors-and-communications-protocols-between-computers-and-electronic-devices-spdif-converters-shootout-15327/
A HDMI de-embeder may have the additional benefit of being able to play DVD audio. (I also have an Oppo bluray player)
(Note: "For sale here" is for reference only not a recommendation as there are obviously other places to purchase the products than the links shown)
Questions
Has anyone experienced the same problem and, if so, what solution did you implement and what were your results both good and bad?
Other Head-Fi articles discussing the problem
http://www.head-fi.org/t/289455/usb-noise/15
http://www.head-fi.org/t/802866/usb-sound-card-noise
http://www.head-fi.org/t/498441/firewire-usb-noise-reduction
My experience
Windows XP and Windows 10 PC USB
16 / 44.1 Lossless WMA, VBR WMA, FLAC and MP3
Media Players:
Windows Media Player
Groove (directsound or whatever Windows uses behind the scenes)
Kodi - WASAPI driver
Winyl - ASIO driver
Audio Chain:
USB -> SMSL M8 (or Aune T1) -> Little Dot MK III -> Headphones (DT880, HD580, SHP9500)
USB -> Aune T1 -> Gustard H10 -> Headphones (T50RP III, ATH-M50s, DT880, HD580, SHP9500)
Possible Solutions:
1. USB Conditioners
Audioquest Jitterbug - http://www.head-fi.org/t/777003/review-of-audioquest-jitterbug-usb-data-power-noise-filter
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Audioquest-ADQ002-AudioQuest-Jitterbug-Filter/dp/B00YTA78FW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459954245&sr=8-1&keywords=audioquest+jitterbug
Schitt Wyrd USB Decrapifier - http://www.head-fi.org/t/724519/schiit-decrapifier-released-usb-power-isolator
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-16-Wyrd-USB-Decrapifier/dp/B00LFVMC9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460154867&sr=8-1&keywords=schiit+decrapifier
iFi iPurifier 2 - http://www.head-fi.org/t/784983/ifi-ipurifier-2-reviews-impressions-and-discussion-thread
For sale here: http://www.musicdirect.com/p-364758-ifi-ipurifier-2-inline-usb-audio-conditioner.aspx
May not work for my problem: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784983/ifi-ipurifier-2-reviews-impressions-and-discussion-thread/165#post_12274845
2. Internal Sound Card w/ SPDIF out
Creative Sound Blaster Z - http://www.head-fi.org/t/623079/creative-sound-blaster-new-series-z-zx-zxr
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Blaster-Performance-Headphone-Forming-Microphone/dp/B009ISU33E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459954785&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+sound+blaster+Z
3. External USB / SPDIF converter
Gustard U12 - http://www.head-fi.org/t/736294/gustard-u12-usb-interface-8-core-xmos-chip
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/GUSTARD-384KHz-Digital-Interface-silver/dp/B00PU4IXA0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1459953895&sr=1-1&keywords=GUSTARD+u12
SMSL X-USB XMOS USB to Spdif Converter
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-x-USB-Silver-DAC/dp/B017VXS212/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459954174&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=SMSL+X-USB+XMOS+USB+to+Spdif+Converter
4. HDMI Audio De-embedder (SPDIF out)
LUX-11 HDMI Audio Extractor, Decoder, Converter -
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Digital-Converter-De-Embedder-Decoder/dp/B005COKXCO
Kanex Pro HDMI Audio De-Embedder -
For sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-Pro--Embedder-2-Channel-HAECOAX/dp/B009KAU0WO/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1460150984&sr=1-2&keywords=kanex+pro
Comments
The Aune T1 is USB only so a USB conditioner would be preferable where it is used. The M8 is both USB and SPDIF so any of the above solutions would work with it.
I would be perfectly happy with USB as a source if it was noise free.
The Gustard or SMSL converters would fit cosmetically with my gear. But USB to SPDIF converters may have an impact on sound quality same as DACs and other equipment in the audio chain. See this article -
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/15-universal-serial-bus-industry-standard-cables-connectors-and-communications-protocols-between-computers-and-electronic-devices-spdif-converters-shootout-15327/
A HDMI de-embeder may have the additional benefit of being able to play DVD audio. (I also have an Oppo bluray player)
(Note: "For sale here" is for reference only not a recommendation as there are obviously other places to purchase the products than the links shown)
Questions
Has anyone experienced the same problem and, if so, what solution did you implement and what were your results both good and bad?