DAC USB Hum
I’ve had my Innuos Zen Mk3/MHDT Orchid DAC setup in my system for 30 days or so and I’m very satisfied with this combo. The Zen is USB only. Just noticed today that I’m getting a slight hum from the DAC and it goes away when unplugged. No hum through my speakers when connected just the DAC. Any help with eliminating the hum is appreciated.
@jacobsdad2000 Thank you for your kind words.
I do use those hospital grade Ethernet isolators also but as much for surge protection as anything else. Based on readings from tech journals, it seems the best option for inside a building. I have a couple of long runs that end in expensive gear. The longer the run the more likely you are to have an induced surge from a near by strike. I can't say that I've ever heard them make an audible difference yet. :) |
@jacobsdad2000 The isolation chips are so cheap, like under $2 in bulk. It's a shame. |
It’s a shame that DACs still don’t have galvanic isolation. Meaning, there is often metal to metal through which can cause both analog and digital effects. It’s rare to see this from a streamer though, the usual culprits are PCs. In your case you have an analog one and the fix is cheap, you need a USB isolator, though not all DACs work with them. Usually, they don't need to be powered, but in some rare cases the DAC won't recognize the input unless there's a DC voltage so you may need to get a separate supply:
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