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Delay in DAC receiving signal from CD player

This has probably been covered here at Agon forums, but I have not been able to find anything in searches.

I have a Denon DCM-520 connected to an Outlaw Audio Model 976 AV surround processor.  When playing a CD, there is a slight but noticeable delay in audio kicking in.  I know part of this is how some CD's were produced, and varying amounts of "empty" recording ahead of a track, but this is not the whole reason since I never experienced this prior to connecting the Denon to the OA 976.

I spoke with Outlaw support about this, and Ben there explained both of the above.  Specifically, he said that the Denon actually stops sending signal between songs so the connection has to re-establish - causing that slight cut-off of the beginning of a track.  His suggestion to avoid it is revert to connecting the Denon via RCA connections.

My Denon is 25 years old, so my questions are these:

- Do you agree with what Ben is telling me

- Are newer CD players (or specific brands) designed so that this does not happen?  In other words - designed so that there is a continuous feed of signal to the pre/DAC even if the CD is between tracks?


Thanks,


Craíg

craig16229

Showing 1 response by theo

theo's avatar
theo
2,664 posts
 
Si had the same issue years ago with a Rega Jupiter and a McIntosh MSD4. I contacted McIntosh and was told the issue is that the DAC has to first analyze the signal and will start conversion. He also told me the matter had been resolved with a software update, which I had to send it back to McIntosh and they did the update and it worked flawlessly after that. I suspect you have a similar issue in the two units not “handshaking” with the same (I hope the right word) baudrate so the translation takes a moment with each song.
I can’t say what you can do as I am unfamiliar with the equipment in question. But my crosshairs are on the Outlaw.
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