2. digital
  3. 191139-193215

Do other DACs do this? Auralic Vega

I have borrowed an Auralic Vega to demo with a view to buy.  However 90% of the time when I first start to use it I get a very brief crackle before the music starts. 

I'm unsure if this is just a DAC thing, or a known issue with this model (although I can't find anything searching), or more to do with how I am feeding it. 

Most music is coming from Apple Music using Firefox Browser on a NUC and fed to the Auralic via USB.

I get the same when first using the Tidal App but seems to be less frequent.

It doesn't do this between tracks, but if I move between Apple Music and the Tidal app it has a good chance of doing it again.

Ultimately I want to upgrade to a streamer, such as the Innuos Pulse Mini, so now wondering if a better source would resolve the issue or whether it could be a better option to give back the Auralic and use the internal DAC on the Innuos.

Any and all advice would be very much appreciated

incoming

Showing 8 responses by incoming

incoming OP
18 posts
 

Thank-you @bluethinker , it is good to know that this is something that needs to be resolved one way or the other.

I'll check out your recommendations too, thanks.

incoming OP
18 posts
 

Definitely a Crackling / Scratching kind of sound, not a clicking.

I'm wondering if other NUC users have had anything similar too.

incoming OP
18 posts
 

The DAC Magic it replaced did not do this. It just sounded terrible in comparison.

Could just be more sensitive to the setup, or faulty. A better USB cable is a thought, with no real downside to try. Will give that a go.

incoming OP
18 posts
 

@lapera it may come to that.  I have upgraded network and USB on order so will give it a shot anyway, then if this fix https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/wmmrum/audio_crackling_pop_on_windows_11/ also doesn't work a new DAC would be the goal 

incoming OP
18 posts
 

@lloydc do you have a better source than a NUC to feed your Vega tastier treats?

incoming OP
18 posts
 

Thanks for the input @audioman58

The Innuos Pulse Mini has an on-board DAC, the Pulse and Pulsar do not. I had thought I could leverage the DAC in the mini with the digital output of the NUC, but it cannot do this. To go the Innuos route I would need to keep an external DAC in the picture.

The Vega that I have on loan is old, released in 2013 I believe, this one - AURALIC VEGA (stereotimes.com)

But sounds great to my ears and would be equivalent of just over USD600. This should give an idea of the options and costs over here.

As with everything so far, it seems committing more budget than I am comfortable with is the best (and certainly easiest) solution...

incoming OP
18 posts
 

In case of interest, the settings in the NUC do make a difference. At this point I am thinking this is not a DAC issue. Will be exploring additional settings.

 

incoming OP
18 posts
 

And as a final update for anyone else who may have this issue, I added an Auralic Aries Mini into the system and it does not do this. It is using the coax SPDIF connection to the Vega dac. 

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