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HELP ... Mac MIni and Bel Canto DAC3 Problems ...

HELP PLEASE!!!

My Setup:
Mac Mini --> Bel Canto DAC3 via USB --> Simaudio I-7 via XLR --> Dynaudio Confidence C1.

My Problem:
I just received a slightly used Bel Canto DAC3 today to replace a Benchmark Media DAC1 USB. I planned on doing an A/B comparison. However, when I unplug the Benchmark and plug in the Bel Canto, I get music drop-outs and pops every 5 to 10 seconds. I have tried everything I can think of to no avail ... I still get the continuous drop-outs and clicks.

Should I return the Bel Canto or is there a fix for this? PLEASE HELP!!!!

Additional info ... the Bel Canto DAC3 has firmware revision 2.01.

Thanks :-)
pwfletcher
michaelct
27 posts
 
Running a BC DAC3 and M300 monoblocs for about
six months now, fed by a Mac Mini, finished with
Monitor Audio Platinum 100s.
All purchased new for around $10k total.
Tried lots of other stuff: complicated, fussy and messy.
None of it sounded better.
Actually, none of it sounded as good. :-)
edo_musica
113 posts
 
Michaelct.... are you using the optical out or usb from the mac mini? have you compared the two outputs into the BC DAC3?

oh and what storage drive are you using?
michaelct
27 posts
 
Edo,

I'm using USB to USB. A Bel Canto engineer told me
by phone that with a Mac, USB is best, so haven't even
bothered trying optical. ( Maybe USB is best with Windows
too, I don't know -- and I don't care. ;-) )

As I inferred in my previous post, I tried lots of fussy mussy
and complicated stuff, to little avail and at significant expense.
None of it was worth it, that I could *hear*.
Hard to beat a $5, 6" USB cable for simplicity. :-)

I currently use only the hard drive in the Mini --
I ordered a 120 GB drive upgrade when I bought the Mini new,
which holds about 400 CDs in Apple Lossless format.
That happens to be enough for me, for now.
I own a Newer Technology 500 GB 'mini stackable' drive
that I use for other purposes, but it would be a little too noisy
for my tastes as an add-on the Mini server. I've read that
quieter Mini-stackable drives exist but I can't advise
which though, I've forgotten.
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
I've tried both on Windows..it sounded about the same too me. No real difference to put one a head of the other.
s789f
6 posts
 
To everyone, thanks for all the info. I have been doing some internet research on DAC's. The new Bel Canto DAC 3 has really caught my eye. I'm hoping it really catches my ears as well. I recently auditioned the Rotel 1082 with the Rega Apollo. Both sounded great together but a little weak on the bass. Though a fine tuned sub took care of the issue. I have a 12" Velodyne. Currently I am running a Proceed HPA2 to a pair of B&W 804's. The connection being made with Monster M2.4 biwire cables, Monster M1000 RCA's. I will be using a newly purchased Mac mini as my server.
I look forward to hearing some feedback and or suggestions.
Thanks
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