What is going on here? Streamer or DAC?

Good info. Separate streamer and DAC is exactly where I’m thinking of going. Looking for info on what is happening to help me decide which to replace first.  

There’s no wall wart, but here’s what I can do  ( just thought of this). I have a second system with a newer all in one.  Ill use the new as a streamer and the old as a DAC and see what happens, then switch ‘em. 
new streamer/old DAC: problems? Then it’s the DAC

old streamer/new DAC: problems? The it’s the streamer

Problems either way? Then it’s the power supply or network

no problems either way? Anybody’s guess  

I’ll report back in a few days  

The old unit is Cambridge 851n. I’ve been happy with the sound and the streammagic app. The new unit (in my second system) is Cambridge Evo 75. 
my main system is the 851n (with NAS attached) to a Bel Canto pre5 to Bel Canto 500m monoblocks to Dali Mentor 6 speakers.  No issues when streaming from the NAS.  I will use the Evo 75 a streamer to the 851 DAC and see if the problems go away. 

I’ve done that. I have deactivated importing so it doesn’t save anything.  This is on the Qobuz app.  When I go to Qobuz via Cambridge streammagic app, I don’t see where there is a cache and it doesn’t import to Cambridge. 

The plot thickens.  Yes, only when streaming Qobuz, though that’s all I stream. Files from NAS play fine as does internet radio and audio from tv (optical in).  

thought I had a theory, now not so sure. 
 

hooked up the old streamer to the new DAC (not able to do it the other way round). Played 20-30 songs perfectly, no stutter start. Aha, says I, it is the DAC!  I then notice that the old streamer is no longer displaying album art (nor is the new one). Aha, it IS the DAC, unable to handle th le album art at the start of each song. I figure, the old streamer realizes there is a digital out so it’s doesn’t send the art. 

but then I decided to revert to original set up to prove the case. The art STILL doesn’t display, and everything works perfectly. Turn old streamer off and on, still no art. Unplug it plug it back in, art is back.  And, it seems to be working perfectly.  
 

so I’m confused. I unplugged it yesterday when it hung up and the art was back and the problems were back also. 
 

so I think the DAC can’t handle the input, but it seems to be doing so now. Will watch for next few days and report back. 

Yes. That is what I did, but the catch was aredynety because I had previously disabled the storage. I’ve started maybe fifty songs so far with no stutter starts. Fingers crossed. 

But the cache was already empty…

maybe it needed cleared out anyway then I rebooted before anything was streamed.  Maybe a clean handshake kind of deal?

So here is the update. After cleaning out Qobuz cache and rebooting the Cambridge as described above, I believe the stutter starting has gone away. I say I believe because I thought it might have happened once or twice when I wasn’t paying strict attention. In any case, it feels fixed to me. What isn’t fixed is the occasional shut down restart of the Cambridge 851n. Has happened three times since Jan 30. Music stops, I look up and see the unit restarting.  I then have to go out of the stream magic app, go back in and everything is fine. Is this evidence of a failing power supply?

Well, as a final follow up here, I believe the thing is just kaput.  Probably a power supply failing, or possibly the streamer.  I sent a query in to Cambridge and I have to say I was impressed— they asked several follow up questions before concluding that the 851n would need service or replacement. They noted the warranty period was long past but did offer a trade in program where they would give me some credit towards a new purchase.  That was nice, and I am looking at the new CXN100 but fear it is more of a CXN replacement. I’ve heard those before in a buddy’s system and I also have a EVO 75 in a second system. Those sound very good but clearly the 851n sounds better. Besides, I’m going to try to get to Axpona this year…

thanks for all the comments and suggestions.