2. digital
  3. 188280-130

What is going on here? Streamer or DAC?

I’ve got an old (2016) streamer DAC that is beginning to show some instability. I do not believe it is my signal strength—240+ mps, no problems streaming video, occurs wired or WiFi. Opinions? Here are the symptoms:

1. Maybe one track in four, starts with a skip or stutter.  If I restart the track, it starts fine. 
2. Maybe one every few weeks/months, gets stuck repeating one note sort of like a damaged record. When this happens, no control via remote or the unit itself. Have to unplug to get it to stop. Sometimes it self corrects when plugging back in, sometimes have to hard reset.

3. Maybe once every few weeks, will locate tracks on Qobuz but will not load and play them.  Works fine from NAS or internet radio. When this happens, sometimes can correct by re-acquiring WiFi, sometimes needs a hard reset. This might be associated with momentary power outages. 
 

4. maybe once in three-six months, just shuts down and restarts while playing. 
 

Comments?

 

tomaswv
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,307 posts
 

@tomaswv

Maybe one every few weeks/months, gets stuck repeating one note sort of like a damaged record. When this happens, no control via remote or the unit itself. Have to unplug to get it to stop. Sometimes it self corrects when plugging back in, sometimes have to hard reset.

based solely on the above, assuming your network isn’t an issue, the problem you’re describing is a streamer issue. Most likely the processor is on its way out.

Is there a digital input on the unit…coax or optical? If so, my suggestion would be to order a WiiM pro from Amazon and using it as streamer only, test it out by driving the DAC section via coax or toslink. You can send back the WiiM when done. But this test will rule out the DAC…or highlight it as a culprit.

benanders's avatar
benanders
222 posts
 

audphile1

3,485 posts

 

@tomaswv

order a WiiM pro from Amazon and using it as streamer only, test it out by driving the DAC section via coax or toslink. You can send back the WiiM when done. But this test will rule out the DAC…or highlight it as a culprit.

 

Perhaps none of my business, but advising someone to order a WiiM unit they’ve no intention to keep, only to ride the distributor’s return policy after using said unit for reasons other than why it’s sold, repeated among threads by you, @audphile1 - that is not an ethical suggestion regardless of how one feels about Amazon, and ultimately hits the streamer manufacturer. Bad call IMO and, generally speaking, among business ethics. “Enjoy the music” shouldn’t include taking free rides in bad faith. At the very least quit suggesting a particular company to abuse?

speedthrills
160 posts
 

Why not share what brand and model you have? Perhaps others have had similar exp with it and diagnosed the issue? 

kraftwerkturbo
310 posts
 

Is it an indication that there are no issues when streaming video as per OP?

mahler123
3,059 posts
 

OP

 

you didn’t mention the brand of your current gear, but I had a very similar problem to yours with a Bluesound Node2 that was the same vintage as yours, and of course out of warranty.  Bluesound wasn’t helpful after a Herculean effort to get a response, and I was using Ethernet and had no other equipment issues.  I finally moved off Bluesound 

More to discover