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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
mahler123
3,044 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 

fthompson251's avatar
fthompson251
298 posts
 

FWIW I had skipping, lags when I had a Cambridge CXN V2 into my Venus II DAC. When I switched to the Aurender N200 which cache's into internal memory that problem disappeared. 

flyfish77
40 posts
 

It does not make any difference if the issue with your current streamer/DAC is the streamer or the DAC part of the device. If the device is faulty, then it needs to be replaced or repaired.  If you really want to continue using your old device, you could try a different power supply.

Since 2016, streamers and streamer/DAC’s have improved a a lot.  You can certainly get better sound quality if you get a separate streamer and DAC. It important to note that there are plenty of new streamer/DAC’s that will sound better than your 2016 streamer/DAC, whatever that is.  There is nothing wrong with keeping things simple. Good luck finding your new streamer setup.

 

tomaswv OP
206 posts
 

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. 

soix
8,714 posts
 

Follow up question — does the problem only occur when streaming Qobuz?

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