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BIIIse left channel cracking sound (intermittant)
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Joined: 1/22/2013(UTC) Posts: 34  Thanks: 1 times
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Hi,
First off, thank you for such an amazing product. The SQ has completely blown me away even though I have only temporarily rigged the boards together to try things out!
Initially I built the IVY I/V stage which behaved perfectly. I then built the Legato which from a sq perspective I prefer. However, I have a problem in that when I use the legato stage I hear an intermittent crack/pop noise from the left-hand speaker. This only happens when the music is playing and is either a single pop or 2 pops in quick succession. Then some seconds of normal music and then another 1 or 2 pops. The music continues to play whilst the pops occur.
I have checked the various voltages and currents and they appear to be correct. I was hoping that you could give me a steer about what else to check?
One thing that I have noticed is that the LEDs on the 1.xV trident occasionally go out. I also noticed on one occasion only one of the LEDs went out. This does not occur simultaneously with the crack/pop noise and seems, perhaps, to be a separate issue. This could be a dry joint on the board itself because I've noticed that nudging the board usually makes the LEDs light back up. I checked the continuity of the soldering points where the trident is mounted to the main DAC board and these seems fine.
I should point out that all boards are stock.
Any help would be most appreciated,
Crom
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Joined: 6/17/2008(UTC) Posts: 921  Thanks: 1 times
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What kind of power supply are you using ?
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 1/22/2013(UTC) Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 times
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Knew I'd forget something ;-)
Placid HD for DAC board and HD BP for IVY or Legato.
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Rank: Administration
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Joined: 10/24/2006(UTC)
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Most likely a cold solder joint on the 1.2V Trident. These are hard to check for with a meter because, obviously, they are often conducting, just not always. try adding a little flux and reflowing the joints on the Triend and the Boffalo board.
Other possibility is not enough shunt current from the Placid (should be easy to check).
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 1/22/2013(UTC) Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 times
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Brilliant, thanks Avr300 and Brian for jumping on this one. I will check this out and come back to you. Have a great weekend!
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 1/22/2013(UTC) Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 times
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Hi all,
Thanks for your help so far. I have looked into this and tried varying the shunt current (50mA up to about 100mA) - at 50mA the supply current is around 440mA, so I didn't want to push it much higher without checking in first.
I have checked and reflowed the soldered joints - all good.
I still get cracking on left speaker when music is playing, but I have made one discovery that may help - it is only when HD (24bit @ 82/96/192K) is playing. Does this indicate that it is likely to be low current and am I OK to push the shunt current higher?
Cheers,
Crom
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Rank: Administration
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Check the shunt current while those sample rates are playing. The chip will draw higher current with higher sample rate data.
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 1/22/2013(UTC) Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 times
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Ok, I've checked this and run the current up to 120mA with no affect. Still random clicks on left channel with hd audio.
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 1/22/2013(UTC) Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 times
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Hi Brian,
I'm getting nowhere with this :-(
I have checked the joints for both signal in and out of the DAC board. I've checked the trident board joints and reflowed solder as you recommended. I didn't appear to have any continuity issues before this but as you say - difficult to test. Anyway, no LED outtages since then so it looks like this resolved that issue. However, the cracking is a real problem. Current is well within (and I've tried above) recommended levels. I don't understand why it would only be the left channel.
I really want to get this sorted so that I can relax and enjoy the music as on standard bit depth it sounds superb.
Is there anything else I can try to resolve this?
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Rank: Administration
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Joined: 10/24/2006(UTC)
Posts: 2,868
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Thanks: 2 times
Was thanked: 141 time(s) in 134 post(s)
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I just re-read your original post. If the IVY works okay, the problem is on the Legato. It could be a bad solder joint there or possibly a bad FET.
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Yes, swap back in the IVY. If that sounds fine, then the problem is with the Legato. Go over that carefully.
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 1/22/2013(UTC) Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 times
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Hi both, thank for the quick replies. I accounted for that as I swapped the channels with a couple of mocked up leads whilst trying to work out where the problem lay. As far as I can tell, the issue has got to be on or before the DAC board - within the signal path. I guess the fact that the problem only raises it's head when HD music is actually playing also points at the DAC.
I am going to borrow an oscilloscope tomorrow to see if that will give me any more in depth info than a multimeter. Is there anything in particular that I should test for?
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Rank: Administration
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Joined: 10/24/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,979
Location: Nashville, TN
Thanks: 25 times
Was thanked: 89 time(s) in 83 post(s)
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It s worth trying the IVY again. If it is working fine it very likely is not the DAC.
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 1/22/2013(UTC) Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 times
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I thought you'd like to know that I have solved this.
First of all I altered/increased the current with no change.
I then exchanged IVY and Legato. It didn't seem to click with the IVY and I agree that this would then point at the legato. I then tried DAC board with no output stage and still got the clicking!?!? I looked at every power supply solder joint with a magnifying glass and re-flowed as appropriate...no joy.
Then I left it for a few weeks and whilst I was fitting my new waveio card I decided to try to sort it out once and for all. I reflowed the solder on every single regulator and power-related joint. HEY PRESTO!
Works beautifully and I haven't heard a click since!
As I am now using the I2S input there is a chance that clicking was caused by the sp/dif input and I will test and report if so...I don't think so though.
Thank you all very much for your help.
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BIIIse left channel cracking sound (intermittant)
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