Is my DAC dying?

Posted by: m24j on 24 June 2018

Just moved house, and set my system up again. Source is HDX, nDAC, XPS2 on the nDAC, into a 282 (dual hi-cap). Increasingly now though I'm getting pops and crackles on playback, with dropouts also (about half a second or so of silence). The cracks and pops are there when there's no signal playing through the HDX. Is the nDAC likely to be dying on me?

Posted on: 24 June 2018 by Guinnless

Crackles and pops are an analogue noise. Possibly your 282 or a SNAIC/Interconnect.

Posted on: 24 June 2018 by m24j

Thx. Will try reseating everything.

Posted on: 24 June 2018 by Adam Zielinski

Do you get ‘sync’ link showing as stable?

Posted on: 24 June 2018 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Do check the SPDIF lead... sometimes the BNC connectors can wear and make a less than ideal contact.

Posted on: 24 June 2018 by m24j

Thanks. Looks like a bunch of flaky connections - the hiline seemed to be the source of the popping, and no trouble since repeating this. Secondly the optical digital interconnect also seemed to be an issue with an intermittent sync light. So a good, loud, listen this evening sounds in order while the wife is away on business.