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#1
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MCD1100 DAC - Annoying Noise Between Songs
I have multiple DAC units, the DAC in MCD1100 is my second favorite (PS Audio DSD is my favorite BTW). However, there is an annoying problem which has been bothering me.
I use Mac Mini to feed music from Roon to this DAC through USB. The issue happens in every single gap between songs: a faint whistle like sound (~half second). In the beginning I thought it was one of the common issues when a DAC switches sample rates, so I changed setting in Roon to mute for a second when the "switching" happens, but it did not help. Then I realized the noise does not come from speakers. It's from the inside of MCD1100 instead!!! The noise sounds like something a CD player gives when a CD is just inserted. To me, it's more "mechanical" rather than "digital". It's very low in volume but still sensible. Any ideas? Last edited by SAPHANA; 02-12-2018 at 03:37 PM. |
#2
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I have D1100 that I use with my Aurender music server via usb and do not have that problem if that helps . Try using a different usb source to rule out if it’s ypur Mac mini
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#3
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Quote:
1. Utilize another DAC: Mac Mini --> USB --> Oppo 105D --> XLR (Analog) --> Preamp Result: no noise. 2. Utilize another digital input: Mac Mini --> USB --> Oppo 105D --> Optical --> MCD1100 Result: no noise. I think these two testings ruled out Mac/USB as the root cause. It seems to me the issue has something to do with MCD1100's USB input... Last edited by SAPHANA; 02-12-2018 at 05:19 PM. |
#4
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Do you have another computer you can try?
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#5
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Which software do you use with your mac mini ? If it's Audivarna, I had the problem, there is settings in the pref menu to avoid this.
Hope it helps. |
#6
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I did try a PC (Intel NUC), but could not have the DAC setup. Windows 10 does not recognize the MCD110 DAC, and I could not find any drivers to download from Mcintosh.
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#7
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Quote:
However, I do have Audirvana+ installed on the same Mac Mini, so I just tried it and did not hear the noise! I found a similar issue complaining "clicks" between songs on Roon's community web site, but unfortunately there are no conclusions/solutions yet. Last edited by SAPHANA; 02-13-2018 at 10:24 AM. |
#8
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Based on the findings so far, it seems Roon has something to do with the issue. However the odd thing is: the issue does not exist when using another DAC... In fact, it only exists when the combination is Roon+MCD1100+USB.
Last edited by SAPHANA; 02-13-2018 at 11:17 AM. |
#9
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UPDATE
---------- I guess I know the reason now. I omitted an important information in my original post because I though it's irrelevant, but it turned out to be relevant: the issue happens when streaming Tidal through Roon. I had been using this system for streaming Tidal via Roon only, and never tried to play music from my own library. Today I started to think the issue might be related to how Roon deals with gaps, and how MCD1100's DAC responds to signals from USB. So I tested it using my FLAC files stored in Roon's library. Amazingly no noise between songs, and the same noise only appears when the whole album ends. My theory: - Roon deals with gaps for tracks from Tidal and my local library differently, even though they are both in FLAC format, and both in lossless redbook CD quality; - The problem only happens when Roon stops sending the signals then starts again. If Roon sends the signals continuously regardless whether there's gap or not, there won't be noise; - The issue only happens to MCD1100's DAC instead of my other DACs, because MCD1100 gives noise when its DAC stop receiving signals from USB. |
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