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Output "cuts-out"

Roland Hill

August 10, 2014 06:29

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Hi,

I'm not sure if this is a HiFiBerry DAC (using 3.5mm jack) issue, Volumio 1.4 issue or an issue with my (basic) sound system.

Playback starts okay, but after a short period a "crackling" type noise starts to be heard, then the audio stops (cuts-out). It is still playing in Volumio. If I alter the volume on the sound system the audio returns for a bit then it cuts out again.

I've replaced my RPi/DAC with a friends and have the same issue. When we tested at this home with a simple pair of powered speakers it ran fine (fyi DAC's all purchased in the same order).

I've Googled but haven't found anything resembling my symptoms. Any thoughts would be appreciated. If you need more information I'll try to provide it.

Running the audio straight off the RPi (no DAC) worked without any issues.

Thanks......it the short time it ran it sounded so good..!

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5 comments

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team August 10, 2014 07:01

  Hi,
  
  what sound system are you feeding from the DAC? The DAC outputs full 2Vrms signals, while other devices like mobile phones or even other MP3 players output often only 0.5Vrms. But I've never seen a problem coming from this. Also Volumio runs find at many users.
  Do you play files form the local SD card on Volumio? This might be a problem as some SD cards are very slow.
  
  Best regards
  
  Daniel Matuschek
  
  
• 0
  
  Roland Hill August 10, 2014 07:15

  Hi Daniel,
  
  Thanks for the quick response.
  
  The sound system is a basic Panasonic SA-AK750 (http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/SC-AK750?t=specs).
  
  It has a 3.5mm connection called a "Music Port" designed for connection of portable music players.
  
  I wonder if it's only designed to take 0.5Vrms and that the 2Vrms of the DAC is causing an issue (I'm not an electronics person)?
  
  [UPDATE: Music Port specs are, input jack Terminal Stereo, 3.5 mm (1/8˝) jack, Sensitivity 100 mV, 4.7 kΩ.....does this mean the DAC is outputting too much voltage for this port? If so any way around this short of a new stereo?]
  
  Music plays off a NAS (previously off a USB stick).
  
  The output straight off the RPi worked okay however (different spec's??)...
  
  --
  Regards,
  
  Roland
• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team August 10, 2014 17:14

  Hi,
  
  in general it should be able to work with 2Vrms input signals. However try to reduce the playback volume in Volumio and see if this changes something.
  
  Best regards
  Daniel
• 0
  
  Roland Hill August 11, 2014 09:40

  Hi Daniel,
  
  Your suggestion of reducing the playback volume in Volumio seems to have worked. I need to let it run for a while to be 100% sure, but it looks positive. I'll do more testing once I'm allowed to "make some noise" (wife works nights....sleeps during the day etc).
  
  FYI playback set to 67%. I'll head over to the Volumio forum to see if there is a way to set this somewhere.
  
  I'll do a final post for the archives after I do more testing. Many thanks for your help.
  
  --
  Roland
• 0
  
  Roland Hill August 22, 2014 22:48

  [SOLVED]
  
  As per my last post above this issue has been resolved (now fully tested). In short (after consulting friends) the HiFiBerry DAC outputs at 2V peak-to-peak whereas my stereo can only take 1V peak-to-peak. The reason why this worked before I installed the DAC (i.e. running off the stock RPi 3.5mm audio out) is that it is also rated at 1V peak to peak.
  
  Anyway.....all sorted and great sounding music now playing thanks to the HiFiBerry Team.