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Crackling and Ticking noises during playback AMP100 RPI3B+

Andreas Klein

July 30, 2021 09:50

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Hello HifiBerry Community,

after using a Digi+ in another configuration happily for some years, I recently bought an AMP100 for use as a standalone ROONready Device. I use a power supply of an intel NUC 19V, 4.7 A and a RPI3B+.

I intalled HifiberryOS image 20210531 and got a connection to roon without any problems. It works ALMOST flawlessly, as it produces cracking and tickling noises irregularly, almost as if listening to a - not mint condition - vinyl disc.

I know that cracking has been discussed in many threads, but it seems that there was no discription and/or solution that fits to my problem or I may not have found it.

The diagnostics report the Sound Card as Amp100 so that seems fine.

In the meantime I tried replaying music via airplay and bluetooth, but the crackling noises remain unchanged. I also tried reducing the max volume, what has been reported as a possible solution, but that showed no effect.

The Speakers are no "ugly old thing that I found in the attic" but a rather new B&W M1 that have been working fine before.

I would try another powersupply, but for that I need to rip my main audio-setup apart and that I would like to avoid if possible.

I do appreciate any ideas that you may come up with...
Andreas Klein

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18 comments

• 0
  
  Andreas Klein July 30, 2021 10:14

  Addition: Cracking also occures when music from an USB stick or Radio is played, although radio seems less affected.

  I meanwhile also changed to another power supply and wired lan connection. Both without success.

  The Problem also persists when switching from HifiBerryOs to VolumioV3beta. So I assume it is related to the driver or the hardware.

  I really like the sound of the AMP100 but unfortunately it is unsusable in that state.

  Edited by Andreas Klein August 01, 2021 07:11
• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team August 02, 2021 06:17

  Unfortunately I don't know what might causing this. You say "irregularly". How often is this? Check the LEDs on the board when this happens.

• 0
  
  Andreas Klein August 03, 2021 05:05

  The D2 LED is glowing steadily, D1 and D3 are off.

  The sound is really vinyl-ish as the cracking and ticking is happening really "irregularly" as on a dusty LP, meaning sometimes only every 10-20 seconds, sometimes heavy steady cracking occurs. For me there is no regular pattern or frequency to detect.  

• 0
  
  Andreas Klein August 07, 2021 10:07

  Bought an Hifiberry AMP2 from a German reseller attached it to the same RPI3B+, same power supply and everything works well now. Maybe the AMP100 I will send back to you is broken.

  Edited by Andreas Klein August 07, 2021 10:08
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  Paul Semmer January 08, 2022 18:25

  Hi Andreas,

  I was one of the ones who submitted a question about the clicks and pops with the AMP100, back in June of last year.  Unfortunately I did not get any useful response from support, and the only solution I was able to come up with while troubleshooting on my own, was to upgrade my RPI from a 3B+ to a 4.  With the 3B+, I would get clicks and pops constantly, but when I switched to the RPI 4, they pretty much went away.  I say 'pretty much' because every now and then, if I stop playback or switch from one source to another - like from Spotify to MPD player to play some CD images from a NAS, I will hear a little pop.  But, it's nowhere near the frequency and consistency that I had with the 3B+.  I'm going on the theory that it has something to do with the increased memory and speed of the RPI 4 that 'cured' the issue, but I'm no electronics expert, so that's all I can come up with.  I use a 3B+ with an AMP2, and have no such issues, it works flawlessly.

  I'm not sure why nobody at Hifiberry has experienced this issue with the AMP100, and only end users do.  Hopefully you were able to resolve this issue as well.

  Regards,
  Paul

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  Andreas Klein January 16, 2022 09:56

  Thank You Paul, for reverting to this old thread.

  As mentioned above, I changed to the AMP2 and everything works without problems since then. Honestly, the AMP100 would have been overkill for the intended use anyhow, so I don't really miss it.

  Have fun with the AMP100.

  Andreas

   

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  Anton March 10, 2022 20:04

  Hi guys.

  I just installed a fresh AMP100 on a brand new RPI4 and I notice exactly the same. A small crackle / distortion sound when you start new songs. Sounds like there's a bit crap data in the data buffer or something. Not happening 100% but more than 50/50. Very annoying..

  Have multiple AMP2's which work flawlessly so very dissapointed with this.

  Roon, SpotifyConnect, AirPlay, all show the same behaviour.

  Hifiberry support, is there any advice? 

• 0
  
  David Stiles May 03, 2022 11:34

  I am noticing the same issue. Constant crackling during all playback. Pi3B+ with amp 100 & DSP. Crackling is particularly noticeable when doing room compensation recording; crackling starts & stops with each sweep. Is this a software issue or faulty Amp100?

• 0
  
  David Stiles May 03, 2022 12:07

  I can confirm that playing through the optical input gives a clean signal, no crackling. Also internet radio is clean. So, crackling is on DNLA & Bluetooth playback. I have been unable to test other sources.

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  HiFiBerry team May 03, 2022 15:08

  Try disabling Optical input source and see if this changes something

• 0
  
  David Stiles May 03, 2022 21:03

  Yes, there is still crackling when optical input is disabled.

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  David Stiles May 13, 2022 21:31

  I have confirmed, for me at least, upgrading to Pi4 fixes this issue.

• 0
  
  LaitEau December 01, 2022 23:50

  I own a Raspberry Pi4 with an AMP100, and I have the same issue. I'd say one crackling every 60s, very anoying and quite loud. Here is an example: https://voca.ro/17jeV2Wz7wv1
  
  Could it be depending of the speakers?
  
  HiFiBerry team Is there now a workaround? Or do you exchange them? 
  
  (BTW, the Hifiberry supplies also make a constant acute noise...)

  Edited by LaitEau December 01, 2022 23:51
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  HiFiBerry team December 03, 2022 16:45

  We haven't seen this issue with any board here. We can check the board here. If there is a hardware problem, we'll replace or repair the board. If you want us to check the board, please contact us at support2hifiberry.com

• 0
  
  Timothy Byrd June 11, 2023 21:37

  I am experiencing the same issue as LaitEau - an annoying pop every minute or so.

  • I am running piCorePlayer on a RP4 and Amp100 with the official 7" touch screen
  • It is reproducible - a given track will have the pop in the same place each time I play it.
  • If I disconnect the touch screen, the popping does not occur.

   

  What is the correct way to hook up Amp100 + RP4 + touch screen on a single power supply?

  Is the Amp100 power supply (I purchased a bundle from HiFiBerry) not powerful enough for Amp100 + RP4 + touch screen?

  A previous suggestion in this thread by HiFiBerry Team was to try disabling optical input - could this lower the power requirement of the Amp100? If so, how would I do this?

  Edited by Timothy Byrd June 11, 2023 21:38
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  Timothy Byrd July 09, 2023 02:23

  I filed a support ticket and this was the response:

  "The Amp100 was not designed to power additional devices like the touch screen. Therefore, the touch screen should use it's own power supply."

  It's somewhat disappointing - does this also imply that USB devices cannot be powered? 

   

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team July 09, 2023 06:13

  Yes, if you're talking about power-hungry devices (e.g. an USB-powered harddisk). Powering small things like an USB mouse or keyboard is not a problem.

• 0
  
  LaitEau July 09, 2023 08:33

  @Timothy : is it written on the product page?

  Btw I don’t have any screen yet, and still have a lots of crackling and crash…

  @HiFiBerry team : ill probably contact you soon to check also my AMP100 because it’s really not usable. The AMP100 doesn’t seem ready for the sale to the general public…

  How does it work after you check the hat and hear the noise. Because I won’t want a AMP100 again because of all issues it has. AMP 2 looks more stable… but not available?