Dropouts, clicks and lock problems

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Everything he said on this topic (48)

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2014-05-09Watts explains Hugo mutes on data or sample-rate changes to hide garbage from badly behaved software, costing about half a second, and says resets are computer driver failures. Head-Fi, May 2014
2014-05-18Watts says in his experience the signal popping in and out comes from 3.5mm optical adaptors, and quotes Chord's Matt offering a known working Toslink to 3.5mm cable. Head-Fi, May 2014
2014-11-30Watts says he has never experienced or heard of ticking noises, will ask Chord, and suggests the Mac may be creating ground currents. Head-Fi, Nov 2014
2016-05-22Watts says native DSD has much lower processor overhead than DoP and is less likely to tick or mute when data is in error. Head-Fi, May 2016
2016-05-23Watts answers yes to three questions and says JRiver can misbehave, including after sleep, so he closes Chrome before opening JRiver and occasionally restarts. needs context Head-Fi, May 2016
2016-11-28Watts says switching from PCM+ to DSD+ over USB resets the USB device, so close the media player, change mode and restart it to avoid an unstable state. Head-Fi, Nov 2016
2017-03-28Watts says a link is bit perfect or obviously failing, suggests DoP DSD as a test, and says glitches usually come from the source processor. Head-Fi, Mar 2017
2017-09-24Watts says his Win 10 i7 machines play 768 kHz via JRiver and DSD512 via Foobar perfectly, and crackles or ticks are a source issue. Head-Fi, Sep 2017
2017-09-24Watts says DSD256 DoP is sent as 705 kHz, drop-outs mean the source cannot pack DoP in real time, native DSD is easier, and Davina 768k recordings may follow. Head-Fi, Sep 2017
2017-09-26Watts says his i5 laptop sometimes drops out at 192k, fixed by setting the JRiver process to high or real-time priority in Task Manager. Head-Fi, Sep 2017
2018-01-11Watts says ASIO is not supported on iOS, and dropouts come from the source sending faulty DoP data; the DAC now gives a tiny tick instead of a full mute. Head-Fi, Jan 2018
2018-01-11Watts says track-change mutes were fixed over a year ago by muting only on a net sample-rate change; JRiver's 1 second initial silence was the earlier workaround. Head-Fi, Jan 2018
2018-01-11Watts says the USB issue was fixed, but Poly has DLNA gap problems depending on the app; Chord is working with apps like Glider on gapless playback. Head-Fi, Jan 2018
2018-02-18Watts says USB is always live when Hugo 2 is powered and source selection only switches decoded data, so the PC sees no difference; he suspects coincidence. Head-Fi, Feb 2018
2018-03-27Watts says he has not heard of the reported Bluetooth problem, uses a high quality module, and suspects the source. needs context Head-Fi, Mar 2018
2018-07-05Watts says the USB decoder seems to have failed after three sources and two cables, noting Windows updates sometimes need driver reinstallation. Head-Fi, Jul 2018
2018-07-28Watts says flashing lights mean the FPGA failed authorization at power-up, likely from a power interruption; removing and reapplying power fixes it, and nothing is wrong. Head-Fi, Jul 2018
2018-08-04Watts explains TT2's 98,304-tap 16FS WTA1, says WTA2 matches Hugo 2 and Dave, TT2 sounds warmer than Hugo 2, and describes fixing 192kHz crackles in Windows. Head-Fi, Aug 2018
2018-10-30Watts says a black M scaler light means the source sends digital silence, calls a headphone amp after TT2 insane, and says the new DSD filter has aliasing below -250 dB. Head-Fi, Oct 2018
2018-11-18Watts lists three causes of DAVE dropouts with the M scaler: the source, DAVE's dual-data detector, and SPDIF losing lock; try BNC 3 and 4, else service. Head-Fi, Nov 2018
2018-12-07Watts says MC 21, 22 and 24 on USB never gave him issues, lower output rates are not down conversions, and pass-through is not bit perfect due to attenuation compensation. Head-Fi, Dec 2018
2018-12-16Watts suggests disconnecting the PSU for 10 seconds, trying another 5 V USB supply and cable, and says unplugging causes no harm beyond connector wear. Head-Fi, Dec 2018
2019-01-09Watts says JRiver on Windows 10 with Chord's ASIO driver plays DSD512 without clicks, and relays Chord's Matt's Mac advice: stop backups, change USB port, try Roon. Head-Fi, Jan 2019
2019-02-26Watts says the BNC cables are plugged into the wrong sockets and should be swapped. Head-Fi, Feb 2019
2019-04-12Watts says using both coax inputs at once can confuse auto DDATA mode if their sample rates are close; if so, turn off the inactive channel. Head-Fi, Apr 2019
2019-05-06Watts says it cannot overheat and lists reset, battery-check and overnight-charge steps, with service if it will not recharge. Head-Fi, May 2019
2019-05-16Watts says a reviewer's hi-res dropouts came from an optical plug not fully clicked in, plastic fibers over 0.25 m may fail at 192 kHz, and rate changes cannot damage TT2. Head-Fi, May 2019
2019-09-23Watts says shutdowns can happen near battery depletion or in trickle charge mode; turn it off and charge, overnight if needed, or the charger may lack current. needs context Head-Fi, Sep 2019
2019-09-23Watts says a blue power button without charger suggests a battery fault needing service, while cyan means half charge mode; charge overnight or try another 2A 5V charger. Head-Fi, Sep 2019
2019-11-05Watts says Dave's design has not changed, Chord tests Daves in dual BNC mode for drop-outs, a right-channel-only issue is strange, and he will raise it with Chord's production director. Head-Fi, Nov 2019
2019-11-10Watts says a source sometimes fails to pair properly with Hugo 2 at start-up, and changing tracks issues a reset that flushes the interface. Head-Fi, Nov 2019
2020-02-01Watts says SPDIF lock problems come from the cable design inducing noise into the receiver during electrical transients, and advises staying with the AudioQuest cable. Head-Fi, Feb 2020
2020-02-25Watts says the M Scaler and TT2 detect sample rate differently, and advises padding track changes with silence in JRiver or a re-sync delay in Roon. Head-Fi, Feb 2020
2020-03-25Watts says a cable with a left-right short would explain it; Hugo 2 drives a short for about 15 minutes before the thermal trip, heard as mono. Head-Fi, Mar 2020
2020-07-15Watts says a poster's TT2 clicking issue is a mystery; Chord reports none of the thousands of TT2s returned with clicks, so it may be a bug. Head-Fi, Jul 2020
2020-12-19Watts says the source is the likely cause and suggests trying a phone or DAP; if symptoms persist it is Hugo 2, though he has never seen such a failure. needs context Head-Fi, Dec 2020
2021-08-07Watts says the display flickering is due to lack of lock and Dave should go back to Chord for a check-up. Head-Fi, Aug 2021
2021-08-08Watts says the Primephonic app seems to upsample, advises checking the native rate, explains sample-rate-change clicks, and says the clicks cannot damage the M scaler or DAC. Head-Fi, Aug 2021
2022-02-15Watts relays Chord's view that Mojo 2 USB noise reports look like a USB sync loss, advises exclusive mode and closing apps first, then emailing Chord support. Head-Fi, Feb 2022
2022-05-28Watts says a TT2 over-temperature (OT) error is most likely a shorted headphone cable or plug; if it recurs with nothing connected, the TT2 has a problem. Head-Fi, May 2022
2022-06-23Watts says wrong-speed data on sample-rate changes comes from buffered data clocked out at the new rate; adding a delay in Roon or JRiver, or stopping between tracks, fixes it. Head-Fi, Jun 2022
2022-06-24Watts gives player settings (5 s silence at startup for hardware sync, standard track gap, silence playback enabled) that he says avoid sample-rate and track-change problems. needs context Head-Fi, Jun 2022
2022-07-06Watts says Chord is investigating the Mojo 2 USB noise issue but cannot replicate it; exclusive mode makes it rare, and the noise is the maximum at that volume setting. Head-Fi, Jul 2022
2022-09-04Watts has never heard a whining sound from his DACs and suggests turning on after Windows boots, or getting the Mojo 2 replaced. Head-Fi, Sep 2022
2023-07-03Watts says powering the M Scaler after the source can break USB handshaking, so power the scaler or DAC first; he also reflects on reputation and CanJam Singapore. Head-Fi, Jul 2023
2023-11-29Watts says the DAVE update fixed occasional dropouts with the M Scaler in about 1% of units by improving SPDIF error tolerance, with no sound change. Head-Fi, Nov 2023
2023-11-30Watts says a Roon resync delay fixes USB sample-rate-change clicks by flushing buffers, and optical from the streamer avoids them, limited to 192k, often with better sound. Head-Fi, Nov 2023
2024-07-19Watts says flashing red lights indicate a thermal trip from a short on the outputs, likely an amplifier shorting its inputs when powered down, so remove the cable. Head-Fi, Jul 2024