I hope this post is appropriate as this is not a diy project, but I want to attempt a diy repair.
I'm the original owner of a Border Patrol DAC, purchased in 2019. I know its based on an obsolete /old TDA1543 and it does not measure well, but I like it a lot.
Recently, I've been unable to play 96khz. I've tried different Linux kernels, computers, OS's etc.
On Linux, ALSA reports only 44/48 capability when the OS enumerates the device (on boot up or when device is connected via USB)
I can automatically resample to 16/48 and and audio quality is excellent. Nevertheless, I would like to diagnose and repair the DAC so it regains it's original capability (and play 96khz files)
There are two components in this DAC other than the capacitors and power supplies.
DIYINHK 384KHZ ASYNCHRONOUS USB TO I2S/SPDIF CM6631A PCB
https://www.diyinhk.com/shop/audio-...rnal_33v_power/161-pcb_plating-gold_enig_rohs
SELLARZ DAC NOS-1
https://sellarz.com/goods/view?no=45
As mentioned, the DAC sounds perfect and plays 16/44 and 16/48 files. Do you think the CM6631A USB controller board or the Sellarz DAC board is the problem?
I'm the original owner of a Border Patrol DAC, purchased in 2019. I know its based on an obsolete /old TDA1543 and it does not measure well, but I like it a lot.
Recently, I've been unable to play 96khz. I've tried different Linux kernels, computers, OS's etc.
On Linux, ALSA reports only 44/48 capability when the OS enumerates the device (on boot up or when device is connected via USB)
I can automatically resample to 16/48 and and audio quality is excellent. Nevertheless, I would like to diagnose and repair the DAC so it regains it's original capability (and play 96khz files)
There are two components in this DAC other than the capacitors and power supplies.
DIYINHK 384KHZ ASYNCHRONOUS USB TO I2S/SPDIF CM6631A PCB
https://www.diyinhk.com/shop/audio-...rnal_33v_power/161-pcb_plating-gold_enig_rohs
SELLARZ DAC NOS-1
https://sellarz.com/goods/view?no=45
As mentioned, the DAC sounds perfect and plays 16/44 and 16/48 files. Do you think the CM6631A USB controller board or the Sellarz DAC board is the problem?
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What changes did you make?
Firmware changes to the DAC?
Different kernel?
Can you go back to a past configuration that worked?
I assume you didn't change the hardware at all... USB connections can be tricky.
Firmware changes to the DAC?
Different kernel?
Can you go back to a past configuration that worked?
I assume you didn't change the hardware at all... USB connections can be tricky.
So, if no hardware changes were made... can you go back to a configuration that was working? Do you have system back ups?
That's how we do it at work... as we updated the firmware, often changes ( bugs ) are introduced. The way to debug it is to roll back to a previously known configuration.
If a previous configuration works, then you know it's a software/config issue. Otherwise you have a hardware issue.
That's as far as I can help you.
OK.... are you sure nothing was changed? Think.
That's how we do it at work... as we updated the firmware, often changes ( bugs ) are introduced. The way to debug it is to roll back to a previously known configuration.
If a previous configuration works, then you know it's a software/config issue. Otherwise you have a hardware issue.
That's as far as I can help you.
OK.... are you sure nothing was changed? Think.
My bet is USB board, did you try different OS or machine? Live CD/USB for example. You should be able to select 96khz or higher even if DAC don't support it
Yes, I tried what you said and bypassed player software and sent the 96khz file from the command line and it could not play it. Thanks for your help, I'll start to focus on the USB board.
I do not know and am not sure how to find out. However, based on the boot logs and bus query, it appears the USB is master, see below:
and
and
I mean connection between cmi and dac. I understand you have both DAC connected to cmi now? Border patrol and sellarz?
And you been using it and it wan working at 96k, you didn't make any modifications and now it's 48k max?
And you been using it and it wan working at 96k, you didn't make any modifications and now it's 48k max?
The sellarz is connected to cmi. The Border Patrol is the brand of the DAC, not the DAC board. Yes, it was working in the past at 44/48/96 and now only 44/48. No modifications.
Did it ever play 96kHz. AFAIK, this chip does not support 96kHz (you answered that while i was posting). Isn’t is a budget version of the TDA1541?
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/pushing-the-limits-of-tda1543-nos-dac.187748/
dave
How long ago did this "change" happen?
Is your source Tidal Masters?
I noticed that Tidal HiFi has changed their master encoding, adding FLAC.
As a result, my five year old Android tablet with micro usb stopped playing cleanly over USB/OTG. In the past it had been playing nicely "24/96" and all... Remember that the old 24/96 was MQA so it was really 24/48 or something like that.
Now, with FLAC, it's true 24/96.
At about the time they made a change, ( I made NO changes, no updates, nada... ) I noticed that when it changed tracks the USB link started to act up.. it did sinc, and music did come out but I was getting "drop outs" for lack of a better word. Disconnecting/connecting the USB/OTG forced a new handshake and then it would play fine.. until the next track.
I also have a newer Android tablet with USB-C and that one played fine all along. So, I figured perhaps the issue was with the microUSB connector in the old tablet (who knows?) so I bought a new table on Black Friday... Android with USB-C as well, and that one plays fine.
So my USB2 DACS (I tried two) worked fine with the newer tablets running USB-C... the older DAC suddenly stopped playing cleanly.
The timing of this was around a month or so ago....
Could it be this is the same issue you're running into?
Have you tried playing other WAV 24/96 files? I should have, and I should have tried playing non "Master" files too, but I was looking at a excuse to get rid of than damn microUSB connection.
Is your source Tidal Masters?
I noticed that Tidal HiFi has changed their master encoding, adding FLAC.
As a result, my five year old Android tablet with micro usb stopped playing cleanly over USB/OTG. In the past it had been playing nicely "24/96" and all... Remember that the old 24/96 was MQA so it was really 24/48 or something like that.
Now, with FLAC, it's true 24/96.
At about the time they made a change, ( I made NO changes, no updates, nada... ) I noticed that when it changed tracks the USB link started to act up.. it did sinc, and music did come out but I was getting "drop outs" for lack of a better word. Disconnecting/connecting the USB/OTG forced a new handshake and then it would play fine.. until the next track.
I also have a newer Android tablet with USB-C and that one played fine all along. So, I figured perhaps the issue was with the microUSB connector in the old tablet (who knows?) so I bought a new table on Black Friday... Android with USB-C as well, and that one plays fine.
So my USB2 DACS (I tried two) worked fine with the newer tablets running USB-C... the older DAC suddenly stopped playing cleanly.
The timing of this was around a month or so ago....
Could it be this is the same issue you're running into?
Have you tried playing other WAV 24/96 files? I should have, and I should have tried playing non "Master" files too, but I was looking at a excuse to get rid of than damn microUSB connection.
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I have Qobuz, not Tidal and the issue persists on local files I have on my hard drive that are 24/96 or greater. Yes, I've set 24/96 WAV files, and hey do not play.
So did you try connecting to different PC/laptop? On windows for example. Looks like driver or system issue. If you haven't, try it in first place. Changing software or playing from cmd is not the same.
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Yes, I've tried windows , mac and various flavors of linux on different hardware and verified with other dacs I have that it is not a software issue on the servers.