Buffalo II audio dropouts SPDIF/I2S noise ground problem

[merlin el mago]

I suffer audio dropouts ever few seconds in mine Buffalo II. The frequency of the dropouts often decreases the longer the unit is used. I suffered the same problem using the USB or SPDIF digital input. Possible will be due to noise on the SPDIF/I2S ground, how can solve the problem?

 

[glt]

Can you describe the rest of the audio chain? How are you powering the dac?

 

[merlin el mago]

Sony Vaio, hi-Face 24/192, Buffalo II DAC , Borbely balanced lineamp, Borbely 75 W RMS class A mono power amps, Wilson Audio speakers.

I am powering the DAC with Salas V1.0 regulator with remote sensing, Tx R-Core 9V 30VA.

Now DAC is going with passive I/V resistor 200 ohms + 4.7uF decoupling cap in each phase.

 

[glt]

Is your salas regulator ground connections connected to any ground or floating? Typically, the PS to the DAC is floating, the digital ground connects to the gnd of the source and the analog gnd connects to the preamp/amp.

 

[merlin el mago]

Thanks for the answer. Mine Salas reg. ground is connected only in the ground to power the DAC, isn't connected to chassis, the analog output gnd is connected to pre-amp/amp gnd & the digital ground connects to the gnd of the source.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

 

[TheShaman]

What's the current of the shunt supplying VD?
Most of the times these issues are linked to insufficient current on VD.

 

[RayCtech]

I have experienced the problem also on other DACs when playing from PC / Mac..
On the Mac there was a "bug" and leaving one specific program open solved the most of the dropout problem..
Playing over ethernet was causing more problems, and playing over a wireless link even worse...
When I started to evaluate iTunes, Foobar, XXhighend, J.River etc.. I found that they all sounded different from the same sources - and non of them sounded good.
I ended up with using iTunes as the library and a SD card player as a superior solution in respect of audio quality with ZERO dropouts and constant good audio quality..

 

[merlin el mago]

What's the current of the shunt supplying VD?
Most of the times these issues are linked to insufficient current on VD.

Salas shunt 500mA, the Placid Twisted Pear 350mA...

 

[TheShaman]

5.5v ?

My 32S is powered by a 350mA Placid and fed by an M2Tech as well, but I've never experienced such issues. :S

 

[merlin el mago]

Yes 5.5V, do you know If I can solve the problem adding the Twisted Pear S/PDIF Receiver Module?