rDAC popping and crackling during playback

[Koop]

I've read a few other threads regarding this... however I have a more specific problem.

My signal chain is Laptop => USB => rDAC => Marantz PM6004 => Wharfedale 10.4

Sometimes if I'm playing music via Youtube, occasionally, the music will dip out and a very loud pop will occur, and then the music wil contine to play. My most persistent problem is that there is a constant cracklling during song playback (iTunes, ALAC files, MP3's, AAC), but only during dynamic quiet parts with 1 or 2 tracks playing at once. Once the full mix comes in, there is no audible cracks or pops. I've tried using a different USB cable and computer to see if it was coming from the source, but there's still pops. Now, I've read about rDAC's having poor power supplies, could this be the issue? I bought this rDAC used about a year ago and it has worked flawlessly up until about a month ago when the crackling started.

 

[Porknocker]

If you are playing back a video stream from the internet, then expect such problems from time to time. The audio stream is not guaranteed to be bit perfect on such occasions, and neither is the data rate of the stream. This will cause the DAC chip to switch in and out as it tries to lock onto the valid audio bits.

 

[SteveR750]

Except the OP states it never used to be a problem, it's something that has just started recently? Is that correct?

If it is, it sounds like something has changed in your set up (including your ISP / router) or a fault has developed somewhere...