CS43198 and CS43131 "CLICKS"

[Bl00dWolf]

Hi
I think some of you have encountered CS "clicks" in DACs before.
Found here a good article and online test on RAA, I think many people will be interested in this information.

CS43198 and CS43131 DAC sound defects

reference-audio-analyzer.pro

Spoiler: Article

This is a test for devices using the CS43198 or CS43131 DAC.
The test is designed to detect the presence or absence of a sound defect in the form of "clicks".
One of the versions of the cause of the sound defect is the CS43198/CS43131 power saving mode. In this mode, the analog path operates in class H instead of AB.

The essence of the Class H mode in CS43198 or CS43131​

Depending on the amplitude of the sound wave, the power supply voltage level automatically changes and a transient process is possible, which, according to the DAC manufacturer, should not be audible. The ADPT_PWR setting is responsible for enabling the mode. This mode is "default" for CS43198 and CS43131. Unfortunately, manufacturers usually do not activate these DAC models in a higher-quality AB mode.

How the clicks on the test fragment sound​

The number of clicks depends on the shape and volume of the original signal, and accordingly their presence and audibility depend on the position of the volume control in the DAC or before the DAC. If the volume control is used after the DAC, and 0 dBFS is set in the DAC itself, then it is most likely unlikely to hear clicks explicitly. If the volume level is used up to or in the DAC below -30 dBFS, then clicks will not be heard in the same way. But, it all depends on the structure of the original musical signal.

Here, as an example, is a separate piece of music with a roll of drums (Dune Sketchbook Soundtrack - Song Of The Sister, Hans Zimmer).

Below are the playback options with different volume control levels. For the convenience of listening, the volume is aligned to the same level. The recording was made with a sampling rate of 192 kHz. If the browser does not support flac, then the demo in mp3 is presented with a sampling rate of 48 kHz. On sonograms, the clicks are visible as vertical light stripes.

Having understood exactly how clicks sound, you can start testing your products on these DACs and understand whether there is a problem with the comfortable volume used or not. If there is a problem, then try contacting the manufacturer with a request to release firmware to fix this bug. You can share your results in the comments.

For comparison, "how it should sound", the same fragment was recorded from an alternative DAC AKM AK4377.

I'll try to test fosi ds2.

 

[ZolaIII]

The SB G6 is known for soft clipping set to 0 dB but set to - 2 dB it stops doing so.
Edit: that's - 2 to 2V or 1.76V as they take 1V as 0 dB and +6 as 2V.

 

[Bl00dWolf]

Personally, even with the example of supposedly bad recordings, I don't hear any clicks there.
On fosi ds2 also ok on tests, I don't hear any problems.

 

[Bl00dWolf]

I can't hear it myself.
But I made high-pass cut with a filter:

And amplified the result by +36 dB.
So you can understand how it sounds +-.
https://limewire.com/d/1KTqA#z4IoRH0sbL (link is avalible for one week)