Denafrips Ares 2 and crackling speakers

[Tadaoo]

Hello AudioScientists!

Crackling sounds have been emanating from my speakers these past few weeks.
It is a faint crackling sound during the course of the song, loud enough to be annoying in anything more intense than background music.

Because I hadn't recently altered any settings or changed any components, I presumed a component malfunction.

My setup is as follows:

- Streamer: Bluesound Node (with LHY LPS upgrade) streaming Qobuz with ethernet connection
- DAC: Denafrips Ares 2
- Preamp: Denafrips Hestia preamp
- Power Amp: Audiophonics Hypex Class D power amp
- Speakers: Sonus Faber Lumina 1.

I tried a few combinations to identify the faulty element. In short: when I remove the external DAC from the chain, the system works on the BS Node internal DAC without any crackling.

With the Denafrips Ares2 DAC back in the system, the crackling seem to happen for music files with sampling rates of 16/44,1 and 24/48 (x1); when the sampling rate is 24/96 (x2) or 24/192 (x3), there is no (audible) crackling.

I switched cables and inputs, coax and optical cable, but the issue remains.

I sent the DAC to Audiophonics, now the French distributor; they tested the DAC extensively, finding no anomalies or crackling.

As I am going around in circles with no rational explanation, I believed it would be beneficial to consult ASR's brightest minds to shed light on the causes of this distortion for the community, and incidentally, for yours truly.
Is it reasonable to assume that there is a problem of dialog between the streamer and the DAC under certains specific conditions?

If the DAC is not the culprit, where should I look for a fix?

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

T

 

[JustJones]

I'm one of the dullest minds but have you tried a different streamer? I assume you're using either Coax or Optical out of the Node to the Ares2? Does it make noise using either , both ?

 

[formdissolve]

Do you have another preamp or headphone amp to connect the Ares to? That way you can rule out the other gear.

 

[Tadaoo]

I'm one of the dullest minds but have you tried a different streamer? I assume you're using either Coax or Optical out of the Node to the Ares2? Does it make noise using either , both ?

Hi

Nothing dull about your suggestion; I don't have a spare streamer to run the test but I will try to connect an ipad to the DAC via USB to see what happens.

I have been using both Coax and Optical btw the Node and the Ares2 with no noise issue other than the crackling at given sample rates.

Before the crackling started I had a slight psychoacoustical preference for the coax...

 

[godmax]

How old is your Denafrips Ares 2 and have you ever updated the firmware?
I had random crackling noise over USB with the Denafrips Ares 2 some years back and after I updated the firmware it was working fine ever since.

 

[Tadaoo]

Do you have another preamp or headphone amp to connect the Ares to? That way you can rule out the other gear.

Hi

No spare preamp either at the moment, but I might be able to bring the DAC to test it on another system-

Still my system only generates crackling when the DAC is in the chain and only at some sample rates- Notwithstanding my very limited understanding of electronics, it seem to point in the direction of the streamer / Dac communication-
I tested the wifi connection to the streamer too to rule out upstream components (switch, ethernet cables) and the issue remains.

I will give a feedback after further testing and I will gladly take any suggestions

 

[Tadaoo]

Hi,

After further testing, and sending back the Denafrips to the manufacturer's rep in France, have it tested and sent back without any incriminating conclusion, I am closing down on finding the Bluesound Node association with the external DAC guilty of the distortion- for reference, the distortion is random crackling noise during playback similar to the sound that an old vinyl would make, happening on both speakers:

- if I connect a source (macbook or phone) directly to the DAC via USB and play from Qobuz, I have a perfecly clean sound
- if I use the Bluesound node as a source and DAC (Denafrips is unplugged), I have a perfecly clean sound, arguably a bit more damped but no cracks.
- if I use the Bluesound + Denafrips in any configuration (signal either wifi with connect, with BlueOs thru ethernet, or bluetooth / coaxial or optical) I get the cracks for most files; for some reason the 24/48Hz files and abovenever seem to crack...

As my Bluesound Node was upgraded with the linear power supply kit (from LHY), I suspected that it could be related shouldn't then but the cracks happen to all files?
I will revert it in its orignial power supply to check if that changes anything- is there even alogical explanation involving the power supply?

The other option I am considering is to buy an Eversolo DMP A6 gen2 (need the HDMI ARC) to replace the Bluesound but no guarantee that it will work.

If anyone has experienced similar disagrement or has an explanation on the why, it would make my day...