What caused the crazy and loud crackling sound? That sounds like a DAC handshake issue.
Hi there! Nothing in particular. Just a normal computer session and out of nowhere this crazy noise, which didn't end before powering off the amp. Only reason I could imagine this happening is due to static electricity going through my
Hifiman Sundaras into the amp - this has happened many times. Static electricity can travel through the whole "chain" of devices, or perhaps through an extension cord, because sometimes my monitor has turned off just by me causing a snap of static electricity when touching my Sundaras that are connected to the amp (Sundaras are made of metal).
My DAC is
Soncoz LA-QXD1. I already tried my desktop speakers via RCA connected to the DAC, but audio didn't have any problems. Do you think the DAC is the culprit, but perhaps only via XLR connection? I cannot test any audio devices via the XLR of the DAC without using the amp, just to mention.
I'm currently listening to the amp connected to a smartphone via RCA, but yet I don't hear any problems, though
very importantly I turned the amp off for an half an hour or so before this moment, which doesn't help the ongoing troubleshooting (silly mistake), since the soft repeating crackle goes away for a while when you turn off the amp - today I played with friends like an hour before it came back again.
When I tested my speakers connected to the DAC problem free, as I mention above, the DAC via XLR to AMP combo certainly reproduced the issue, I confirmed this, but for now there are no issues again, no matter what. I will now leave the amp playing while doing other stuff to bring back the problem. I personally suspect the amp, but could be mistaken.
What do you think?
EDIT. And just as I posted this message the crackle is there again, though it is very infrequent now and somehow different.