HELP USB to DAC = Loud Bursts of Volume

Haven't had this problem. My instinct is that it is related to specific tracks and how they were acquired. Here are some trouble shooting ideas:

Is all your music ripped the same way? For instance did you start by doing MP3 then move to Apple Lossless? Are you intermixing Apple Lossless with material from the iTunes store or other online downloads.

Is this happening randomly or to specific albums or tracks. (If so it might be worth reripping them)

Take a look at the settings on the specific tracks involved. Select the song in the iTunes master and Get Info. Under Options see if there has been a Volume Adjustment or Equalizer Preset applied. If either case is true, turn them off.

Also under Summary see if the basic specs match the way everything else is being ripped - in particular there is a Volume setting, if it is reading in + territory that could be an issue too.

When you are ripping are you using Error Correction? (under Advanced/Importing)

Also might check the Apple boards

Good luck

Guys - if Bel Canto fails to provide satisfaction, you might consider trying the Opticis USB cable. This is a fibre optic cable that lives between the USB output and the USB input. Net effect is that it provides complete electrical isolation between the computer and the DAC - meaning that it might be a way around your static issues.

I would be pleasantly surprised if Apple acknowledged this problem, but some of the Mac tech sites might have some coverage.