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Pops/clicks with Aurender N100H + McIntosh C47 combo

I have had a N100H for several months an was using it feeding a Peachtree Nova500 without any issues. I recently replaced the Peachtree with a Mac C47+Wyred4Sound SX-1000R setup. Unfortunately, no matter how I change the settings in the Aurender (Fade In/Out, Time Delay, etc.) I get a sharp pop or click whenever I pause a track (streamed or played from the internal drive.) It wouldn’t be too big of a deal except that it is volume-dependent. When playing at higher levels, I’m concerned at the click may cause enough distortion to actually damage a driver in my speaker (likely the tweeter.) My short-term workaround is to always mute the C47 before I pause the track on the N100, but this is a serious pain and inconvenient....especially as my I’m not the only user of the gear. Another family member might forget to mute first and then....’bang!’  I've also noticed I can get the clicks sometimes when the resolution changes from one track to the next.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Where you able to eliminate it? My only two options that I can think of now are to 1. swap the C47 for a different pre/dac combo or 2. swap the N100 for something like the Lumin U1 Mini.

I’ve already spent more than I had budgeted for this system so any changes suggested need to be equal or less to the $ I already have committed. Any help would be appreciated.

BTW...I emailed Aurender support and still haven’t gotten a response (3 days.)
jkscherk
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,251 posts
 
My Sony HAP-Z1ES music server is also  Linux based and I have no problems with any noise connected to my McIntosh C2500 tube preamp.  I am speaking of using the dac in my preamp via the USB.
jkscherk OP
43 posts
 
I contacted McIntosh.  They basically told me it was Aurender's problem to solve and to use a different output type (i.e. coax, optical, etc.)  They also said the USB input is meant for computers where drivers can be used to manage the communication;  its not meant for media players.

Aurender on the other hand has been very helpful.  First, they made an adjustment to the output level of the N100 to address a known issue with some DACs attenuating the input level from the Aurender (the Mac is a known culprit.)  Second, they offered to push a beta firmware out to address the clicks/pops as they've heard of this problem from other users.  That hasn't happened yet but I'll provide an update when it has.

If the firmware update doesn't fix it, I'm ordering a Sciit Eitr USB-SPDIF converter and gonna call it a day.  I really like the Aurender interface and a ability to hold music locally if desired. So I'm not really interested in changing my player out unless I'm forced to.  I don't stream or own anything that goes beyond the 24/192 limit of SPIDIF input anyway.  In fact, some people argue that the SPDIF approach sounds better than the USB transmission method.  We shall see.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I contacted McIntosh. They basically told me it was Aurender's problem to solve and to use a different output type (i.e. coax, optical, etc.) They also said the USB input is meant for computers where drivers can be used to manage the communication; its not meant for media players.
One of the many reasons I sold my C48 a while back, I mean what a load of tosh that the usb input is meant for computers only!
Good job Ayre does not think the same!

Glad to hear Aurender are being helpful and responsive in this matter as a 100H is still on my potential purchase list which has USB output only.
jkscherk OP
43 posts
 
Aurender solved the problem.  I had extensive email exchanges with their Technical Support Manager;  awesome guy.  Turns out I'm not the only one whose had issues.  They had heard of the same problem from other customers.  He asked if they could push a beta firmware to my unit as that version has fixed the issue for others. Bam!!!  Problem solved.  It eliminated the problem for almost every instance.  I have heard the click only once now and it was at a greatly reduced level, and that was only when the resolution switched from 96 to 88...which is a rather seldom occurrence.  All clicks from pausing and skipping tracks are gone.   I'd consider it fixed.

There is also a somewhat common occurrence of DACs attenuating the output of the Aurender by as much as 70%, resulting in you needing to turn up the volume quite high on your pre to get to listenable levels.  Yep....the Mac is an offender there as well.  The Aurender team can go into thee machine and adjust the level to compensate.  So they did that as well!

All-in-all....I gotta say this is a quality team and responsive to boot.  Glad I didn't just jump ship to Lumin or something else without contacting them.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Great news on the high level of customer support from Aurender.
That alone has pushed the N100H right to the top of my next streamer list.
Thank you very much for the update!
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