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Diagnosing a streaming failure

 

I have an VERY intermittent streaming failure, let’s say once a month, if that, with daily playing. I have a LAN connected Aurender N150 connected via Cardas Clear USB to my Qutest DAC playing Qobuz. 

The failure occurs only at the start, no sound, conductor shows streaming. A couple times rebooting N150 & Qutest works… 2 times (including this afternoon), rebooting doesn’t work and swapping USB cables gets it working again. 

So bad USB cable… not necessarily as putting the Cardas back, still works. 

When failure occurs, my CD player always works (connected via coax BNC) to my Qutest. So that eliminates everything in my mind but the N150 and the USB portion of my Qutest. 

My N150 only has USB out, so can’t check other outputs. I used to think it was an Qutest issue, but now not sure as a couple of times recently the Aurender skipped songs.

Thoughts?Any diagnostic recommendations would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

 

signaforce
soix
11,243 posts
 

I haven’t heard your Qutest or the Mojo, but from everything I’ve read they’re very different sound profiles with the former being more of a white wine and the latter much more of a red, so the question becomes if it goes too far in the other direction for your tastes.  If you’re looking for a warmer/fuller sound you may love the Mojo or you might find it a little too much of a good thing and/or too polite up top so having the ability to return it is key I’d think.  FWIW.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,948 posts
 

Can you swing the PS Audio DSD MkII? They have a few pre-owned units. It’s supposed to be a nice upgrade from the MkI. You might be able to bargain that down another 10-15%. If you can fit it into your audio rack I’d try that before I spend more for Mojo. I believe the PS Audio comes equipped with network input for firmware upgrades and Roon ready functionality. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,948 posts
 

Just looked and it appears to not have a streaming card. Which is ok because your Aurender is much better than what they had for a streamer in MkI. 

mpoll1
25 posts
 

Hi, I haven't read all the comments to know if this is now resolved, but I also had a similar issue. I resolved mine with a using a static IP, but the issue stopped when I feed my orbi router in to a switch and then on to my Mano magna streamer. 

 

My issues was with qobuz using volumio,, Gentoo and  Roon. 

No other issues with any other equipment throughout the house. 

Alpha audio posted a helpful article about improving the orbi streamer, but I picked up the adding switch on another forum. 

signaforce's avatar
signaforce OP
549 posts
 

 

 

@soix Thanks! chatGPT had a very similar response…  That’s twice!

Based upon the six DAC comparison, mitch2 came to different conclusions. 

Final recommendation (short)

  • If you want a different, more musical personality and $4,500 fits your view of value — go for the Mystique X SE (but audition it in your room if possible).
  • If you’re chasing technical neutrality or improvements to speed/resolution, keep the Qutest.
  • Given the price and your highly optimized chain, this purchase is justified only as a tonal/character choice, not as fixing a problem.

@audphile1 Thanks, unless I completely change my rack, and move my vinyl (the plan if/when I go to coda), the PS audio would not fit. 

@mpoll1 Thanks!

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