Frustrating problem with Chord 2Qute dac

[montesquieu]

I agree with Tom - as soon as I saw the word adapter alarm bells started to ring. I've had similar issues myself with digital connections.
And it works OK with an optical connection.
Try getting a proper BNC cable for it.

Or if you are naturally concerned with optical cable sound quality - try one of these optical cables - cheap but great sound!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Optical-A...7FiiHFataNOk-w

-- EDIT - if you can get away with 0.5m I have a spare optical cable, as above, I would be happy to send you.

Jerry beat me to this advice but I agree this is your most likely area of trouble.

[Spectral Morn]

If the DAC was bought new, then take it back for an exchange sounds faulty to me.

[jandl100]

"Digital lock" can be a finicky thing. Sometimes it doesn't take much to disrupt it.
It could well be the adapters, especially two of them.

[Stratmangler]

The dealer had experienced the problem before when the fault was traced to an ethernet cable

Really?
How was the fault diagnosed?
Divining rods?

It sound like a synch lock problem.
The one and only time I had a DAC that did that it was returned pronto.

[Spectral Morn]

Really?
How was the fault diagnosed?
Divining rods?

It sound like a synch lock problem.
The one and only time I had a DAC that did that it was returned pronto.

Precisely

[Whitepeak]

I very much appreciate your contributions and especially the kind offer of an optical cable. I won't make a decision on this immediately if you don't mind as I an still hoping to be able to get the coax sorted but if I have to use the optical connection I'll take you up on your offer.

Just to make things clear - I did return the first dac and was sent a replacement and I have had the same problem with the replacement dac. The original dac works fine at the dealers shop and his home. He has experienced the problem before but can't explain it.

The dealer (Ian at Hi Fi corner) is a most helpful and thoroughly decent chap and is doing what he can for me. He has made it clear that if it can't be sorted he will refund in full. He has also offered to loan me a Qutest to see if that works.
I'm away for a week so won't be able to try new cables etc. till I return.

Anthony

[jandl100]

If you like, you can PM me your name and address and the optical cable will be waiting for you on your return. I'm not using it, it turned out to be too short for me.
Postage cost is minimal and you might find it interesting how good a really good optical cable can sound!
-- make sure that half a metre is long enough, though.

[Whitepeak]

Hi Jerry

Just to say many thanks for the cable. It looks a lot nicer and is of much better quality than the cable I had been using and the plugs fit well. As to the sound that's difficult to say as I have only had a short listen and to come to some judgement about cables, supports and suchlike usually takes protracted listening. But the initial impression is favourable.

I have had a reply from Chord who put the problem down to 'spikes' on the mains. But this must mean that the simple action of switching something on or off is causing a spike. The house was rewired about 12 years ago so I have no idea what the mechanism might be. I suppose I need to get an electrician in.

I did try a cable without adapters but this didn't help and Ian at HiFi Corner has offered to send another cable to try with a particular shielding arrangement so I may try that.

Once again many thanks for the cable Jerry, much appreciated.

[jandl100]

No problem, Anthony - I'm sorry to see that the DAC still isn't behaving itself.

[struth]

Inclined to agree that the adaptor could be the issue.. there are various types and sizes and they look much the same. Maybe see if anyone will make a good cable up