DACmagic emits buzzing sound after ~90–120mins

[sburrell]

Any ideas what the source could be? It's currently sitting on its left side, receiving input from my Mac Pro. There's no evidence of buzzing at all for the first hour or so, then it slowly moves from being a background buzz to an unavoidable buzz that distracts. Oh, it's emanating from the device itself, not through the speakers. Turning off the device for about 5–10 minutes usually gives me some respite from the buzz once it's turned back on, though I haven't measured how long for.

The audio is unaffected the entire time, and otherwise the DAC works fine.

:scratch:

[jostber]

Saw this tip at another forum:

Its probably a ground loop. Try plugging everything into to a power strip off the same outlet.

[Vincent Kars]

Some part inside the DacMagic heating up and starts to resonate?
Transformer?

[Puffin]

There is no internal transformer in the latest DM's. Is this a current one?

[goraman]

Replace the wall wart it's going bad.

[sburrell]

Hey, sorry for the delay in replying.

Jostper, you said:

Its probably a ground loop. Try plugging everything into to a power strip off the same outlet.
Already do---I use a Tacima mains conditioner for the DAC, Mac etc. Everything plugged into the Mac and the DAC is also plugged into the Tacima. :)

Vincent Kars said:

Some part inside the DacMagic heating up and starts to resonate?
Transformer?
This is probably what it is, I think. How do I fix it if that's the case?

Puffin said:

There is no internal transformer in the latest DM's. Is this a current one?
No, the newest revision of the old DACmagic series, from way back.

Goraman said:

Replace the wall wart it's going bad.
Um, I'm assuming that this suggestion is redundant now that I've revealed I use a Tacima mains conditioner, but if I'm wrong, tell me.

Additional info: I've noticed the buzz actual starts as soon as I power-up the DAC, but it's _far_ less intrusive.

Ta for the replies. :)

[Reid Malenfant]

It sounds like it'll be the mains transformer. As Jeff pointed out, if the thing uses a wallwart or PSU that plugs in the wall & a DC plug that goes in the back of the unit then stick your ear next to it & have a closer listen.

If however there is a mains cable feeding an IEC socket or a mains cable simply going into the back of the DAC I suggest you remove the lid (with it disconnected from EVERYTHING & then connect it back up & fire it up & pay some tunes.

When you can hear the buzzing get yourself a BIC pen & gut it.. Carefully placing the more rounded end in your lughole put the other end near to the transformer. If you can hear it clearly (which I reckon you probably will) then you have the culprit.

At that point you can decide what to do about it. If the transformer has holes through the steel laminations that are not fitted with a bolt, you could try getting as many bolts & nuts/washers etc as you need & bolt the laminations up tight. Another alternative is you try removing the transformer & smothering it in heat resistant paint. Once that dries it'll glue the whole thing together :)

[Puffin]

The Dacmagic 1 (or 2 and 2i) has 3 small transformers situated near the front panel part of the case. Some were prone to humming/buzzing. You could try putting some Sorbothane type material underneath each one and then tightening them back down. If this doesn't work then you'll just have to live with it. It does not mean the Dac is not working properly.

[Theadmans]

..funnily enough I have a Dacmagic 2 MKII and also use a Tacima mains block with it. Mine has always emitted a small buzzing sound when I am up close to the DAC. However, it is not loud enough to be apparent when listening to music.

I also have a Chinese Little Dot III headphone amp which had an even louder transformer buzz which I have successfully treated by applying sound deadening materials to the case.

BTW what is your opinion on the sound of your old Dacmagic. I have to say I still like the sound of mine. I also like the full size case and flexibility of the inputs. I see these discussions about modern DACs like the MDAC and wonder if I am missing out. However, I can hear nothing hugely wrong with this 1990s John Westlake design. The sound is very detailed and maybe a touch bright but I have countered this by using a Musical Fidelity x10d tube buffer.

In fact I like these old Dacmagics so much I have bought 2 of them and use the other one in a bedroom second system.

[sburrell]

If however there is a mains cable feeding an IEC socket or a mains cable simply going into the back of the DAC I suggest you remove the lid (with it disconnected from EVERYTHING & then connect it back up & fire it up & pay some tunes.

When you can hear the buzzing get yourself a BIC pen & gut it.. Carefully placing the more rounded end in your lughole put the other end near to the transformer. If you can hear it clearly (which I reckon you probably will) then you have the culprit.

At that point you can decide what to do about it. If the transformer has holes through the steel laminations that are not fitted with a bolt, you could try getting as many bolts & nuts/washers etc as you need & bolt the laminations up tight. Another alternative is you try removing the transformer & smothering it in heat resistant paint. Once that dries it'll glue the whole thing together :)

Fab! When I'm not feeling so klutzy, I'll give that a go. Thanks for that :)


..funnily enough I have a Dacmagic 2 MKII and also use a Tacima mains block with it. Mine has always emitted a small buzzing sound when I am up close to the DAC. However, it is not loud enough to be apparent when listening to music.
I use mine with my Mac Pro, so it's never more than 3 feet away. I hear the little buzz you're talking about very slightly, but then after X minutes it ramps up to annoying proportions.

BTW what is your opinion on the sound of your old Dacmagic. I have to say I still like the sound of mine. I also like the full size case and flexibility of the inputs.
I think it's great! I purchased it because it was the only affordable DAC that had balanced outputs for use with my active speakers, but it's been a great buy.
If you're interested, here's a link to a guide to modding the DACmagic II Mk 2 (http://lickham.co.uk/pdfs/dacmagic.pdf), and a link to the thread where I found it (http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/40594-dacmagic-mods.html) that includes a comment from the designer himself :). Be sure to post back if you decide to implement any of them!

[Theadmans]

Fab! When I'm not feeling so klutzy, I'll give that a go. Thanks for that :)


I use mine with my Mac Pro, so it's never more than 3 feet away. I hear the little buzz you're talking about very slightly, but then after X minutes it ramps up to annoying proportions.

I think it's great! I purchased it because it was the only affordable DAC that had balanced outputs for use with my active speakers, but it's been a great buy.
If you're interested, here's a link to a guide to modding the DACmagic II Mk 2 (http://lickham.co.uk/pdfs/dacmagic.pdf), and a link to the thread where I found it (http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/40594-dacmagic-mods.html) that includes a comment from the designer himself :). Be sure to post back if you decide to implement any of them!


...yes I have read these DIY articles on the Dacmagic before - does look very interesting but I am not very expert with a soldering iron! Cannot understand John Westlake's comment that the DAC is bass heavy - it is anything but bass heavy in my system. In fact before I got the Dacmagic I had a Marantz CD63 Ki Signature linked to my headphone amp and Sennheiser HD650s - this gave annoyingly bass heavy results - linking in the Dacmagic made the bass much more neutral.

[Puffin]

..funnily enough I have a Dacmagic 2 MKII and also use a Tacima mains block with it. Mine has always emitted a small buzzing sound when I am up close to the DAC. However, it is not loud enough to be apparent when listening to music.

I also have a Chinese Little Dot III headphone amp which had an even louder transformer buzz which I have successfully treated by applying sound deadening materials to the case.

BTW what is your opinion on the sound of your old Dacmagic. I have to say I still like the sound of mine. I also like the full size case and flexibility of the inputs. I see these discussions about modern DACs like the MDAC and wonder if I am missing out. However, I can hear nothing hugely wrong with this 1990s John Westlake design. The sound is very detailed and maybe a touch bright but I have countered this by using a Musical Fidelity x10d tube buffer.


I have had a Mk1 and my current 2i. My 2i had the mega mods covered by Hifi News in the 90's.All the voltage regs and capacitors were replaced for "audiophile" quailty components. I have a current Dacmagic and several others including a Beresford 7510. My dac of choice......the 2i :D
Oh....andmine doesn't buzzzz. Probably all the audiophool fairy dust that got sprinkled insude many years ago;)

[jostber]

If it's quite new, you might contact the DACmagic maker to see if they can suggest a solution? I believe I read some where on the web that some people had got a replacement because of buzz/hum in these.

[Puffin]

If it's quite new, you might contact the DACmagic maker to see if they can suggest a solution? I believe I read some where on the web that some people had got a replacement because of buzz/hum in these.

No, the newest revision of the old DACmagic series, from way back.

Copied from OP's Post 6.

;)