Help required MDAC+ and Bluesound Node 2i

[supapeet]

Hi,

I have just borrowed an Audiolab MDAC + to use with my Node 2i. Problem is I am not getting any sound so just wanted to check this out / get some help. The Dac is powered up, RCA connectors (unbalanced line out) to the inputs on the amp and a digital optical cable to the input on the Dac. The same digital optical cable is in the output from the Node 2i.

The Dac on the Node has been bypassed in settings so that it knows there is an external Dac in use. All the volume settings on amp and Dac are up. I am using Tidal on an iPad with Bluetooth connection to the Node.

No sound. I disconnected everything to cut the Dac out of the loop and all working fine. The only problem I can think of is the optical cable is damaged. I don’t have a coaxial lead so can’t check it.

Just one other thing “unlocked” is flashing on the display of the MDAC

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[struth]

If its not locked then the sound will be muted until it locks. Do you have correct input selected on mdac? Yes, cable could be an issue too

[supapeet]

Grant thanks. Yes I have selected the Opt 1 input. I’ve been doing some digging and maybe the audio drivers need to be re installed? The loan didn’t come with the cd rom and the last time this Dac was used was 18 months ago so I’ve been on the Audiolab website and will try that tomorrow. Thanks again.

[struth]

Audio drivers are usually for Windows pcs. Could it be outputting wrong, ie dsd not pcm or the like.(ignore that bit)
Maybe the firmware of dac needs updating too.

Let us know how u get on

[struth]

You could also try the cable and dac by connecting yo another optical source.. A TV etc to see if it locks. It would tell you something if it does work.
You need to know if it's the node or mdac that isn't working. If both are then why they are not talking

[supapeet]

I downloaded the drivers from the Audiolab site and connected the laptop and Dac as per the instruction. Opened the set up exe file and it downloaded as you would expect. Set the Dac up again with the optical cable, still showing unlocked and no sound. Used the USB A setting on the Dac to connect an iPad to play a saved music file and still the same. Used the USB connection for the laptop and didn’t get the unlocked display but no sound even though the laptop showed the sound was playing using the Audiolab drivers. Other than contacting Audiolab I can’t think of anything else other than to ask if the cd rom the Dac came with is available from the person who lent it to me.

[Getgaff]

Change the jitter rejection settings of the MDAC and see if that helps, try High Bandwidth to start with.

Manual here if needed: https://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/...acplus-man.pdf

[Getgaff]

Hi,
The Dac on the Node has been bypassed in settings so that it knows there is an external Dac in use. All the volume settings on amp and Dac are up. I am using Tidal on an iPad with Bluetooth connection to the Node.

This confuses me - I can’t see a setting to bypass the Node’s DAC, you don’t need to do anything here. All outputs are simultaneous.
Are you using BlueOS or the Tidal app? Your iPad should be the controller using BlueOS, there’s no need to stream Tidal via Bluetooth to the Node 2i.

[WESTLOWER]

i didn't think you could bypass the node dac!

[scotty38]

Yeah you can just use one of the digital outs. You can tell the node there’s an external dac too for mqa .