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Static noise help please

Recently just notice Static, hiss, popping sound(I don’t think I hear that before but I might be wrong) from both speakers when volume alway down with music off. Happen only when connected usb from iMac to Schitt Modi 2 Uber DAC. Static noise disappear after unplug either end of the usb. I am using temporally cheap 15 feet usb a/b cable. Pre amp is ARC LS7,ARC VS60 amp,and Sonus Faber Venere 2.5.  Any advise?
I swap from ARC setup above to Cary SLI80 interested amp and used the same usb cable and the static noise was gone. So I think it is not the usb cable problem. Is that possible static noise come from tubes?

Regards,
Eddy

eddy1
eddy1 OP
148 posts
 
Thank you Spencer for your advised.  Been driving around to find Certified USB but no luck.  So I ordered Blue Jean USB online and the price is real good.  I guess I have to wait for a week to find out.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,321 posts
 
Spencer - Wasn't trying to generalize about all Gungnirs - but can see how what I wrote could be understood that way.  Had I written "The Gungnir in MY system does not have a USB input.", things would definitely have been clearer.   Good clarification.  

Eddie - I can't compare that galvanic isolator to the JitterBug.  Sorry.  The JitterBug is only $50 or so from MusicDirect and they do have a (60 day?) return policy, so you could try it and send it back if it did not fix your problem.  

Schiit also makes something called the "Wyrd USB Decrapifier".  $110 from Amazon.  See link here:

http://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-16-Wyrd-USB-Decrapifier/dp/B00LFVMC9U

I take it you have tried other USB ports on your MAC as well as moving the Modi from near the monitor, etc. (as suggested on that Computer Audiophile thread).









eddy1 OP
148 posts
 
ghosthouse, Yes, I tried all USB ports on my Mac and the Modi is far away from the monitor but still got static.  Will see if the certified USB would help but I don't think it would, well I will have to try.  Will report back when I the new USB come in.
Thank you,
Eddy
eddy1 OP
148 posts
 
After been reading so many posts and many searched, my conclusion is Dirty power (5V) from computer to the USB.  So my plan was going to cutout 5V +(Vcc) and -(Ground) cables from USB and will only run Data to DAC but found out that all Schiit needed 5V from USB.  
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,382 posts
 
Eddy, now you are getting to next level in computer audio learning. Yes, noise from computer passed to dac via usb is a HUGE problem. That's why Schitt makes Wyrd(which I use), even better according to many is Uptone Regen. Other things like iFi cable with separate power and signal legs all are trying to deal with this problem. Computers are noisy, since they usually are running many processes all generating noise. Many audio software programs, try to get the computer to turn off other processing to quiet down the computer so less noise goes to the usb/dac. 
IMHO the most exciting development is the newer ethernet streamers that let you replace your computer with a small low power low noise linux box and stream your library from a network attached storage (NAS) drive located in another room and attached by ethernet cable only. 
This is a rapidly changing corner of the audio world. IMHO, Sonore, Uptone, Aurender and other companies moving in this direction are leading where digital high end music is evolving. Cheers,
Spencer
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