Crackling sound with amp and headphones

[djemzine]

Hi folks,

So with my HD 558s and my Fiio E10 USB amp (bought the amp used from RFD and I think warranty is expired), I have been hearing small crackling/static noises. Its an on and off thing. Has been so since I got my amp sometime back in December of last year or January of this year.

Is this normal or? I know I have no luck with warranty. I am thinking its the amp? Or could it be the adapter that converts from the 3.5mm to the small one so it can be used on my amp?

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[balance]

Have you try jerking the headphone jack to see if its causing the problem, have another headphone to test?

[ShadowVlican]

does the noise coincide with computer activity?

[djemzine]

Have you try jerking the headphone jack to see if its causing the problem, have another headphone to test?

I tried both and still the same.


does the noise coincide with computer activity?

Nope. Its 24/7 pretty much when I plug in the headphones.

So I take it its the amp?

[Soyabeaner]

I have the E10 and have read a lot about such issues, but mine was recently purchased has not had the problem (and hopefully stays that way). It's likely the headphone socket. FiiO is supposedly planning on manufacturing a 3rd version with a gold socket to address this.

Does the problem occur even if you don't wiggle / stabilize the cable? Easiest way to verify is to plug your headphones directly into whatever your player source is.

[djemzine]

I have the E10 and have read a lot about such issues, but mine was recently purchased has not had the problem (and hopefully stays that way). It's likely the headphone socket. FiiO is supposedly planning on manufacturing a 3rd version with a gold socket to address this.

Does the problem occur even if you don't wiggle / stabilize the cable? Easiest way to verify is to plug your headphones directly into whatever your player source is.

Yup. Even after fiddling around with the cable, etc, still the same. Nope, when I hook up my headphones to my cell phone/tablet or laptop. I have no issues at all.

Ugh this sucks though. Oh well. I did pay $70 for it used. Might pick up a Fiio E17 in any case.

[balance]

Let me know if you find a good deal on the e17

[djemzine]

Let me know if you find a good deal on the e17

$160 on kijiji. With l9 cable. Gonna see if i can get it cheaper without it.

Thoughts?

[Soyabeaner]

Probably the lowest for E17 was $134.50 on MP4nation back when it was on pre-order status: http://i44.tinypic.com/fz27mg.jpg The L9 cable is about $10. Then there's the 5% off coupon floating around. The main problem with E17 is right now its lack of availability.

[djemzine]

Probably the lowest for E17 was $134.50 on MP4nation back when it was on pre-order status: http://i44.tinypic.com/fz27mg.jpg The L9 cable is about $10. Then there's the 5% off coupon floating around. The main problem with E17 is right now its lack of availability.

Hmm.. Coming back to my question, its definitely the amp that's doing this right?

Ya the availability is limited. However, I don't know if I should bite the bullet and pay $160? Will be the same with taxes + shipping if I bought online no?

[chinesedevil]

Hmm.. Coming back to my question, its definitely the amp that's doing this right?

Ya the availability is limited. However, I don't know if I should bite the bullet and pay $160? Will be the same with taxes + shipping if I bought online no?

Almost same, you can get L9 + E17 on headphonebar.com (canadian vendor) for ~175 shipped.

http://www.headphonebar.com/fiio-e17-alpen/

[djemzine]

Almost same, you can get L9 + E17 on headphonebar.com (canadian vendor) for ~175 shipped.

http://www.headphonebar.com/fiio-e17-alpen/

Hm.. So the dude is willing to drop the price to $150. Think I should jump on it then? Or wait for a better price?

[balance]

Lol 150 sounds pretty good if it is new

[djemzine]

Lol 150 sounds pretty good if it is new

Well its new in box and unused. So I guess I'll go for it. Plus receipt is provided for any warranty claims if need be.

Sounds like a plan. Its also battery powered which I can use it for my non computer devices. Then I guess its time to put up my E10 up for sale once I pick up the E17.

[djemzine]

Ok guys, so something made me do this - I plugged in my headphones into the front headphone jack that's on my case and I get the same noise, etc.

So does it suffice to say its the headphones or is it my audio chip? In spite of the fact that the same noise came when connecting to my USB DAC headphone amp?

PS, when I hook my headphones to my cellphone, I don't get this.

[lavar]

How are you managing volume? Is it up all the way on your mp3 player or comp and then managed through the amp? May also be the recording quality perhaps?

[djemzine]

How are you managing volume? Is it up all the way on your mp3 player or comp and then managed through the amp? May also be the recording quality perhaps?

With the headphone amp, I use its on volume dial. As for the volume on my comp, its actually slightly below the midpoint peak. On my phone the volume is less.

This noise comes when I am not listening to anything at all, i.e. when idle so to speak. Of course I won't hear it when music is playing or when watching a movie.

[Soyabeaner]

I was reading the head-fi forums today and saw someone reported the same static problem, but the solution was simply switch it to another USB port. Have you tried that?

A little off topic: the recommended way to set volume is to max everything from the source (i.e. Windows volume to the highest level) and leave the adjusting control to the last piece of device in the audio chain, which in your case is the E10. This is to ensure it retains resolution.

[djemzine]

I was reading the head-fi forums today and saw someone reported the same static problem, but the solution was simply switch it to another USB port. Have you tried that?

A little off topic: the recommended way to set volume is to max everything from the source (i.e. Windows volume to the highest level) and leave the adjusting control to the last piece of device in the audio chain, which in your case is the E10. This is to ensure it retains resolution.

I haven't tried that yet i.e. different USB port. Initially it was from my front USB port on my case, then I switched to a USB hub, and same thing. Will hook it up to the back and then see. Of course I did sell my Fiio E10, so hopefully the E17 is not the same case.

[Soyabeaner]

Another thing you can test with is to see if it makes any difference: disable other audio devices and change the channel / bit / sample rates. Mine is 16 bit @ 44100Hz with both Exclusive Mode options checked (Windows 7). I don't like raising it to 24 bit because it produces noticable latency in Foobar2000 (but lowering the buffer does help a bit) and cuts off the first split second or so at the start of each digital audio signal (it does it even at 16 bit, but by about 0.2 seconds).

[djemzine]

I know this thread has been inactive for quite some time but I just wanted to let you all know that I finally got the Fiio E17. Loving it so far :). 16bit at 48000Hz.

No more crackling noise and such. I take it was the Fiio E10.

Any how mods, can you please lock/delete the thread? Thanks