Guess I have a defective unit, same issue as @zachThePerson : if the PC volume is over 40% ish, the audio coming out of the DAC X-6 has distortion, fizzes and scratches, as if the input is too loud for the DAC. With the volume at 40% on the PC, I can crank the volume on the DAC X-6 all the way to the top, and it's then just barely loud. The same headphones, plugged directly to the PC audio out, or audio out of desktop speakers, go way way louder, and remain clear, clean, and distortion free.
Same results from two different PCs, USB and optical, multiple audio sources. Same issue is present from the line out of the DAC X-6.
Waiting on DROP to get a RMA...
buckchorrisI bought one X6 from local vendor and it has exactly the same problem, noises like fizzes and scratches starts when the volume (from computer) is about 30-40% and get more apparent with higher volume. It doesn't matter the input selected. Tested with other headphones and sources. I think my unit is defective too.
buckchorrisI bought X6 from Shenzenaudio, received it yesterday. I have exactly quite the same issues you guys have.. Distortion comes at low and high volumes. We're victims of a shitty lot..
YussiSo, by the looks of it, a replacement unit from DROP may have the exact same issue, if it's from the same batch...
Has anyone opened a bad batch unit to compare the internals to a good unit ?
Maybe these bad units can be easily fixed ?
buckchorrisI had a "good" one from amazon that unfortunately blew a capacitor after only two weeks. The new one that they shipped me had exactly the problem you are describing. Probably going to return it and just buy the drop O2 DAC/amp. two defective units in a row is just poor quality
buckchorrisFOUND A FIX : turns out the OPA2134 chips in our thrash units are FAKE.
I ordered a OPA2134 and a LM4562 from Digi-Key to test the theory, and lo and behold, with these new chips the sound is crystal clear. The OPA2134 is the only easily replaceable chip in the unit : it's the "8 DIP" chip just behind the volume knob, it can be removed just by popping it off, then popping the new chip in.
The fake chip had a dot painted to indicate pin #1; the real chip has an actual dimple.
You can use either the OPA2134 ($7.37) or the LM4562 ($2.52) - people seem to rate the LM4562 as better; they both sound the same to me. But they sound hella better than the fake one, no distortion, no noise, at any volume.
LM45662 : https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/LM4562NA-NOPB/1217793OPA2134 : https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/OPA2134PA/254686Fake OPA2134 in the 8 pin DIP socket:
buckchorrisNice post. You made me curious so I had to check mine.
search
So I guess it's OG.
But I just did the AB test comparing the DAC with my onboard sound.
Not much difference there.
Maybe the DAC will perform better when I get some headphones that are harder to drive?