[pianoguy]

I have encountered an interesting dilemma while using the Logitech Squeezebox Duet (which I run wirelessly) and the B100 DA SST.  I have the digital out on the Squeezebox receiver connected to the Bryston for listening in our living room. I also have the analogue out on the Squeezebox connected to a separate small 2-channel audio receiver (Cambridge Audio Sonata) which powers outdoor speakers.

When I am listening to music via the Squeezebox in our living room (through the digital out to the B100), I get brief losses (like "hiccups") every time someone turns on lights in the house, powers up the dishwasher, turns on a guitar amp etc. (Note that the power to the Cambridge receiver is off while this is happening). They are just brief hiccups, but they are annoyingly there. I've been trying for days to figure out what the problem is. All my audio electronics are on a separate circuit in the house and on a power conditioning surge protector. The router (computer) is in the adjacent room. Signal strength is good. I was just playing around with the wiring this evening and unplugged the analogue out from the squeezebox receiver, neglecting to plug it back in. I just realized as I've been listening that there are no more losses when other appliances and lights in the house have been turned on. It seems that JUST using the digital out on the squeezebox ALONE has solved the problem. I am at a loss to explain this.

I suspect that it has something to do with the fact I have the outputs going to two separate amps.  Here are a few other things I have tested.
1. When I listen to the outdoor speakers (analogue out on the squeezebox receiver to the Cambridge amp), there are never any losses with appliance use. If the Bryston is on and I am listening to the same feed in our living room at the same time, losses are evident through the Bryston.  Curious.
2. When I connect both the Squeezebox analogue out and digital out to the Bryston amp, there are no losses. I have switched back and forth between analogue and digital on the amp and playback is smooth when appliances/lights are turned on and off.
3. I am using quality interconnects. I have switched these around and concluded this is not the problem.

The bottom line is this: it only happens when listening to the digital out signal through the Bryston while the analogue out is plugged into the Cambridge (and it makes no difference whether the Cambridge receiver is on or off).

I realize this issue may not be a Bryston one and maybe this question should be posted elsewhere, but I am guessing someone in this very knowledgeable forum might have an idea as to what is causing this.  While I have found a "solution" to the problem, it is somewhat inconvenient to have to unplug interconnects and then plug back them back in, based on where I am going to listen to music. 

Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

[James Tanner]

Does the Squeezebox have a 3 prong ground plug?

james

[pianoguy]

No, just 2-prong.

[denjo]

The hiccups you are experiencing is because the DAC mutes the signal when it detects an unacceptable amount of interference. I was facing the same issues with a LFD DAC3, with loud startling pops (like a single firecracker going off) whenever the fan or lights in my lounge or electrical appliances in the kitchen nearby, is engaged! I swopped the DAC for a Benchmark USB-1 and the same phenomena (signal interruptions but without the startling pops) happens. I have tried power conditioning, swopping with RCA cables, power cables - all to no avail. I would also be interested to know what causes the "hiccups". 

Oddly enough, I briefly owned a B100 SST-DA but it showed no such behaviour during the short time that I owned it.

[James Tanner]

Have you tried hardwiring the Squeezebox (digital and analog) just to see if it is the streamer?

james

[pianoguy]

I would also be interested to know what causes the "hiccups". 

It's nice to know that I am not alone in this, Denjo, though I sympathize with you.  It is frustrating!

Have you tried hardwiring the Squeezebox (digital and analog) just to see if it is the streamer?


No I have not, James.  It is something I considered, but our computer is in another room and it would be difficult and time consuming to switch everything out for the purpose of this test.  I realize that ideally, this is the way to go, but for now, I will have to live "wirelessly".  Besides, I really don't think it is the streamer based on the comments 1 and 2 in my original post.  I can get hiccup free playing when listening to analogue out with the outdoor speakers, or if I plug both analogue and digital into the B100.  It seems to be something related to the connection to the Cambridge when listening digitally via the Bryston.

I posted something similar to this on the Logitech Squeezebox forum.  Here's what someone wrote back.  It's a little over my head, but perhaps someone here could clarify or comment as to whether this is a possibility.

"Try to disconnect the mains of the Cambridge receiver. It is turned off but maybe you have a groundloop that pics up some static.

Sueezebox->SPdif to Bryston->ground->Cambridge receiver->audio cable to sueezebox

If there is some hum or static on the digital connection The pll in the internal DAC could be out of lock for a short period of time."

[James Tanner]

Yes that's why I asked about the 3 prong plug. I suspect that you have two grounds when you connect both the B100 and the Cambridge together, through the Squeezebox. Even if the Cambridge is off the grounds are still tied through the RCA outer cable.

james

[sfraser]

Yes that's why I asked about the 3 prong plug. I suspect that you have two grounds when you connect both the B100 and the Cambridge together, through the Squeezebox. Even if the Cambridge is off the grounds are still tied through the RCA outer cable.

james

I  don't recall if the duet has a optical digitial out (or for that matter if the B100 has optical in)?  If it does,  try using it instead of the coax digital connections. That should break your ground loop issue.

Good luck.

[James Tanner]

Yes that's why I asked about the 3 prong plug. I suspect that you have two grounds when you connect both the B100 and the Cambridge together, through the Squeezebox. Even if the Cambridge is off the grounds are still tied through the RCA outer cable.

james

I  don't recall if the duet has a optical digitial out (or for that matter if the B100 has optical in)?  If it does,  try using it instead of the coax digital connections. That should break your ground loop issue.

Good luck.

Good idea!

james

[niels]

With streaming audio there is a number of possible flaws, some are very difficult to solve, even pinpoint.
Most problems are related to the router, or settings in the SqueezeCenter software.
A strong signal from the router is absolutely no guarantee of no dropouts whatsoever, the signal strength can be very low and yet you have perfect audio.

The problem you have is in your electrical system and I suggest you consult an electrician. If you have old or flawed switches for instance this can create spikes on your electrical system. If you are using dimmers this can affect some amplifiers (not Bryston though).
You are also, I think, ecperiencing a ground loop in your system, thats why you dont have a problem when using the rca analogue connections. I would suggest you use Toslink from the Duet to the Bryston as Toslink creates  a barrier between grounds. Thats also why we here use a filter on the cable tv outlet to the TV, if we dont the cable ground interferes with home ground and you might get start a fire in your flatscreen.
So try Toslink.
I have never ever experienced any hiccups from the digital out from my Squeezebox to the Bryston, but again, I also use the filter on my cable tv outlet.
What I have experienced though is hiccups in the picture from the cable tv decoder while using analogue sound out from the decoder to the Bryston. With digital out to the Bryston the hiccup moved to the sound (not the picture), but with both digital and analogue connected to the Bryston everything was perfect, so just like what you are experiencing with your Duet.
These hiccups had nothing to do with the wiring in my house though, this must have been from the cable tv provider, and the problem went away again. 

[pianoguy]

Thank you everyone for the advice and recommendations.  I will definitely give the Toslink cable a try.  I had heard that coax was far superior to toslink but from what I've recently read, it appears that this is simply untrue.  I will let you know how this works out

[BrystonFan]

Curious to read how the optical cable worked out ?

This topic is yet another great example of the valuable info shared between Bryston and sometimes (non-Bryston) enthusiasts in this forum to try and resolve various issues.
Thanks everyone. 

[pianoguy]

Just an update:
The optical cable solved the ground loop problem between the B100 and the Squeezebox.  Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions and advice!