After reading about the AudioSmile modded Behringer SRC2496 in Affordable$$Audio in early 2008, I place an order with Simon Ashton - Proprietor in March 2008 and paid ~US$600. Upon receipt, I immediately installed the unit as the DAC in my two channel listening system. I use a PC as my music server running iTunes and lossless files. The music is streamed wirelessly to the system via an Apple AirPort Express using its optical digital output to feed the SRC2496.
For as long as I can remember, the two channel system had a problem where the SRC2496 would cycle rapidly through the 16/20/24 bit Wordlength option on a periodic basis, resulting in audio drop-outs. It made no difference whether the clock from the digital source is used or the clock internal to the SRC2496 is used (a selectable option on the SRC2496), the problem still occurred nearly every time I had the system on for at least ~30 minutes or more.
I assumed all the while that the audio problem was caused by my wireless network dropping out and tried everything I could think of on the PC music server to fix the problem......to no avail. A couple of weeks ago I hooked up a CD player to the SRC2496 using the CD player's coaxial digital output. Lo and behold, the SRC2496 exhibited the same rapid cycling problem and audio drop-outs. This made me realize, the problem was not with my wireless network, but with the AudioSmile SRC2496.
Just for information, earlier this year I purchased an AudioSmile DEQ2496 from Simon and have been very happy with it so far. Point being, I am a repeat AudioSmile customer and truly believed the audio drop-out problem was rooted in my wireless network. Once I discovered it was an AudioSmile SRC2496 problem, I contacted Simon immediately.
Its now been ~15 months since I purchased the AudioSmile unit. So, I contacted Simon Ashton via email and explained the problem to him. His response was the unit only had a 6 month warranty and offered to replace the unit for ~US$400, basically charging only for the price of a new SRC2496 and shipping back and forth from the US to the UK. I replied that the SRC2496 had been exhibiting this erratic behavior since it was new, but I mistakenly thought it was a wireless network problem. Explained to him that there is no way I can justify investing more than US$1000 total in an AudioSmile SRC2496 unit. That is the last communication Simon and I had on this topic. Needless to say, I am not very happy with the outcome.
I am just sharing this experience with you, do with it what you deem appropriate and give it consideration if you are in the market for a new DAC.
