Personal Loaner: ECP Walnut X.3 DAC (US only)

@dasman66 loaner is packed up and will be off to @Aman_91 this afternoon. Impressions to follow.

 

Heads up that the East Coast tour is temporarily on hold - @Aman_91 is shipping the walnut back to @TomB for a checkup.

 

After much delay from FedEx - and a delivery to my neighbors with a blatant "f**k direct signature" attitude - I just received @Erroneous unit from @Hands.

This thing is so freaking cute! It's a lot smaller than I expected, next to my ECP T4.

 

Received from @Clemmaster just now.

Plugged in and on first listen I am noticing some popping or clicking from the output, almost like clipping from the audio file... but in places I've never heard it before on other DACs. I'm presuming it's some issue specific to my set-up (computer USB to DAC... plugged into a battery-backup surge protector). Changing the system bitrate from 32-bit-48000khz to 32-bit 44100khz (24 and 16 bit are not available in the settings) didn't affect it.

 

Yeah I think something's up with either the unit itself or (hopefully, probably?) just a handshake thing with my computer. I've tried adjusting the bitrate and settings and the like, tried Spotify vs Amazon HD, exclusive mode via Amazon HD. The popping/crackling persists.

Also a quirk of note is that changing the unit's volume via the system's volume mixer doesn't actually change the volume output, which is different from any other DAC I've ever used.

@Erroneous (and anyone really), let me know if there are any additional troubleshooting steps I should try.

 

The DAC sounded just fine when I pulled it out, 15 min before handing it off :/

Did you download the Amanero drivers?

I noticed that the windows test sound was kinda off at anything not 192/32 bit (the pace of the bell sounds was off. Pitch was fine).

Maybe it’s related to the problems I had with the Stream Box S2 Ultra?

 

@Clemmaster the drivers seemed to auto install just fine. I’ll try looking them up and downloading/installing manually as well

 

Okay, manually installing drivers and resetting seemed to solve the issue on all fronts. Sorry for any cardiac arrests caused, @Erroneous. And thanks for the suggestion @Clemmaster

Sounds magnificent so far too!

Edit: Actually, still catching the occasional pop. Just with much less frequency. There's also a slight 'pop' when I skip anywhere on a song. I'll keep finnicking with it.

 

@futbutts no cardiac arrests caused. I'm out in the woods away from the world for a few days so not as present as I normally would be. If there are any big issues we can ship the DAC to Tom @ Beezer. Other than that I just assume there's a ghost in your system causing some weirdness. Maybe @dsavitsk can step in with some more knowledge and let us all know what's up.

 

DAC arrived safely today.

Soekris: We have the cutest DAC in this price range.
ECP: Hold my beer.

I also have the LIM loaner. Looks like this will be a fun DAC weekend. The ECP already wins the cuteness and sexy award (that wood).

 

Better to have wood and not need it than to need wood and not have it.

 

I'm good to ship out tomorrow. FYI no issues with pops or anything, playing from the Qobuz app on Windows 10 with Wasapi in exclusive mode.

Apologies for the shipping delay, stressful work week plus some other issues slowed me down but all handled and I was able to enjoy hours of listening. Thanks @Erroneous for your generosity.

 

@dubharmonic has messages to indicate they’re dropping out, @StageOne is next.

Edit: Shipped to @StageOne

 

Just a heads up that the east coast loaner is back on hold. The unit is heading back to @TomB. Sorry @Vtory...

@Erroneous ... it looks like the west coast tour might finish before we get past halfway on the east. It may make sense to move @atomicbob to the west (I think he's somewhere up near Seattle anyway)...

 

Yes, at this point after me I can just continue wherever the East Coast Tour left off.

So after me it would be:

4) @Vtory
5) @E_Schaaf
6) @Ksorota
7) @atomicbob

Sorry @dasman66 that yours is still not working.

 

@dasman66 Fo' sho. We can even move some more peeps onto my list from your list, whatever helps this thing keep chugging along. Sorry you're having so many problems man! I wonder if Aman's power at his house is cursed or if there have been a string of bad power supplies or what? Maybe the Walnut should get shipped to @Vtory after Tom blesses it? I think Aman needs to call an exorcist.

EDIT: I like @Azimuth's idea. When he's done, mine goes to Vtory then on from there and eventually to Atomicbob. After Tom blesses Das's DAC it can just go back to Das's house.

 

Thanks for the update!! By the way, situations given, it seems I need a relocation. I won't be available until Jan 4 due to the travel. Please feel free to move my position to wherever in the list.