XMC-1 Dirac issue

[carel1966]

Hi all,

I’ve been enjoying my XMC-1 now for just over a year. Love what Dirac could do in my setup and has been a fan of it and the processor ever since first hearing the difference.

However, recently changed my speakers from 802’s to GoldenEar Triton One’s, and has picked up an issue whilst critically listening to the T1’s and with Dirac engaged. I am not sure how long it’s been there, but as it is, started hearing it about 4 weeks ago, but could not pinpoint it until I discovered a track where it is quite easy to demonstrate what is happening.

The issue is faint “pops” where there is little or no music (silent parts of songs). (IT may be there in the louder parts as well but assume inaudible as it is very faint).

At first I thought it is only when changing tracks, but in the song “Nightswimming” by REM it is quite clear in the beginning of the song, in the silent part after the intro and before the music starts again. It is not there when Dirac is switched off.

I have reloaded the filters, re-ran Dirac, even tried resetting the XMC1 to factory settings and updating firmware from 3.1 to 3.1a, but the problem persist.

Quite sad as Dirac (and the PC-USB input) was the biggest draw card for this processor, but as I have been hearing these artefacts for the last month or so, and now know it is definitely related to Dirac, will use it as a standard “Dirac less” processor.

Reason for this post - keen to know if anyone else has experienced this and maybe found a remedy? Staying in South Africa this forum is my only hope of fixing this as sending the unit back will be way too expensive.

Thanks,
Carel

[vneal]

Those are sweet speakers. Is your power source stable?

[carel1966]

Thanks. The issue is only when Dirac is engaged, so do not think it could be anything else. Problem not experienced with Ref Stereo or making use of personal EQ.

[KeithL]

It could be a slight glitch in the firmware, or it could be a problem from elsewhere, which is simply being made more audible by the action of the Dirac filters.
(Because Dirac's filters may boost certain frequencies, they can make a problem caused by something else become more noticeable.)

Since the XMC-1 is basically a computer (several computers), sometimes the software can just get slightly confused.
So, if you haven't already, then the first thing to try is to reboot your XMC-1
(high-power standby on the XMC-1 is like a computer hibernating, and every computer should actually be rebooted now and then; to reboot the XMC-1, actually turn the power Off and On again).

If that doesn't help, try doing a Factory Reset, or even reloading the firmware (do a Firmware Update to the same current version).
(Remember that, if you have Inputs and other things set up, you can save your configuration and restore it after the Reset or Update.)

Jun 22, 2016 2:59:26 GMT -5 carel1966 said:

Hi all,

I’ve been enjoying my XMC-1 now for just over a year. Love what Dirac could do in my setup and has been a fan of it and the processor ever since first hearing the difference.

However, recently changed my speakers from 802’s to GoldenEar Triton One’s, and has picked up an issue whilst critically listening to the T1’s and with Dirac engaged. I am not sure how long it’s been there, but as it is, started hearing it about 4 weeks ago, but could not pinpoint it until I discovered a track where it is quite easy to demonstrate what is happening.

The issue is faint “pops” where there is little or no music (silent parts of songs). (IT may be there in the louder parts as well but assume inaudible as it is very faint).

At first I thought it is only when changing tracks, but in the song “Nightswimming” by REM it is quite clear in the beginning of the song, in the silent part after the intro and before the music starts again. It is not there when Dirac is switched off.

I have reloaded the filters, re-ran Dirac, even tried resetting the XMC1 to factory settings and updating firmware from 3.1 to 3.1a, but the problem persist.

Quite sad as Dirac (and the PC-USB input) was the biggest draw card for this processor, but as I have been hearing these artefacts for the last month or so, and now know it is definitely related to Dirac, will use it as a standard “Dirac less” processor.

Reason for this post - keen to know if anyone else has experienced this and maybe found a remedy? Staying in South Africa this forum is my only hope of fixing this as sending the unit back will be way too expensive.

Thanks,
Carel

[carel1966]

Thanks Keith. Have done all that.

Have even tried to set the upper limit at 440Hz to see if that helps, but nothing. I have listened to that track now on my earphones etc. and cannot  hear the pops no matter how hard I try. Only audible with Dirac engaged.

Jun 22, 2016 8:28:12 GMT -5 KeithL said:

It could be a slight glitch in the firmware, or it could be a problem from elsewhere, which is simply being made more audible by the action of the Dirac filters.
(Because Dirac's filters may boost certain frequencies, they can make a problem caused by something else become more noticeable.)

Since the XMC-1 is basically a computer (several computers), sometimes the software can just get slightly confused.
So, if you haven't already, then the first thing to try is to reboot your XMC-1
(high-power standby on the XMC-1 is like a computer hibernating, and every computer should actually be rebooted now and then; to reboot the XMC-1, actually turn the power Off and On again).

If that doesn't help, try doing a Factory Reset, or even reloading the firmware (do a Firmware Update to the same current version).
(Remember that, if you have Inputs and other things set up, you can save your configuration and restore it after the Reset or Update.)

Jun 22, 2016 2:59:26 GMT -5 carel1966 said:

Hi all,

I’ve been enjoying my XMC-1 now for just over a year. Love what Dirac could do in my setup and has been a fan of it and the processor ever since first hearing the difference.

However, recently changed my speakers from 802’s to GoldenEar Triton One’s, and has picked up an issue whilst critically listening to the T1’s and with Dirac engaged. I am not sure how long it’s been there, but as it is, started hearing it about 4 weeks ago, but could not pinpoint it until I discovered a track where it is quite easy to demonstrate what is happening.

The issue is faint “pops” where there is little or no music (silent parts of songs). (IT may be there in the louder parts as well but assume inaudible as it is very faint).

At first I thought it is only when changing tracks, but in the song “Nightswimming” by REM it is quite clear in the beginning of the song, in the silent part after the intro and before the music starts again. It is not there when Dirac is switched off.

I have reloaded the filters, re-ran Dirac, even tried resetting the XMC1 to factory settings and updating firmware from 3.1 to 3.1a, but the problem persist.

Quite sad as Dirac (and the PC-USB input) was the biggest draw card for this processor, but as I have been hearing these artefacts for the last month or so, and now know it is definitely related to Dirac, will use it as a standard “Dirac less” processor.

Reason for this post - keen to know if anyone else has experienced this and maybe found a remedy? Staying in South Africa this forum is my only hope of fixing this as sending the unit back will be way too expensive.

Thanks,
Carel

[millst]

Use the search. This has been discussed to death.

-tm

[carel1966]

Jun 22, 2016 9:46:59 GMT -5 millst said:

Use the search. This has been discussed to death.

-tm

Have done so and found nothing that's the same as my issue. This is not between tracks! It's within tracks!!

[goodfellas27]

How are you feeding the music to XMC-1? Have you try USB Streaming via WASAPI? Might be a transport issue causing jitters. Let us know the time stamp this is happening at and in which tracks.

[carel1966]

Actually experiencing it with all sources, but could not replicate it until I found this song where it happens consistently. I am using USB with Wasapi and Emotiva supplied drivers. In the beginning of this song (as per OP) there is a small string intro, and then silence after which the music starts again. It happens consistently in the silent part. As said before also only happens with Dirac switched on.

[eiffel62]

Carel,

I have the Triton One's and just picked up the refurbished XMC-1 last week (no blemish whatsoever) and I am loving it. My player is an Oppo 105 and the Triton's are powered by a Gen 3 three channel amp along with the GE SuperCenter XXL.

I have "Automatic for the People" on DVD-Audio and played that track with Dirac and then with 7.1 Analog In to compare. I did not hear the faint pops in either input HDMI or 7.1 Analog inputs.

What I do hear at about 4 seconds into the intro, where the orchestra is tuning up, are the musicians clanking their instruments or perhaps drumsticks. It last about two or three seconds, with the sound coming primarily from the surround speakers, before a brief silence and the main part of the song starts up. I played this in stereo and heard the same thing, just FL & FR speakers.

The instruments clanking are not faint, especially when the volume is around -25.0 dB or higher. I have heard this sound in live orchestras before.

I assume you are not referring to this noise but thought I would mention that as it occurs about the time frame that you indicated hearing the "pops".

Can you indicate the time and duration of the faint "pops"?


Bill

[carel1966]

Thanks Bill,

I will go and make sure about the time frames and report back. I have not heard it without Dirac but will make sure it is not the musicians shuffling etc.

PS: Nice system. Enjoy!!

[millst]

Jun 22, 2016 10:27:14 GMT -5 carel1966 said:

Jun 22, 2016 9:46:59 GMT -5 millst said:

Use the search. This has been discussed to death.

-tm

Have done so and found nothing that's the same as my issue. This is not between tracks! It's within tracks!!

It doesn't matter where the digital silence occurs, it's the same issue. Between tracks just happens to be the most common place for digital silence. The other common source is related to sound effects e.g. navigating TiVo menus.

Your situation adds some new information (new to me anyway) in that you didn't have the problem until your speakers changed. Perhaps that is why some people experience the problem and others don't.

-tm