I have tried everything I can think of and cannot solve this one.
I put my system back together after stepping away from audio for a while due to life changes and having all of my components in storage. I had been recently listening to streaming on my NDX2 after connecting it all back up. I had a HiLine DIN-DIN from the NDX2 to my NAC 252 AUX 2. I sold my Naim nDAC before taking the system down, and felt the urge to get another DAC. So, I acquired a CHORD QBD76 HDSD. I connected my Snake River Boomslang BNC cable from the NDX2 output to one of the CHORD BNC inputs, turned it on and everything checks out from the DAC side. Reads rates correctly switching from HD Internet radio, Albums from Tidal and Qobuz.
However, there is no sound. On DIN, sound. On RCA from my Headline to my Focal Clear MGs, sound. I switch to Digital BNC, Native in the Naim app and it will not output sound. I am at a complete loss. Iâve turned on every digital Input Setting (1, 2, 3, 4) in the app just in case and still nothing. Please help!!!
Maybe a bad cable? Or is it reading UPNP instead of digital out?
Hello.
Itâs the same cable I used with the nDAC. Also, wouldnât there be issues with the CHORD DAC reading anything or not synching if it were a bad cable? Unfortunately, I donât have another on me to check at the moment.
How would I know if itâs reading UPNP? On the Digital Output settings within the app, everything shows correctly: Digital BNC (chek); Native (check).
Its a little confusing, but I think what you are saying is
NDX2 - BNC - QBD76 - RCA - NAC 252. = No sound
To me that would indicate an issue with the DAC output
Can you try another source into the DAC - Say the USB input or an optical input from a TV optical out
That would confirm that the DAC unbalanced outputs are working
Iâll try better to sum it up.
So, with every output setting in the app (save for the BNC S/PDIF), along with its respective input, (i.e., RCA, DIN), the music output works. If I set the output setting to DIN in the app (using the HiLine connection from NDX2 to NAC 252 AUX 2 DIN), I get sound/music. If I set the output setting to RCA in the app (I have the RCA HeadLine version going into the NDX2 RCA inputs), I get sound/music in my Focal headphones. If I set the output to BNC in the app, I get nothing. The CHORD DAC (set to COAX) is showing that it is working, and it clicks and displays correctly when going from different resolutions. It appears everything is connected correctly on the digital side and feasibly should have no issues. It just wonât output sound. I will try USB input with the supplied cable.
If I understand correctly, everything works except the Chord DAC. Why do you need it?
Why does anyone use an external DAC?
Because it sounds better than the internal one - i.e. it works.
Thus the threadâŚtrying to figure out why it might not be working. Please, letâs just limit the responses to something constructive or germane to the subject. Iâve had excellent luck in the past with DACs from both Naim and Chord, and have been interested in the QBD76. Besides, we donât know itâs the DACâŚcould be the NDX2 output for all I know.
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I assume you have tried the old âTry turning it off and back on againâ procedure.
It says in the Chord manual that if everything is connected and the digital source is playing but no output from the DAC, then unplug it for 30+Secs and repower to allow it to reset itself.
The DAC indicates that it receives a digital input signal from the NDX2. It just doesnât provide analogue output. (⌠OK the post above beat me to the punch ⌠yes, thatâs worth a try)
I did early on, but was. thinking to try again. Thank you.
Could be youâre right. Itâs just odd to me that all of the CHORDâs âfunctionsâ within the window checks out, but no sound. Iâve never encountered anything like this.
Does the same input on the preamp work with a different source?
Are the RCA phono sockets on the 252 assigned to an input?
You were using Din inputs previously and you have to program the phonos I think
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The QBD is an old model, does it come with a remote? Just thinking maybe it has a mute button? I owned an original Hugo and a TT2, just the TT2 had a remote.
No. No remote for the QBD76, any iteration. It relies on the 3 buttons to toggle through to set input, phase, etc.
I also tried the USB cable and that was a no-go as well. As a last resort, I shut everything down, waited five or so minutes, then powered everything back up. Same result. Is it safe to say the CHORD is defective?
I would make sure that the phono inputs on the 252 have actually accepted their program setting to be CD or AUX input - Sometimes things donât always stick
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A couple of things:
I was going to ask last night why this would matter when Iâm not using RCA phono, but rather trying to get output from BNC-BNC (NDX2 to CHORD)? I know Iâm being thick, but Iâm really not following.
Anyway, I did my due diligence and went through reprogramming the â1â (CD) on the 252 and â6â (AUX). After this I discovered that the two sets of phono inputs on the 252 do not work. I unplugged the RCAs on the HeadLine from the NDX2 and connected to the 252. No sound from the headphones. Reconnected to the NDX2 RCAs. Sound.
So, thatâs a different problem Iâll have to address. Meanwhile, I still cannot figure out why the streamer/DAC exchange isnât functioning.
BTWâŚthank you for making me go through the process to discover the 252 issue. I never use the phono inputs, so wouldnât have known they were faulty.
Is it the chord at fault then if itâs showing itâs getting signal..