Crackling sound during last 20 seconds of the track “Full of Life” on the album “Paranoia, Angels, True Love” by Christine and the Queens, when streamed from Tidal. Crackling sound present even when using no DSP in Roon. Also tried other hardware (an iMac on ethernet, using a chord mojo DAC/headphone amp, and different headphones)—crackling still there. Tried yet another pair of headphones using my iPhone, crackling still there using Roon.
Multiple iPad/iPhone/Mac headphone combinations but using Tidal’s app, and no crackling sound. Tried same track from Apple Music on a range of hardware, no crackling sound.
I love love love Roon but this seems bad from an audio quality point of view.
I listened again, I especially hear the crackling popping sounds starting around 4:12, most clearly audible when the track gets quiet around 4:15-4:18-4:20.
honestly sounds a bit like surface noise on vinyl
re-ran some tests … I also hear it on the same headphone/amp/dac/Mac hardware when listening over the Tidal client instead of using Roon … so I guess it’s not a Roon thing. Phew!!
more tests … headphones connected directly to Mac, still hear it (uh oh).
different headphones, don’t hear it. (gulp)
OK good news bad news. Good news I need new headphones. Bad news I incorrectly accused Roon of messing up my audio!
PS the headphones are AKG K702 (from the days when they were made in Austria).
