Aune X1 DAC with Windows 10

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TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#201329 14-Aug-2016 15:04

I've been using an Aune X1 MK2 DAC for several years with Windows 7. It drives a pair of five inch Tapco monitors, and connects to the PC via USB, and sounds pretty good. It certainly goes way louder than I'll ever need! After taking the plunge and moving to Windows 10, it all seemed fine, but two days ago it suddenly stopped working. I looked for possible updates that might have caused it, and even used System Restore to a point before the failure, but it remains silent.

I am reasonably sure this is a Windows 10 issue, and not that the DAC has failed, because Device Manager now shows the warning icon, and its properties tell me

This device can not start (Code 10)

The I/O device is configured incorrectly, or the configuration parameters to the driver are incorrect.

A good look round with Google has shown me other people with similar issues, but now obvious fixes. It's not life or death, because I can drive it with an optical S/PDIF cable instead of USB, but I thought I'd throw it up here, because I am sure some of you guys are way better with Win 10 than I am.

TIA

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

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1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1611904 15-Aug-2016 13:25

Do you know anyone with a Mac that you can plug it into? Would be a reasonable way to confirm it is a Win 10 related issue and not the device...it should play natively under OSX...if it doesn't, then it would indicate the device is at fault?

Have you tried completely un-installing and removing the drivers form within Device Manager, then plugging it back in and letting it re-install?

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1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1611907 15-Aug-2016 13:26

This thread does suggest that others have had sudden and unresolvable issues with the USB hardware/firmware with their Aune devices...

http://www.head-fi.org/t/720730/aune-x1-pro-usb-problems

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1612229 15-Aug-2016 22:07

Thanks for that. I still haven't been able to get the USB interface working, but I have resorted to using the phono line in inputs to the DAC, which is a pity because it means I am using the DAC on my mainboard (Gigabyte X79-UD5) but at least I have sound again. I did try using an optical S/PDIF cable, but it didn't seem to fit either the Aune or mainboard sockets. I'll look at that some more, as I assume the optical interface must still be digital.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1612334 16-Aug-2016 09:34

[HUGE BLUSH]

Nothing has happened regards the USB interface, but I watched a video about the S/PDIF cable this morning, and realized that the reason it didn't seem to fit was that I hadn't removed the little plastic protective covers! In the slimmest of mitigating excuses, my eyesight is not flash, but I think this was more down to brain fade than dodgy eyesight. It's a bugger getting old. :-(

In all probability, my aging ears are not going to be able to appreciate the benefit of a digital interface so I would be listening to the Aune DAC as opposed to the mainboard DAC, but the monitors sound so much better than the Logitech speakers I used to use, and give me a lot of pleasure, so I'll give it a go.

I am reasonably confident that the optical interface is going to work, because the Windows 10 sound control panel showed an animated output next to the S/PDIF interface before I changed to the mainboard audio out.

Thanks again for your help. It was much appreciated.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1613150 17-Aug-2016 12:07

Last update on this. I have it working through the S/PDIF cable now, and surprise surprise, it definitely sounds better even to my 66 year old ears. It's always tricky to know if you can trust your perception with things like this, and I can't do an instant comparison, because it requires a restart to swap between optical and analogue out from the mainboard (USB is not an option at this time). However, with the right music, I really do think it is sounding better.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)