N1 - nothing but crackle

[da(s)h]

Okay, I haven't used my Neuros I DAC for a couple-three years now, but after moving, I pulled it out and charged it up to listen to some music in the car.  Unfortunately, all I'm getting is a crackle from the player.  The song I select begins, but for the entire song, all I can hear is a crackling noise.  I've tried it with both the 20g USB2 HD backpack, and also with the battery-only backpack.  I've tried it with both NeurosCast and with headphones, and with the headphones the crackle gets louder and softer as I adjust the volume.  I've tried formatting both the HDD and the NAND, but so far nothing seems to work.  I'm using the Neuros 2.28 firmware, and have tried both NDBM and NSM to get this restored.

I thought that perhaps the firmware got corrupted and reinstalled v2.28, but that didn't fix the problem.  Anyone have any ideas?

Doug

[ChadV]

My first thoughts are moisture and a bad DSP/DAC chip.

Also, what format/bitrate are you using?  Are those files okay through Winamp/VLC?

[da(s)h]

I've tried files encoded at 128 to 192. Everything works on the PC. For the past few years, it's been in a hot dry apartment... Guess there must be a bad chip. Thanks Chad.

Doug

[ChadV]

Well, Hot + Dry isn't really all that great for chips either.

And 128-192 is fine.  What codec?  (The Vorbis support works, but I occasionally have issues...  Three songs of mine lock up the NII every time.)

[da(s)h]

The majority of my music is in MP3 format, with a few OGG files in there.   (Mostly stuff I ripped post-upgrade.)  All of the files I have tried since formatting and resetting have been MP3s.

Do you think I would be better off trying to find a used brain or sending it in to get it repaired?  Or is there still some other possible explanation/solution for my Neuros' woes?

Doug

[ChadV]

Unfortunately, I can't think of anything else off the top of my head.  You may have to call support and see how much brain repairs are going for, and compare that to getting a used brain on eBay...