Quite a fight with Aurlaic ark mx+

[agent_kith]

The first thing I noticed using MPD player with the remote app. was the sound where superior to what I was used to.
If this have something to do with now using USB input instead of COAX input I don't know. What I noticed where much cleaner sound. It was like a layer where gone.

It's the way Linux works, it just gives better sound. A custom compiled kernel that runs in RealTime just adds further icing to the cake.

 

Something in the low middle frequencys where colored using the Oppo with COAX out.
The sad thing is that sometimes I could still hear pops. I started to tweak BIOS settings. Updated Ubuntu, Snakeoil OS version. Updated firmware
on both Laptop and Auralic DAC. Tried external powered USB hub, different USB cables. Still same problem but must be said that to some degree I did might
have change the pops for the better or worse. It is also important to notice that the pops are random. In a song I used a lot that are with acoustic guitar and vocals I would
detect pops around 4 - 5 times. 

Here are some reasons for pops in the audio.

1. Computer related. The computer might not be able to keep up. Example if the files are streamed from a NAS, the network may not be optimised for some reason. Or if the USB bus is shared with something else (e.g. keyboard, etc) that took up more IO and leave little to the DAC. Anything could be possible and will require some diagnostics. Easiest thing to check is to run the Snakeoil LiveCD on the fastest computer you have. If you hear no pops, then it's the computer you're using. Another test is to buy a Raspberry Pi and test it on that. It will not pop.
   
2. Environmental related. Things that are running in your or your neighbours house can cause pops. Examples are things with compressors (e.g. Fridges, air conditionings) or relays (aquarium heater, fridge, air cons, timers, etc) will cause a pop at random times when running. This problem usually appears when running on a computer setup. i.e. it's fine when you're using a CD player. The only way around this for me is to get a powerboard with good filters (not powerboards you buy in the supermarkets or hardware store), but hifi "audiophile-style" powerboards that are probably 20 to 100x more expensive.  To test if it's environment, completely shut down everything you think could be a cause in your house and see if the problem goes away.
   

 

Since I where using an old HDD drive I tought as a last chance I could install a SSD 120GB. I also upgraded the RAM to 4GB. It must be said I did that before
the SSD install without any improvement. I don't know if Ubuntu detects the amount of RAM under installation and does something different. Anyway, 
now it was time to install Snakeoil OS 64-bit version to the SSD drive. 

A SSD will alter the timbre of the music. Same goes with different types of RAM (R1 vs R2)...

After installation my DAC did not detect as it should. I got this full requency sound from my speakers. Just like old CRT TV with no found channel or Radio.
I tried to change some settings and rebooted the OS several times.
What solved this issue was to change the USB port. To my supprise everything worked much better now. I can still hear on some recordings pops but they are almost
not detectable. Very much better than before. It's is like the pops have shortened. It does not matter if I'm playing 16bit or 24 bit. This is not a CPU problem as far as I can tell. 
Another note is that I'm using an external SSD, USB drive where all my music is. I'm going to copy the music to the internal
SSD to see if that could improve things further. I'm also thinking of tweaking some options. What option could I use to lower or higher latency with MPD player?
I know Auralic recommends very low latency time. 

That could be the problem. Don't run the USB SSD and your DAC on the same USB host. This could be a bandwidth bottleneck. put them on seperate busses if you can. If you have the activated edition, go to the Snakeoil menu and look at the USB ports, make sure the first 2 sets of numbers are different.

All the same I can live with this. The sound is fantastic! No way going back to playback from Oppo. I'm going to try out a laptop with Win. 7 I have at work. I keep you posted.
Thank you for a great OS for audiophiles.

I honestly think the Oppo is over rated. I have the BDP-105 myself. The BD picture is OK, not fantastic, and the digital sound streamed to my Marantz 8805 is rather medicore. The analog outs are average as well. I have no idea why the Oppo is so highly rated in the HT and stereo world... Whatever they're smoking, leave me out of it.. :/ Works great as a SACD ripper though.