Noise dependant on DAC

[ckenworthy]

Got the Crack put together the other day. It was quite fun to throw together (my first DIY project) and quite rewarding to fire it up and enjoy music.
What I am experiencing is noise when using one DAC and none when using another.
The culprit DAC is the RME Babyface. I'm using the same outputs that feed my active speakers (which sound fine and are noise free)
Best I can describe the noise is that it's more of electrical clicking than a hum. I have experienced this same noise when using Turtle Beach gaming headsets plugged into the audio our on the motherboard.

Any clue why the Crack is being well fed by one and not the other?
The other DAC is the Antelope Orion 32

 

[Natural Sound]

My guess for the noise is that the RME Babyface is USB bus powered and the Antelope Orion 32 has a proper power supply. I have experienced the same with other bus powered DAC's. If there is another power option for the RME Babyface I'd try it and see. Computer supplied USB power is often noisy.

 

[Grainger49]

Every DAC emits some digital noise into the surrounding area.  Each one does to a different extent.  So if the DAC is close to the Crack you might be picking up the noise it makes. 

If the DAC is 2 feet away, ignore this post.

 

[2wo]

Don't forget cell phone noise. My last Blackberry was noise free so I thought the issue was past. I now have an iPhone, same service, and the noise is back...John