Spotify choopy playback when I use a DAC

[BryanC1]

I've an Audioengine DAC connected to my Mac. When I use it Spotify keeps stopping and starting whatever I'm listening to. I tested this with the web player and the desktop app.

This only happens with Spotify so the problem isn't the DAC.

Anyone else experience this issue?

[eyendall]

I am having the same problem using the AudioEngine D2 with DAC. Spotify either hangs or goes into a continuous loop of short, choppy sound bites. Problem occurs only with Spotify. Have you found a solution?

Eric

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@BryanC1 wrote:

I've an Audioengine DAC connected to my Mac. When I use it Spotify keeps stopping and starting whatever I'm listening to. I tested this with the web player and the desktop app.

This only happens with Spotify so the problem isn't the DAC.

Anyone else experience this issue?

---

[Jurgman]

Hello, 

I am also experiencing the same issue. Frequent dropouts with external DAC (audioengine d2).

greetings,

J.

[eyendall]

Has anyone identified a fix for this problem or at least, can explain what the issue is?

[BryanC1]

Still no fix in sight. I'm thinking of switching to Google Play.

[eyendall]

This is response I got back from audioengine support. I have not had time to go through it. Hope it helps you.

"Hi Eric,

Thanks for emailing.  Sorry to hear about these issues you're having
with your D2.  It sounds like the issue you're having could be due to
interference.  The D2 is designed to "play nicely" with other wireless
products but issues like this do come up from time to time depending on
the type of router(s) being used, other wireless systems in the area,
your computer, building construction, etc..

Below is a list of tips we've put together that can help diagnose and
correct many common issues.  Please carefully go through them one by
one.  If the problem persists please provide us with the results of each
step.  Please also include the purchase date and location of your D2.
We will do our best to help you get this figured out and resolved.
Thank you so much for your patience and continued support!

1) Please try  changing the channel of your Wi-Fi router to 1 or 11.
This can be done with an Apple router using Apples Airport Utility
software.  On most other routers, these settings can be accessed by
logging on to the routers IP address through a web browser.

2) Please try to keep as much room between the D2s sender and receiver
units, and other wireless devices as possible.  At least 2 or 3 feet is
recommended.

3) Please try  temporarily moving the powered D2 sender unit as close as
possible to your wireless router.  Leave it there for just a few
minutes, and then place it back into your setup and retest.  This may
allow the D2 to train itself to "steer clear" of the signal.

4) We have found that every now and then the placement of the computer's
antenna in relation to the USB port can have this effect on the D2.  One
thing you could try is to move the D2 further from the computer by using
a longer USB cable.  - If using a Mac laptop, try the USB port furthest
away from the display (the display is where the wifi antenna is located).

5) Consider upgrading to a new wireless router if yours is older than 3
or 4 years.  Newer model routers handle interference much better than
older routers.

Sincerely,

Daniel"

[wrongmark]

Having similar issues with an external DAC/Amp combo on my iMac.  It seems to be when you hide Spotify in the background.  Almost like the app goes to sleep.  I've found that if you keep a bit of the spotify window visable on screen it doesn't do it.

I've looked at trying to disable 'nap mode' in the 'get info' menu for Spotify as suggested on some old forums, but I don't have this option with the Spotify app.  Going to try disabling 'nap mode' in terminal.

[wrongmark]

Think I may have just solved this one.  I've used the following two commands to disable 'app nap'.  I'm fairly new to macs so not sure which of these did the trick but I did both and then closed Spotify and restarted the app.

defaults write com.spotify.client NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES

defaults write /Applications/Spotify.app NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES

I think you may have to re enter these if you do a restart, but I rarely do that anyway.  If you find that you have to keep entering this, I'm sure you could set up script to run this at each logon.

[eyendall]

Thanks for this. I will give it a try.

[wrongmark · Accepted solution]

2 days later still no probs.  I guess it's worked for me.  Let me now if it helps you.

[eyendall]

Apologies for taking so long to get back to you but YES it seems to be working with your fix. Many thanks.

Could you tell me exactly what these commands do, and what to do if for some reason they need to be restored. Again thanks.

[wrongmark]

From what I can gather, the command prevents OSX from putting the Spotify app to sleep when it is in the background. On some versions of OSX there was a tick box in the "get info" menu for certain apps to do this. This appears to have been removed on the version I'm running (Yosemite). The command enables this removed option.

Not sure how to restore it but I'm sure with a bit of searching you'll find how.