We'll check that.

From: https://www.forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=27924

I gather you are referring to this issue.

Originally, testing indicated the behaviour to be close to identical to the previously described behaviour.

However, after running the volume control through its entire range, this no longer seems to be the case. 

Regarding 1, the notches are clearly individually recognisable at low, medium and high angular speed and the indicated level changes follow them tightly, i.e. there are not many or even any unintentional level jumps that cannot be explained by 2.

Regarding 2, I assume, this can arise from the encoder not being settled in a notch and either bouncing a notch forwards or backwards if the grip on the knob is insufficiently tight or after letting go of the knob. Since the resulting acceleration might be greater than the acceleration for the intended volume change, this could indeed lead to relatively large volume changes that can go both up and down.

Unless the problem arises again, due to factors not covered with regards to 2, I will see this issue as having been resolved for me.

The new firmware has helped with the many 1-2dB jumps I experienced most of the time, many thanks for that!

... But the 'backward jump' issue remains.

It is happening occasionally, maybe once every 10 manipulations of the knob.
For example, with volume at -37, I turn (relatively slowly to see what's going on) anticlockwise to lower volume, and this is what happens:
click -37.5 click -38 click -38.5 click Surprise ! -34

I might well be in case 2 as reported by jiw... Would be interesting to know if other users experience the same thing. What puzzles me is that I had not noticed anything like that before last summer.

Pro FS BE (v.89)

On rare occasion I get odd numbers starting with approx -70 or -90 showing then i.e.
-90.3 -90.8 -91.2 -91.7
-97.2 -96.3 -95.5 -94.7 -94.1 -93.4 -92.8

It depends on the speed turning the encoder and the lower the setting is the more likely it happens.

That sounds like a broken encoder to me, not like a firmware problem.

Many thanks for your answers.

The problem does not happen if I turn really slowly, step by step. It might be the way I turn the knob, giving impulses from time to time... If it gets worse I'll have the unit checked.

Well I don't know if you have changed anything, but I have the pleasure to say firmware 90 seems to have completely eliminated my problem: no more jumps or strange backward bounces any more !

Many thanks, cheers and merry Christmas

nach einem Werksreset funktioniert die Lautstärkeregelung
so halbwegs für 2 Stunden.
Dann gehts mit den Sprüngen wieder los.

Hardware Defekt ?

The behaviour described in my original post (#1) and by other users keeps occurring on my DAC.

However, not only for the volume knob but also for encoder 2.

In the menus, turning encoder 2 sometimes does not change the setting as it should, e.g. after turning encoder 2, the indicator remains on original setting. Changing of the volume in the I/O menu, leads to similar jumps as when using the volume control.

I thought it could be explained by my handling of the encoders but I am becoming ever more doubtful of it.

Since MC has said that h4zok1's Pro seems to have a hardware defect (all in german), has the unit been sent in for a check and if so, could a cause be determined?

I have been overly enthusiastic: the problem has come back to my unit, and is actually worsening.

Has anyone determined whether or not the cause is software-related ? If not I will return my unit under warranty.

Jchan,

Understand that my Post was entirely "tongue in cheek" and also note that my ADI-2DAC has NEVER exhibited any odd behaviors.

RME does not design Encoders.   They design End Use Products.  The RME design philosophy needs no input from either of us.   It seems quite exceptional as is.   Were a very few defective encoders (amongst the tens of thousands)  to find their way into the mfg pipeline?  It happens. 

Let us not "Throw the Baby out with the Bathwater"     

Curt

Yes dont get me wrong, I love RME, it was just not expected with RME to have a failing encoder like this. I've gotten used to virtually 100% flawless operation. I mean my FireFace800 still runs like new after what, 15 years? Incredible. Meanwhile other brands I've used that's just a few years have scraping gain knobs, scraping outputs and inputs, some not working, jumping faders etc.

I will get RME next time for sure. But first I need to get this baby fixed Hope it doesnt take too many weeks to get it back.

Best,

Johan

I just noticed the upper smaller encoder of my ADI-2 Pro does this as well. Jumps, irregular movement back and forth.
My wild guess is the encoders can't cope with the heat, because my unit get really hot.

Waiting for a response from Synthax on repair.

J

Got the same problem,  it jumps back and foreward, doesnt matter if I do it slow or fast. of course if I do it fast it happens more frequently.

If I go slow from -40 , -39 , -38 then it might go up to -39 even if I just reduce the amount, not increase.
Could the wheel/rotary/knob/ be broken? 

Auto-ref level is off.

Same issue here sometimes (ADI-2 Pro, latest firmware). Auto Ref level is off.

I don't believe it's just a broken encoder, because when I control volume with the small encoder 1 (an encoder I hardly ever use) the same thing happens sometimes.
Also: when setting up an EQ curve I also never noticed any jumping back from the main encoder.

When it occurs, it's always with volume. Mostly when changing it slowly.

Bump on this old thread.

I did some more testing and this is a software issue that only affects volume changes. If RME isn't seeing this in their testing, it may have something to do with a very specific upgrade path throughout last year.

Can someone from RME let us know if it's possible to do a clean install of the device firmware? As in wipe completely and install.

My ADI-2 DAC main encoder did fail after one year (odd jump problem).
I've sent the unit back to Thomann and it has been quickly and perfectly repaired by RME.

Juts got it back today.

Thanks to the team!!

Hi
I was wondering if I was unlucky with my unit and I can see on the forum that it's a pretty common default.
So, my volume knob is also failing since some months and it's getting very annoying to modify the volume and make the settings.
I bought my unit on Ebay (GB seller now closed) the 29th May 2019.
What should I do to proceed to a repair ? I suppose this repair is 100% free including the shipment cos it's a conception default and not the user fault.
Thanks

Yep the encoder issue is very annoying and I can see nobody from RME replied to my request on this forum, it's also very annoying if you need to sell your Dac.
I've also not used the controller a lot, most of the time im setting the volume with the low quality remote.
The prints on the remote buttons are also deleted after 2 years, finally the overall quality production is under some Chinese products.
The dac audio quality and the functions are still great, the machine is not a 1000€ value considering the low quality of some critical elements.

I suggest, those user(s), if encounter problem(s) on individual part(s), better provide date of purchase, serial number, so that RME can trace back if some batch of spare parts has problem, so that they can improve it in future, or even issue a recall if the parts supplier also notice there were some manufacturing defects ....

The lettering on my remote started rubbing off after a week or two. The original battery only lasted a couple of weeks also.

The build quality of the remote sadly isn't up to the quality of the rest of the unit, but the DAC sounds so good that it doesn't really matter to me.

Very interesting.

Alps EC11E series encoders are variously rated at 15,000 - 20,000 cycles.
The Alps EC11K/J/B series encoders are rated at 100,000 to 1,000,000 cycles!

If you "cycle" (whatever that means) approximately 10 times a day most days, that's roughly 3,000 cycles a year.  Since component lifetime specifications are always statistical in nature (and could be optimistic), you would expect some outlier units in the EC11E series to fail after a few years or even less, which apparently is happening.

Why did RME make such a seemingly poor design decision for a customer-facing part?  Availability?

All this suggests that, when convenient, you might extend the lifetime by using the remote to adjust volume rather than the encoder knob.  Also, treat the knob/shaft gingerly, since the encoder is a miniature precision electro-mechanical device.

Further Reference:
https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs … s-2020-05/
https://www.alpsalpine.com/e/news_relea … 14_01.html

The volume knob issue is a great annoyance, to be sure.  Rather than replace it, why not just get the new remote control or use the one you have to control the volume?  Just keep the remote near the unit, as you would need to have physical access to the DAC to turn the volume knob.  I got in the habit of using the remote to change the volume, mostly out of fear that the knob would fail at some point with use, as the DAC sits on my office desk where I can easily reach it.

This is both very reassuring and helpful.  My ADI-2 DAC is 3 years old now, and I have not had any issues with my volume jumping around erratically.  It is always within arm's reach and I have been frequently turning the music up or down since I work from a home office and not every situation is a volume 11 Bohemian Rhapsody moment from Wayne's World.