The Computer Audiophile Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Note: Title of the thread changed due to the cause of the problem. It's not the DAC, it's the cable. Hi Guys - I'm having trouble getting the Schiit Audio Bifrost (multibit) to work on my iMac. As soon as I connect it the Console fills up with the following messages: AppleUSBHostPort::interruptOccurred: overcurrent detected Any help on resolving this is appreciated. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
wgscott Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 This would never happen with an optical connection. (Seriously, I would ask them at Schiit. I don't know what it means, but I assume it means the DAC is trying to draw too much current from the USB on the iMac. Might be interesting to put a powered USB hub between them only to see if the error goes away. Not suggesting you play it that way). Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted January 25, 2016 Author Share Posted January 25, 2016 Wow, I have a solution to the issue that I can't really believe yet. I unplugged the DAC from power and removed the USB cable from the DAC. However, the Console log was still filling up with the over current errors. So I remove the USB cable from the computer as well and the errors went away. As soon as I reconnected the USB cable to the computer, with nothing connected to the other end of the cable, the over current errors started flooding the Console. My conclusion: The Transparent Audio USB cable has issues if it's causing my iMac to think there's an over current problem. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
john57 Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Sounds like a short in the cable. It is more likely at the connections at cable ends. Link to comment
wgscott Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 I will never again dare to suggest that USB cables don't matter. Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted January 25, 2016 Author Share Posted January 25, 2016 I will never again dare to suggest that USB cables don't matter. Ha! Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted January 25, 2016 Author Share Posted January 25, 2016 Sounds like a short in the cable. It is more likely at the connections at cable ends. It's weird because the cable seems to be made really well (not hand terminated in a shoddy fashion like some USB cables). Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
wgscott Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 The latest Apple OS X (10.11) seems to be very picky about a lot of stuff. I wonder if this has anything to do with why a bunch of people are reporting their USB DACs don't show up with 10.11? Link to comment
john57 Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 The latest Apple OS X (10.11) seems to be very picky about a lot of stuff. I wonder if this has anything to do with why a bunch of people are reporting their USB DACs don't show up with 10.11? That is a separate issue. With Chris situation he disconnected then USB cable from the DAC and the computer should not even be aware of the USB cable at all. Since he was still getting current overload which tell me there is a issue with the cable at the computer end. Without any connection at the other end there can not be any current flowing at all and no signal can be pass thru. It it is some kind of a physical issue nothing to do with software. Link to comment
Lighthouse Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 The cable is short. Hopefully it didn't damage/blow up the USB part of Bifrost.... Link to comment
chuxine Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 Sounds like a short in the cable. It is more likely at the connections at cable ends. Link to comment
wgscott Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 That is a separate issue. With Chris situation he disconnected then USB cable from the DAC and the computer should not even be aware of the USB cable at all. Since he was still getting current overload which tell me there is a issue with the cable at the computer end. Without any connection at the other end there can not be any current flowing at all and no signal can be pass thru. It it is some kind of a physical issue nothing to do with software. I understand what you are saying, but disagree. Later versions of iOS, for example, can detect non-Apple-certified third-party cables and refuse to work with them. If you google Chris's error message, you will see a lot of people with Hackintosh and third-party USB cards are getting this error, even with nothing plugged in. I'm going out on a limb here, but I am guessing Chris's USB cable previously worked with an older version of OS X, and nothing in the cable has changed. Link to comment
john57 Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 Sorry to disagree with you. I stand by what I said. All the wires on a good USB cable are open and the computer has no way of telling there is a USB cable until the other end is connected. All the posts I read so far on Apple forums points to a short in the cable. I did read that if a user has an add-in usb card installed that card could cause a over-current due to incapability of the add-in USB driver with the updated OS. Link to comment
EuroChamp Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Have you every tried to use a different cable? If yes, I would measure the broken cable for shorts. Maybe the short is easy to find (check the plugs). Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted January 27, 2016 Author Share Posted January 27, 2016 Have you every tried to use a different cable? If yes, I would measure the broken cable for shorts. Maybe the short is easy to find (check the plugs). New cable - no problems. Plugs look perfect. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
EuroChamp Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 New cable - no problems. Plugs look perfect. plugs ... I wanted to say: 'Inside' the plugs ... Link to comment
Panelhead Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Chris, What happens when you use another USB cable? 2012 Mac Mini, i5 - 2.5 GHz, 16 GB RAM. SSD, PM/PV software, Focusrite Clarett 4Pre 4 channel interface. Daysequerra M4.0X Broadcast monitor., My_Ref Evolution rev a , Klipsch La Scala II, Blue Sky Sub 12 Clarett used as ADC for vinyl rips. Corning Optical Thunderbolt cable used to connect computer to 4Pre. Dac fed by iFi iPower and Noise Trapper isolation transformer. Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 Chris, What happens when you use another USB cable? Everything works perfect. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
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