I did write to the manufacturer - haven't yet seen a reply. Here's the latest...

Tonight, I continued my troubleshooting efforts, and I'm still pretty much unable to point to anything but the EF2A unit itself as the primary suspect.

Here's a copy of my last post this evening over at Head-Fi:

Okay, further unhappy news...

Switched USB cable: same problem

Switched USB ports (tried both of the other ports - a 2.0 and a 3.0 port): same problem

After all this, here's what I seem to know at the moment:

1) Cables are not the issue.

2) It happens regardless of which USB port is used.

3) It happens with or without any other USB port being occupied at the same time.

4) It only happens with the HiFiMan EF2A (just now happened again - sudden silence now). This problem has never happened with the Audioengine D1, nor has it ever happened with the Schiit Bifrost DAC.

5) Considering all the above, I also doubt it's "the computer's fault" (or could it still be a particular driver issue--even after the driver uninstall/reinstall?)

6) This makes me sad, because the sound of the EF2A is so much more "3D" than that of the Audioengine D1 (which really does feel two dimensional and rather lifeless in comparison).

7) If I can't solve this problem with the EF2A, can anyone recommend a reliable, brilliant sounding portable tube DAC/amp that won't make me miss the EF2A too badly?

8) I've had enough for the night. :(

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Two inexpensive DAC/headphone amps - initial impressions (warning: long post) - willkayakforfood 12:40:58 06/30/12 (10)

RE: Two inexpensive DAC/headphone amps - initial impressions (warning: long post) - 52vector 23:53:07 08/21/12 (1)

Whoosh! :) Hey, did you lift most of your second sentence--verbatim--from Wikipedia? - willkayakforfood 10:19:08 08/22/12 (0)

Update: HifiMan EF2A from original post was defective; returned it, and got a good used one. :) - willkayakforfood 15:41:25 07/25/12 (0)

There may be a problem with my HiFiMan EF2A -- here's a copy of my post at Head-Fi... - willkayakforfood 23:37:35 07/01/12 (4)

RE: There may be a problem with my HiFiMan EF2A -- here's a copy of my post at Head-Fi... - genungo 00:30:00 07/02/12 (3)

I did write to the manufacturer - haven't yet seen a reply. Here's the latest... - willkayakforfood 22:33:22 07/02/12 (2)

Well... - genungo 05:21:07 07/03/12 (1)

Actually, I purchased the EF2A new (via Audio Advisor). Got the Audioengine D1 used (via Head-Fi)... - willkayakforfood 06:51:40 07/03/12 (0)

Thanks for your impressions (nt) - Audio Snob 06:36:34 07/01/12 (0)

Very useful info, thanks. - genungo 17:24:41 06/30/12 (0)

Follow Ups

I did write to the manufacturer - haven't yet seen a reply. Here's the latest... - willkayakforfood 22:33:22 07/02/12 (2)

Well... - genungo 05:21:07 07/03/12 (1)

Actually, I purchased the EF2A new (via Audio Advisor). Got the Audioengine D1 used (via Head-Fi)... - willkayakforfood 06:51:40 07/03/12 (0)

I did write to the manufacturer - haven't yet seen a reply. Here's the latest...

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