Acme Revival is an independent repair network that operates separately from the manufacturers whose devices we service. Our independence enables a repair model that exists beyond manufacturer-controlled strategies, while preserving the ability to work with manufacturers where appropriate.
Audiobyte S.R.L. is a Romanian manufacturer of high-end digital audio electronics focused on bridging computer/digital sources with audiophile playback systems. Its products include D/A converters (DACs), network streamers and digital hubs, headphone amplifiers, digital audio interfaces, reclockers/upsamplers, and dedicated power supplies. Its current Super series consists principally of the SuperVox DAC, SuperHub digital streamer/hub, and SuperHead headphone amplifier, while earlier Hydra products included the VOX DAC/headphone amplifier, HUB digital transport and ZAP power supply. Audiobyte is particularly associated with proprietary FPGA-based digital processing, advanced clocking and jitter reduction, custom digital filtering, discrete analog circuitry, and hand-built production. The brand originated alongside Rockna Electronics but became an independent company in 2023 with its own production facility.
Hydra VOX/ZAP users have reported persistent popping or clicking during USB playback, in some cases across multiple computers and even after replacement USB hardware or replacement units. Reports indicate that the behavior can depend on the source/configuration, so it is not necessarily a physical USB-interface failure.
Hydra VOX can audibly switch relays when the incoming sample rate or digital lock changes, sometimes accompanied by a short mute or interruption. Firmware updates and fixed-rate upsampling have been reported to reduce or eliminate some instances.
Hydra HUB units have been reported hanging indefinitely on the animated Audiobyte startup logo instead of completing initialization. Power-cycling the HUB/ZAP is the commonly reported recovery method, with some owners experiencing the fault repeatedly.
Hydra VOX/ZAP owners have reported the touchscreen becoming completely unresponsive, particularly following failed or hanging remote-app operations. Recovery may require cycling power rather than using the normal controls.
Audiobyte devices can fail to produce audio when connected through I2S to equipment using incompatible HDMI-I2S pinouts, clock polarity, detection lines, or signaling conventions. Similar compatibility problems have been reported between particular HUB/VOX combinations and with Black Dragon connected to third-party I2S equipment.
The Hydra Android control software has been reported to reconnect slowly, hang during commands, or lose reliable communication with the hardware. In reported cases, restarting the application is faster than waiting for it to reconnect, while a failed shutdown command can leave the associated hardware controls unresponsive.
Hydra ZAP's supercapacitor supply must reach sufficient charge before attached VOX/HUB hardware becomes available, which can make a functioning system appear dead or defective for a considerable period after startup. Users have specifically reported confusion over apparently inaccessible hardware while the capacitor bank is charging.
Audiobyte models have generated reports of firmware-update procedures apparently freezing, remaining on unexpected display states, or failing to start unless specific user actions and bit-perfect playback requirements are met. Hydra HUB/VOX owners have sometimes resorted to power cycling after unusually long update or reboot hangs, while Black Dragon updates require correctly configured bit-perfect USB playback.
Owners have reported no output from particular digital-input configurations, including AES/EBU and I2S combinations on Black Dragon/Hydra systems. These cases can originate from input configuration, source settings, firmware, or interface compatibility rather than a defective DAC circuit itself.
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Payable to ACME REVIVAL INC, write Audiobyte in memo line, and mail your check to: 191 University Blvd. Suite 340, Denver, CO 80206. Payment are collected every weekday excluding federal holidays.
