BP50 - Occasional sound cuts and ARC connection problem

Bluetooth Products B50
1

I have an Arylic BP50 preamplifier at home, which is a very fine device, but I was annoyed that the sound would occasionally cut out. Sometimes in the middle of a song, but especially frequently when I switched to a new track in Spotify or Amazon Music. While the problem was initially resolved by a power cycle, it was still annoying. I tried several updates provided by Arylic to solve the problem, but unfortunately, the issue didn’t improve. On the contrary, new problems arose, such as poor sound after powering on, which then improved over time. But mind you, the interruptions were still there.

Then I had an idea: I rolled back to the latest stable firmware version 51-ba37596b-8 and used the optical output signal. Of course, I needed the RCA-based signal to connect the rest of my audio chain, so I got this little DAC called Taishan from Fiio, and voilà. No more audio cutouts and the sound quality is outstanding. Yay!

To solve the ARC connection issue, I bought a new HDMI cable from Silkland on Amazon and since then, it’s been working reliably and stably. Apparently the cable length also plays a role, which is why I used a cable that is only two meters long.

Perhaps these tips will help others, too; I’d be very happy if they did…

I remain grateful to Arylic for the devices they bring to market and would be delighted if the issues mentioned were resolved. Again, there must be a reason why the sound occasionally interrupts with the RCA output. And especially why this doesn’t seem to be the case with the optical output. The new firmware beginning from 52-xxxxxxx should be revised in this respect…

2

Hi Tobias, thanks for your feedback and also advice. Appreciate for the kindness. We’ll try to improve and see if could release a new firmware release.

Btw, I have no idea for the sound cut out on RCA output. Sure, literally I can understand, but I never saw this on my device or in testing. Could you please record a small clip, so I can understand it better.

3

Well, apparently this seems to be a common problem with one of the built in chips. There is this reddit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricalEngineering/comments/1l3i7h2/arlic_bp50_preamp_modification_questions/) in which , I quote, the line driver chip AD22650 malfunctions in a way that it cuts the output on RCA.

“The enable function is used to reduce power consumption while the device is not in use. When a logic low is applied to this pin, the overall circuits are turned off. Line driver output and PVSS are pulled to ground. When a logic high is applied to enable pin, the PVSS is started to build-up and line driver output signal is released after about 0.5ms typically.”

Maybe you can have a look at how this driver responds to incoming audio signals which sometimes might enable this specific protection pin cutting the audio signal…

Another idea: The audio dropouts mostly occur when I change songs, then in pauses and in very quiet tracks. Is it possible that the under voltage protection of this chip kicks in and mutes it?

4

I too am encountering this problem with the BP-50. It has been a problem since I got the BP50 in January 2024. I’ve tested each firmware update that was released since then, and the audio dropout issue still happens the same across every firmware.

The same problem occurs testing on two separate HDTVs (VIZIO, Inc M601d-A3, and LG Electronics LG TV SSCR2) both with HDMI ARC output to the BP50.

It’s currently running firmware: ARYLIC_BP50-0057-d94126e9-20240918.MVA

The audio output from the BP50 is using RCA line out. The problem only happens when using HDMI ARC input. RCA line-in from seems to work fine and does not have audio drop-outs.

When the audio drop-out occurs:

  • The BP50 is still “ON” and the “STANDBY” light is NOT lit up
  • No audio can be heard from the BP50’s RCA output
  • A hard power cycle with the physical ON/OFF switch or IR remote power button resets the BP50 and it begins working again until the next time something triggers an audio drop-out again

Usually I have noticed that the audio drop-outs are more likely to occur when watching a YouTube video source that has a very short period of audio silence. (Maybe a glitch, or maybe could be the AD22650 issue Tobias mentions above?)

The connection diagram would be:

 ______________________________
| Home Theater PC (HTPC)       |
|                              |
|  _________________________   |                  ___________________
| |YouTube in a web browser |  |                 | HDTV              |
|  ‾\‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾   |                 |                   |
|    \-> Video Card HDMI port  |-> HDMI cable -> | HDMI 1 input      |
 ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾                  | HDMI 2 ARC output |
                                                  ‾‾\‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
                                                     \-> HDMI Cable
                                                          \-> BP50 ARC In
                                                              \-> RCA out
                                                                \-> RCA cable
                                                                  \-> Speakers
5

Hello, that sounds exactly like my problem. In my opinion, the problem isn’t with the input signal, but solely with the line output. Maybe you could try my solution and use the Toslink output. Get yourself a small DAC adapter (I use the Taishan from Fiio) and connect it between the RCA out and the RCA cable. A small adapter like this doesn’t cost much and might solve your problem relatively easily…

6

we tried this connection, but it’s just working well with our TV, anyway, we only have 2 brand TV in office… will see if could help to test at home.

7

It seems to work fine until some specific audio signal triggers the BP50 to cut off.

In case it helps, I found a video that seems to trigger the audio cutoff quite frequently. Something about how the audio track is recorded or edited seems to trigger the BP50 audio output to become silenced:

8

I have been using it with samsung smart monitor m8 ( same soft as samsung tv) as it is only way this monitor can output sound apart from BT.
I had same issues, but lately it stopped working completly, no matter how I power cycle both monitor and preamp it is not outputting any rca sound. It works perfectly in BT mode, but then this few ms sound-video difference is noticeable:(
Is there any way to repair this issue in some update? My unit is definitely more than 2years old, so no chance of warranty valid I guess.

1 Like
9

I haven’t had any lost sounds from the BP50 RCA full range output connected to an amp that’s always powered on, but it has turned off through the sub output that’s connected to an amp that has auto off\on built into it. I have bypassed that option on the amp and the sound has never had any issues since.

Has anyone checked to see if the sub output is still putting out a signal when the sound stops on the full range RCAs?

10

I have the same issue. I am connected to the AMP using RCA. The problem occurs both with with Bluetooth and Optical Input. Its seems to be caused by specific audio signals. The sound always cuts out at the same point of some videos or songs.

I am on firmware version 58-e4cd05c9-9.

Since there seems to be no effort from Arylic to fix this I will probably make and warrenty claim and return the BP50.

11

I’m sorry you have the same issues, too… I can imagine how annoying it is, listening to your music and always having to worry about whether the music stops or not…
But as I mentioned in my posts above, the problem seems to be with the RCA output. And only with specific audio signals, like you said.
In my opinion, the BP50s RCA output chip cuts the sound in order to fulfill somewhat like a “safety-measure” and enters a protection mode, disabling the RCA output completely. Like when the audio signal suddenly changes, stops or simply is below a certain volume. Some users point out, that the subwoofer signal continues playing, which adds to this theory. By the way, at high volumes, I never had any issues.
Before returning it to the manufacturer, perhaps try my solution with the little DAC adaptor thingy… still solves my problem with the BP50 and I’m using it since.

12

Hi everyone,

I’ve been doing some research because I’m looking for a preamp to use as a hub for my setup — turntable, CD player, Bluetooth, etc.

However, I came across several reports about audio dropouts on the BP50. From what I’ve seen, most of these issues seem to happen when using HDMI or HDMI ARC.

In my case, I would mainly use the Phono, Line In, and Optical inputs. Has anyone experienced audio dropouts or similar issues when using these inputs?

13

Hi trabson10,
doing some research before buying something is always a great idea. Often helps you saving money and issues.
The problem with the BP50 is not with the input. It’s the output or, to be more specific, the line output that silences occasionally.
You may use any input, like Phono, Line In, Optical and even HDMI ARC without experiencing any issues as long as you don’t use the line output (RCA) sockets. Knowing this, the BP50 is still an outstanding device, you won’t get anything comparable even at way higher prices.

14

After using the BP50 for a few months, I can only think that if it did not have the extra apps and USB player and didn’t worry about having a unch of different digital ink and outs, this could have been a really good pre amp. Of course it needs some tweaks to get it to where any audiophiles would consider it, it needs a read out of some type to show what’s going on.

I had a pyle preamp that cost $70 and it had Bluetooth, mic input, xlr ins and outs, fm radio, USB media player (played files in folders) 3 band eq, a bunch of rca ins and outs with loop and it had a small screen that made it easy to use. It sounded awful due to a huge imbalance in sound so it was returned, but the parts alone and its function were good. This is the opposite, it’s not easy to use and has strange ideas built in. Auto switching from one input to another is just a bad idea, it needs to be able to switch it off. The USB necua player is a complete joke and should never have been included when it can’t play files in folders and offers no way to pick out songs you want head unless you skip through hundreds of files that you don’t even know what’s next. It’s not even on par with the old MP3 players! Even the app is useless for playing files.

Then there is the concentration on Arylics idea if the multi room Bluetooth one controller thing that I have only encountered once in my life and my parents couldn’t figure out how to work it. Needless to say I found no reason for anything that needs a single point of control when most people are busy watching TV in separate rooms and require their own sound system as well as just playing music when the cost of a simple system is about the same as one of these wireless amps. How far away are the speakers? Mine have 6 foot long wires running to giant speakers that these amps would barely be able to run.

I have never met anyone who’s plan is to set up their home like some type of commercial muzak system, which is basically what Arylic is trying to do with their gear and apps that are unnecessary when they can just be ran from a phone and over typical Bluetooth. And who wants to run a Bluetooth signal into a Bluetooth preamp to power wireless speakers? Loss in one Bluetooth is too much let alone 2 Bluetooth losses?

Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t see how Arylic is thinking that their line up is something that makes any sense to consumers. How many people here are discussing running complex per room systems with one unified controller? Doesn’t even make sense when you can buy each room a system where each room can control that system as they want?

The only reason I can see using a wireless system is to replace the need and high cost if running long expensive cables and wires through walls for a big surround sound sysyem, yet they offer no such thing?

I don’t get it, why not take advantage of a real existing market that has nothing geared toward this. A surround decoder that has bluetooth for 10 speakers possible. The front 3 would be wired and the rest would be programmable for subwoofers, rear, side and ceiling active speakers? This is the only set up where I can see wireless being a huge benefit, just the amount of money saved by not paying for installation and the price of long cables and wires alone would be enough to be able to supliment the purchase of such a device.

The set up alone would be the only real software issue that is needed, a separate movie streamer and amps would make more money than anything sold here now.

Since speakers are the limiting factor how much better could a $100 piece sound than the $1000 piece? I could see if we were talking about 2.1 system compared to 13.2 system, that could be justified.

The issues with the BP50 should have been considered and the extras should have been left out of the plan. The app is only good to set up the sound and never used again. The Bluetooth pairing is a joke without a screen to figure out what’s going on so it’s mostly unused and the player is useless. Music streaming can be done on the phone and sent over Bluetooth (if I could get it to work and stop it from constantly trying to connect to things I’m not allowing it to constantly block me from connection what I want connected!) It has a habit of interfering with me trying to connect other things I want to use that don’t even involve the BP50!

Without knowing what it’s doing is frustrating as hell when it’s connecting to things that I want to connect to without the BP50 at all. I have to turn off my amps (which means unplugging them from the wall) before I can even turn off the BP 50 or it will send a 1300wpc snap that’s loud enough to make you jump from your seat, just to be able to use Bluetooth imwith another device. It’s constantly trying to connect to my phone, my stove, ceiling fan, external sound cards while I’m trying to connect to anything. I had to limit my phone to just 1 device on Bluetooth to stop the BP50 from blocking my connections to other things.

Then I see a message saying I’m at my device limit constantly from the BP50 trying to comnect!

I don’t see where Arylic thinks they should be headed for the future, without applying this to surround sound systems I can’t see how they’re planning on selling anythjng.

I would tweak the BP50 to work like a proper pre amp and clean up the UI and supply a screen on it forget the streaming apps and the multi network set up completely for this . Leave that for the other unsellable pieces they’re promoting. I honestly can’t see me buying anything but the BP50 now that I see their current line up I have no doubt that this company will fail.

I really like the sound of the BP50 and would think it could be a fantastic piece with a few corrections but the rest of the line up makes no sense. Rethink a traditionsl preamp and recreate it with the same board but only use things that fit and work well, no need to pack it full of useless features that nobody wants. Then you’ll have a stable preamp that an audiophile would consider. No snap or pops no autoswtching sources, a screen and no bogus media player that can’t play from a folder or pick out folders or make a playlist.

Just basic good clear sound is worth a lot to the right people.

15

For my needs, the BP50 is probably the only viable solution. In my living room, I have two turntables, a Wiim Mini streamer, a tuner, a PC, and a TV. All of these are connected to the BP50 via various inputs. Fortunately, there are plenty of them. My goal is to provide sound for both the living room and the dining room. Each room has different pairs of speakers, which naturally have different sound characteristics. Each pair is powered by a B50, with the signal coming from the BP50 via RCA cables. Using the ACP Workbench Tool, I can adjust each speaker via the parametric equalizer so that the living room and dining room sound nearly identical.

I can’t even imagine the immense cost I’d face if I were to purchase the same setup with the same feature set from other manufacturers.

So this works perfectly for me.