# Noise in both channels of Digital Link III
**URL:** https://forum.psaudio.com/t/noise-in-both-channels-of-digital-link-iii/44082
**Category:** DACs
**Tags:** dac
**Created:** [May 1, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/noise-in-both-channels-of-digital-link-iii/44082 "2026-05-01T03:22:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Solo](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Solo)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/noise-in-both-channels-of-digital-link-iii/44082/1 "2026-05-01T03:22:21Z")
Just acquired a used Digital Link III today and installed it in my system. It works well, but I am hearing intermittent noise in both channels when there’s no audio from the source. The noise sounds like what you would hear coming from a vinyl record when the needle is between selections. Every now and then there’s a brief click or pop, but sometimes it lasts longer like an extended period of static. The noise is heard in both channels and is independent, that is, the same noise does not appear in both channels at the same time. This occurs with the source switch in optical, coax or USB. I have an optical source attached as well as a coax source but no USB cable attached. It’s heard with the upsampling switch in either position. The noise can be heard with both optical and coax cables detached from the DAC. Sometimes it goes a minute or two between occurrences. I tried different output cables to the amp but same problem. Any ideas?
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### Author:  [@Elk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Elk)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2026, 3:30am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/noise-in-both-channels-of-digital-link-iii/44082/2 "2026-05-01T03:30:29Z")
Welcome!
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### Author:  [@Erik\_Miner](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Erik_Miner)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2026, 6:27am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/noise-in-both-channels-of-digital-link-iii/44082/3 "2026-05-04T06:27:31Z")
That’s a fairly old piece. Sounds as if it needs some caps replaced.,
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### Author:  [@Solo](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Solo)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2026, 11:47am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/noise-in-both-channels-of-digital-link-iii/44082/4 "2026-05-04T11:47:49Z")
Yes - am in the process of doing that now. Also replacing the two relays. It would be helpful if a schematic were available.