Why Isn't My DAP Working? A Troubleshooting Guide for DAPs

Imagine this: you just got a new digital audio player. It's everything you dreamed of, with tons of storage for all your audio files and enough power to drive even the most demanding of headphones. Then, one day, you encounter a roadblock: it's not performing as it normally does. It keeps shutting off, or it's not pushing the same volume it used to. Certain files won't play, or your Wi-Fi is not connecting, preventing you from streaming on your favorite services. It's enough to frustrate even the most patient of audiophiles. 

Is this the end for your new DAP? Should you resign to your old iPhone or computer desktop once more? Before you decide to set down the DAP forever, let's take a step back and go through some troubleshooting. A DAP issue is sometimes just as simple as a bug you might find on your phone or computer, and there are plenty of quick fixes you can try. In this guide, you'll find some quick DAP troubleshooting tips that will work with any DAP you may have in your arsenal. Be it Astell & Kern, FiiO, iBasso, or Sony, you'll likely be able to apply any of these troubleshooting tips to find your fix. 

The first problem people might encounter is the DAP not powering on. While it is scary to press the power button and be met only with a blank, unpowered screen, there is some simple troubleshooting you can do to resolve the issue.

1. Plug in your DAP and recharge. I know. This seems like a no-brainer. But you'd be surprised how that simple step might slip your mind. Most of the time, the DAP just needs to be recharged, and then it'll be good as new. You'll likely see it turn on after a few minutes of being plugged into the power source. 
2. Leave the DAP plugged in overnight or 24 hours. If you find that the DAP can't hold a charge for very long, leave the DAP plugged into a power source for a long period of time. Don't touch it, just leave it plugged in and undisturbed. Sometimes, when you plug and unplug for short periods of time, the battery can drain more quickly and become reliant on the power source. Leaving it plugged can restart the battery and jolt enough power into it to get it operating back to normal. 

Let's say you go to listen to your tracks on your DAP, and all the sudden the sound is nothing like you were expecting. The headphones have a completely different sound signature, or something just feels... off. Here's what you can check before you start spiraling with the idea of a completely broken DAP. 

1. Turn up the volume. This seems like a silly thing to check, but sometimes you don't realize your volume is all the way down when you first plug your headphones or IEMs in. Perhaps they require more power than you anticipated, so leaving the volume at 30% may not cut it. You can carefully and slowly raise the volume to see if you just needed some extra amplification with your setup. 
2. Check the headphone connection. More often than not, you'll find that an off sound signature comes from the headphone itself. I would first check to make sure that everything is plugged in properly to the headphones. If the headphone is not plugged all the way in, you can sometimes hear a cutout midrange or a drop off in one side. Cable connections on the headphone itself and in the DAP port can make all the difference. 
3. Switch out cables. If the cable itself is plugged in properly, try swapping all your cables completely. A faulty cable can cause some distortion or garbled sound that isn't very pleasant or familiar to the ear. Switching out the cables will ensure that it's not the fault of the wires, but maybe a piece of hardware in your setup. 
4. Try different headphones. Maybe the DAP isn't the issue, so let's start at the other end of the signal chain. Swap out the headphones and try something new in its place. It could be something as simple as an old pair of cans that finally kicked the bucket. Test out your headphones on different devices, and different headphones on your DAP. This will tell you whether the headset is the issue or the source itself. 
5. Turn off any potential filters. It is possible you left on a very skewed EQ setting or stacked certain filters to imitate a certain sound. This may be the cause of something sounding not quite right. Make sure your DAP doesn't have any EQ or filters on so you know you're getting the most neutral sound it can give. 

You go to play your favorite song, and your DAP decides that it won't allow it. How are you supposed to lock in and go to work? Let's check these potential problems before you ditch the DAP and try to go for another device. 

1. Change out the SD card. If you've been using the same SD card for music files, it could be time to replace it. Take out the SD card, give it a quick cleaning, and try it again. Switch out the SD cards to see if the original is the issue, or find out if you need to clean the port. You may have to move your music files to a new SD card, but it will be worth your time to have all your files play properly. 
2. Check for corrupt files. Sometimes the DAP can't play the files you spent hours meticulously downloading because they are corrupt. See if you can play them on other devices, or if they show as corrupt on your device itself. If the player can't read the format, switch to another type and see if you get better results. Also be sure to check the DAP settings, as you may encounter issues if you try playing a file type the DAP doesn't support. 
3. Check your internet connection. Maybe you use interent to stream via Tidal or Spotify as opposed to locally downloaded files. Check your Wi-Fi to make sure your connection is strong and stable, as unstable networks can interrupt your listening more easily than you think. Sometimes reconnecting to the Wi-Fi or a different hotspot is a simple fix that allows for a smoother listening experience without any drop-offs or glitches. 

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to use your phone, and actions don't happen as quickly as your brain is moving. This is the same for DAPs, and it can be frustrating when you are stuck waiting when you just want to press play faster. What do you do when your screen lags and doesn't move as swiftly as you anticipate? 

1. Close out of all your apps. Just like your phone, having numerous apps open on the DAP can cause the system to operate slower because its using more processing power. If you've got Tidal, a third-party EQ app filter, settings, files, plus an external internet browser all competing for power, you can probably pick and choose which apps you need open immediately. Close out of any apps you may not be using and only focus on what you need at the present. If the problem still persists, there may be something different causing the delay. 
2. Recharge the battery. A simple battery recharge can sometimes help a lagging interface become smooth and fluid again. When your DAP is operating on limited power, it cna cause delays in its basic operations, just like your phone does when it gets down to that last 10%. Letting it recharge fully and letting it rest is a simple, hands-off solution that can be very effective. 
3. The classic off-and-on again. Turning your DAP off and powering it back on is a simple and quick solution that may just give your DAP the restart it needs. If your DAP is constantly operating without rest, and you keep it charged so it never really shuts off, sometimes it just needs a quick 20 second power nap so the system can realign itself. 
4. Update the firmware. As time goes on, companies often like to update their firmware so all their devices can keep up with the latest technology has to offer. These updates don't always happen automatically, so you can check your settings or the dedicated company app to make sure you're at the latest firmware version. 
5. Factory reset. This may seem like a scary step, but it actually is less daunting than you think. Doing a factory reset on your DAP can reset everything to make sure you have no bugs or extra apps that you may not be aware of. You may have to re-download your streaming apps and enter in your login information again, but it will be worth the time so you know your DAP is operating at full capacity again. To do a factory reset, you can go to the settings of the DAP itself, or sometimes there is a small, physical button on the outside that will allow you to perform a full reset. 

If the screen itself is lagging and then goes completely frozen, it may seem like all hope is lost. Don't give up yet! There are a few things you can try. 

1. Turning the DAP off and on again. This is a solution that works for both a lagging screen and a frozen one. Turn the device off and leave it off for a few minutes. Give it time to catch up, take a small break, then try turning it on again. Then you can investigate what made the DAP freeze in the first place.  
2. Factory reset. Like earlier, sometimes the best thing to do is rest the DAP completely. When there isn't much to do on the screen, a full reset is oftentimes the only thing you can do. Look on your device for a physical power/reset button, as trying to find one on a frozen screen might prove to be difficult. It may be a similar process to just turning it on and off again. 

If you've gone through every troubleshooting option on this list, whether the problem was listed or not, it may be worth reaching out to the manufacturer. As long as you bought your DAP from an authorized dealer, you should get full warranty from the company. They will be able to help you best with repairs or replacements, depending on the issue. They may ask you to go through these steps again, but if you've gone through them already, you may save them time or at least give yourself the comfort of knowing you did everything in your control. 

You can see some warranty information from popular DAP companies below. Also check out our lineup of DAPs here at Audio46 and see if you're interested in upgrading your listening setup. 

Feel free to reach out to our tech support team at Audio46 for any other questions regarding your DAP or audio equipment. You can email info@audio46.com or call (212)-354-6424.