Hey, guys. I came in here for some help with audio issues I've been having. I've tried two different SD cards from different companies and I get the same result. I keep hearing loud screeching noises when I start up any game on the SD2SNES. Most of the time they go away, but many games have screeching and scratching sounds in the background when I play them to the point where they are pretty much unplayable. MSU1 games are the absolute worst with constant screeching sounds at high volumes to the point where I can't even run them because of how loud it is to the point where it drowns out any natural sounds from the game. Anyone have a clue as to why I'm having this issue or how to resolve it? Like I said, I have tried it with two different SD cards (one of them is even listed as properly working a 2gb Sandisk MicroSD) and my firmware is completely upgraded to 1.7. Thanks for the help in advance.
Let me guess, you bought your SD2SNES from Aliexpress or some shady ebay vendor? If you tape off the 2 MSU1 audio pins on the cart edge of the SD2SNES(pin 31 and 62) does the scratching noise disappear in normal games? Does installing the SD2SNES in a original Nintendo cart shell from a SuperFX oder SA1 game with the little metal clamp improve the audio? Does desoldering, cleaning and resoldering the U341 chip help? Does your SD2SNES' Real Time Clock work?
Technically there can't be any shady sellers. It's all open source, anyone can build their own. I'm actually surprised the Chinese sellers haven't started mass producing them
Anyone can build them sure but what if someone sells them without testing if they actually work? I bought one for $80 during the 11.11. Aliexpress sale, first problem was that the self test didn't pass and showed connection errors between the SD2SNES and my Super Famicom, then there was a constant audio noise and the real time clock also didn't work. Upon inspection the solder paste wasn't melted on the level translators. Thankfully I got $24 back through the Aliexpress buyer protection. So far I have fixed the self test buy resoldering all the level translators, fixed the audio noise by resoldering the audio chip and installing the SD2SNES in a shell with a ground clamp, still haven't figured out the real time clock problem even though I have replaced the oscillator with a new one. Right now I suspect that maybe it has the wrong clock capacitors installed next to the crystal. All in all I got lucky because there were some that received their SD2SNES with a badly soldered BGA chip, now that wouldn't be so much fun repairing.
Your post just seemed to imply anyone who isnt Krikzz is shady, which isnt true. Most electronics are made in china after all and no one needs to reverse the design or crack firmware - its all open. But yes, obviously they should be tested fully before being sold. I was tempted to produce some too, but didnt at the time due to change of job. Maybe I will come back to it soon.
I bought mine from Stone Age Gamer which is a reputable seller of Everdrives and the like. I also bought my cartridge shell from them which is designed for it so I think we barking up the wrong tree here.
I would say try it on another console, if you still have issues - you need to return it. Even with QA, there is still a failure rate of electronics. Plus then shipping it through the post (who knows, someone could have stood on it or thrown it across the room). SAG and krikzz both have good customer service by all accounts. Once you have ruled out an issue with your console just get in touch.
Have a look at the bottom of the cartridge, if it doesn't have the metal prong you have found your issue. In this case just swap the cart shell for one taken from a Starfox cartridge.
I taped the pins and found that it did indeed solve the issue with normal games. What is this an indication of? I'm not about to de-solder and re-solder entire chips. I'm just not good enough for that kind of thing. I'd probably buy a new one before I did that. I had this issue even when I made my own shell from Stunt Race FX. It has to be something else. My power supply is an official SNES one I got with the system when I bought it new with the Killer Instinct bundle back in the day. Never have any issues with it when any other game is inserted in the system.
That means that there is a problem with the Audio DAC chip. In my case it wasn't soldered correctly and there was some fluid underneath it. But it also could be a power issue as others already pointed out. Can you please check which revision your SD2SNES is? There was a Rev E1, E2 and Rev F. Rev E1 and E2 seem to have power related issues in combination with 1-Chip SNES consoles, which can be fixed by adding two parts to the pcb.
I'm pretty sure I have a 1 chip SNES (I bought it new late in the system's life with the Killer Instinct bundle) but I don't have the tools to check at the moment. Seems likely but I'll double check when I can get to my friend's shop. My SD2SNES is an E1 from way back in 2012. Sounds like you've identified the problem Do you have any resources or tutorials on adding the two parts? Thanks for your help.
Rev E1 to F mod: Source: http://krikzz.com/forum/index.php?topic=1777.15 This is the noise I had: And like I said I got it fixed by resoldering the Audio Dac, using a Super FX game's cartridge shell with the metal prong and doing that mod to the power lines of the SD2SNES. Or if you don't need MSU1 you can just put tape over the two audio pins on the SD2SNES cart.
