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eseal  
#1 Posted : Saturday, March 28, 2015 10:44:39 PM(UTC)
eseal

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For the past several weeks I have been working (intermittently) to add an Amanero Combo 384 to my Dual Mono Buffalo 3. I'm now more than ready to ask for help!

The configuration is as follows: Amanero ----> Sidecar ----> S/PDIF 4:1 MUX Receiver ----> DACS

My music computer recognizes the Amanero and it is selected in the Sound set up as the default playback device, but I get no sound.

I know that the rest of the music playback chain is OK because I can substitute an Audio Research DAC8 for the Buffalo 3 with normal playback.

The Amanero is wired to the Sidecar as follows:

Amanero Sidecar

DATA ---------> D2/DATA

BCLK ---------> BCK

FSCLK --------> D1/LRCK

GND ----------> GND

From reading various threads, I know that others have successfully accomplished what I'm trying to do. Any assistance you can offer will be very much appreciated.
Brian Donegan  
#2 Posted : Monday, March 30, 2015 3:24:20 PM(UTC)
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Those connections look correct. I would start by making sure the firmware is up to date on the Amanero. It's possible the Amanero module has an issue.
eseal  
#3 Posted : Tuesday, March 31, 2015 12:46:35 PM(UTC)
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Brian, thanks for your suggestion. The Amanero is two months old and has the latest firmware.

Some background about my build might be useful: I assembled a Dual Mono Buffalo 3 about two years ago with all of the inputs I wanted except USB while I waited for TPA to produce a USB to I2S converter.

After a two year wait for the TPA USB to I2S converter, I decided that it was not worth waiting any longer and bought the Amanero, which several buffalo 3 builders had successfully integrated into their systems.

Since first building the DAC, a number of items have been redesigned. I have replaced the Placids, the Tridents, and the AVCC modules, all with improvement either in SQ or functionality.

In my current configuration, the input is selected by the two bit switch as originally supplied with the MUX. I'm using the anode of the respective LED (for the USB input switch position) to the "B" input on the Sidecar as the trigger feed for the Sidecar.

My Sidecar is Rev. 1.2, and my MUX is V.1_1. I would like to keep these items if possible. With that said, is it possible that these older versions of the sidecar and MUX are incompatible with the Amanero, or is the problem something else that I'm missing?

Anyone's help is very much appreciated.
eseal attached the following image(s):
Amanero-Sidecar-wiring-002A.gif (256kb) downloaded 48 time(s).

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Brian Donegan  
#4 Posted : Tuesday, March 31, 2015 1:21:28 PM(UTC)
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There is only one version of the Sidecar in the wild, and your S/PDIF implementation should not have any impact.

How do you have the MUX module connected to the Sidecar?

What you need to do is verify that the Sidecar is switching, and that all I2S input connections are making it to the outputs. This should be straight forward continuity testing.

We'll start there.


eseal  
#5 Posted : Tuesday, March 31, 2015 8:01:24 PM(UTC)
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Thanks, Brian for your quick reply.

I agree that a good place to start is the wiring from the Sidecar to the MUX, so I have attached a photo in the post above. In the photo, the 20 conductor ribbon cable from the sidecar to the MUX leaves the header on the upper portion of the Sidecar and extends under the Sidecar to the header on the lower portion of the MUX.
Brian Donegan  
#6 Posted : Tuesday, March 31, 2015 8:25:55 PM(UTC)
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Okay, that clears up part of my confusion. The board you are referring to as a MUX is not a MUX, but instead a four-channel level converter (muxing is done inside the ES9018 chip).

Ribbon cable and routing might be part of the problem...

After confirming the Sidecar function, it would be good to test first with just one DAC and a straight, unfolded ribbon.

Edited by user Tuesday, March 31, 2015 8:27:21 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

eseal  
#7 Posted : Wednesday, April 1, 2015 11:24:25 AM(UTC)
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Hi Brian, Thanks, I'm truly grateful for your help. Apologies for misidentifying the S/PDIF-4 Input board. In the next few days I will check the Sidecar for continuity and function and report back.
eseal  
#8 Posted : Thursday, April 2, 2015 9:10:18 PM(UTC)
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I have made some measurements on the Sidecar and would like to report them. It appears to me (please correct me if I'm wrong) that the sidecar is not switching between the S/PDIF and I2S inputs.

First, I measured the voltage at the LED for the USB input, which is used as the trigger voltage for the Sidecar relays. It was 3.293 volts.

Second, I measured for continuity between the I2S inputs (on left side of board) and the same outputs to the Buffalo 3 board (header on bottom side of board). Hopefully, I'm reading the schematic correctly. I got the following results:

BCK ----> BCK = open

D1/LRCK ----> D1 = 342.6 mR

D2/DATA ----> D2 = 445.7 mR

GND ----> GND = continuity for all ground as they are tied together and not switched.

Finally, I got a schematic for the Omron DPDT relays used on the Sidecar and checked the resistance (all three relays measured the same):

Pins 1 + 8 are the coil and the resistance was 1.754 R

Pins 3 and 6 are the common pins for their respective sides of the switch. They switch between pins 2 and 4 on one side and 5 and 7 on the other side, with contact between pins 2 + 3 and 6 + 7 in the unenergized state.

Pins 2 + 3 and Pins 6 + 7 = 0.2 R

Pins 3 + 4 and Pins 5 + 6 = open

It seems that the relays measure as expected when they are not energized. I will try to energize them and take additional measurements to see if I can determine if switching is occurring.

Please feel free to offer any suggestions. All input is greatly appreciated.

eseal  
#9 Posted : Thursday, April 2, 2015 9:22:48 PM(UTC)
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ADDENDUM: The measurements described above were with the DAC unpowered. I just powered my DAC and selected the USB input using the two bit switch. The relays are not switching, as I got the same measurements on all of the relays, which were supposedly energized as when they were definitely not energized. At this point, I'm not sure what is preventing the Sidecar from switching from S/PDIF to I2S inputs.
Brian Donegan  
#10 Posted : Thursday, April 2, 2015 10:02:41 PM(UTC)
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What value resistor do you have installed on the Sidecar?
eseal  
#11 Posted : Friday, April 3, 2015 12:01:28 AM(UTC)
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The resistor value is 1k.
Brian Donegan  
#12 Posted : Friday, April 3, 2015 8:17:51 PM(UTC)
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You should try switching the Sidecar directly, but connecting VD to B with a jumper wire. If you hear the relays click, then check continuity again.

Assume all of that works, we can look at how you have the B terminal wired to the switch board.
eseal  
#13 Posted : Friday, April 3, 2015 10:17:41 PM(UTC)
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With VD to B jumpered, the relays do not actuate. A check of the continuity of each relay indicates that it is in its non-energized state. Do you think that the transistor is bad - there isn't much else in the trigger circuit.
Brian Donegan  
#14 Posted : Friday, April 3, 2015 10:27:10 PM(UTC)
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What voltage is VD?

Russ White  
#15 Posted : Friday, April 3, 2015 10:30:05 PM(UTC)
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Is it possible relays are in backward? (nevermind - just checked - they look ok)

Edited by user Friday, April 3, 2015 10:35:35 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Russ White  
#16 Posted : Friday, April 3, 2015 10:38:59 PM(UTC)
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If supply 5V to VD and B you should definitely get a relay click.
eseal  
#17 Posted : Friday, April 3, 2015 11:24:19 PM(UTC)
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@ Brian, voltage at VD is 5.01V

@Russ, with 5.01 V applied to B via jumper there is no click from any of the relays.

What next?
eseal  
#18 Posted : Saturday, April 4, 2015 4:01:26 PM(UTC)
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UPDATE

Suspecting that the transistor was bad, I removed it from the circuit board and tested it. The transistor is indeed bad, but I also wondered about the integrity of relays. I removed power entirely from the power header on the sidecar and instead powered each relay directly from a Placid HD set to 5 V. (The coils of the relays are rated at a maximum of 24 V.) For each relay, there was no click when the coil had 5 V. applied and in addition, continuity didn't switch to the opposite poles as would be expected.

I'm speculating that the transistor failed and probably took the relays with it, but this is only speculation.

I've ordered a replacement transistor and relays. After they have been installed, I'll update this thread.

Brian Donegan  
#19 Posted : Saturday, April 4, 2015 6:07:55 PM(UTC)
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Has. I see the problem.

I sent you the wrong relays in the kit... 24V instead of 5V. Sorry about that.

I will send you a new kit right away.
eseal  
#20 Posted : Saturday, April 4, 2015 6:54:07 PM(UTC)
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Thanks, Brian. I look forward to receiving the correct relays. Would you please also send a BC639 transistor? As noted above, the one I have tested bad. I'll be glad to pay for it - just let me know the cost.
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