Today my new Toslink Adapter arrived by mail.
I soldered it to the board and tested it right away.
I hooked it up like it was when it worked (via the 10K resistor on the S/Pdif module, via the Sidecar to the DAC's).
Again no Lock, no signal.

Then I came to the idea to directly connect the Toslink to the DAC again and guess what?! It worked!
It seems the Toslink was'nt broken at all but that I blew a channel from the S/Pdif board. Nevertheless it also worked directly connected to the Sidecar.

So I carried on the way I had turned in before; toslink directly to DAC and COAX to S/Pdif board.
According to an earlier post (of Russ or Brian ) I also had to cut out the Ribbon Connection between the S/Pdif Board and the Sidecar.
So I did and it all seems to be working correctly...

Sometimes in the beginning there where some 'ticks' or jitter trough one of the channels.
I have set the DPLL to LOW now and for now it works ok..

So this also, as an alternative for the Voltage Devider, seems to work fine....

have had visit from some people last week with extensive experience in electronics and after having gone through the problem and all connections, gnd etc, they claim my problems with these 2 builds are most likelely software related and that the chip gets confused on where to lock
any comments?
did B send fw chips for me to test ?
best
Leif

funny that I get same problem in both dac´s
you claimed the chip did´nt distinguish between the different inputs either and accused me of developing "attitudes"
but it did as you finally discovered yourself

something must be confusing/destabilising the input selection process
there´only so many ways you can connect and gnd these things
best
Leif

By interference. This can take many forms.

The ES9018 is using its built in multiplexor. It will only try to receive SPDIF on the selected channel.

It sounds like the SPDIF coming on that channel is in some way compromised.

You can test this pretty easily by checking each input in isolation with a single source.

Do this for each source and each input.

Then try combining them one by one - this should help you identify the problematic interaction.

Keep in mind there are quite a lot of people using the SPDIF 4 and the B3 with the exact same firmware.

We will continue to do the best we can to help you resolve the issues with your particular build.

Cheers!
Russ

Edited by user Monday, April 30, 2012 4:34:13 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

hello
I´m back after logging all combinations of s/pdif inputs:

1,2,3 and 4 alone all locks perfectly

signal in 1+4 open stable lock
signal in 4+1 open unstable lock....need powered source hooked up to 1

signal in 1+3 open stable lock
signal in 3+1 open stable lock

signal in 1+2 open unstable pulsating lock
signal in 2+1 open -----------"--------------- if remove cable from open rca minus to pcb on open 1 2 locks

signal on both 1+2 unstable on 1, stable on 2

signal in 2+3open unstable pulsating lock
signal in 3+2 open no lock
signal in 2+3 stable on both

signal in 2+4 2 unstable, 4 muted/dead
signal in 4+2 open no lock remove cable from minus rca to open 2 pcb minus--then 4 locks

signal in 3+4 open stable lock
signal in 4+3 open unstable lock
signal in 3+4 stable on both

no diffrence with ac gnd to alu backplate or not
input 1 and 2 have removed transformers and inserted jumpers instead

at least 1 and 3 works ok, whenever 2 and/or 4 are involved..............?

best
Leif

Edited by user Tuesday, May 01, 2012 1:38:53 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Did you check for continuity between GND and the panel?

think I might have solved this by now

input 1 is susceptible to picking up noise and acting as antenna;
once 1 minus signal cable is removed from open input chassis rca gnd, all problems are gone on the other inputs

special gnd scheme:
input 1 minus from rca to both input minus and gnd on pcb
LegatoLCH bal out gnd (pin1)on XLR chassis connector to chassis connector body (in contact with rear alu plate)
beats me, but it seems to work
last tests tomorrow
best
Leif

PS cut the "transformer jumpers" on input 1 and problem still there, but cured with above gnd scheme
makes me wonder what schematic on input 1 looks like between input header and puls transformer
any chance of showing the schematic, or do I need to "read" the pcb?

Edited by user Thursday, May 03, 2012 10:26:04 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

ok, electrically identical, not layout-wise,but still input 1 acts differently
resoldered back transformer on 1
2 will be Toslink TTL so it´ll be isolated anyway, so jumpers stays
will check more tonight
at least homing in on the problem.....
best
Leif

Edited by user Friday, May 04, 2012 4:52:15 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Does your ribbon cable still look like this?

are there any parts on the s/pdif board between the input header and the pulse transformer?
best
Leif