DAC BNC and RCA S/PDIF inputs
Posted by: Drikus on 06 February 2018
For some reason I’ve got no sound if I use the BNC or RCA S/PDIF inputs on my DAC. How do I enable them?
No problem with the optical inputs, they work fine.
Is it with the same source? If so, check the S/pdif output is working or on and then check the connection, particularly if RCA phono - RCA coaxial is easy to lose signal with a poor contact.
No, not the same source. I have a signal connecting a MacBook Pro via the 3.5 mm optical out to an optical input of the DAC. No signal if I want to put a Stello U3 between the MacBook Pro and the DAC. The Stello U3 is connected to the MacBook Pro via USB and connected to the DAC via RCA coaxial. The Stello U3 works perfectly with a DAC from another brand so that's not the problem.
Does your Mac still see the DAC as an output device when the U3 is in between them? Maybe it sees the U3 instead, and that needs to be specified as the output device in OSX Sound Preferences?
No, I have the U3 (xmos) selected in Mac Audio/MIDI configuration as the output device, same as in JRiver. The U3 gets a signal (green light). The right input is selected on the DAC but no sync signal lights up on the DAC.
Do you have anything else with a coaxial s/pdif output just to check that the DAC inputs are working OK? Also a different coaxial i/c lead too?
No but I just found out the problem is Mac related. I select the U3 in Audio/MIDI configuration as the output device but as soon as I play a file, the output device in Audio/MIDI configuration switches to the Mac build in output. When I stop playing the file, the output device switches back to the U3. Don't know how to solve this for the moment because there are no U3 drivers available for Mac.
Hi DRIKUS
i have no advice for your MAC problem,but I once used my windows laptop with J-river as a source into a Hugo,and now use a Naim Core.This May be a perfect example of a reason to buy a Core,it eliminates all these settings,or compatibility issues using a computer in a Naim system.In my case,I had to get a friend to set it all up for me,which bothered me a bit,the Core just works when you hit play.
Hi, been looking at the Core a while back but I've decided to stay with my Mac using JRiver. I just added a external usb sound card to my Mac and the sound now is a huge leap forward than just using the optical out.
Drikus posted:No but I just found out the problem is Mac related. I select the U3 in Audio/MIDI configuration as the output device but as soon as I play a file, the output device in Audio/MIDI configuration switches to the Mac build in output. When I stop playing the file, the output device switches back to the U3. Don't know how to solve this for the moment because there are no U3 drivers available for Mac.
Possibly unrelated, but twice today, I've had the sound output from my Mac go to an Airplay device when I had set the sound output to the internal speakers. It's never done that before, so I wonder if it's something to do with the recent OS update? A bit like your problem in reverse!
Yeah, High Sierra is crap. Had Yosemite before and never had any problems with it.