nDAC not switching input automatically

Posted by: aloysiuschan on 23 January 2012

Hi all

Just like to have some advice if the digital input 1 to 4 of the nDAC had kaput.

My dealer loan it over this week and it had problem switching automatically when i played it through HDX or NDX. I am using BNC / RCA or BNC / BNC using input 1 or 2 with no success. Turning off and on does not help too.

But playing through front USB input is OK.

My questions are,

1. Does the nDAC switch automatically when play from source?

2. Or does it require human intervention to switch the input by pressing the front buttons(1 thru 4)?

3. Is there a way to reset the nDAC?

Appreciate valuable input and advice.

Thank You.
Posted on: 23 January 2012 by rich46

select by button   reset for what purpose

Posted on: 24 January 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Yes USB cuts in automatically. All other inputs need selecting, clearly in practice your ndac could be seeing mutiple SPDIF frame streams on its inputs at any one time, but if you insert a memory stick into the device, the chances are you want to listen what's on it.
Simon
Posted on: 24 January 2012 by aloysiuschan
Hi Rich and Simon Problem is even with selecting the input (1 or 2) nothing came out of the speakers. I isolated by connecting HDX to input 1 then follow by NDX to input 1. The same test using HDX to 2 then NDX to 2. Both test yield no results Thank you
Posted on: 24 January 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Is the analog output switch on the DAC set to the correct position for the interconnect cable (DIN vs RCA) to your preamp ?


Jan
Posted on: 24 January 2012 by NickSeattle
+1 Simon's remarks.

It is my understanding that pressing 7, 8, 9, or 0 on your pre remote selects 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively on the nDAC while automatically selecting Aux1 (or your other choice, if you reconfigure) on the pre.  This works with or without the RC5 lead.  It worked for me when I demoed the nDAC with my NAC 112.

The only source-play-triggering I am aware of on the nDAC is when you insert a thumb drive, or when you connect both Toslink and co-ax to the same input.

I agree this is less wonderful than the way auto-source-select works when you press CD Play on the remote and the pre switches correctly at the same time.

Re the total lack of sound, I think you need to manually set the NDX and HDX to output a digital signal, and disable their analog outs, disabling their onboard DACs.  This is just a guess, as I have neither.

Nick
Posted on: 24 January 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Hi, yes as others have said, I would check you are a actually outputing a digital signal by enabling it on the NDX etc.
Simon
Posted on: 24 January 2012 by garyi
Dont you have to hit an input button twice depending on which input is being used?
Posted on: 24 January 2012 by NickSeattle

You are right, garyi.  Repeated presses toggles the sources on a given input.  Not sure why one would double up unless they have a lot of digital sources, or the sources they have have limited connection options. 

Posted on: 24 January 2012 by aloysiuschan
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Is the analog output switch on the DAC set to the correct position for the interconnect cable (DIN vs RCA) to your preamp ?


Jan

Yes, I checked that it is correctly set to DIN.

Posted on: 24 January 2012 by aloysiuschan
Originally Posted by NickSeattle:
+1 Simon's remarks.

It is my understanding that pressing 7, 8, 9, or 0 on your pre remote selects 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively on the nDAC while automatically selecting Aux1 (or your other choice, if you reconfigure) on the pre.  This works with or without the RC5 lead.  It worked for me when I demoed the nDAC with my NAC 112.

The only source-play-triggering I am aware of on the nDAC is when you insert a thumb drive, or when you connect both Toslink and co-ax to the same input.

I agree this is less wonderful than the way auto-source-select works when you press CD Play on the remote and the pre switches correctly at the same time.

Re the total lack of sound, I think you need to manually set the NDX and HDX to output a digital signal, and disable their analog outs, disabling their onboard DACs.  This is just a guess, as I have neither.

Nick

Yes, DIN connection made to PRE is AUX1 and I can switch using pre-remote 7,8,9,0 just that no sound from BNC input 7 & 8 (Digital In from HDX or NDX Digital out).

 

Playing through iPOD / iPHONE are ok and nDAC sync immediately after connecting it.

 

If you read the DAC manual it stated that DAC will switch input automatically if any source is playing first. First come first serve but it a device is connected by the USB it will play from it regardless.

Posted on: 24 January 2012 by aloysiuschan
Originally Posted by garyi:
Dont you have to hit an input button twice depending on which input is being used?

NO, it does not require to hit the input button twice.

Posted on: 24 January 2012 by aloysiuschan
Originally Posted by NickSeattle:

You are right, garyi.  Repeated presses toggles the sources on a given input.  Not sure why one would double up unless they have a lot of digital sources, or the sources they have have limited connection options. 

For trouble-shooting, either HDX or NDX is connected to the DAC directly via BNC input 1 or 2.

By switching the input 1 or 2, the DAC should sync (the SYNC LED will light up) but it did not. Funny that it immediately sync when a device was connected via front USB port.

 

Posted on: 24 January 2012 by aloysiuschan

Guys, thanks for the valuable guidance and advice.

 

I will return the DAC to dealer and test it in the shop. I may have missed some steps in connection?

But the DAC should be a pita to use. Rocket scientist not require. HAHA.

 

Thank You and have a Great Lunar New year of the Dragon!

Posted on: 25 January 2012 by aloysiuschan

Updates.

 

The HDX digital output board kaput and my local dealer had it swap to another board from another HDX. Now it working.

 

Not sure if soldering on my HDX confirm to Naim standard. Hope no burnt or blow output board from the soldering in near future.

Posted on: 29 January 2012 by NickSeattle
Originally Posted by NickSeattle:

It is my understanding that pressing 7, 8, 9, or 0 on your pre remote selects 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively on the nDAC while automatically selecting Aux1 (or your other choice, if you reconfigure) on the pre.  This works with or without the RC5 lead.  It worked for me when I demoed the nDAC with my NAC 112.

Cleaning up after myself:  now that I actually have an nDAC again I see I was incorrect in that without the RC5 IC from the DAC to NAC, the switch to AUX1 is NOT automatic when you press 7, 8,9, or 0.  I do not yet have the RC5 lead, so that test will have to wait.

 

Sorry for the misinformation.

 

Nick

Posted on: 30 January 2012 by aloysiuschan
So long you connect the nDac to Aux of pre-amp you can switch input via pre-amp 7,8,9,0 buttons.