Mute light stays on with SPDIF input.
Input to D1 so have set SW2 1 to on, also tried other settings.
Are the standard SPDIF outputs TTL level? Brian indicated I wouldn't need anything else

I'm doing straight SPDIF to B3 to Legato

What are the proper settings for SW1 and SW2?

I had a lock light with my I2s but mute was on too. No sound
So I tried swapping around I2s connections to no avail.
Went back to old connection and now no lock light.
Did I smoke the DAC by mixing WCLK, BCLK and DATA?

Wow, it was late and I unplugged the cable by accident. Lock light is on again.
I2s from mini-din at rear of audio alchemy DDS Pro. It should be 64fs since the Sony CXD2500 chip is 48/64, I think it runs thru a 74AC175SC just before the mini din connector.
But when I short the reset on B3 both the Mute and Lock light up at same time. Initial power up, just the lock light.
JPCM 1-3 are jumpered
J1-12 are jumpered
Tried DIP D1,D2 in both posistions

I checked output headers for signal on scope, got nothing.

Will the B3 take AES directly into SPDIF or is this consumer SPDIF again?

I had a feeling I needed the SPDIF board but was told it wasnt needed.
And they have been on back order since I ordered the B3. So what can I do now to get my dac going?

Edited by user Saturday, December 31, 2011 6:55:52 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I do not understand what you want to do by "Input to D1 so have set SW2 1 to on, also tried other settings". If you feed it I2S this does not apply.
The settings for the DIP switches on the boards are mentioned in the guide. The chapter is called "DIP switch settings".
Using RESET is not needed under normal use.
Any normal SPDIF including AES needs a comparator. For I2S you do not need one, but you would need to feed the DAC a correct signal.
I suggest you read the guide first before trying to connect things and then randomly set switches to see if you can get things to work. Possible solutions are the Metronome for I2S reclocking, Toslink module for TTL level input.

It is important to distinguish signal levels and interfacing standards from digital formats.

In simple terms SPDIF in the context of supported formats is a digital format just as PCM(I2S) and DSD are. TTL is widely used standard for levels in IC logic signals - you can read more about it here: Transistor-Transistor Logic. Any digital signal coming into the DAC must be TTL level (I2S/DSD included). Most I2S and DSD sources will already be at TTL level, but it is actually possible for them to be transmitted at other levels and even using LVDS or other differential techniques. So for example if you had a I2S source that output via LVDS you would need to convert the LVDS signals to TTL signals. In fact that is precisely one thing we can do with the new "teleporter" module. :)

In the context of SPDIF TTL and consumer are signal levels. Changing the level or transmission method of format does not change the format itself. SPDIF is always SPDIF regardless of its level and transmission technique - optical(toslink), consumer, AES, or TTL - it's still SPDIF.

SPDIF signals are generally transmitted at consumer level which is as low as .5VPP. Far too small for the DAC to detect. But SPDIF need not be consumer level - for example TOSLINK receivers and many other IC or processor SPDIF sources output TTL. Generally you use a comparator or similar device to convert the "level" (not the format) of the SPDIF from consumer/AES to TTL. It is still SPDIF as it was before just now level shifted so that the DAC can receive it. Some ICs like SPDIF receivers have a built in level shifter such as a Schmidt trigger so that they can be fed a broad range of signal levels. The ES9018 does not have such level shifters built in, it must always be fed TTL compatible signal levels.

So it is absolutely correct to state that the B3 supports SPDIF input directly - it just must be a TTL level SDPIF encoded signal like any other signal into the DAC. B2 handled level shifting for a single SPDIF input via a switch and an on-board comparator, but that solution was not as flexible as many people wanted and so is changed to an external single or quad comparator solution for the B3 which are inexpensive modules and easy to add. This approach makes it much easier to implement solutions where people want both SPDIF and PCM/DSD sources - this is often done via the module we call "sidecar"

Sorry if you misunderstood.

Cheers!
Russ

Edited by user Saturday, December 31, 2011 5:47:00 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I'm sorry you misunderstood, but it's not like there's no warning at all in the manual, these are just some of the signs:
"In contrast to the Buffalo II board, the Buffalo III no longer has an on-board comparator. So the Buffalo III only supports TTL level S/PDIF next to the usual I2S and DSD signals. For consumer level S/PDIF a comparator or other type of conversion is needed."
"Coax is a popular way to feed a S/PDIF signal to the DAC, but again: for the Buffalo III you need to feed it a TTL level S/PDIF signal, or pass it through a comparator like the one used on the S/PDIF-4 Input Board or the Single S/PDIF Level Converter."
"Converts one S/PDIF input from consumer level to TTL level, offers galvanic isolation."
"Converts S/PDIF inputs from consumer level to TTL level, offers galvanic isolation."
Even if you do not know what TTL level S/PDIF is, this should have pointed you to the fact that not all S/PDIF versions are created equal.

I2S for AA is:
DATA
WCLK
BCLK
DEEM
MCLK
Even with this information however, I feel it's propably better to look for another transport, as this unit might be getting old. Building a newer transport to mod and grabbing 2 Teleporter modules to transmit/receive I2S might be a better idea.

Point taken, but in retrospect did I really need to read the entire manual before purchasing everything? The website should have some sort of flowchart or overview for each device that would help in purchasing the various parts. It was clear as mud for me reading the general descriptions but I'm learning real quick now. Had I known these facts I would of moved in a different direction. It did make some changes over the past few weeks but still unclear to your average Joe unless you read the manual and sift thru the forums.
I'm learning real quick why I2s never really took off for cd connectivity. I figured out the AA's I2s since I have a lock now but learned it's highly unlikely this outputs 64fs.

All of the B3 digital inputs are TTL level. You need a SPDIF input board if you want to use consumer or AES SPDIF.
This would be a great example of what needs to be on the B3 page, listed under features (next to the spdif line).
It also says it supports UP TO 32bit, that's sounds like it supports everything below as well (unless you read the manual)

Will the tele porter have ASRC to convert 24bit or will it be flexible enough to take a lower I2s(48fs) and output 32bit to the B3?

Edited by user Sunday, January 1, 2012 9:33:53 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

No teleporter is only a TTL/LVDS transceiver. It is orthogonal to ASRC.

The odd clock is likely the only problem with the I2S input. The DAC has no problems with fi. 16 bit input. And even if it did, you could correct it with the SRC4192. You could read the datasheet of it for more information.
I take it you've found the pin layout for the AA, if you have that it's easy to hook it up to the Metronome.

The one for the Buffalo is simply a 4-channel level converter, not a Mux. It is designed to utilize the MUX built into the ES9018. The switch kit controls that MUX.