Hi, I bought a Buffalo DAC and some other stuff (power supplies, ivy etc) a few years back.
Earlier this year I _finally_ found the time to build these great kits (had a bit of a backlog and way too little free time) :P
The power supplies seem to work fine (correct voltages etc) but I have a problem where I can not get the Buffalo to lock.
I've tried using the toslink module I bought as well as straight spdif, both the spdif and optical source work fine with another dac I have.

I started looking at the Buffalo and I compared it to pictures online. On my Buffalo (v 1.1) it seems IC4 is missing (the microcontroller?).
I'm not sure if this part came with the kit and I've managed to lose it or if it was missing, but either way I need it :P

Earlier this year I sent a few emails directly to the twisted pear guys but I did not receive any response so now I'm trying to see if I can get this chip myself and program it.

Does anyone know what chip this is and what I would need to flash a firmware onto it?
Does anyone know if the firmware is available for download?

Thanks for any and all responses:)

Edited by user Friday, July 27, 2012 2:49:38 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I believe the chip was part of your kit! I have the Buffalo II version and the chip is an 8-pin chip.

Do you have the Volumite? It also has a chip that you would be using instead of the buffalo one if you connecting the Volumite to your Buffalo/Ivy DAC!.

If the chip is instead missing, I believe you need to get Russ or Brian's help for your need!

Sorry, this is the best that I can offer!

Good luck,
Milton

Thank you Brian:)
PM sent

Sorry, I must have lost track of this.

I will send one out right now.

Also, are you using the Volumite? It looks like you ordered one. If so, you do not need the chip on the DAC board.

Ah, got it. All set. Part shipped.

Thank you Brian, I received the chip a few days ago :)

Unfortunately I still can't get a lock. The LOCK led is not lit, but the AUTOMUTE led is.

I now only have access to the optical source and I'm using the TP toslink module.
I've triple-checked all voltages (using LCDPS v1.1 and transformers bought from TP) for the buffalo and toslink module:
- VD 6 VDC
- VA 6.65 VDC
- toslink connected to VD _with_ regulator/resistor mounted (basically all components are mounted).

I've been able to verify that the toslink module works by taking the spdif output and feeding it into another DAC (TDA1543-based).

I've tried a lot of different dip-switch combinations on the buffalco with no real results, including connecting the toslink output into both the SPDIF and DI inputs (with the spdif switch on/off).

When I check the output of the buffalo (using some cheap earplugs) I can hear a very low "buzzing" sound.
When I connect the IVY (with LCBPS v1.1b) to the buffalo outputs the buzzing is amplified a bit but otherwise unchanged.
All testing is otherwise conducted with the minimum of gear connected.

The only "nonstandard" change I've done is to solder a socket to the IC4 position and mounted the IC4 chip into it instead of soldering it in directly.

Audiblesoundwave: I have no idea where the Volumite module is;P
It's probably been lost in a move, but I'll go through all the electronics I have and see if I can't find it.

Edited by user Friday, July 27, 2012 5:18:50 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

To the buffalo or the toslink module?

The buffalo manual:
....
VD(digital supply) 5-15 VDC. (6VDC recommended)
VA(analog supply) 6-12VDC (6.6 VDC recommended)
...

The toslink module page:
... Wire connections are +5-12VDC and GND ...

Take a snapshot of the rig and post it here.

Do I see a missing soldering on the interface module ? It's hard to see.

Edited by user Sunday, July 29, 2012 7:50:28 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Do you have access to a scope ?

I think I remember something about a faulty switch, the one called (from memory) SPDIF switch.

If you have access to a scope, you could measure the signal before and after the comparator.