DBX 386 SPDIF problems

[Equilibrium8]

I bought a used DBX 386 yesterday, and everything seemed to be working. But i got a spdif cable today and i'm not getting any digital out on the unit.

My first thought would be the cable, but at over $20 each, i first want to check other solutions.

Setup is DBX spdif out going into Saffire LE spdif in. The center of the dbx has all the digital connection setting buttons like "dither" word length" etc, but none of these are even lighting up... So it could be a problem with the entire digital stage. Since its used I don't know if jumper setting have been changed. If its a bad cable, i don't know if the dbx would just not register anything. The documentation has nothing about that.

Any ideas?

[Equilibrium8]

it looks like you press the buttons in the center until the appropriate colored led/function is selected

None of these lights are coming on. The other lights are working for other controls though.

The manual doesn't state if the lights will come on a)if a plug is inserted or b)if it detects spdif signal

so i'm uncertain about them.

[Equilibrium8]

If none of the center button/lights change color status when you press them then something is probably wrong with the unit.

Thats what I'm afraid of. I got it for good price, but not good enough for repair.

BTW - I don't own one, but just have been reading the manual to aid in troubleshooting.

Thanks! That is really going above and beyond!

[jagcmos]

The 386 still has analog outputs that could be plugged into a interface. You wouldn't be using the digital portion, but this looks like a nice preamp.
It is not one of the typical starved plate preamps that are so ubiquitous. This actually is a properly biased tube design.

[Equilibrium8]

The 386 still has analog outputs that could be plugged into a interface.

Yes, but half of the selling point for me was the spdif. It meant I could use the spdif on my saffire which would give me a 6 channel interface instead of 4.

It is not one of the typical starved plate preamps that are so ubiquitous. This actually is a properly biased tube design.

That was the other half of the selling point! Decent 200V.

[jagcmos]

I wonder if the internal clock generator is hosed.
Too bad your interface doesn't have a word clock output as it might fix your problem by providing a external word clock for the 386.

Can you send it back ?

[Equilibrium8]

I wonder if the internal clock generator is hosed.

It appears it is fried somewhere, the cable is ok (not 100% sure about 75ohm though, as my multimeter doesn't go so low.)

Can you send it back ?

It was a private seller. I could try. but I first want to see what repair costs would be. Used midrange pre's don't come up very often in these parts. Maybe its just karma after me for selling my 3630.

[jagcmos]

I don't know how handy you are, but crack it open and do a quick check for loose cables, cracked solder joints, etc.. Fully biased tubes run hot and can cause solder problems.

Usual caution, etc... Make sure it's unplugged and be careful of high voltage caps...

[Equilibrium8]

I'm going to open it up and see. I'm not that handy, but can spot some basic problems. I'm wondering if the wordclock may have something to do with it. If the 386's clock is not being used, some jumper needs to be changed. When I read that in the manual I took it as EXTRA devices, but no harm in changing it and seeing what happens.

[brandondrury]

My first thought would be the cable, but at over $20 each, i first want to check other solutions.

Just use an RCA cable like on your DVD player. It's the same thing.

I'd take a serious look at who is the master clock and who is the slave. That is usually the problem, assuming you don't have a dead unit.

Brandon