Help! I think I just broke my DA100

[cdyson37]

Looks like I may have just broken my RussAndrews DAC1 (Stello DA100). Been working beautifully on USB since I bought it a year ago. Today I plugged it into the coax SPDIF output on my new PC's motherboard and suddenly it's stone dead! It had been working moments before. I had carefully unplugged the USB input first for safety. No power light, no clicking sound when it starts, no heat. Seems like a fuse may have blown.

I'm going to phone/email RA soon as it's still under warranty.

Has anyone else seen or heard of anything similar?

Any help or advice or especially reassurance will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lazarus Short]

Did you check the fuses?
Does it have fuses?
That's a bummer, I thought DAC's lasted forever...

Laz

 

[Andrew_WOT]

There is a fuse next to voltage switch.

 

[vcoheda]

if it is the fuse, that is an easy fix. most hardware stores have them and i know that radio shack has a good selection. a pack of 3 or 4 will cost you a few bucks.

 

[cdyson37]

I should probably admit I tried to plug it in with an analogue cable rather than a digital one, however for testing purposes this is fine and although it might sound rubbish should certainly not kill my DAC!

Is the fuse just above the red switch? I'd be confident checking/changing it myself it the thing were out of warranty but some suppliers are a bit funny so I think I'd better phone them first!

Needless to say if I ever get it working again I'm using the optical connection for safety!

Not the first trouble I've had with it actually, sent it back after a few months because of extra noise in the left channel above the right. Came back fixed but with brand new optical ports, the service could have broken the coax input I suppose.

Thank you both for your advice.

 

[lossless]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdyson37 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is the fuse just above the red switch?

Yes, that's correct.

Just a thought, maybe it's the coax out on your motherboard which is not functioning correctly and might be responsible for the dac failure.

 

[cdyson37]

That had occurred to me, one or the other clearly isn't right - hopefully my motherboard - much cheaper!

Do you think I can check out the fuse without voiding my warranty?

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdyson37 /img/forum/go_quote.gif That had occurred to me, one or the other clearly isn't right - hopefully my motherboard - much cheaper! Do you think I can check out the fuse without voiding my warranty?

Your Stello is modded, whatever RussAndrews does to them might contribute to all these failures.
That's like car modding business, it might go faster but gets less reliable.

 

[milkpowder]

From what I understand, Russ Andrews gave the DA100 a "better" power section (in what way I don't know). Any failure due to workmanship should be covered under warranty. I've never had a blown fuse, but aren't they relatively easy to spot? I very much doubt changing the fuse would void the warranty. Do check with RA first.

 

[cdyson37]

RA phoned today and said the power supply had burned out and since it takes a long time to repair, and since it's the second problem I've had, they're going to send me a brand new one! So I am now very happy :-D

Does anyone think the coax input or the output of my PC could really have done this (it broke the moment I connected the two)? Or my habit of leaving it on overnight?

I'll be connecting it to the new PC via an optical cable from now on just to be safe!

Thanks for all your help and advice.

 

[milkpowder]

Rather ironic that RA's "upgraded" power supply actually failed twice. I hope they sort it out once and for all. Their DA100 is much more expensive than the stock Stello one.

 

[cdyson37]

Well actually the first problem was something else. And it's difficult to get the ordinary stello one in the UK. We're used to paying pounds-for-dollars for electronics over here